Pennsylvania Game News - April 2011 - 17

keys. It became such a habit for Jared with his mouth call or Bub with his box call to call to these turkeys that when they finally departed for Thanksgiving dinner, we actually missed them. It became way too quiet when we were outside from then on. In our leisure time throughout the summer and fall, both boys were schooled in firearms safety and practiced shooting, first with a .22 and then with a .410. Discussions about Jared going turkey hunting in the spring began soon after Christmas. Every time we would discuss turkey hunting Bub would say, “Dad, if Jared doesn’t want to go, can I?” I always answered that Jared was older and that because I could take only one of them, he got first choice to go on the youth turkey hunting day. Bub took the answer in stride and said that he couldn’t wait until it was his turn. As April got closer our discussion regarding turkey hunting increased and I purchased a youth model 20-gauge shotgun. About two days before the youth turkey hunting day Jared announced that he didn’t want to go hunting on Saturday. Those words were no sooner out of his mouth when Bub became ecstatic saying, “Can I go, Dad, can I?” Before I answered Bub, I confirmed with Jared that he was sure he didn’t want to go. When he again said that he didn’t want to, I advised Bub that he was going turkey hunting. But now I had a decision to make. I wasn’t sure if the .410 would be adequate for turkeys. Bub was good enough with the .410, but I wondered if he could handle the 20. We spent the next evening practicing shouldering the 20-gauge and aiming at a turkey silhouette I had drawn on a piece of paper. I ultimately felt that the 20 would be the better choice. Saturday morning arrived about 4 a.m. for me. I went into Bub’s room and woke him at 5. I was surprised that he popped up out of bed the moment I said it was time to go hunting. He said that he was so excited that he didn’t sleep much. We got dressed and gathered up our
APRIL 2011

gear. I was carrying the shotgun and the backpack that contained the decoys and the blind. We met my brother-in-law and my 6-year-old nephew about 5:20 and started the 30minute walk to our spots. Mike and I set up about 300 yards apart. Bub was so excited. He was whispering the whole time we were setting up the blind in the corner of a hayfield, with woods to our right and behind us. Mike and Austin were behind us on the other corner of the woodlot. I set the jake and hen decoys in the field in front of us. I advised Bub that when it got light, I would load the gun. As we settled into the blind and began waiting for dawn to come, we heard an owl hoot. Bub said he was so excited and asked if I thought we would see a turkey. I said that we would have to wait and see. Shortly after the first rays of light started to appear, a gobbler sounded off to our right, down in the woods. I called once on the box call and asked Bub if he was excited. He looked at me with wide eyes and said that he was as I handed him the box call and told him that I would advise him when to call again. It turns out we didn’t have to. We were sitting side by side in the blind, looking out into the hayfield. As I shifted my body to watch out the back of the blind, I slowly slid a magnum shell (Bub had never fired a magnum) into the chamber and put two in the magazine. I advised Bub that I would watch out the back of the blind for a while and he could watch the field where I had the decoys set up. I couldn’t have been looking out of the blind for more than five minutes when Bub whispered, “Dad, there’s a turkey in the field.” Without turning around I said, “Bub, that is your decoy.” About 10 seconds later he again said there was a turkey in the field. I
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Pennsylvania Game News - April 2011

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