Only One First Turkey

This past April first was truly an unforgettable day, unlike any I have ever experienced. Typically, this time of year is incredibly busy for me, often spent coaching my son’s 9u baseball team on the weekends. However, by a stroke of luck, my son Taylor and I found ourselves with a rare weekend off, presenting the perfect opportunity to head to the woods to chase the old thunder chicken. Taylor has joined me on numerous hunting trips over the years, but he had yet to have the opportunity to harvest an animal. Little did I know that this particular Saturday was destined to change everything, marking a significant milestone in his hunting journey.

The morning commenced bright and early at 5:30 am. Taylor, not typically a morning person, sprang out of bed with an unusual eagerness, ready to go even before my alarm clock could be silenced. We quickly changed into our tactical apparel, enjoyed a quick breakfast, loaded up the car with our gear, and set off. I had a strong intuition about where the wild turkeys were roosting, so in no time, we were strategically set up and patiently awaiting the first gobble of what promised to be an exciting hunt. Taylor was comfortably seated in my lap, and we were well-concealed by a cluster of green, leafy bushes scattered throughout the dense pine plantation. Our decoys were meticulously placed in the food plot, and Taylor had his 20 gauge shotgun at the ready, prepared for any gobbler bold enough to challenge our Jake decoy. I provided Taylor with a few final instructions, and it wasn’t long before the tranquil woods burst into life with the sounds of the awakening forest.

For more hunting insights, check out Record Book Opening Day Turkey.

The **wild turkey hunting strategies** began to unfold as the turkeys started gobbling around 7:15 am, continuing their calls until approximately 7:45 am when they pitched down from their roosts. The only significant challenge with our morning hunt was that we had positioned ourselves in the wrong food plot. The birds were on the ground, roughly 200 yards away, and despite my best efforts, they were not responding to my calls. I could elicit an answer from the gobbler, but he was resolute in his decision not to leave his hens and approach our location. It didn’t take long for the hens to lead our target bird deeper into the hardwood bottom, and soon after, the woods fell silent once more. Our first encounter had concluded, but our determination was far from diminished.

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Taylor and I spent the remainder of that morning walking through the woods, but we did not hear another gobble. The terrain proved to be quite challenging to navigate, even with my new tactical boots (check it out here), and our patience began to wane. I employed every trick in my **top calling techniques** repertoire to entice the turkeys, but sometimes, despite all efforts, they simply refuse to gobble. Frustrated but not defeated, we made our way back to the truck with the intention of driving to a nearby field to glass for birds. As I turned onto one of the property roads, I spotted a small black speck in the road about 300 yards ahead. I immediately stopped the truck and retrieved my Hawke binoculars, slowly opening my truck door. Once outside, I confirmed that the black spot was indeed a gobbler and passed the binoculars to my eager son. I instructed Taylor to prepare himself, then carefully backed my truck around the corner, ensuring we were parked out of sight. We quickly donned our Realtree gear and stealthily made our way to the edge of the road. We kept our essential hunting gear in our Backpacking pack, which is specifically designed for hunting expeditions. When embarking on any hunting adventure, it is paramount to ensure you have all the necessary **essential hunting gear** beforehand – this might necessitate a trip to a specialized store like Bass Pro Shops, but you can utilize a Raise promo code to secure a discount on your purchases, allowing your money to go further and equipping you for success!

Similar hunting experience: TURKEY TRIPLE! | BWB 2020.

I cautiously peered down the road, confirming that our bird was still in position. I then placed Taylor against a sturdy pine tree, ensuring he was ready for the shot. I belly-crawled through the ditch and out into the road, my turkey fan held strategically in front of me. Once in the road, I began to yelp and cut with my mouth call. It wasn’t long before I saw a white head approaching. The bird never gobbled, but he majestically came down the road in full strut before stopping directly in front of me, approximately 30 yards away. I glanced over at Taylor and gave him the signal to shoot. With a precise squeeze of the trigger, the bird folded instantly. It was a truly perfect shot, a moment of pure triumph.

Related story: GEORGIA GOBBLER STRUTS IN.

I don’t know who was more excited in that moment! Taylor leaped up, and I caught him mid-air as he jumped into my arms. I’ve witnessed him hit home runs and score touchdowns, but none of those celebrations compared to the raw joy and excitement of this moment. I swung him around, holding him high in the air, utterly disbelieving that we had just fanned in this magnificent bird, and Taylor had sealed the deal with such a perfect shot. I gently set Taylor down, and we raced towards the bird as it began to flop around in the road. The turkey boasted a paint brush for a beard and impressive long spurs. I told Taylor that this bird was at least three years old, making it one heck of a first bird for him. After capturing numerous photos and calling everyone we knew to share the incredible news, we headed to Little’s Taxidermy with our hard-earned trophy. This bird was destined to hold a special, prominent place on Taylor’s wall! I may not vividly recall the details of my own first turkey hunt, but I will undoubtedly never forget this particular hunt. There is truly only one first turkey, and I am incredibly grateful that I had the privilege of being there for this unforgettable experience with my son!

For more hunting insights, check out BETH TAGS A GEORGIA GOBBLER.

Fred Branch, Backwoods Life Crew – Georgia