After some serious hunting this spring turkey season, my son Francisco Jr. finally bagged his gobbler last weekend on NM's Youth Only hunt (May 12-13).
His younger brother Santiago was with us again on this hunt. As previously mentioned on a separate post, he is truly hooked on turkey hunting. He can't wait until he turns 9 or 10 to take Hunter Ed.
Pretty cool story to tell. It started with us almost parking too close to a "hot spot". We usually park the truck in a little pull out and then start walking up the road. The first part is up hill for about 200 yards. That morning we decided to drive a little closer and save our legs. After driving up the road we parked. Upon opening the door of the truck and starting to get the gear ready, we could hear a gobbler about 300 yards off thundering off. We rushed to gather ourselves and headed to a nearby opening and set up a hen and jake decoy. We set up in the brush about 20 yards from the decoy spread and began to call softly. By this time it was getting light fast. On cue the gobbler would answer every call I made. Then unexpectedly, the gobbler shut up. I suspected he had flown off the roost and into the deep canyons below like gobblers in this area have done on several other occasions. We called a few more times to no avail. Then just when I was thinking about gathering the decoys and moving on, a thunderous gobble announced the bird was on the ground and coming our way. Expecting the gobbler to be showing up any minute, I glanced up the road to the right and noticed a figure in the middle of the logging road about 150 yards away. It was another gobbler at full strut coming in fast. Every time I would call and gobbler number one would gobble back, the strutter in the road would really step on the gas. In no time, the strutter came around a corner and saw the decoys. Immediately, he puffed up and ran up to jake decoy. He was face to face with the jake decoy, as I putted loudly to make him stretch out his neck for the shot I whispered very lightly and told Francisco Jr. to shoot. Francisco Jr. whispered back ?I'm going to hit the decoy?. I whispered back ?Who cares?. Immediately, the 20 gauge roared and a tight pattern of #6 Hevi Shot 13, constricted by an Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike choke tube peppered the gobblers head and neck. The gobbler hit the ground and the jake decoy spun around on the stake. He did hit the decoy. "Who cares", Francisco Jr, had a nice gobbler on the ground.
This hunt was the culmination of a most memorable spring with my sons. God willing, I hope we experience more quality time together. Even though I want my 3 year old daughter to stay small forever, I can't wait until she is old enough to join us. Once my wife finishes her education (Masters Degree), then the whole Crazyelk clan will be enjoying time together in the sierra once again.
His younger brother Santiago was with us again on this hunt. As previously mentioned on a separate post, he is truly hooked on turkey hunting. He can't wait until he turns 9 or 10 to take Hunter Ed.
Pretty cool story to tell. It started with us almost parking too close to a "hot spot". We usually park the truck in a little pull out and then start walking up the road. The first part is up hill for about 200 yards. That morning we decided to drive a little closer and save our legs. After driving up the road we parked. Upon opening the door of the truck and starting to get the gear ready, we could hear a gobbler about 300 yards off thundering off. We rushed to gather ourselves and headed to a nearby opening and set up a hen and jake decoy. We set up in the brush about 20 yards from the decoy spread and began to call softly. By this time it was getting light fast. On cue the gobbler would answer every call I made. Then unexpectedly, the gobbler shut up. I suspected he had flown off the roost and into the deep canyons below like gobblers in this area have done on several other occasions. We called a few more times to no avail. Then just when I was thinking about gathering the decoys and moving on, a thunderous gobble announced the bird was on the ground and coming our way. Expecting the gobbler to be showing up any minute, I glanced up the road to the right and noticed a figure in the middle of the logging road about 150 yards away. It was another gobbler at full strut coming in fast. Every time I would call and gobbler number one would gobble back, the strutter in the road would really step on the gas. In no time, the strutter came around a corner and saw the decoys. Immediately, he puffed up and ran up to jake decoy. He was face to face with the jake decoy, as I putted loudly to make him stretch out his neck for the shot I whispered very lightly and told Francisco Jr. to shoot. Francisco Jr. whispered back ?I'm going to hit the decoy?. I whispered back ?Who cares?. Immediately, the 20 gauge roared and a tight pattern of #6 Hevi Shot 13, constricted by an Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike choke tube peppered the gobblers head and neck. The gobbler hit the ground and the jake decoy spun around on the stake. He did hit the decoy. "Who cares", Francisco Jr, had a nice gobbler on the ground.
This hunt was the culmination of a most memorable spring with my sons. God willing, I hope we experience more quality time together. Even though I want my 3 year old daughter to stay small forever, I can't wait until she is old enough to join us. Once my wife finishes her education (Masters Degree), then the whole Crazyelk clan will be enjoying time together in the sierra once again.
