Sunday, May 5, 2013

Turkey Season Part 2

We had planned for this year to by my first turkey hunt if Drew could find the time to take me. I spent a long rainy Saturday last fall taking the class to get my Hunter's Safety Certification. We made arrangements for yesterday morning so that Griffin didn't have to get up at 4:30 with us, and Drew and I set out for an adventure.  

We heard several turkeys gobbling, and once Drew decided they had flown down he proceeded to call one in. We watched and waited....eventually, the turkey popped out of the woods onto the edge of the open field we were sitting in. Instant butterflies set in. We watched it strut and drum (skip to the 1:50 minute mark of this video) and very slowly work it's way closer. My stomach was in knots and I was trying to breathe normally. We had switched chairs early in the morning which was a good move, but the chair I was in was turned just a little too far for me to get behind my gun to shoot at him. Thirty minutes later I whispered to Drew it was getting ridiculous, this guy was trying to impress our plastic hen decoy that had not moved in the slightest for half an hour......how silly could he be. I knew moving my chair would either help me seal the deal or send him running, but we had no other choice. After somehow getting in position successfully, I spent 5 minutes convincing Drew that my gun barrel was in the clear of all mesh and supports (I was shooting with it completely inside the blind with us), doesn't sound hilarious but we have enjoyed rehashing the whispered conversation between us. If I'm looking down the barrel of my gun and all I see is the turkey's head, that would mean I'm clearing the window fine, right? Drew thought from where he was sitting I was going to blow a hole in the side of the blind. He used his rangefinder to find out the turkey was still prancing around 31 yards away, and I could tell he was nervous but he finally gave me the go ahead. 

I don't think he's ever been more proud of me. It was really adorable. Surprisingly, I wasn't even upset that I had intentionally killed an animal. He was out trying to cheat on his wife, anyway. The whole thing was actually really exciting and will be a nice memory for us to look back on. Thankfully, I'll have a whole year to think about whether I want to do it again. 

shortly after death......at the kill spot








can't leave Duke out

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