Iowa youth #3 Elijah’s first bird w/rough ending

[chadly]

After seeing his older brother and sister get birds earlier in the week Elijah decided he wanted to try.  He was so excited when I brought home a tag with his name on it.  Last night we packed our clothes and he went to bed early.  I got him up at 4am and he jumped out of bed.  I had a pillow in the truck as it is about 75 minute drive and I thought he might want to rest.  But instead he talked my ears off with excitement.  We walked in and got to our listening spot and the birds were in deep.  By the time we got to the birds they were on the ground. We snuck to about 100 yards.  As soon as we sat down a hen was spotted about 30 yards out and she made every hen noise a hen could make.  No gobbles.  No other birds.  She eventually worked off.  I made some calls and nothing.  They were answering my calls prior.  I was sure I got too aggressive with my location and spooked them as they had been gobbling decent.  We got up and moved 50 yards where I wanted to spy over the knoll.  I wanted to see where the birds had been.  There was a huge oak and when we got to it I looked around it and there was a gobbler at 20 yards and walking right at us.  I handed Elijah the gun and told him as soon as you see the bird shoot him as he is close.  I slipped the safety off and the bird steps out at 8 yards and looks over at us.  I think he and Elijah were eye to in height.  He pulls the trigger and the bird drops.  The birds head is up and he is blinking and looking around.  I slipped the safety back on and quickly wrung the birds neck.  I looked back Elijah and he had tears in his eyes.  I asked if the gun kicked him and he said not really.  I then saw the sadness on his face.  I asked if he was sad and when I did the tears started to roll down his face.  Not the reaction I wanted at all.  I took him over to a log and we sat down and shed a tear together and talked about what happened.  He cheered up a bit.  There are consequences to bad shots.  As hunters we kill animals and at times as much as we don't want it to happen a bad shot is made.  Those bad shots are at the expense of the animal.  It was learning experience.  Things just happened quickly this morning.  I don't like the birds that close with kids.  It was a limbhanger stud of a bird at 24lbs 13oz.  Sure wished it went just a little different. 
Blessings Chad

[btomlin]

Congrats on your trophy, young man!

[BBR12]

Congratulations to y'all.

[Happy]

Honestly I would be glad my kid took the death of an animal that seriously. I worry more about those that think nothing of it. Yes it sucks to see your child upset but you can be glad he recognizes the value of life. Congratulations to you both and i am sure you are proud of him. He seems to understand more than a lot of adults these days.

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[stinkpickle]

That can be rough on a kid.  It still gets to me, too.  But in the long run, he will truly appreciate the experience.

[JeffC]

Congrats to your son. Happy said it perfect "recognizes the value of life". Great teaching moment. Thanks for sharing.

[REBELYELL]

Good stuff and congratulations to you both. Sounds like you are raising that young man the right way.

[3bailey3]

Congrats on the great bird and X2 what Happy said!

[chadly]

Thanks guys.  This was his first kill of anything.  I think seeing the bird still alive was what upset him.  We were talking this afternoon and asked where the green dot was when he shot and he said right on the neck.  I showed him where he actually hit and he said the scope must be off then.  LOL! 

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Congrats to you both.  I still feel remorse after the trigger pull.

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[Yoteduster]

Congrats to you and your son on a great gobbler and I'm sure the experience will make him a better hunter down the road

[tomstopper]

Congratulations to you and your son. He looks so young and this will be a lesson that he will try everything not to mimic in the future. My daughter gets a little sad after she kills them also. I tell her it's because she respects the animal. Hopefully your boy will not let this keep him down.

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[Tom007]

Congrats, great learning experience. He will move forward loving this great sport, we all get remorse when we harvest our quarry.

[Muzzy61]

Congrats to Elijah.

[albrubacker]

Congrats young man!