Got the stink off!

[LABS4ME]

My son has had the turkey stink on him for 4 years. It started when I would not let him pull the trigger on a Tom when he was 12 (thought it was over 30 yards... wanted it at under 25... it was 26 oops!) then he has had nothing nut Jakes, snow, getting busted by Toms, hung up Toms etc the following 4 years... Our seasons ran concurrent in WI last week. Work was keeping me out of the field the 1st 3 days of the season and he asked if we could go Saturday. Looking at the weather and seeing rain Sun - Tues, I knew that would be his one and only chance. Off we went.

At 6:30 I called in two Jakes. They hung around for 15 minutes or so pecking at the decoy. I whispered that he can take one if he wanted and fully expected himto do so. He shook his head no. I changed up my calls and had a hen pacing and clucking behind us, she left. I called sporadically for another 20 minutes and was looking to my right when i heard him whisper DAD! I turn to look and see a Tom on full strut to his left about 9 yards away. Snuck in quietly from behind us. I told him to take him. Well of course in the process of slowly trying to get his gun up and in position he got busted and the Tom took off on a dead run.

We packed up and went to another property. We were set up 30 mins later. I immediately had a hen engage in a little [PoorWordUsage] talk. Over the next hour, we went back and forth... some yelps and a lot of cutting. Then all went quiet. My buddy texted me and just when I was going to hit send, I look up to see a Tom come in and go on strut bumping the decoy. He snuck in quietly from the left where we could not see through the brush. I figured Hunter was ready to take him and then realized he didnt have his gun up nor was he moving... he fel asleep! uggh... I whispered his name 3 times and got him to snap to. He managed to get his gun up and take the bird... 7/8" spurs. 9.5" beard. danced like a little kid at Christmas...

Good Luck!

Ken

[Hoyt4]

Awesome congrats to your son. Nothing better then that first bird.

[leech~~]

All good things come to those that wait blu blu blu?

Way to get that out of the way!

The rest of them come easy from now on!

[rbs]

Awesome bird! Congrats! I have done some of my best calling when I sleep lol

[minky]

Great hunt, nice bird!

[hugonian1]

Congrats to your son.

[Borch]

Congrats to you both!

[rkhinrichs]

nice job!

[leechlake]

making memories and best of both worlds. 30 years from now you can give him dump about falling asleep, for now just congrats!

[LABS4ME]

Oh he already got a good ribbing from me! He's really going to get razzed by everyone in turkey camp in MN next weekend. We high fived, and smiled and laughed all the wy back to the truck. Turkey is done in the brine and going on smoker today!

Good Luck!

Ken

[Sinker]

Congrats! Looks plenty happy. Both of you drawing 2nd season tags as non-residents is no small feat either.

[LABS4ME]

I actually live in WI now... 2nd season was a curse last year! He was pretty happy. I lost access to my go to farm. These were both public land birds. Lots of nice small public parcels over here.

Now to MN later this week. Going to try and get him his first two Tom season...

Good Luck!

Ken

[Sinker]

Yeah, last year I believe I had the 2nd season also and you're right, with the snow it was tough. This year I hunted the 2nd season and it was also tough. Numbers seem to be down a little. Never saw a jake. Seen and heard toms but they stayed with hens. Bought some late season leftover tags so hopefully it will get better. Good Luck in MN! Shoot straight.

[92GSteve]

Nice job to both of you, especially holding off on the jakes! Good turkey karma for the future.