First, let me apologize in advance for anyone who gets upset that I put a turkey hunting story in the Big Game forum, but they are classified as a big game animal in Pennsylvania.

This past Saturday was the youth day for Spring Gobbler during which only licensed junior hunters (16 & under) could hunt gobblers.

For some background information - out of the blue last fall, my second oldest daughter (who is 12) asked me if she could take the hunter/trapper safety course and become a hunter. This was very surprising to me because she and her older sister (15) never showed any interest in shooting or hunting. Needless to say, I was thrilled that she wanted to become a member of this great community. She did not turn 12 years old until the end of the 2005, after the deer seasons here. So turkey season this spring will be the first big season for her.

Anyhow, I had been listening and watching several gobblers throughout the spring, and we chose a spot where turkeys consistently roost. On saturday morning, we were in the area about 20 minutes before dawn. The weather was terrible, with cold temps and rain. I figured that the turkeys would not be talking much. I owl hooted as we were walking in to get a location of any roosted gobblers with no response. After reaching our location, at the edge of a steep slope, we set up next to a large tree and waited for some action.

As the first light of day was beginning to show, I did a few tree yelps, then several minutes later, did a fly-down cackle. With no response. I was a little disappointed, because I knew turkeys had been roosting there consistently, and they will usually gobbler at a fly-down cackle - even if they don't want to.

About 5 minutes after my calling, my daughter says "Dad, I think there is a turkey in that tree there". There was! - And a gobbler at that. He was about 60 yards away, and almost at our eye level due to the slope of the ground. We watched him for about 2-3 minutes, and I could tell that he was getting ready to leave the roost.

I told my daughter to get ready, becasue he might fly into our lap. He flew directly to us and landed about 12 yards in front of us. As he was flying, I whispered for her to get ready and to shoot him when he hit the ground. My daughter had the butt of the gun stuck under her arm pit and could not get on him. The gobbler stayed there for about 2-3 seconds, acting very nervous.

Finally she got the gun mounted properly, and I was telling her to shoot the bird. She squeezed the trigger, but had not punched the safety into the fire position, and the gun would not go off. I reached over and put the safety on fire - but it was too late as the gobbler putted and flew down the slope.

My daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "I am so stupid - daddy, I am sorry". I told her that it was more my fault than hers and that she should not feel bad about missing the opportunity. I told her that more often than not, the turkeys win. We worked a few more birds throughout the morning, but all were with hens and we could not get them in.

Anyhow, even though a bird was not taken, it was probably the best turkey hunt of my life. My daughter made the following 2 statements which reminds me of why we hunt.

"Dad, this is soooooo cool!"

and

"Dad, I will remember that turkey for the rest of my life"

Words that we can all use to remember the important things in life.

I can't wait till this saturday for another shot at those birds - and time spent afield with my new hunter.

Sorry for rambling on.

Let us know how she makes out. I hope you're doing the whole thing , how to hunt , how to shoot, how to cook game and how to enjoy a nice meal !!

Time spent in the woods with daughters or sons is precious regardless of whether anyone kills. Congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
Let us know how she makes out. I hope you're doing the whole thing , how to hunt , how to shoot, how to cook game and how to enjoy a nice meal !!

We have spent some time shooting her 870 youth 20 ga, in field positions (sitting) at turkey targets and gallon jugs. We practiced the sequence of mounting the gun, putting the safety to the fire position, aligning the sight picture and squeezing the shot. I guess we did not practice enough - but as you know, things are different when it is the real deal. As I said before, the lack of a shot at our turkey was more my fault than hers. I should have been coaching her better. We both learned a lesson.

Prior to last fall, she did not show any interest in shooting or going for walks in the woods. I have an 8 year old son who has been shooting for years. I never pressured my daughters into hunting; but I'd always hoped that one day they would want to hunt.

I shot a bear and a whitetail last fall, and she was involved in processing and eating both of those animals. I hope we get the chance to clean and eat a turkey, or two, this spring.

No need to apologise for "rambling", You should be excited, and you've got to tell somebody!

Congrats on a fine start. Nate

cwilson

I had NO intention of logging on, rather just read posts and move on.

The wonderful experience you relay and the fact that it was 100% successful without bagging anything were more than I could pass over.

GREAT STORY AND YOUR DAUGHTER IS FANTASTIC.

My hat is off to you both!

Don't apoligize for posting a great hunting story. I'll never forget taking my oldest daughter on her first hunt and look foward to takinking my youngest in a few years

Great story. You are living the dream of of all hunting parents. Appreciate your good fortune, and convey our best wishes of success and lots of fun and exitement to the young lady.

- mike

Wonderful! You did a great job getting your girl out there. I have brought all of my sister's boys into the hunting fraternity (their dad doesn't hunt and my dad died before he had a chance to take any of them under his wing) and will be taking my 11-yr-old with me at o-dark-thirty in two weeks for his first turkey hunt. (My tag.) Frankly, I think it's best that the kids get "close, but no cigar" the first time out. It whets their appetite for more. Keep at it. You are making memories she will always treasure, even if decides boys don't smell as bad as dead turkeys and decides to hunt them instead.