Post by BIG FOX on Apr 15, 2012 10:03:06 GMT -5
Well what a weekend. My son Dylan has amazed me once again with ice water running through his vains and an unbreakable calmness. We set out for a youth day hunt on Saturday morning and were in the blind with Hunter sitting behind us getting ready to call by 530am. Before the sun came up we had at least 6 birds going crazy gobbling off the roost. It was exciting as all heck. Hunter could tell when they flew down and he began to call to a few of the birds and got an immediate response. A few more soft calls and you could tell we had birds closing the distance. With the decoy a mere 20 yards in front of the blind it seemed we would just have to wait. I looked out the blind window and saw a MONSTER TOM heading right for us at 60 yards to my left. I could see 2 more long beards directly behind him. They moved into 8 yards or so and I could not get Dylan into position for a shot. We were fumbling around in the blind and the birds never approached the decoy instead walking to the left of the blind and in (OF COURSE) the worst direction for our set up. I tried to get Dylan into position but it just would not happen and these birds got out of town without even a shot. Very disappointing indeed. We decided to get out and make a dash for it to get in front of them as Hunter had these birds scouted and knew where they were heading. We got set up and heard the Thunder Chickens not 70 yards from us down a small hill. Hunter worked his call and up pops one of the birds at 25 yards. Dylan was in my lap and we could not get steady and he would not shoot. He told me afterwards it just didn't feel right and he couldn't shoot. I was really proud of him for not taking the shot even though I was disappointed for him.. The birds scooted out of there none the wiser. We made one more attempt on the way to the truck on another group of birds we could get a response from and set up. About 75 yards through a thicket we could see 3 more longbeards who had a nice set of ladies with them and would not come any closer. Dejected we headed for the truck and made plans for another ASSAULT on get this......
A SUNDAY HUNTING OPPORTUNITY IN MARYLAND FOR TURKEYS AND THE KIDS.. Incredible..
Once again we we met up with Hunter on his Charles County spot at 0500 and were set up in the blind by 0530. We were just waiting in the dark quietly chatting when a couple owls decided to let the woods know they were there and started going NUTS.. This in turn woke up at least 5-7 Toms who happily responded to the owls and let us know we were surrounded. We just patiently waited for the sun to rise and the birds to move out of the trees. As the gobbling changed we could tell they had made their move and Hunter decided to sweet talk them. It was not long after we could tell they were closing the distance. To our dismay the 3 monster longbeards had ladies leading them away from us and way to far off for a shot. We watched as the strutters just followed the hens out of sight. Hunter tried to call them back and we hear addition birds sound off not far from our set up. I take a look and see 2 jakes making their way in in full strut. I position Dylan the best I can to make sure we are ready and the birds would just not come into our set up. They moved into about 40 yards to the left again and worked their way directly beind us and just listened to the calls and strutting. Suddenly they decided it was game on and Dylan and I were treated to front row seats to the THUNDER DOME as these guys went at it like a couple prize fighters. Locking their heads together and beating the snot out of each other for at least 10 minutes.. In turn they pushed each other directly towards our set up and were within 25 yards. I help steady Dylan for a shot and Hunter layed on the ground at the door to the blind. These birds were at each other like nothing I have ever seen. Dylan was panting like my lab after a long retrieve and I tried to calm him down. As the birds broke away and one was in a clearing I told him to steady his aim and let it fly.. BOOOOOOM I take a peek and see both birds still at it with one another.. Dylan had missed and it didn't even faze them. They just continued to fight... I about died as I grab another shell and reload the single shot Ithaca that a buddy of Hunter's allowed us to use.. I help calm Dylan once again and he aligns his sights... Ready?
?? BOOOOOOOOM another clean miss.. OH MY GAWD I about die... but the JAKES could care less.. They are fighting and could not care that they are a mere 25 yards away form us and Dylan has laid 2 #5 shots through the woods... I cannot believe it.. I am fairly certain we could have walked closer to get a better shoot if need be.. But there would not be a 3rd miss. As I reload the gun and get the set up back into play.. They push each other even closer and one of their fates would be sealed by a 20 gauge toting turkey assassin.. One more chance. Dylan lines up his sight they seperate and BOOOOOOM one hits the dirt.. The other not sure what exactly happened just stands there waiting for his foe to get back up but this day he would not.. Plus with a 150 lb green monster making a dash directly at him I guess spooked him and he would see he is no match for that creature and fly the heck out of there.. (Hunter was that 150lb monster 
) after exploding out of the blind and lots of high 5s and hugs Dylan had his SUnday Youth Day 2012 DOUBLE BEARDED JAKE.... What a great hunt and a memory I will hold for the rest of my life. I can only hope the calm cool and collective Dylan will one day understand how truely awesome he is and what a great hunter he is becoming.. A big THANK YOU to the guide of all guides.. My buddy Jerry (Hunter) without his calling and setting us up none of this would be possible... Great hunt and a great time.. Sunday hunting RULEZ......
Pround papa and son
DOUBLE BEARD BABY
The guide and the assassin...
A SUNDAY HUNTING OPPORTUNITY IN MARYLAND FOR TURKEYS AND THE KIDS.. Incredible..
Once again we we met up with Hunter on his Charles County spot at 0500 and were set up in the blind by 0530. We were just waiting in the dark quietly chatting when a couple owls decided to let the woods know they were there and started going NUTS.. This in turn woke up at least 5-7 Toms who happily responded to the owls and let us know we were surrounded. We just patiently waited for the sun to rise and the birds to move out of the trees. As the gobbling changed we could tell they had made their move and Hunter decided to sweet talk them. It was not long after we could tell they were closing the distance. To our dismay the 3 monster longbeards had ladies leading them away from us and way to far off for a shot. We watched as the strutters just followed the hens out of sight. Hunter tried to call them back and we hear addition birds sound off not far from our set up. I take a look and see 2 jakes making their way in in full strut. I position Dylan the best I can to make sure we are ready and the birds would just not come into our set up. They moved into about 40 yards to the left again and worked their way directly beind us and just listened to the calls and strutting. Suddenly they decided it was game on and Dylan and I were treated to front row seats to the THUNDER DOME as these guys went at it like a couple prize fighters. Locking their heads together and beating the snot out of each other for at least 10 minutes.. In turn they pushed each other directly towards our set up and were within 25 yards. I help steady Dylan for a shot and Hunter layed on the ground at the door to the blind. These birds were at each other like nothing I have ever seen. Dylan was panting like my lab after a long retrieve and I tried to calm him down. As the birds broke away and one was in a clearing I told him to steady his aim and let it fly.. BOOOOOOM I take a peek and see both birds still at it with one another.. Dylan had missed and it didn't even faze them. They just continued to fight... I about died as I grab another shell and reload the single shot Ithaca that a buddy of Hunter's allowed us to use.. I help calm Dylan once again and he aligns his sights... Ready?
?? BOOOOOOOOM another clean miss.. OH MY GAWD I about die... but the JAKES could care less.. They are fighting and could not care that they are a mere 25 yards away form us and Dylan has laid 2 #5 shots through the woods... I cannot believe it.. I am fairly certain we could have walked closer to get a better shoot if need be.. But there would not be a 3rd miss. As I reload the gun and get the set up back into play.. They push each other even closer and one of their fates would be sealed by a 20 gauge toting turkey assassin.. One more chance. Dylan lines up his sight they seperate and BOOOOOOM one hits the dirt.. The other not sure what exactly happened just stands there waiting for his foe to get back up but this day he would not.. Plus with a 150 lb green monster making a dash directly at him I guess spooked him and he would see he is no match for that creature and fly the heck out of there.. (Hunter was that 150lb monster 
) after exploding out of the blind and lots of high 5s and hugs Dylan had his SUnday Youth Day 2012 DOUBLE BEARDED JAKE.... What a great hunt and a memory I will hold for the rest of my life. I can only hope the calm cool and collective Dylan will one day understand how truely awesome he is and what a great hunter he is becoming.. A big THANK YOU to the guide of all guides.. My buddy Jerry (Hunter) without his calling and setting us up none of this would be possible... Great hunt and a great time.. Sunday hunting RULEZ...... Pround papa and son
DOUBLE BEARD BABY
The guide and the assassin...
