Got my son out for the youth day here in Maryland. I had been scouting pretty good and found an area with 1 to 2 toms regular. Went in the night before and set up the blind so we could sneak in Saturday morning quick and quiet. We got into the blind and were buttoned up by 0530. Wasn't long after that when a car rounded the corner with a squealing tire that a tom gobbled to my left back in the swamp. I did some soft purrs and clucks and he would gobble. I waited until flydown and gave him a series of yelps. He gobbled and sounded like he was getting a little closer. Then I started to hear some hen chatter and mimicked them best I could. Soon the hens were just outside the left side of the blind. Dale was ready with his shotgun balanced on his knee. I gave a few more clucks and purrs and the Tom gobbled right outside the blind. Soon I saw his head a few yards away and he was heading towards the jake decoy. I was going to video the hunt but forgot to turn the light off and when I hit record the light came on and I hid the camera as fast as I could. Luckily it didn't scare the birds and the Tom advanced towards my decoy. He got to the decoy and started pushing it with his chest and pecking it in the head. Then he went behind the decoy and started to come out of strut. I noticed my son baring down and boom, bird dropped like a stone. He started to flap a little but not a whole lot. I was stoked as was Dale. He did really well at maintaining his composure and getting the job done. He also jacked another shell into the receiver just in case. I was very happy. We stayed in the blind until the other birds left the area than he went and got his trophy, 21 lb, 10" beard, and 1" spurs. Here's a pic. After missing 3 times last year I worked a lot on his shooting and it paid off. The bird was hit at 20 yards with 20 gauge shotgun, standard Remington turkey shell, 5 shot. When I picked the bird up it was dumping blood. Tut's little 20 certainly ruins a turkey's day. Now it's my turn. Vic
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