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......

Awesome Earl! Huge bird!

Congrats!

Tyler and I also had a very exciting hunt. We did not go early as it was raining early and where we were going was a long walk. I had fixed a blind beside a field on Friday and we went to it after the rain was gone. We settled in and two hens came in about 30 minutes later. In about 30 more minutes 4 more hens came in and started purring loudly and a little pushing and shoving. They fed about an hour and exited the field right by us. A little later we heard cutting and yelping at the north end of the field about 125 yds away. I called back and a little later saw 8 hens feeding our way. Tyler then excitedly said he saw a gobbler! Some of the hens got within 60 yds but he stayed on a little knoll about 80 or so and strutted. I tried a little soft calling but all he did was look down our way. Finally 4 of the hens broke off and came to 20 yds and stayed for 40 minutes looking and preening their feathers. The other 4 and the gobbler went to the east and out of sight when the others came our way. As they seperated he gobbled probably trying to get them to come back. When the hens finally drifted into the woods and were on the next hill I picked up my box and called and then picked up my glass call and called on it. I whispered to Tyler to lets stretch our legs as we had been sitting for 4 hours mostly with birds close enough that we could not move. I walked a little ways away to look in the far end of the field. When i looked back 2 red heads popped over the hill. Tyler saw them at the same time and hissed don't move. They were strutting and walking straight at us. Apparantly they had heard me call were headed in. They went in some tall weeds and I dropped to the ground and Tyler sat down and grabbed the gun. When they got just inside 50 yds I told him to let them get a little closer. BOOM!!!! Down he went! I said what are you doing? He said you said don't let him get any closer. It killed him instantly even though he was a long way off. It was a load of those #5 lead shot that if you read a lot are nothing compared to heavey shot. The bird was 19+ lbs. with a 10 inch or so beard and 7/8 or so spurs. All in all a wonderful way to spend 5 and 1/2 hours with your grandson. I was impressed with His patience. When I asked did he want to go he said no he was tired but he felt we were going to get one. We did but without his patience we wouldn't have. Impressive for a 14 year old but then I am biased.

SUper job guys. Ed and Earl would be hard to beat as "youth turkey guides" since they are both incredibly talented turkey hunters. When you can pull off this kind ofba hunt for a youngster i n the family, well, it about guarantees that the turkey hunting family tradtion will live on in the Carpenter line....really neat stories and great pictures.

Wonderful birds! Congrats to the boys!

Super! congrats to all!

That is what it is all about guys. Thanks for sharing. Tell those youngsters congrats!!!

Awesome! Great job everyone!

Way to go guys!!! Glad to see the young ones had a successful hunt!!!

Now thats passing it on. Great job.
Tim

I love reading the stories of all the hunts but without a doubt the favorite ones are with the youngsters or "first timers of any age". Great story and great pix. Congrats!

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