RF270
Well-Known Member
You guys with young kids believe people when they tell you they grow up fast. My son hunted on his last juvenile hunt this year as a 16 year old and it truly feels like yesterday he was going on his first juvenile hunt at 11. If you remember for many years you had to 11 before you could go on a youth hunt. Even before that the youth turkey hunt was at the end of the season. Thankfully the TWRA has changed both of those.
I took both my 16 year old and his younger brother on the opening morning of the youth hunt. My younger son killed one that morning so it was just me and my 16 year old on Sunday. What an enjoyable day. I called one off the roost straight to us but he came so quick & so close he couldn't make a move on him and walked away. Not an hour later we were back on birds and watch a group hens, jakes & longbeards for over thiry minutes before he could make a great shot through a cedar thicket. #1 in the books.
Opening morning Jacob hunted with a good friend and was doing the calling for the two of them. They made all the right moves at the right time and he called in 5 jakes and he let our friend take the first shot. He smacked one down and the other four went to flogging the dead bird leaving Jacob an with great shot. #2 in the books.
We took Sunday off since the kids were on Springbreak the next week. We started the week off right on Monday. I set-up with my younger son on the low end of the ridge & Jacob was about 35 yards above us. We had barely sat down and hens started pitching right over our heads and landing in the field behind us. The gobblers flew down in the woods as we all called, me, Jacob and the hens. Four longbeards came high and Jacob put the hammer on the strutter and 15 yards...#3 in the books.
Tuesday we approached the same group of birds from the opposite direction but the gobblers never came by but we did have a great show from the hens & about 12 jakes flying down right on us and spending a least an hour nearby. We gave up after a shot on the adjouning property sent them all scattering. We went to another spot and saw two groups of birds both with gobblers. We decided to split up and go after both groups. We were about 150 yards apart and Jacob started to call to his bird, when he did the three we were watch all gobbled and ran straight to him. Not only had he tagged out on the fourth day of the season but he called three away from me & his brother. I was thrilled, his brother not so much. #4 in the books.
What a season to remember for both of us but especially him. He now plans on fishing more and try and "guide" some of his friends. I've already told him to soak it up because rarely if ever will he have a season like this one....RF
I took both my 16 year old and his younger brother on the opening morning of the youth hunt. My younger son killed one that morning so it was just me and my 16 year old on Sunday. What an enjoyable day. I called one off the roost straight to us but he came so quick & so close he couldn't make a move on him and walked away. Not an hour later we were back on birds and watch a group hens, jakes & longbeards for over thiry minutes before he could make a great shot through a cedar thicket. #1 in the books.
Opening morning Jacob hunted with a good friend and was doing the calling for the two of them. They made all the right moves at the right time and he called in 5 jakes and he let our friend take the first shot. He smacked one down and the other four went to flogging the dead bird leaving Jacob an with great shot. #2 in the books.
We took Sunday off since the kids were on Springbreak the next week. We started the week off right on Monday. I set-up with my younger son on the low end of the ridge & Jacob was about 35 yards above us. We had barely sat down and hens started pitching right over our heads and landing in the field behind us. The gobblers flew down in the woods as we all called, me, Jacob and the hens. Four longbeards came high and Jacob put the hammer on the strutter and 15 yards...#3 in the books.
Tuesday we approached the same group of birds from the opposite direction but the gobblers never came by but we did have a great show from the hens & about 12 jakes flying down right on us and spending a least an hour nearby. We gave up after a shot on the adjouning property sent them all scattering. We went to another spot and saw two groups of birds both with gobblers. We decided to split up and go after both groups. We were about 150 yards apart and Jacob started to call to his bird, when he did the three we were watch all gobbled and ran straight to him. Not only had he tagged out on the fourth day of the season but he called three away from me & his brother. I was thrilled, his brother not so much. #4 in the books.
What a season to remember for both of us but especially him. He now plans on fishing more and try and "guide" some of his friends. I've already told him to soak it up because rarely if ever will he have a season like this one....RF
