My wife Tricia and I took Sarah to the Sam Lester and Friends Youth Hunt Outreach Turkey Hunt near Heber Springs, AR this past weekend for her first turkey hunt. We left the house around noon Friday, we picked up my buddy Jake and his daughter Paris, and headed out. We arrived at Lindsey's Resort and got settled in for Saturday's hunt.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0825.jpg)
Saturday morning we were up at 04:00 and on the way to meet Dillon, a young man that was going to show us the property that we were going to be hunting. We headed to a property that is known as "The Hammerland". We stopped the trucks on a high point that would allow us to hear birds from a long ways off. As day started to break we could hear a bird gobbling to the south of us a long ways off, then one started gobbling north east of us that was closer.
Here we are listening early in the morning.(the flash made it appear darker than it really was)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0823.jpg)
We drove around to the ridge that the bird was on. As we stepped out of the truck he gobbled, and was not very far! Dillon showed us a 4-wheeler trail that would take us closer, as we slipped down the trail I couldn't believe how thick the woods were, he said that the woods would open up the farther we got in there. I told him and Tricia to stay on the trail and that Sarah and I would slip through the thicket. I decided to leave my vest, Sarah's call bag, and even our seat cushions with them on the trail, so we woudln't make any extra noise.
Sarah and I slipped in the thicket as close as I dared get to the gobbler, I found a small opening and we set up. I sat down and had Sarah sitting between my legs. I called and he gobbled again! I could feel Sarah shaking, I asked what was wrong? She said, "I think I'm a little nervous." I told her that I was too, and that it would be alright. I told her to take a few deep breaths and she calmed right down!
Before long I could tell that he was getting close, gobbling just out of sight to our left. I got quiet and was expecting to see him coming up the hill any minute, then all of a sudden he gobbles to our right! I look over and can see him heading our way! He got about 25yds away but we never had a shot. He gobbled, strutted, and drummed for 5 - 10 min the eased back down the hill the way he came. I called again and he gobbled back to our left, I could tell he was coming again and we got ready for a shot, but again he got to within 20 yards, but no shot from the way he came! He slipped back down the hill and stopped about 40 yards and stood there strutting, drumming, and gobbling at everything I thew at him for 45 minutes!!! I told Sarah that I was going to let him walk off, and once he did we would reposition and I thought he would come in.
He finally walked back down the hill, we retreated to the 4-wheeler trail and Dillon said he knew a way we could get to some open timber! We headed that way, but he heard us walking and started gobbling and heading our way!
We sat up on the edge of the 4 wheeler trail and started to call. As we were repositioning I got Sarah's Hook's Cuttn Crystal out and put it in my pocket. Once we sat down I called and he gobbled about 125 yds out! I pulled out her call and handed it to her. Sarah started yelping on it and he cut her off!!! We put the call down and got ready, after a few minutes I called and he gobbled in the same place again. A few minutes later I handed Sarah her call, and she let out some beautiful yelps, and once again he cut her off, but this time he was only about 50-60 yards out! We sat the call down and she got ready for a shot again. Less than a minute passed and he stepped into the 4-wheeler trail! He was about 30-35 yards, plenty in range for her 20ga 3" shooting #6 Hevi-Shot! I told her to shoot when she was ready, she took aim and as she was aiming he clucked and took a step. I told her to shoot before he left, she said, " I can't yet Daddy." I told her to shoot when she could. I could feel her moving the gun getting it perfectly on him and soon she took the shot! His head slapped backwards and he went down in a heap!! I jumped up and ran down there to make sure he didn't go anywhere, but there was no need, she jellied his head good!!! I started whooping and hollering, I couldn't contain!!
Sarah's bird weighed 18#10oz, has a 9 1/8" beard, and has 3/4" spurs! She had the most precious smile when she came running down to him! The only way to describe it was like Headcrusher put it "PRICELESS"
I would like to thank Headcrusher for making such great calls! Sarah actually won the Hook's Cuttn Crystal at a calling contest a few weeks ago, and has been practicing with it almost daily since to call up her first bird with it!
Thank you to Sam Lester and Friends for putting on such a GREAT hunt!!
Here are some pics from the weekend
Sarah and I
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0783.jpg)
Sarah and Tricia
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0787.jpg)
Getting ready to head to the truck(I didn't make her carry him :TooFunny:)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0789.jpg)
celebrating a successful hunt back at the resort
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0798.jpg)
Sam Lester, Sarah, and I
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0799.jpg)
Jake's 7yr old daughter Paris also scored on a nice gobbler Saturday afternoon!!
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0814.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0820.jpg)
That's awesome LX!!!!
It means alot to the kids when you bring them out!
My little brother is 7, his dad isn't around.... He'll be out when he turns 10
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:Thats awsome :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
:anim_65:
Very nice,congrats!!
Alright!! congrats!! :icon_thumright:
That, my friend is AWESOME!!!!! Congrats to you,Sarah and Tricia on the hunt of a lifetime! :you_rock:
Awesome hunt and a great read, congrats!!!
Congrats to Everyone, Especially Daddys Little Girl ! Great story & Pics ! :icon_thumright:
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WHOOO-HOOOO! Congratulations to Sarah and a proud Papa!!! I sure hope I can score with Reis just as you and Sarah.
Though, not being on the Hook's prostaff may tie one hand behind my back, but I think I might have a Hook's call or 5 that may work. Though, I'll probably use my Mother Lode Tominator Jr to get things started. ;D
Give Sarah a big hug and a congratulations from WV!
Awesome stuff!!! I love to see kids being mentored and introduced to the joys of the outdoors and hunting.
Way to go, Sarah and Stephan. That was a great read. What a beautiful hunt. This will be etched in both of your minds forever. I loved the pictures, as well. Way to go..Mike :fud: :newmascot:
It doesn't get any better than that, congrats to you and your daughter!
Awesome hunt. Congrat's to Sarah and Tricia. They will remember them hunts forever. Great pictures. Thanks for sharing, Mike
WoW, what a great hunt, outstanding memories and pictures. :icon_thumright:
Congrats on a great hunt! :z-guntootsmiley:
Awesome! Congrats!
Quote from: DeWayne Knight on April 11, 2011, 02:01:49 PM
Awesome stuff!!! I love to see kids being mentored and introduced to the joys of the outdoors and hunting.
:agreed: Great bird, great pictures, great memories!
Congrats on a great hunt brother. She will remember that hunt the rest of her life. Gotta love kids with dead turkeys.
TRKYHTR
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That's one happy little girl.
Congrats to Sarah and dad. That was an awesome read. Love the stories with the kids the best. :icon_thumright:
Awesome!! :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
:z-winnersmiley: :you_rock: :z-guntootsmiley:
:you_rock: :z-guntootsmiley:
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
Congrats , cant wait to take my son out for his first hunt, God willing if Michigan politicians get their heads oout of their hind quarters it will be a deer hunt this fall and turkey next spring but thats still not a guarantee
Congratulations!!!!!!!! I bet you were more nervous and excited than she was. :anim_65:
Way to go brotha, congrats to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless
That's awesome, congrats! :icon_thumright:
Man, that is absolutely fantastic!!! You must be so proud of her!!! :icon_thumright:
Trust me brother, you are a blessed man to have momma and daughter out there in the woods with you. That's just some good, good, good stuff!!! :icon_thumright:
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:wav: :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock:
Awesome. :happy0064:
Awesome stuff. Sounds like a great time and I'm glad they both connected.
Congrats to her !!! look at that big grin!
Sounds like a great time. Congrats!!!
GOOD JOB SARAH!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure there will be many more to come.
Awesome...........
se
Great Job .. congrats to you and Sarah.. that is what it is all about ..
That's awesome! Congrats
That is so awesome, congrats to Sarah on a job well done!!!!!! :wav:
Thats awesome! great pics and some lovely ladies you had to keep you company :icon_thumright:
Great pics mate---loved them!!!!!
Congrats on a great hunt! It doesn't get any better than that. :icon_thumright:
congrats... I know the feeling you experienced.. My wife and two daughters hunt and Im happier when they kill than when I do... Thats what its all about...
Sarah just read all of the posts with me. She said to tell you all thank you for the kind words! :icon_thumright:
She said I was more nervous than her, she was thinking I was going to start :jackson: if I got any more excited. :you_rock: :you_rock: