Youth day '09

[osprey]

Who's got a kid lined up for youth day? I'm taking my buddy Logan again, he's wound up for it. When I started taking him he was 9 and I just hoped he'd hear a bird, now he's just turning 13 and he's a crack shot and a certified killer with two toms under his belt, the gobblers better watch out. ;D

Just crossing my fingers for good weather.

[brettgerhart]

Mine dropped out. Has to go to WV. Going to try another student. Hopefully I can find someone to take!

[lojanman88]

Let me know if you can find another one Brett, I got the camera ready!

[brettgerhart]

Let me know if your boy falls through. I have one phone call I can make to try to get someone....

[lojanman88]

Mine's good, but if you want another im sure we could work something out with two kids! Rick might be able to take one if need be.. if not no worries connor is a go. He's pumped!

[davep]

Anyone do any good today?

Had my daughter out this morning;we covered 2-3 miles and never heard a bird until after 8, single gobble,when we were heading back to the truck.
We hustled back to where we thought he was, and gave a few yelps.He gobbled, but closer to where we just left from. Seems that as we went to him, he was coming to us, and we overshot each other.
We set up on the edge of a small stream across from one of the few open spots.
Yelped softly a few times, as we didn't know where he was exactly.
Nothing for 3 or 4 minutes, then he gobbled once CLOSE, slightly off to our right!
I got her turned a little, and she got the gun up and locked in across her knees(lots of .22 practice from sitting and kneeling!)

After what seemed like a LONG time,I could see his head bobbing towards us.
She couldn't. He stopped on a small rise, maybe 40 yds out, behind some hollies, and strutted.
Then started down towards us again.
I told her as soon as he got clear and stopped to hammer him.
He hung just behind some brush, then stepped out into a 3 foot opening, inside 30 yds,paused for a second or two, then back into more brush. A few more steps that direction, and he'd have been clear. But he hung there for a minute, then periscope up, staring at us.
Then, PUTT, turned and slowly walked away, with a tree between us.

We stuck it out a while longer, so to make sure we were soaked ALL the way thru.

She was beating her self up a little about missing her opportunity, but I'm glad and proud that she didn't take the shot if she wasn't sure.She said that she didn't have the gun lined up just right when he stepped clear, and she thought he'd continue on into the bigger clearing.
So did I, but then, I've learned long ago, these birds rarely do what I think!

Anyway. had a great, if soggy, morning.
She put the sneak on some does feeding on a logging road, got pretty close, then we found a rub laden thicket to check back on next fall.

Then after hitting BK on the way home, saw a jake in a field right by the house.
At 12:03 of course ;D

She can't wait to get back after them!

[takem]

Great hunt. She won't forget that one anytime soon.

[sideways]

Awesome hunt Dave!
Tell your daughter to keep her chin up, that's what great hunting is all about.

[brettgerhart]

That is a great hunt!! I am really happy you got to see one let alone one that was interested in the calls. Me and a buddy went out and heard nothing!! It was horrible conditions where we were too. Let us know if she gets one in the upcoming weeks!

[shadow]

Dave, glad you got your daughter out there and sounded like a great morning. My daughter loves to hunt with me and I take her every chance I get (She lives in PA with here mother so time is limited). Still very cool to get the girls involved. I’ll tell you, my daughter is much more patient than my son was when he was still able to youth hunt (he’s 21 now).

I had a similar experience on youth day. Took a friend and his 12 yr old son out for a chance at his first bird. Nasty weather when we got to our lease, decided to wait it out in the truck for a few minutes and listen from there. Finally a little let up in the rain @ 6:15 so I figure we could try a bird I could not get last year (worked him several times but he had other things on his mind). Walking towards were he was last year and like on queue at 6:25 he wakes up and gives us a thunderous gobble. We close to within about 100 yds so I give him a hoot on the owl call, he lights it up again along with a 2nd gobbler and sounded like a few jakes. Decided since he was in a point of woods between 2 hay fields, and with the rain again falling steady, he would work his way out to the field. Set up along edge, with him at out backs, were I figured he would see a decoy if he popped out anywhere along the field. Once set up, I gave a few soft yelps which got there attention. Not wanting to push it I waited for them to call back to me and after about 10 min they did however they were still on the roost. I gave them a fly down call along with a wave of my hat which got them all fired up. I told the boy to get ready these birds are going to come. Next time they call I answer and not only did they call back but something gobbled along the field edge to our left in a little dip in the field. Sure enough, 3 jakes were running towards the decoys. I asked the boy and his father if they wanted to take one of these birds and as if again on queue the boss thundered another gobble followed by the other birds roosting near him and the 3 jakes on the run towards us (at least 7 birds gobbling together, sounded like a train wreck). Well after that last gobble, the boy knew what he wanted and decided to wait on the gobbler, which I was sure was going to come in now with the jakes gobbling in the field. These jakes are no more than 10 yards in front of us, checking out the decoys and trying there best to put on a show, but each time that ole’ gobbler cut loose from the roost, they knew there pecking order and quickly fell in line. They finally decided to enter the woods and walk towards that gobbling. It was about then that I heard some hens doing some soft yelping. That ole’ bird had them coming from everywhere. Heard a few come off the roost and a few more gobbles going away from us and knew I could not compete with the real thing. Sounded as though they were headed for the hay field on the opposite side of the point so hot footed over there to try and cut them off. Too late, did not see them there (scratching my head, WHERE COULD THEY HAVE GONE!)

Tried a few other spots and had a hen come in and check us out. Heard another single gobble while trying to work this hen into frenzy but could not get him to speak anymore. Waited on him awhile to see if he would come in silent and saw yet another hen….Man if only the gobblers would have came as easy as them. They must have it made; the birds are coming to them, no need for them to do any chasing. Maybe later when the hens start laying eggs and nesting sooner the odds will swing in my favor. But a very exciting morning and the boy had a blast, just wish I could have closed the deal for him on that big Tom, but there is always the rest of the season!

Off course, just like yourself, on the way home (at about 11:00 am, we knocked off early, to wet and miserable), saw a big Tom strutting not 40 yards off the road in a field. Had 2 hens with him, we watched him put on a show and tried to film it but dumb ole’ me never pushed the record button and all I was doing was watching him through the view finder.

My buddy (the boy’s father) filmed the hunt (and yes it was his camera and he did get it, unlike me) and as soon as I get a copy I will try and post it or at least some pictures from it.

[hunter16]

well i scored again this year on youth day. similiar stories we worked a bird around 830 when the rain eased on up and had him gobbling pretty good then the rain decided to pour again, we went and set up in a small opening just calling every 15 mins or so. nothing except complete wetness, the rain let up again around 1030 went back to the bird that we had worked a couple hours ago and gave him on call and he hammered off. we crossed the creek got set up again and 10 minutes of calling and there he was at 80 yards in full strut , the young boy i was with was so nervous he could barely control his breathing. the bird came into about 25 yards but we had trees in between us and him and i wanted to make sure the boy had the perfect shot so i told him to wait. while the bird was behind the tree he let out a famous put and i knew we were busted he came out the other side of the trees wings tucked and ready to leave thats when i told scotty to shoot , the turkey was moving slowly and sure enough boom scotty shot the turkey jumped in the air and took off . scotty yelled no and my heart sank he missed. but the speed the turkey was running i figured i could run him down , thankfully i didnt have to he ran about 20 yards and flopped over dead. it was a nice 22 pound bird with a 10 inch beard little spurs tho probably a 3 year old. i also went to va sunday night and monday morning we put one on the ground so im off to a good start. i have called in two birds cant wait until saturday i have some buddies who im going totake they havent killed a turkey yet. good luck everyone

[brettgerhart]

I love these stories! Need some pics. Great job hunter 16 and shadow! I think my Nanjemoy property has a curse Hope to hear more stories and good luck as well!