This will be just a short post but I wanted to make sure I documented this year’s adventure because it was a special one indeed! This was the season that Jeanette successfully bagged her first game animal ever! And what a trophy it was. A mature, lovestruck gobbler.

On opening morning Brad and I were in a blind at zero-dark-thirty waiting with great anticipation for the birds to appear. We did see birds, however they never came closer than about 200 yards.  That was it for Brad’s opportunity. My luck was a bit better the next day. A jake made a very bad decision….turkey down.

Well enough about me. Fast forward a couple of weeks.  Jeanette and I headed out early in the morning. We had to cross a large and wide open field to get to our chosen blind. We were nearly across when I realized the binoculars were still in the car. I left Jeanette to get in the blind while I scurried back to secure the binocs. On the way back across the field, wouldn’t you know it, there were birds already there.  I took a big detour and managed to get back to the blind but figured I had ruined the hunt before it really even began.

Locked and Loaded

Decoys out, granola bars eaten, hopes rising.  Two hens, a jake, and ……. a big mature gobbler.  Let the show begin, and what a show it was.  It was a clear sunny morning, so the bright blue of his head appeared to be neon and his feathers were iridescent. He was doing his best to impress the ladies, but they were having none of it. We watched him for almost two hours strutting back and forth following the two hens around the field but never getting anywhere close to being within shotgun range.  They eventually wandered to about 100 yards away and one of the hens came straight into the decoys and eventually into the woods behind us.  A couple of yelps and purrs on the slate call and finally the Tom noticed the decoys.  He made a right turn and strutted straight towards us!

It is funny how many times a long and patient hunt all hinges on a matter of seconds. Jeanette was ready and once he was in range she eased off the safety, placed the red-dot on his neck, and bang. The #5 copper plated shot did the job. Down he went. Dropped right in his tracks.  I looked over and my sweet wife’s hands were shaking with excitement. It was only later she showed me the big bruise on her upper arm.  (Remember to always seat the gun firmly before pulling the trigger!)

Jeanette’s big gobbler.

Nineteen pounds, eleven inch beard, and one inch spurs. A trophy in every sense of the word. I was very proud of Jeanette.

Did I mention she did this with a fragmented kneecap and massively swollen joint? Knee surgery #4 a couple of weeks later. What a tough chick!

Leaving the field for home.