After my successful turkey hunt last week, and since Jeff already had his bird down for the year as well, we decided that we would try and get one of Jeff’s boys his first bird.  Plus, I was already having turkey hunting withdrawals, so any excuse to get back in the woods was okay by me.

We set up in the same general area where Jeff and I both killed our birds.  In fact, the blind Tyler G. and I were in was thee exact location where I killed my bird the day before.

The morning started off great, with Jeff texting me and letting me know that a few birds were working the edge of the woodlot, and headed right for us.  It didn’t take long for them to show themselves, and after watching them strutting, and working some hens in the woodlot – for what seemed like two hours, but was probably only 45 minutes – I finally spotted some wing flappage, and knew that one of the hens had just flew across the creek bank in front of us (for those who say a turkey won’t cross a stream, ditch, etc.  I say whateva!).  I knew at that moment precisely what path she was going to take – and that path headed right past our blind.  Then, once I spotted the two longbeards following her down the path I knew it was go time………there was just one problem.

I leaned over and told the boy to get ready, and you would have never believed what I saw — he was sleeping….out cold…snoring!  After nudging him, and telling him that he needed to wake up and get ready, he managed to half-heartedly bring the gun into the window and prepare for the shot.  Also, in his sleepy haze he had the gun raised, but didn’t have the hammer pulled back.  With the birds now at 40yds, I knew it was either pass on the shot completely or take the chance, and try to get that hammer back.  I slowly reached up to do that when the hen, either seeing my movement, or Tyler G’s face – that didn’t have a face mask on – turned around and went on a dead run back into the woodlot.  And sure as you know what, the gobblers followed her.

So close, yet so far away.  I guess next time we need to get Tyler G. a Redbull before we head out!  Hehe.

Then, on Sunday night, Jeff and I headed out again in the role of turkey guides.  And when I say turkey guides, I definitely use that term loosely.  Jeff took his son out again, and I went with my cousin who we’ll say is in his forties.  He has yet to kill his first bird, and was excited that an “experienced” caller would accompany him on this particular night.

We got into the blind about 4 o’ clock, and waited, and waited, and waited.  Pretty soon a single hen worked her way out of the woodlot, and crossed directly in front of us, but to our disappoint she didn’t have any other birds with her.  Another couple of hours passed by, and a little after 7 – prime turkey time – I spotted a few toms working their way down the edge of the woodlot to the north of us.  I leaned over to let the cousin know we had birds, and wouldn’t you know it, he was SLEEPING!  A quick nudge, and I had him back on the same planet as me, but the birds worked their way across the field in front of us, but too far away for any kind of a shot.

The moral of this story?  I don’t really know what it is.  Maybe I’m that boring that people can’t stay awake when they hunt with me.  Or maybe it’s the young ones, and the “old” ones that can’t stay awake during hunting, and those of us, like me, who are in their thirties, can stick it out.

I’m not sure what the reason is, but it definitely makes for a great story, and hopefully next year we can get both of them their first birds …….if they can stay awake long enough for the shot.

Popularity: 1% [?]