Last week I received an invite to bring my son (7 y/o) to hunt a great little tract here in the lowcountry Sunday afternoon. The only folks invited to hunt it are kids, for the most part. I knew it was a great opportunity for him to get a chance at a bird, so we made sure we could make it.
Once we got to the blind yesterday afternoon, there was a gobbler already in the field in full strut with 4 hens about 100 yards in front of us. We quietly got in the blind and set up, and for about an hour we watched this bird strut with his hens and move between 80-100 yds from the stand, back and forth. No matter what I threw his way he was not leaving his hens, so I was hoping to call the girls our way. I eventually realized that wasn't gonna happen, my son was so excited to see that bird strut around for that long, but it was also tantalizing, and borderline frustrating for him as well! Eventually I got another bird to answer from about 150-200 yds away, one time.
I told my son that bird may come to us if he didn't have any hens, and might come fast. Well about 15 minutes later I heard a bird drumming to our left, and quickly I saw two gobblers coming through the pines to the field to our calls. I got my little man on my lap and helped him get his 20ga up, and he did the rest at about 30 yds when the bird stepped out of the pines.
I cant tell you how freaking awesome it was! To see his face, his confidence in the shot, and everything that occurred after was so amazing. I had been working with him on his shooting all season. He was so proud to tell me he wasn't scared of the gun and it didn't hurt at all! He was shaking like a leaf though, and I knew from that he got the full experience! A wonderful memory for us both, and it just doesn't get any better fellas. It just doesn't. Take those kids out there guys.
Here is the bird that was strutting in front of us forever:
So Proud!
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