04/22/2019
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Has anyone ever had a had a hunt like that? I have and most hunters I know have, but we survive and learn through our experiences, good and bad. Ok, here we go, Such was the hunt Saturday morning. We started early, in position almost 45 minutes before daylight. It was cold, extreme wind blowing, making it that much worse. Sitting and waiting on daylight and hoping for a turkey to gobble. My mind was working overtime, have we done everything right, are we in the right position, are we camoflauged enough, do we have gloves, facemask, blind, gun, in place, what could or would go wrong. Thought I had everything covered. We sat up under the cover of darkness, moon was even covered by clouds. We gathered around a single tree, Hayes sitting in the shooting spot, Robbie (dad) sitting to his right shoulder, myself taking a position leaning against the tree, immediately behind and looking over Haye's left shoulder, close so I could whisper instructions to him. We settled in to wait for daylight, everyone in position. Then the wind and cold started taking hold. First I could hear a slight cough, sniffling when sinuses start running, then a light chattering, followed by a slight shaking. I asked are you cold, a light nod. Dad moved closer, I gave up my jacket, and we wrapped him up, trying to get and keep him warm. All who hunt know how debilitating the the cold can be. The day before temps. were in the 70s. This morning they had dropped to low 40s, plus the strong wind. Even though Hayes was cold he didn't complain, just shook and trembled until we got him somewhat warmed back up. Daylight will be here in just a few minutes I told him, can you make it, yes sir. Ok listen to the birds singing welcoming the subtle changes in daybreak. Hear that bird, (yes sir), it sounds big, but it's such a little bird. Listen for the first crow to sound off, then hopefully a turkey will respond. We waited and whispered back and forth, then we heard the first crow holler. Listen, almost immediately a turkey gobbled way off on another property. Did you hear, yes sir, keep listening, same turkey gobbled again. Sit still and quite, have patience. Then it happened, to our right probably 150 yards a good gobble, that's the one we want, I told him. Sit tight it will still be a while. Are you cold, not as much, now the shaking was turning into excitement. Don't move there could be other turkeys around. After a few minutes I did a tree call, right behind us, almost over our heads a hen answered. I told both do not move, control your breathing, don't look around, just focus forward. I yelped again, the gobbler answered that time, but also another one gobbled behind us. The hen started softly yelping and clucking, I let her do the calling for us. Stay focused on watching ahead and to our right. The gobbler sounded like he was on the ground moving toward us. Perfect setup, everything going to plan, then a gobble close behind, sounded like on the ground, a wing flap, I eased my head around slowly scanning the woods, the that dreaded sound all turkeys hunters have experienced PUTT! out in front of us 35-40 yards I slowly looked back and there in front of us, the gun, and our setup was the gobbler we were after. Gun had been lowered, laying there, now we had to get it back into position, on the shooting stick. I told Hayes, remember me telling you to move slow, at all times, now move extremely slow, dad help him get gun back in place. That was accomplished with another PUTT!, but still standing in place. I told Hayes to shoot when his aim was good, BOOM! shoot again BOOM!, the turkey ran to our right, I said shoot again, but turkey was out of his sight, by now. I jumped up and out to where I could see the turkey running, I started yelping, and clucking, the turkey stopped and looked back. I told dad to reload gun, while continuing to call. Turkey turned around and started moving back our way, unreal! I kept calling and turkeys started to fly down in the field about 75 yards from us. I fell to the ground behind the bushes, told them to get ready again, helped get gun back on the shooting stick, told dad to help hold it there. Continually calling and looking from my position on the ground, I could see several more gobblers, and hens all looking towards our position. Stay ready, I don't know what will happen, I told the hunters. I was mixing calls yelps, clucks, purrs, continually when one started back our way. It was gonna cross in front of us, approximately 40-45 yards. Be ready don't move. It saw something it didn't like just before getting into shooting lane PUTT!, then turned and walked back towards others, they started getting antsy and moving away, alarmed but not flying. I continued my barrage of calling and watching, finally one turned around then another and another. First one heading back but crossing in front again around 40-45 yards. Told Hayes to get ready again, then not to shoot the first one, it had about 1/2 inch beard, the one following it was the original bird with a 5-6 inch beard. I said take a good aim and shoot when he was ready BOOM! shoot again BOOM!, Dad! take a shot BOOM! Everything was in fast motion by then, I jumped up watching turkeys fly ever which way. Thought we had one down just over the terrace, but no, all gone, no turkey, no feathers. What do you do after all this. You laugh, cry, feel down, question everything you have done, relive it all over and over in your mind. We've all been there, some, most of us more than one time, but in the end, that's what hunting is, not always about the kill, but the experiences that we have and share individually and with others. The lessons we learn and teach are what God gives us, to be able to pass and share with others. Learn the lessons, learn humility, learn about nature, and do it all with an open heart and mind, and if you do it will open your soul to a better life. We left this hunt, went and shared a good breakfast, talked about all that happened, picked at each other, got to know each other a little bit better, went to another property, had another hunt, though not as exciting as this was, but we shared more experiences. At the end when we had made it back to the vehicles, we talked a little more, then Hayes stepped up beside me and said, Thank you, Mr. Harper for everything you did for me this morning, I realize I've got some practice to do, to make my part turn out better, I hope to hunt with you again next year, with a better outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate what I learned today. This is one of our youth, that is being taught by his Dad, how to hunt, and how to be polite and courteous to others. Great Job, Robbie, I thoroughly enjoyed our time spent together. Please, reach out to our youth, spend time with them, teach them and learn from them, THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. Hill
