Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Finally go my oldest out this season with a shotgun...  Took a bit for the birds to cooperate, and it is significantly more difficult to get a bird with an 11 year old.

We had action every trip, and this was her fourth trip in the field.  We had an encounter or two each time, and while the birds were with hens, we had a bird or two break off each time for a close call.

This particular morning, we had two birds come in behind us, and they were drumming about 20 yards away behind an obstruction...  Meanwhile, we had a couple coming right up the pipe in front of us (where I hoped they would come), and one coming in hard from the left as well.

She was used to hearing a bird or two gobble, and now total chaos...   The two coming up the pipe turned tail, as the two behind us finally presented a shot...

Me (whispering): Shoot one when you can.
Her: OK
Me: Shoot
Her: Now?
Me: Yes
Her: Which one?
Me (whispering with intensity now): THE CLOSEST ONE!
Her: BOOM!

What started off as a 25 yard shot (slightly to her right), ended up being a 35 yard shot (slightly to her left)...  Talking to her later, she said she was scared to miss, and she was twisted up.

Luckily, as they were making haste, I clucked, and they picked their heads up, to give her a shot...  Frankly, I was surprised at how much yardage they had gained on us when she did shoot.

Thanks to some members giving advice on how to post photos...  I would have done so earlier, but figure better late than never!


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Congrats to the young lady and dad!

Congrats! Love the hat!

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Well done young lady

Congratulations!!! Great pictures!

That's awesome. Congratulations to your daughter and you too. Have taken a lot of youths out but by far my two favorite are my daughter's.

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Fantastic, Marc!  Great pictures, and what a wonderful experience with your daughter!   :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Good for her congrats on a nice gobbler

That's fantastic!!!
Congrats to both of you!!

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Congratulations.  Nothing better than kids getting good birds.

Congratulations on your first bird young lady!
Way to go dad.
Great photos and memories you will never forget.

Congrats to both of you on a great hunt and great memory neither one of you will ever forget. Great pictures also !

Congratulations to you daughter. Glad to see you where able to get the pictures posted.

Congrats to the young lady. I hope for many more in your hunting future. Awesome job Dad on story and pictures.

Great bird and smile on the young lady!

Good job toboth of you.  Its so fun to see kids in the field and making memories. 

That was a great story and congrats to your daughter. I hope you share many more seasons together, until the scenario is flipped. Here's the future conversation:

Daughter -Dad he's coming right there get ready
Old Dad - Huh what did ya say
Daughter- shhh Dad you'll spook the bird
Dad- What, speak up
Daughter- Shoot him Dad
Dad- I can't move that far over right
Daughter- Dad shoot him, NOW
Dad- I got a cramp, then boom and your looking around to see where your glasses went
Daughter - Running after half dead Gobbler and ringing his neck. Finally she returns with the gobbler to find dad wiping blood from his cheek
Dad- I got em huh
Daughter- yeah, I love Dad and you all hug

I am glad you had a good hunt. I messed up with my oldest daughter. when I took her I was way to intense with her and we had a similar conversation only I wasn't as careful with my words and as supportive. My intensity soured her on turkey hunting with dad, so she quit going. I was young and dumb and regret it.

Well done

OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!    :icon_thumright:

CONGRATS to you both !!!

Quote from: eggshell on May 01, 2022, 07:59:42 AM

I am glad you had a good hunt. I messed up with my oldest daughter. when I took her I was way to intense with her and we had a similar conversation only I wasn't as careful with my words and as supportive. My intensity soured her on turkey hunting with dad, so she quit going. I was young and dumb and regret it.

Well done

Thank you for the kind words.  I started them young, and realized quickly that girls are A LOT different than boys...  I learned early to bite my tongue and try to make it fun.

Kierra messed up a few times on previous hunts and spoiled opportunities...  Had to take a deep breath a couple times, and realize that she did NOT want to mess things up.  On the rides home, I would first compliment her on the genuine things she did right, and then "discuss" what we could do differently next time.  I KNOW that were I to correct her in the moment, that it would come off harshly (due to my own intensity).  (The exception is gun safety...  That gets corrected swiftly and with authority)

One one hunt we had birds drumming right next to us...  We are sitting dead quiet for some time (cause I assume she knows what drumming birds sound like), and she decides to stretch at the exact wrong moment.  Later when I asked her if she heard the drumming, she asked me to describe it...  And she replied "I thought those were frogs."

We went home, and watched some videos with turkey sounds besides yelping and gobbling...  Putting, clucking, purring, and other sounds that most (normal non-hunters) would not associate with turkeys.

When I hunt by myself or with another avid hunter, it is all about the hunting experience and the challenges that come with the attempt to successfully fill tags/limits within the bounds of my own ethics.  I am intense and focused about it.

With two girls, and attempting to create "experiences" and hopefully a future enjoyment of the outdoors, I have learned to tone down that intensity...

After duck or dove hunting, we go for a quad ride (letting the kids drive), go out for pancakes after...  Do some BB-gun practice...  The last time Kierra went turkey hunting as a tag-along, we came across a small pond with frogs, and spent about an hour trying to catch frogs (which was tough when I was hearing a bird gobbling over the next ridge).

So...  Your point is well taken.  Taking a kid hunting, is all about creating a sense of enjoyment about the outdoors and (hopefully) spending time with dad...  Girls are different than boys, and you have to be willing to trade a good hunt for a good experience...  Which are often two totally different things when it comes to children.  I have made my own mistakes here as well.

Congrats to both of you! Great memories like that you both will always remember.

Fantastic!!!  Atta girl!


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That's awesome! Congrats to her and you. You'll remember that forever.


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Dang, how did I miss this?  My favorites threads.   She did good, real good!!!   Congrats to you both.  I hope this is the first of many.

That's the good stuff.  Congratulations!

Awesome and huge congrats young lady!

Awesome hunter.

Congrats to the young lady, great job....

congrats!!