Grizzly Johnson
Well-Known Member
If you are submitting a youth story & pics, post them here!!
Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
- Thread starter Grizzly Johnson
- Start date
- Status
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #1[/color][/size][/font]
My daughter killed her first turkey around 2:30 on the first day of the juvenile hunt and it was a heck of a first turkey! It is a two year old with six beards! I have only killed one with six beards in almost thirty years of hunting them. It's main beard looks like a paint brush. We heard him gobble so we set up on him. My first call he cut me off. I waited a couple of minutes and called and he cut me off again, this time closer, but there was more than one gobbling this time. When they got up to us there were three of them. I told her to shoot the one in the front. The little 870 youth 20 gauge echoed through the hills followed by the sound of wings beating on the forest floor. It was an awesome hunt. After pictures were taken, she asked if we could get it mounted, so he is now at the taxidermist getting mounted so she will have a reminder of her first turkey hunt, and a perfect hunt it was!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #1[/color][/size][/font]
My daughter killed her first turkey around 2:30 on the first day of the juvenile hunt and it was a heck of a first turkey! It is a two year old with six beards! I have only killed one with six beards in almost thirty years of hunting them. It's main beard looks like a paint brush. We heard him gobble so we set up on him. My first call he cut me off. I waited a couple of minutes and called and he cut me off again, this time closer, but there was more than one gobbling this time. When they got up to us there were three of them. I told her to shoot the one in the front. The little 870 youth 20 gauge echoed through the hills followed by the sound of wings beating on the forest floor. It was an awesome hunt. After pictures were taken, she asked if we could get it mounted, so he is now at the taxidermist getting mounted so she will have a reminder of her first turkey hunt, and a perfect hunt it was!
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #2[/color][/size][/font]
Hunting buddies little girl, Carley Raley, AKA Lil'Carlenator" hunt was a success yesterday. She got her another Monster Tom.
You can check out the hunt video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD1ybnB ... ata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLZM2y ... ata_player
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #2[/color][/size][/font]
Hunting buddies little girl, Carley Raley, AKA Lil'Carlenator" hunt was a success yesterday. She got her another Monster Tom.
You can check out the hunt video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD1ybnB ... ata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLZM2y ... ata_player
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #3[/color][/size][/font]
Took my son Dylan turkey hunting Saturday hunted for a couple of hours at daylight no gobbles anywhere! It started pouring rain so we hunkered down and stayed about 10pm it stopped and the sun came out we where sitting in a food plot with a single hen decoy out just calling about every 30 min or so and I had just called around 12:15 and heard a purr I went to looking around and was shocked to see 4 gobblers blowed up strutting around our decoy in the middle of the field I nudged my son and said get your gun up there's 4 gobblers beside the decoy! He slowly raised his gun and a hen off to our right started putting! The gobblers started walking away I said hurry up and shoot the one on the left!! BOOM! Gobbler Down!! Very proud of my son sitting in the rain and toughing it out and taking this big gobbler! Turkeys never said a word just purred a little rubbing on the decoy!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #3[/color][/size][/font]
Took my son Dylan turkey hunting Saturday hunted for a couple of hours at daylight no gobbles anywhere! It started pouring rain so we hunkered down and stayed about 10pm it stopped and the sun came out we where sitting in a food plot with a single hen decoy out just calling about every 30 min or so and I had just called around 12:15 and heard a purr I went to looking around and was shocked to see 4 gobblers blowed up strutting around our decoy in the middle of the field I nudged my son and said get your gun up there's 4 gobblers beside the decoy! He slowly raised his gun and a hen off to our right started putting! The gobblers started walking away I said hurry up and shoot the one on the left!! BOOM! Gobbler Down!! Very proud of my son sitting in the rain and toughing it out and taking this big gobbler! Turkeys never said a word just purred a little rubbing on the decoy!
jumpmaster21
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #4[/color][/size][/font]
Very proud of my daughter, Haley, on her first turkey hunt and harvest.
Haley and I have been shooting bows and guns together for the past few years but she has never shown an interest in hunting so I haven't pushed it on her. Last fall she came up to me and said, "Daddy, I want to go to the hunter�s safety course and hunt with you". I was one proud Dad after she completed the course in August. I couldn�t persuade her to hunt afterwards but knew at some point she would come around.
A few weeks ago, Haley asked to go shooting so I packed her up and hit the skeet range. When we were finished she said, �I want to kill a turkey�. So we�ve been shooting her shotgun, compound, and recently a crossbow. This past week, she said that she wanted to hunt on Saturday and shoot a turkey in the head with her crossbow.
On Friday, March 21st, Haley and I went out to a good friend's property to try and roost a bird. It didn�t take long to find birds, as two long beards and three jakes were standing in the food plot. We set-up our blind and quickly left the area.
Saturday morning we snuck in to the blind and listened to Mother Nature wake up. Haley was beaming with excitement as the first gobbler let loose. We had a long beard and three jakes fly down and work around our set-up; I still can�t understand why they didn�t come in to our decoys. Five minutes later, I looked across the food plot and a lone gobbler is staring the Jake decoy down. I gave him a couple of soft purrs and he breaks out of strut and starts coming toward us. At 40 yards he started strutting again and Haley said, �Daddy, I want to shoot him bad!� Five minutes later, the gobbler is at full strut nine yards from the blind. The camera man gave us the thumbs up and Haley let a rage fly through the gobbler�s neck. He immediately went down and Haley had her first turkey! I�m one proud Daddy!!! Can�t wait to do it again.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #4[/color][/size][/font]
Haley and I have been shooting bows and guns together for the past few years but she has never shown an interest in hunting so I haven't pushed it on her. Last fall she came up to me and said, "Daddy, I want to go to the hunter�s safety course and hunt with you". I was one proud Dad after she completed the course in August. I couldn�t persuade her to hunt afterwards but knew at some point she would come around.
A few weeks ago, Haley asked to go shooting so I packed her up and hit the skeet range. When we were finished she said, �I want to kill a turkey�. So we�ve been shooting her shotgun, compound, and recently a crossbow. This past week, she said that she wanted to hunt on Saturday and shoot a turkey in the head with her crossbow.
On Friday, March 21st, Haley and I went out to a good friend's property to try and roost a bird. It didn�t take long to find birds, as two long beards and three jakes were standing in the food plot. We set-up our blind and quickly left the area.
Saturday morning we snuck in to the blind and listened to Mother Nature wake up. Haley was beaming with excitement as the first gobbler let loose. We had a long beard and three jakes fly down and work around our set-up; I still can�t understand why they didn�t come in to our decoys. Five minutes later, I looked across the food plot and a lone gobbler is staring the Jake decoy down. I gave him a couple of soft purrs and he breaks out of strut and starts coming toward us. At 40 yards he started strutting again and Haley said, �Daddy, I want to shoot him bad!� Five minutes later, the gobbler is at full strut nine yards from the blind. The camera man gave us the thumbs up and Haley let a rage fly through the gobbler�s neck. He immediately went down and Haley had her first turkey! I�m one proud Daddy!!! Can�t wait to do it again.
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #5[/color][/size][/font]
My buddy took his son dalton on the Tn youth hunt got on some birds at daylight they flew down and got with hens and shut up! Dalton stuck with it and about 1pm in the afternoon located this gobbler by himself in a field and after circling around and getting into position a few soft yelps brought him right to the gun! Congrats Dalton!!!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #5[/color][/size][/font]
My buddy took his son dalton on the Tn youth hunt got on some birds at daylight they flew down and got with hens and shut up! Dalton stuck with it and about 1pm in the afternoon located this gobbler by himself in a field and after circling around and getting into position a few soft yelps brought him right to the gun! Congrats Dalton!!!
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #6[/color][/size][/font]
Took my friends son Dalton turkey hunting this morning went to a huge field right at daylight did the old who cooks for you? Who cooks for you? Gobblegobblegobble!!! Right down the field from us! It was still pitch black dark we snuck down the field edge and into the woods close to where we heard the gobbles from,as soon as we entered the woods about 10 deer blew and crashed the thicket up leaving!! Dang!!! I thought it was over we slipped in sat down and waited no more gobbles! As soon as it was good light a did just a few very soft tree yelps nothing!! We just sat there thinking all was lost and about 150 yards away a big gobbler flys out of a tree and lands about 30 yards from us BOOM! Congrats Dalton!!!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #6[/color][/size][/font]
Took my friends son Dalton turkey hunting this morning went to a huge field right at daylight did the old who cooks for you? Who cooks for you? Gobblegobblegobble!!! Right down the field from us! It was still pitch black dark we snuck down the field edge and into the woods close to where we heard the gobbles from,as soon as we entered the woods about 10 deer blew and crashed the thicket up leaving!! Dang!!! I thought it was over we slipped in sat down and waited no more gobbles! As soon as it was good light a did just a few very soft tree yelps nothing!! We just sat there thinking all was lost and about 150 yards away a big gobbler flys out of a tree and lands about 30 yards from us BOOM! Congrats Dalton!!!
Orion6
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #7[/color][/size][/font]
Last week I took my daughter Jenna on the youth hunt. We got close with some jakes but just couldn't seal the deal. Sometimes things look you in the face, dangle the carrot, but aren't meant to be.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, March 30. A buddy of mine has a nice spot where he's had a lot of paired up toms, as well as some big loners on camera. He told me to tell her she was going to his blind for the day. He wanted her to kill one of the big boys if we could get lucky enough.
We got settled in about 1:15 or so, and by about 2:00 we had a lone gobbler coming from the other end of the field headed our way. We were both getting pretty nervous, as I thought, "This is it, she's going to get a nice bird!" The gobbler got about halfway to us, maybe at about 65-70 yards, and then just meandered off in the woods. She was a little bummed out (and so was Dad) thinking that might be her chance for the day.
A couple more hours go by, and we hear some good hen talk in the hollow to our right. Seemed like they were headed our way, so I yelped back a few times. They answered back a time or two, then things just got quiet. I expected them to come by us at any time, but they never showed up. About half an hour later, the hens are at it again, with a nice series of cuts thrown in. I told her to stay ready and focused because you never know when one might pop out in front of you.
At this point, my buddy pulled out his jake gobble shaker. After a couple of gobbles from the young punk jake, I hit a few seductive yelps on an aluminum call. No response from the hens, and I'm thinking, "Man, so close again, but it just might not be her afternoon."
A few short minutes later, I hear the wonderful "bawwwwmp...bawwwwmp" of a gobbler drumming right behind the blind. I told my buddy and daughter, "There's a gobbler out there, and he's got to be really close." My buddy stood up in the blind, and peeked out the back window just a bit. He turned to me, eyes as big as dinner plates..."Biiiiiiiig sucker right behind us, coming our way!" He sat down as quickly as he could, and helped my daughter get into position (even though it's a good size blind, we're pretty big boys, so we were situated pretty tight, with me in the front corner and them towards the back).
As I waited for the gobbler to come into view, my heart started racing. Was this going to be the day? Could we get it done? What if she missed, would she ever go again? The tom skirted the blind, looking for the punk kid trying to take his lady friend. He walked around front, looking for a fight, and gave her a perfect 15 yard shot with her 20 gauge 870. I didn't want to spook the bird, so I just sat back in my chair. I whispered, "Head down, look down the rib, focus on the neck, don't rush the shot..." I zoomed in on her trigger finger, and everything slowed down to a crawl.
I heard my buddy tell her, "Wait...wait...NOW!"
The trigger finger crept backward, and I saw the gun buck in her hands. I froze for a second...and the next words I heard were "GOT 'IM!"
Jenna fist pumped and it was high fives all around. The bruiser flopped around, fighting the now inevitable ending.
I jumped out of the blind, sprinted to the bird, and knew she had done it. Her first bird! I think I was shaking as bad if not worse than she was.
By West Tennessee standards, he was not a true giant; by plateau standards he was a mature old son of a gun and had the weight and spurs to show it - 22 pounds, 10 1/2 inch beard, 1 1/4 spurs.
God is better to me than I deserve, and this is one of those days a father can't really put in to words, much less forget.
I wouldn't trade her for ten sons.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #7[/color][/size][/font]
Last week I took my daughter Jenna on the youth hunt. We got close with some jakes but just couldn't seal the deal. Sometimes things look you in the face, dangle the carrot, but aren't meant to be.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, March 30. A buddy of mine has a nice spot where he's had a lot of paired up toms, as well as some big loners on camera. He told me to tell her she was going to his blind for the day. He wanted her to kill one of the big boys if we could get lucky enough.
We got settled in about 1:15 or so, and by about 2:00 we had a lone gobbler coming from the other end of the field headed our way. We were both getting pretty nervous, as I thought, "This is it, she's going to get a nice bird!" The gobbler got about halfway to us, maybe at about 65-70 yards, and then just meandered off in the woods. She was a little bummed out (and so was Dad) thinking that might be her chance for the day.
A couple more hours go by, and we hear some good hen talk in the hollow to our right. Seemed like they were headed our way, so I yelped back a few times. They answered back a time or two, then things just got quiet. I expected them to come by us at any time, but they never showed up. About half an hour later, the hens are at it again, with a nice series of cuts thrown in. I told her to stay ready and focused because you never know when one might pop out in front of you.
At this point, my buddy pulled out his jake gobble shaker. After a couple of gobbles from the young punk jake, I hit a few seductive yelps on an aluminum call. No response from the hens, and I'm thinking, "Man, so close again, but it just might not be her afternoon."
A few short minutes later, I hear the wonderful "bawwwwmp...bawwwwmp" of a gobbler drumming right behind the blind. I told my buddy and daughter, "There's a gobbler out there, and he's got to be really close." My buddy stood up in the blind, and peeked out the back window just a bit. He turned to me, eyes as big as dinner plates..."Biiiiiiiig sucker right behind us, coming our way!" He sat down as quickly as he could, and helped my daughter get into position (even though it's a good size blind, we're pretty big boys, so we were situated pretty tight, with me in the front corner and them towards the back).
As I waited for the gobbler to come into view, my heart started racing. Was this going to be the day? Could we get it done? What if she missed, would she ever go again? The tom skirted the blind, looking for the punk kid trying to take his lady friend. He walked around front, looking for a fight, and gave her a perfect 15 yard shot with her 20 gauge 870. I didn't want to spook the bird, so I just sat back in my chair. I whispered, "Head down, look down the rib, focus on the neck, don't rush the shot..." I zoomed in on her trigger finger, and everything slowed down to a crawl.
I heard my buddy tell her, "Wait...wait...NOW!"
The trigger finger crept backward, and I saw the gun buck in her hands. I froze for a second...and the next words I heard were "GOT 'IM!"
Jenna fist pumped and it was high fives all around. The bruiser flopped around, fighting the now inevitable ending.
I jumped out of the blind, sprinted to the bird, and knew she had done it. Her first bird! I think I was shaking as bad if not worse than she was.
By West Tennessee standards, he was not a true giant; by plateau standards he was a mature old son of a gun and had the weight and spurs to show it - 22 pounds, 10 1/2 inch beard, 1 1/4 spurs.
God is better to me than I deserve, and this is one of those days a father can't really put in to words, much less forget.
I wouldn't trade her for ten sons.
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #8[/color][/size][/font]
Took my son Dylan to LbL this weekend on the youth hunt with a couple of friends got there about 3:30 Friday afternoon trying to roost one went to several different spots never heard a gooble! I did spook a hen at one spot so I went back there on Saturday morning the day of the hunt. Went down a long ridge and set up about half way down it when it was breaking daylight a yote started howling in the distance and a gobbler let out a loud one about 100 yards down the ridge from us! I thought wow! He never answered my hooting Friday! So I gave a couple tree yelps and he cut me off! So I shut up in about 10 min later he flew out and headed away gobbling his head off he went to the highest ridge around so we moved on him got close and started working him and he began to get close so I shut up the about 15 min went by I gave a real soft yelp when I did he gobbled so close it startled me! And I also had 3 gobbles close behind me I slowly turned my head behind me to see 3 long beards running full speed down the ridge behind me coming fast so I spun Dylan around real quick and when they reached about 30 yards I said KILL HIM!!! BOOM!!! GOBBLER DOWN!!! Then I whispered dont move the other 2 jumped a little looked around at the flopper the walked up and beat him for about 5 min then walked off gobbling there heads off!! They never knew what happen!!! So I left and went to get my friends son Ty.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #8[/color][/size][/font]
Took my son Dylan to LbL this weekend on the youth hunt with a couple of friends got there about 3:30 Friday afternoon trying to roost one went to several different spots never heard a gooble! I did spook a hen at one spot so I went back there on Saturday morning the day of the hunt. Went down a long ridge and set up about half way down it when it was breaking daylight a yote started howling in the distance and a gobbler let out a loud one about 100 yards down the ridge from us! I thought wow! He never answered my hooting Friday! So I gave a couple tree yelps and he cut me off! So I shut up in about 10 min later he flew out and headed away gobbling his head off he went to the highest ridge around so we moved on him got close and started working him and he began to get close so I shut up the about 15 min went by I gave a real soft yelp when I did he gobbled so close it startled me! And I also had 3 gobbles close behind me I slowly turned my head behind me to see 3 long beards running full speed down the ridge behind me coming fast so I spun Dylan around real quick and when they reached about 30 yards I said KILL HIM!!! BOOM!!! GOBBLER DOWN!!! Then I whispered dont move the other 2 jumped a little looked around at the flopper the walked up and beat him for about 5 min then walked off gobbling there heads off!! They never knew what happen!!! So I left and went to get my friends son Ty.
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Also I would like to say that I've never seen a turkey with white legs? All I've seen is red legs.
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #9[/color][/size][/font]
TY'S BIRD!!!!
After my son killed one I texted my buddy they said they haven't heard a thing and hes got a hurt foot can't hardly walk good so I said come meet me with Ty I finally got Ty about 9:30 and it was about 10:30 before we got back to where I was hunting we slowly went from ridge to ridge looking for some response finally about 12 we got one to gobbling we worked him awhile but he wouldn't move we were on one ridge and he was on another its so open I think he was looking to see the hen so we backed off made a good half mile circle and got on the same ridge he was on got about 300 yards from where he had been gobbling and he wouldn't answer? So we kept getting closer till we were in the same spot he was gobbling sat down made a soft yelp and he cut me off with a gobble straight across the ridge were we had been earlier!!! I told Ty if he will cross the holler once he will do it again so we started working him he got all fired up I could barley purr as soft as I could make a noise on the call and he would hammer back from 300 yards I was astounded at how well he could hear! I started scratching in the leaves and he would gobble so I shut up!! In about 10/15 min he got closer and his gobbling became more intense! I told Ty get your gun up I think he's coming 5 silent minutes went by and I could hear him walking he came over a small rise in half strutt and Ty introduced him to his browning gold hunter shotgun!! BOOM!!! Bird down!! It was 2:20 and we was 2 miles from my truck that's about the time my other buddy sent the story & pics of his son Dalton's Bird!!!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #9[/color][/size][/font]
TY'S BIRD!!!!
After my son killed one I texted my buddy they said they haven't heard a thing and hes got a hurt foot can't hardly walk good so I said come meet me with Ty I finally got Ty about 9:30 and it was about 10:30 before we got back to where I was hunting we slowly went from ridge to ridge looking for some response finally about 12 we got one to gobbling we worked him awhile but he wouldn't move we were on one ridge and he was on another its so open I think he was looking to see the hen so we backed off made a good half mile circle and got on the same ridge he was on got about 300 yards from where he had been gobbling and he wouldn't answer? So we kept getting closer till we were in the same spot he was gobbling sat down made a soft yelp and he cut me off with a gobble straight across the ridge were we had been earlier!!! I told Ty if he will cross the holler once he will do it again so we started working him he got all fired up I could barley purr as soft as I could make a noise on the call and he would hammer back from 300 yards I was astounded at how well he could hear! I started scratching in the leaves and he would gobble so I shut up!! In about 10/15 min he got closer and his gobbling became more intense! I told Ty get your gun up I think he's coming 5 silent minutes went by and I could hear him walking he came over a small rise in half strutt and Ty introduced him to his browning gold hunter shotgun!! BOOM!!! Bird down!! It was 2:20 and we was 2 miles from my truck that's about the time my other buddy sent the story & pics of his son Dalton's Bird!!!
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #10[/color][/size][/font]
DALTON'S BIRD!!!
My friend Greg's son Dalton hunted Saturday morning on a bird they had roosted Friday afternoon they got close before daylight and when it got light he had hens gobbled I think he said maybe once flew down with the hens and never said another word! So they went to several different spots finally about 12pm was sitting on a ridge calling and got a gobble from about 200 yards away after a little more calling they got way closer so dalton got the gun up and 3 big strutters walked up with dalton taking the leader out! Boom bird down! Dalton's having one heck of a season hes killed 3 birds in 3 weekends with 2 of them birds coming off public land!!!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #10[/color][/size][/font]
DALTON'S BIRD!!!
My friend Greg's son Dalton hunted Saturday morning on a bird they had roosted Friday afternoon they got close before daylight and when it got light he had hens gobbled I think he said maybe once flew down with the hens and never said another word! So they went to several different spots finally about 12pm was sitting on a ridge calling and got a gobble from about 200 yards away after a little more calling they got way closer so dalton got the gun up and 3 big strutters walked up with dalton taking the leader out! Boom bird down! Dalton's having one heck of a season hes killed 3 birds in 3 weekends with 2 of them birds coming off public land!!!
Thicketmaster
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #11[/color][/size][/font]
Congrats!!!! DALTON YOU'VE HAD A GREAT SEASON!!
Dalton's triple!!! 3 Saturdays 3 birds!!!
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #11[/color][/size][/font]
Congrats!!!! DALTON YOU'VE HAD A GREAT SEASON!!
Dalton's triple!!! 3 Saturdays 3 birds!!!
mountin whitetails
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #12[/color][/size][/font]
Very proud of this little girl showed a lot of patience and drive for a nine year old. She has hunted hard for 3 seasons and came close several times. The morning she got this jake we worked 2 long beards for over 2 hours. When the toms finally commit to come in, 5 jakes showed up when they were 50 yards out. The jakes started chasing to toms around in circles. The toms finally broke away and came by at a fast walk passing by us at around 35 yards. I felt this was to far for a 20 gauge and her first bird. When we looked the direction the toms came from we seen the 5 jakes coming in. At around 30 yards they stop and she picked one out and got a little pay back for them messing up her chance at a long beard.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #12[/color][/size][/font]
Very proud of this little girl showed a lot of patience and drive for a nine year old. She has hunted hard for 3 seasons and came close several times. The morning she got this jake we worked 2 long beards for over 2 hours. When the toms finally commit to come in, 5 jakes showed up when they were 50 yards out. The jakes started chasing to toms around in circles. The toms finally broke away and came by at a fast walk passing by us at around 35 yards. I felt this was to far for a 20 gauge and her first bird. When we looked the direction the toms came from we seen the 5 jakes coming in. At around 30 yards they stop and she picked one out and got a little pay back for them messing up her chance at a long beard.
mountin whitetails
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #13[/color][/size][/font]
Addison Oakes took her 5th and best turkey this spring at age 12. It took over a hour to get the tom to come in and when he finally showed up some hens came from behind us to him and kept him just out of range. Finally after almost another 3 hours they came into about 30 yards and she shot him when he came out of strut when 3 hens started fighting.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #13[/color][/size][/font]
Addison Oakes took her 5th and best turkey this spring at age 12. It took over a hour to get the tom to come in and when he finally showed up some hens came from behind us to him and kept him just out of range. Finally after almost another 3 hours they came into about 30 yards and she shot him when he came out of strut when 3 hens started fighting.
Puckett Creek
Well-Known Member
Re: Youth Contest Pics & Story Here.
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #14[/color][/size][/font]
First Turkey!
Check out the video of the hunt-
https://vimeo.com/90230314
My son, Decker John is 6 years old and he smoked his first turkey this spring! It was a nice 3 yr old bird with a 10 1/4" beard and 1 1/8" spurs. This past fall, he shot a couple squirrels to include a big ol' fox squirrel, which we had mounted for his birthday.
The planning and practicing to get his first turkey started several weeks prior to the youth opener. I knew we would have a hard time being successful without a pop-up blind (something I've never hunted out of). So we ordered one online from Bass Pro and he could not wait for it to arrive.
Once we received we practicing with it in the back yard. We would set it up and I would place a decoy about 25 yards out. We would go through the routine over and over to make sure when the real Mr. Tom was approaching auto pilot would kick in and there would be no room for error.
When I gave him the nod, he would stand up and I'd place his ear muffs on. He would move into position and I'd get the shotgun ready - using the tent window for a rest. Once he was holding the gun, he knew that that when I slid the trigger to the fire position it was time for him to him to make a good shot.
After aiming the shotgun at the decoy many times, I swapped it out for a Coke can on a limb and we went through the routine with bird shot.... after busting the can time after time I knew was ready!
All week long I went to check fields and we found a gobbler several morning in a row in one of our pastures. I included him in setting up the blind and brushing it in... he loved every bit of it! We were unable to hunt the opening morning, but hunted Sunday morning and everything unfolded perfectly. Decker John was so excited he could hardly stand it..... waking up early, getting his camo on, packing his backpack. He was ready to get a turkey... and man was I excited for him!
The gobbler had roosted exactly where we thought it would be. He started the morning very vocal on the roost, but once his feet hit the ground he went silent. For a moment I thought maybe he went the other way, but then all of the sudden he entered our field and started making his way to us in full strut. I couldn't have asked for a better display as he quickly approached our decoys! The ole Tom actually got a bit closer than I had hoped, but all the practice paid off as Decker John made a great shot!
I believe that all the rehearsing is what made getting the shot off work so smoothly. It was a very special hunt - one that I will remember for the rest of my life. We mounted the tail fan, beard and spurs and they proudly hang on Decker John's wall.
He also got two more chances a turkeys this year. He harvested a nice Jake... that actually acted more like a long beard. He came strutting in and gobbling his head off. Then he missed a nice long beard at very close range. The bird was facing us in full strut when he took the shot. I played the video footage back in slow motion and he actually shot a hole right through the tail fan... missing the head by inches! Too tight a pattern for a 12 yrd shot!
I am looking forward to many more turkey hunts w/ my best hunting buddy! I can honestly say it is much more excited to experience Decker John killing a turkey than any gobbler I've taken.
Pictures of his Jake
[font:Times New Roman][size][color:#FF0000]Youth Entry #14[/color][/size][/font]
First Turkey!
Check out the video of the hunt-
https://vimeo.com/90230314
My son, Decker John is 6 years old and he smoked his first turkey this spring! It was a nice 3 yr old bird with a 10 1/4" beard and 1 1/8" spurs. This past fall, he shot a couple squirrels to include a big ol' fox squirrel, which we had mounted for his birthday.
The planning and practicing to get his first turkey started several weeks prior to the youth opener. I knew we would have a hard time being successful without a pop-up blind (something I've never hunted out of). So we ordered one online from Bass Pro and he could not wait for it to arrive.
Once we received we practicing with it in the back yard. We would set it up and I would place a decoy about 25 yards out. We would go through the routine over and over to make sure when the real Mr. Tom was approaching auto pilot would kick in and there would be no room for error.
When I gave him the nod, he would stand up and I'd place his ear muffs on. He would move into position and I'd get the shotgun ready - using the tent window for a rest. Once he was holding the gun, he knew that that when I slid the trigger to the fire position it was time for him to him to make a good shot.
After aiming the shotgun at the decoy many times, I swapped it out for a Coke can on a limb and we went through the routine with bird shot.... after busting the can time after time I knew was ready!
All week long I went to check fields and we found a gobbler several morning in a row in one of our pastures. I included him in setting up the blind and brushing it in... he loved every bit of it! We were unable to hunt the opening morning, but hunted Sunday morning and everything unfolded perfectly. Decker John was so excited he could hardly stand it..... waking up early, getting his camo on, packing his backpack. He was ready to get a turkey... and man was I excited for him!
The gobbler had roosted exactly where we thought it would be. He started the morning very vocal on the roost, but once his feet hit the ground he went silent. For a moment I thought maybe he went the other way, but then all of the sudden he entered our field and started making his way to us in full strut. I couldn't have asked for a better display as he quickly approached our decoys! The ole Tom actually got a bit closer than I had hoped, but all the practice paid off as Decker John made a great shot!
I believe that all the rehearsing is what made getting the shot off work so smoothly. It was a very special hunt - one that I will remember for the rest of my life. We mounted the tail fan, beard and spurs and they proudly hang on Decker John's wall.
He also got two more chances a turkeys this year. He harvested a nice Jake... that actually acted more like a long beard. He came strutting in and gobbling his head off. Then he missed a nice long beard at very close range. The bird was facing us in full strut when he took the shot. I played the video footage back in slow motion and he actually shot a hole right through the tail fan... missing the head by inches! Too tight a pattern for a 12 yrd shot!
I am looking forward to many more turkey hunts w/ my best hunting buddy! I can honestly say it is much more excited to experience Decker John killing a turkey than any gobbler I've taken.
Pictures of his Jake
- Status
