My dad gets his first bird!

[Bachflock]

We were in the woods at 0630 this morning. Shooting light didn't arrive until about 0720. Didn't hear anything until 0830 hours and that was the first fly-down cackle to the south east of us about 100-150 yards or so. We were facing the wrong way. We sat still. I periodically hear what I think is yelps and such but nothing in sight. About 0900 we hear three shots quite a distance to the south of us, probably from the farm about 1/2 mile away. Sounds more like a medium caliber rifle, a handgun, or small shotgun. My heart sank a bit but I knew the birds we saw yesterday were headed north east' if they were shooting turkeys I was hoping it was a different group.
0915 I hear a heard of small elephants running through the woods to my left. My dad was sitting behind and to my left about 20 feet away. I slowly turn my head to see blue heads bobbing back and forth about 45 yards away just into a clearing. We were sitting amongs some young pines with nice alleys. I turn back away to face my front side and couldn't see the birds but I knew my dad could so I threw out some kee-kees, kee-kee runs, and some yelps. I couldn' hear them any more. I did this for about 5 min, call, pause, call, pause, etc. Nothing. I relax a bit. Then I hear my dad whisper, "Hey!" I turn and he says he saw a big tom. The words are still on his lips when I see movement back were we saw the birds. I frantically point as quietly as I could but I couldn't tell if my dad got the idea. I face forward again racking my brain on how to get these birds in to our set-up. I take a guess and throw out a series of fighting purrs and angry clucks and I hear the heard of elephants once again. Someone starts yelping pretty exitedly so I throw out another series of fighitng purrs and clucks. I can't see them and don't want to ruin a potential shot for my dad so I just continue while it sounds like they head our way. I heard the leaves crunching out direction then "WHAM!" goes my dad's 870! I drop the safety on my gun and swing to my left to see a bird flying due north. I can hear some cackles and birds running but I couldn't see anything. I'm thinking he missed then I look back down at the base of a pine and here's a bird doing the good ole flop-dance! My dad's first ever turkey season and first ever bird! I yelling "Yes! Yes!" under my breath! LOL High fives and we collect his bird and head home.
Truely an exciting hunt. Right after the bird stops flopping he says "Yeah, I could do that again." 12 lb mature hen. If anyone has any questions about how to call better I am not convinced its all a matter of practice and knowing what to call and when to call. I'm still learning but I sure love the diaphram call. I took a bunch of pictures and will get them posted when I get them back.

[GobblerBuster618]

Alright! Congrats to you and your dad on an exciting hunt with a great ending!

[Bachflock]

If anyone has any questions about how to call better I am not convinced its all a matter of practice and knowing what to call and when to call.

Should have read this way:If anyone has any questions about how to call better I am NOW convinced its all a matter of practice and knowing what to call and when to call.

Amazing how one work changes the entire meaning!

[elnor]

That's wonderful, congratulations!

[outdoorgirl]

Sounds like a hunt full of memories congrats to your father on his first turkey

[Nut]

Congrats on the hunt

[earnhardts12000]

hope enjoyed it sounded fun

[HoppeMan]

Congrats on the hunt! I know how exciting it can be to be with your Dad when he kills his first bird. Sounds like an exciting hunt!

Take care,
Nathan

[beagleboy]

Congrats to your dad.