This year NC, like VA, held a youth day hunt one week prior to opening the general spring turkey season. April 1st started off with a bang!! My nephew Brian, who is 11 years old accompanied me on his first ever turkey hunt while his older brother Tyler , 14 years old, went a field with his grandpa. Brian and I were fortunate to hear several birds on the roost, managed to call in a couple of hens and later a trio of longbeards. The gobblers came nearly into shooting distance strutted a while then drifted away. A little aggressive calling followed by some contented purring and clucking convinced them to give us a second look. Brian sent a load of hevi shot #6's to the lead gobbler at 22 yards and down he went. His two amigos jumped off to the side and then returned to provide the boss with a little payback from past dominance contests they had obviously endured. Pretty exciting watching the other two gobblers whip their fallen pal then fight with each other before slipping off into the forest. When we walked over to Brian's bird lying on the ground I knew he looked big, and it was quickly confirmed once I picked him up off the ground, he was very heavy. Brian was thrilled and toted him out to the truck after asking me "how do you like me now!", I snickered looking at the site, the turkey was nearly a big as he. Later we weighed the bird and my suspicions were confirmed, an exceptional bird indeed!! 23 lb 2oz, spurs well over an inch and a very thick and long beard...what a first turkey!!! I am thankful to have been there and played a small part in helping Brian start off his turkey hunting career on the right foot!!
Will let Mr Ed tell about he and Tyler's hunt......
