Post by whiskey on Apr 17, 2010 10:45:13 GMT -5
My daughter and I went out after the birds this morning. Our first set up was a bust so I moved us just to the back side of a cornfield hill. I warned her that she had to be ready when the birds showed up because they would see her if she moved.
She did so good for about 30 minutes while I worked a hard hammering gobbler. The gobbler hung up just out of sight and we sat patiently and waited. I noticed movement to my right and looked to see a hen eyeballing us. Just then Lana could see the gobbler and I hear her whisper, "He's huge Daddy".
The hen started putting and easing away and I tried my best to coax her back, but she wasn't having any of it. The longbeard followed her over the hill and out of sight. We called a few more minutes, but no response.
I told her we should probably go and I raised up to my knees. Just as I raised up two jakes come over the crest of the hill. I told her "Shoot, Shoot, Shoot". They turned and started walking away and BOOM. She shot just over his head. They were about 35 yards out and just at the edge of the 20ga range, probably too far to be honest. But I wasn't going to just let them walk off. I looked back at her after the shot and the recoil had rolled her off the tree and she was flat on her back, laughing her head off.
We had a great morning and got oh so close to getting a bird. She said she had fun anyway. We saw two big coyotes just before sun up and that was the first time she had see one. I let her drive my new Tacoma 4x4 around the field roads and over a few bumps and hills. That really made the day for her.
Nothing like throwing caution to the wind and letting an 11 year old take the wheel of a one week old truck. Definitely one of the best mornings I have spent in the woods. Perfect set-up, perfect calling, perfect bird and just one eye blink away from putting icing on the cake. I'd do it the same a hundred more times.
She did so good for about 30 minutes while I worked a hard hammering gobbler. The gobbler hung up just out of sight and we sat patiently and waited. I noticed movement to my right and looked to see a hen eyeballing us. Just then Lana could see the gobbler and I hear her whisper, "He's huge Daddy".
The hen started putting and easing away and I tried my best to coax her back, but she wasn't having any of it. The longbeard followed her over the hill and out of sight. We called a few more minutes, but no response.
I told her we should probably go and I raised up to my knees. Just as I raised up two jakes come over the crest of the hill. I told her "Shoot, Shoot, Shoot". They turned and started walking away and BOOM. She shot just over his head. They were about 35 yards out and just at the edge of the 20ga range, probably too far to be honest. But I wasn't going to just let them walk off. I looked back at her after the shot and the recoil had rolled her off the tree and she was flat on her back, laughing her head off.
We had a great morning and got oh so close to getting a bird. She said she had fun anyway. We saw two big coyotes just before sun up and that was the first time she had see one. I let her drive my new Tacoma 4x4 around the field roads and over a few bumps and hills. That really made the day for her.
Nothing like throwing caution to the wind and letting an 11 year old take the wheel of a one week old truck. Definitely one of the best mornings I have spent in the woods. Perfect set-up, perfect calling, perfect bird and just one eye blink away from putting icing on the cake. I'd do it the same a hundred more times.
