My bud's first turkey....

[Reloader]

My buddy Matt is usually out fishing during his free time this time of year, but we manage to hit the deer pretty hard every fall.  He and I have only went turkey hunting once together.  That was years ago and we got to hear some gobbling, but never sealed the deal for his first turkey.

Matt gave me a call last week and wanted to do some fishing, so I told him we should try for his first turkey early Saturday morning then hit some local ponds for bass.  It's late season and I haven't heard anything the last couple times I've taken people, but you can't kill em at the house

Saturday morning we hit a few of my favorite spots with no luck, didn't hear a peep and only found a few hens tracks here and there.  I knew one last spot where the timber had just been cut about a week ago and there were fresh tracks in there while the cutting was going on.  We set up on top of a hill where we could see a couple hundred yards underneath the thinned pines.  I put Matt ahead of me, so he could see more than I.  After a bit of cutting and calling every few minutes, I was looking at some of my calls and Matt says "There's a Gobbler!!"  I thought he was joking around as I eased my head up and didn't see anything.  I said "Where?" and Matt says "Straight out front!" Then I caught some movement and 3 jakes broke out in the open.  I knew they were jakes, but didn't say a word about it as the fever was setting in on Matt.  When they got to around 60yds they went below a dip out of view and heading to our left, so I told Matt to swing around to the left and get ready.  As soon as they topped the hill, they were about 35yds out, so I told him to take a fine bead on the lead bird and let him have it.  He was shaking and breathing hard, so I told him to take it easy and calm down before the shot. Seconds later he smashed the lead bird and the other two shock gobbled

It would have been nice to get him on a fired up mature tom, but I don't think he could have gotten any more excited and that's what it's all about.

16lbs, 5-1/8" sprig, and 1/2" nubs. He's already talking about displaying the fan mount

Another hooked turkey hunter:



Taken with one of my 3.5" 2oz NP #6 lead handloads.

Ya'll have a good one,

loder

[gophert]

I still remember my first bird which was a jake that I called up all by myself on an afternoon hunt.  I have spent a lot of money on turkey hunting since then.  CONGRATS!!!!!

[Hognutz]

Congrats to Matt. That is a time that he will never forget. The size of the bird is not an issue. As you said, the hunt, the excitement, the memories. That is what it is all about.. Well done, Reloader and Matt..  Mike

[guesswho]

Congrats to you both.  It's a special feeling being there on someone's first bird.  Good job

[pullit]

With him shaking and breathing that hard, not sure his hear could have stood a fired up tom.... Congrats on getting his feet wet.

I have a buddy that always says "once you get the feathers off of them, they all eat the same".

Way to go to both of you.