This year I took my daughter out for youth day in new Hampshire. Madelyn is 7 and she decided she wanted to go. I picked up some shot for her and we hit the woods. At 4:30 as we set up some owls started hooting. Five total that got the Toms fired up. I could tell there were 2 Toms and a Jake. It was something to hear. as gray light started to come around I had high hopes. As day light broke the birds pitched and went up a hill. The birds answered every call I thought for sure they would come. Needless to say a hen took the big boss away. It was 33 degrees that morning and she was getting cold and said she was ready to leave. I said hang tight the Jake is still there. No sooner had I said it when I heard leaves. I see his back end 25 yards out behind a tree. He slowly worked his way down. With gun around she got him in the score. She never rushed the shot as he went behind tree after tree. Finally at 15 yds BOOOM. FEATHERS fly bird flips over flops and I go to stomp his
neck.no sooner am I up so is he and he us running. He gets away and we go looking. Notjing
we leave and her attitude is nothing but positive. After getting home and mulling things over we go back to look and end up jumping him from a deadfall and he is gone.
Fast forward to yesterday. I go to the same spot. The night before I tell her if I get a chance I will bring home her bird. I set up a bit up the hill and birds start gobbling. I watch then pitch above me and walk down hill away. A hen fires up and we start talking back and forth. I see birds come back up the hill and then head back down. One tom supplies and one comes back and he is aSTUD. 45 yards through the pines is too much for me. Yelping and its coming my way. Two Jakes from below come up 15 snd 20 yards in front of me. The closer Jake is him but I let him walk. He circles above me and the other Jake joins the tom. Back over the hill they go. Then like before I hear leaves move. Staying to look left I see black. He is nervous and fast walks left to right. He gets behind the tree and fun goes up. He steps out I stop him and fire. He his the ground and I go to him. Sure enough its him, a big bald patch on his right shoulder.
Of all the birds I have shot this one was special as special can get. I have since learned she can use her tag all season so next Saturday she wants to go and msybe she can get one of the 2 tins or the other Jake. Again for 7 years old my pride swells everyone I think of how she did and her attitude even after not getting the bird.
Sorry for the long read and if I could figure out photobucket on my phone I would put up pictures.
