My First Tom:
Being relatively new to Turkey hunting, I wisely keep my hopes high, but expectations low. This was only my third spring in the woods, and with each new year came new lessons learned and new rewards. I’ve been lucky enough to spend each year with Joel Nelson, a great turkey hunter and an even better friend, whose experience gave me an undeniable advantage in the woods.
My first year provided me a mid-range shot at a Jake just off roost. Being a rookie, I was unsure when the ideal shot presented itself, but my coach Joel whispered “shoot” with a diaphragm call in his mouth, which yielded a muttered cluck. This of course turned the Jake’s head just as I pulled the trigger, and the bird escaped my pattern.
Missing a bird my first year, I put even more time prepping for my second season and patterning my gun. Placing over 200 pellets in a 10” circle @ 30 yds, I had plenty of confidence in my old pump, even after my lack of success the previous year. After four long days in the woods with stubborn birds that seemed impossible to move, Joel finally coaxed a Jake within shooting distance in some thick pines. The patience and preparation paid off; even with my heart pounding out of my chest, I dropped the bird like a sack of potatoes.
…Which brings us to this year: It was a clear, cold morning in the blind, and putting birds to bed the night before allowed us to set up near several gobblers. Just as the cobwebs were clearing from my sleep deprived eyes, we heard the first of several gobbles, which woke me up better than any cup of coffee ever could. Joel worked the birds off the roost, and at least three gobblers were vying for his attention. They were unfortunately on the back side of a swamp, and after a half hour of gobbling, they gave up on our position for the time being. We set off chasing the birds, but we were running out of land that we had permission to hunt. The rollercoaster ride that is turkey hunting left my morale a bit low since I thought we had missed a prime opportunity. We walked down a logging trail and made a few calls where we thought the birds may have been headed. After a few calling sequences, we heard a lone gobble in the distance. We got set up for ambush, called again and he was close. I wish we had a film crew, because this bad boy was nearly trotting in full strut up the trail, and the hunt was turning into one of those fairy tales you see on hunting shows. He finally came within range and once I had him in my sights, he stood no chance. Feathers flew and my heart raced. 3 years of research, preparation, and endless hours in the woods culminated in success. My only fear is that the bar is set too high for future hunts, but I suppose I can deal with that.
Beard: 9″
Spurs: 1″
Weight: 24 lbs 10 oz
Score: 62.625
We should get them mating and create a super hybrid game species! Durkey? That would make a good mount…