Well, this whole event started about 3-4 months ago. My nephew Brock wanted to go Turkey hunting and asked if I would take him out? Of course I said “yes”. How could I resist another opportunity to be outdoors and also be with my oldest nephew for a couple of days and try to show him how “cool” I am, or should I say “nerdy”?
This was to be a short season for him. He was only allowed to miss one day of school, which meant he couldn’t go the 1st day (Thurs) of his season and he had to head home Saturday (today) for his brothers choir concert by 6:00 p.m. (That gave us 1.5 days to make it happen)
Since he also is only 15, Grandma had to meet him and his mom (my sister) in Fergus Falls (halfway pt from St. Cloud) on Thursday night about 10:00 p.m. to make the hunt possible. I would’ve did it but, I had to bartend and didn’t finish closing until 12:30 a.m.
Well, Friday morning came way too fast. With only 3 hrs of sleep and no scouting done ahead of time, I was relying on others to fill me in with some insight and information. Which amounted to little or nothing for help. The 1st morning temp was only 32 but the sky was clear and the sun reached the tree tops right on schedule to greet us with much anticipation and enthusiasm.
After sitting a couple of hours we saw our first birds. It was 2 hens and one ended up walking by only 20 yards from our blind. As for Toms or Jakes… we didn’t have any luck.
It was my first time guiding for a youngster but I have taken my nephews and niece fishing before and know from experience that we need to keep moving and catching for them to stay focused/interested.
So, the day quickly turned into a run & gun or cut ‘n strut type day. We drove around and ended up making 4 different set-ups at 3 different pcs of property that I have permission to hunt. Finally after going back to the 2nd pc of property to glass/scout/hunt, we came across a group of birds and I knew from experience to hang back, let them get off the field and wait till I could get to a spot that I’ve hunted before to put up the blind one last time.
With the weather forecast for rain, I thought our best bet would be to wait them out today from one location as long as possible. We were in the blind by 5:30 and Brock was already tired. In fact, he was sleeping by 6:00. No biggie. I waited till about 6:30 before I let out a calling sequence with the diaphragm call. While about 10 seconds into it, we had a gobble and it was close. Based on my past observation I would say within 100 yards. Well, I waited about 15 mins and let out another sequence, this time nothing. A few minutes went by and I looking out the back of the blind and I see the Tom roosted in a tree about 80 yards away. I told Brock, “we will just have to wait him out”.
Soon after I said that I looked behind the blind again and the Tom was gone. I was hoping he would come directly to the field after landing and within a couple of mins, we had a Jake to our right and another bird following.
As it turns out, the bird behind the Jake is either a Jake/Tom??? I’m not a sure because I don’t hunt enough to know. The beard is shorter (4-5″ range) but the tail when fanned out is all the same length. Any how, at that point it didn’t matter. I whisper to Brock; “shoot the 2nd bird”.
Brock puts the gun up and thru the opening of the blind and waited patiently for the 1st bird to pass by and for the 2nd to put his head up. Brock is breathing heavy and said “when can I shoot”? I reply; “hit the safety”. I ended up not even thinking twice and put my hand up and hit it ASAP. Good thing I did because the second I did, I looked back at the bird and his head was as high as it could get. “SHOOT, SHOOT” I say. The rest is history.
It’s not the biggest bird in the woods but it does sport a 5 5/8″ beard, weighed 18 lbs, and had 1/2″ spurs.
I want to say once again; “Congratulations Brock on your 1st Turkey and Great Shot!!!” You made me one very proud uncle and thank you for asking me take you out on a memorable hunt. The pictures will be looked at and story told many times over the years and I will cherish this day for the rest of my life.
Gobble Gobble
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and great story 
Thanks to you he will have a hunting memory that he will never forget 
