After years of being together, I've finally gotten Ragan to get her Hunters Safety credentials. We planned a turkey hunt in Idaho , but they closed the out of State turkey tags. We went twice, her in tow, to unsuccessful hunts. Gobbles , but no commitment.
This morning we went to the ranch. Like I've said before. It's a sit and call place. .... 3 1/2 hrs of sit and call .... nothing.
We rolled up, and to be honest... I was disappointed. Her first hunt, and zip for motivation. I had hoped for the vocal birds I've heard all week. Nothing. Not one bird... even wayyyyy off.
As we were walking out, I said , let me run the call here. I don't think birds on the lower part of the property can hear us from where we were set up.
One run of the glass call and he cut me off. Crap. Now what. Dressed in black, we've been hunting a blind. Birds on the move. Closer now. Cut the distance, I can hear him with out my amplifier ear muffs.
I told her.... let's go. Up the hill...Got to get away from the horse corals, it's my personal word to the owner.... never shoot close to the horses.
Both sucking wind, I get her set up next to a big oak tree. Gobble is fainter, but he's on the move.
Told her to point at the trail we were on, he'll walk up there. No sooner had I said that that he gobbles hard right, she shoots left handed. Then I see his head. " don't move, he's right off your right side".
He's on the move again, getting closer, and will be at about ten yards when he comes from behind a huge oak... I tell her to swing when he's behind the oak. He comes out at about ten yards. I tell her, "shoot him".
Swing and a miss.
He starts to make a get away... I reload the single shot, and hand it back to her. Tell her, if he stops to shoot again....
he stopped and looked back at 30 yards.... she rolled him.
The ups and downs of turkey hunting can happen in a matter of moments. I'm glad he looked back. Sometimes the turkey gods look down on us. I'm a happy guy!
10" beard.
1" spurs and 18#
Great first bird.
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