It was a moment men who hunt dream about.

I had just shown my wife my new turkey plaque – complete with tail feathers and beard – when she said something most guys wish for,  “You should take that one set of wedding pictures down, and put that up there.  I’m getting bored with them anyway.”

What?  Did she just say what I thought she said?  And in front of all my family member’s wives as well.  Of course I would fully cooperate with her request, and she immediately received a marriage proposal from one of my cousins…….who’s already married.

Honestly, though, I wasn’t surprised.

My wife is one of those wives that doesn’t come around very often.  She has always understood my passion for the outdoors, and has even grown an outdoor passion of her own in the process.  Sure she isn’t as gung-ho about hunting as I am, but she still hunts, fishes, and loves to be outside as much as I do.  So, to hear her say something like that didn’t come as much of a shock to me, but it was a little daring considering the company she was in.  I don’t think she created any hard feelings, though, just maybe some conversation between hunting husbands and wives on the way home.

After that conversation, I promptly adhered to her request, took the old wedding pictures down, and happily replaced them with my first turkey mount ever.  And while it isn’t a stellar tail fan, and surely isn’t the biggest beard anyone’s ever seen, I’m still quite fond of it.  It will stay in the living room for years to come, and remind me of one great hunt; one great moment of honest emotion we captured on film;  and a moment in time when sticking with it, and never giving up actually paid off.

I think it looks good there, and don’t worry – we still have some wedding pictures up in the living room.

Author’s note: Jeff fixed up the turkey breast from both of our turkeys on Saturday, and man was it good.  We grilled them with a little BBQ sauce, and they tasted absolutely awesome.  There is simply nothing like eating pure wild food, knowing the work and dedication that goes into acquiring it, and reaping the benefits of – while also getting to experience – Mother Nature at her finest.

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