I just returned from a very memorable hunt in Missouri. I had been invited to call for a hunter at the Peterson Outdoor Ministries 1st Chaplains Turkey Hunt. The weekend was set aside to honor military chaplains and give them a break from the stresses associated with active duty and ministry to many with PTSD and other battle and stress related issues. The time spent with these 4 gentlemen was well worth the trip. Friendships were made over the weekend that will be developed in the days and years to come.
About a week before the trip, I found out my assignment for the weekend... one I couldn't have been more happy with! Also hunting for the weekend was a young lady that I had known about for the past 4-5 years. If you watch the HS Strut turkey hunting videos, you might be familiar with this young lady. Her name is Tori McAffee. She has hunted with Alex Rutledge on 2 of the Cuttin and Struttin videos. I was scheduled to call for Tori on her hunts. I got to meet her and her parents on Friday night and didn't get much sleep anticipating the Saturday AM hunt.
Some great folks had volunteered their land, time and a couple of area hunting lodges to make the event possible. We headed out on Saturday AM and arrived as the sun was peeking over the horizon. The hunting party consisted of Tori with her mom and dad in one blind. I was in a blind next to them with a gentleman by the name of Tom with Adventure Bound Outdoors, who filmed the hunt and a Missouri DNR officer named Adam. (These guys made the hunt that much more enjoyable with conversation and commentary. ;))
After getting our decoys out and getting settled, we checked to see if Tori was ready to go:
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There was no doubt that the turkeys were in trouble! I started calling on my slate call with some soft clucks and purrs. We waited. I later switched to my anodized aluminum call and got a little more mouthy. Within the first hour, this little lady showed up.
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We've all heard it said that it never hurts to have a live decoy. This hen stayed within 50 yards of our setup for at least 30-40 minutes. She fed in the freshly planted soybean field and preened in the morning sun.
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She got to know our decoys and socialized with them a bit. Here and there I would cluck and purr to her just to make her comfortable.
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The hen worked back to our right, away from Tori's blind. She continued to preen and feed.
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This whole time, the hen had not moved more than about 5 yards at a time before stopping to feed or make herself more presentable. She even settled down and dusted once. Although we didn't think about it until later, we realized that she went from the farthest point behind our blinds to the opposite end of the field beyond Tori's blind with little stopping... a detail that now makes sense. As we watched to our left as the hen stayed at the end of the field, Adam, the DNR officer said "birds to the right". A quick peek out the side of the Double Bull got our blood pumping. We had been focussed on the hen, but she knew company was coming.
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These two suitors showed up with a jake to their left out of the picture. Even from 70-80 yards, it was clear that both of these birds were shooters... but one... oh my...
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CHECK OUT THE BEARD ON THAT HOSS!
We later found out that when Tori laid eyes on this bird she said, "Dad, he's got a paintbrush!" The big boy made a detour to chase off the jake that was coming in with them as they headed to the decoys. The 2 mature birds stayed within a couple of steps of each other all the way in. One more look at him had us all in anticipation of what was about to happen.
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Tom gave the instructions to make sure that the birds got separated enough to take only one bird. He went on to instruct Tori to take the bird in back... the strutter. Although I was focused on the bird... I have no doubt that Tori already had a bead on this monster! The final o.k. to shoot had barely left his lips when - BOOM!
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That bird folded like a cheap suit! There was no need to run and get on him... old paintbrush beard was going NOWHERE!
By 8:15 the celebration had begun. The bird tipped the scales at 22 1/2lbs. with a 10 1/2" paintbrush beard and 1 3/8" spurs.
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Tori's dad Troy said this was Tori's 6th bird and her biggest to date. It was great to listen to her call her grandparents and text a host of folks and retell the scenes as they had unfolded for the morning.
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The smile said it all.
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I consider it an honor and a pleasure to have been a part of such a great hunt and a great weekend. This is what it's all about.
sounds like a great time.. i am glad you had a productive hunt and those memories will last a lifetime for sure
congrats
Great Job Wendell!! Awesome story and the pics make it seem like I'm in the blind with you as I read the text!! Congrats!!
That's awesome! Congrats to the young lady!
Good job! Congrats to all involved!
Thanks for letting in on the hunt with you. Those pics were great!
Congrats on a great hunt and thanks for sharing the story with all of us.
Awesome! Loved the pics as the story went on.
Congrats,That wa a great hunt and story
Wendell it was great to get to spend time in camp with you and your wife this weekend! Congrats on the great hunt with Tory!!
That's awesome Wendell! Congratulations on a great experience.
Congrats on a fantastic hunt! I love how the pictures told the story!
Awesome, indeed!!! :happy0064:
Awesome story. :happy0064:
Wonderful read Wendell!!
Those are some awesome pics!! Were they edited from the video?
Congrats on the successful hunt, and new made friends!!
God Bless,
David B.
Way to go, Wendell. That was an awful nice story with a real nice ending. Well done, Sir..Mike :you_rock:
Glad it worked out so well, congrats!
Congrats to you Wendell for making memories for a deserving young lady and congrats to her on her fine gobbler! Great pics to accompany your hunt recap. It was "lights out" for that big boy!
The pics were taken with my wife's Cannon point and shoot camera (no tripod). This was the first time I have been able to sit in a blind and take pictures. I didn't have to worry about having a gun or bow in my lap... just had to put the call and striker down here and there. :)
Sounded like an awesome hunt id say it was a blast. If im not mistakeing i think alex hunted with her on The Lords of the Spring dvd they gave out at the 2010 NWTF convention. Again great story and pics!
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Very nice,congrats!!!
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:icon_thumright: That's great story and I'm sure a wonderful experience. :icon_thumright: Chief.
Awesome Wendell, well done! :you_rock: :z-guntootsmiley:
Thnaks for sharing the story and your time and your talents with a very deserving young lady.
ATTAGIRL Tori!!
Nice job Wendell - that's gotta count for something with the big man.
Awesome.. congrats and great pics.. Love to see people who care about young people being in the woods...
Awesome Read and great pics to go along with it!!! Congrats!!
congrats on a great hunt. that is a monster bird. awesome pictures too! exciting to see the whole hunt captured in picture
great pictures and a great story!congrats!
Awesome Wendell
Enjoyed your story! A great hunt for all of you!
Some GREAT Pics there and story. Way to go!
"That bird folded like a cheap suit!"....LOL!!! :you_rock:
Looks like you got enough material to make a few paintbrushes out of that one. :happy0064:
Great story and congrats to Tori on a heck of a tom.
I watched one of my old HS videos about 3 weeks ago when she killed her first bird with Alex. She made a crack at Alex that had me in stitches. Congrats to that young lady. That is a fine bird.
Great story! and pics she looks like one happy camper.
congrats to the young lady
Wendell, that is AWESOME!! Thanks so much for posting this as it warms my heart. God Bless you for doing this!