The Dartonman boys score on 1 great Jake

[dartonman]

Well....to say exciting is an understatement. I had my buddy Mike video our Illinois youth season. For those who dont understand the politics of Illinois...you can apply for a youth tag for the kids, and its a 2 day hunt., but the tags are only 10.00 dollars, and you always pray for warm weather, which of course is non existant for now..lol. My sons Marshall (age 11), and Forrest (age 12) finished Hunter Education class last fall with perfect scores, and have never harvested anything. Day 1 on video, an old hen busted our decoys and told the (7) strutters behind her it wasn't a good idea to continue on our trail, where hearts were pounding, and disappointment set it. I called Rhino last night, and explained its cold, high chance of snow, and the gobblers are answering crows and geese more than hens. He told me to use no decoys, and a gobble call if the land is private, and I felt safe about it. So, off I went to houses of fellow turkey hunters, and our buddy Jon had the call I needed. We got into the blind on Day 2 (today) and waited for the sun to rise, while watching the snow come down. Its cold, windy and just plain yuck. At dawn, one gobbler broke the silence, I joined him with my gobble call, and shook it for all its worth. The woods lit up, maybe 12-20 gobblers let er rip for a good 45 seconds. We had seen as many as 26 gobblers a week ago, and knew the birds would soon head to the woods posted all around our small patch "No Hunting, Wildlife Preserve". About 730am, the monarch gobbler with a large beard, and spurs to match tested the will of the boys at 22 yards, and well, they both shot at him, and missed clean, and they were heart broken. I assured them that all birds have not left our haven, and to be silent, and wait to see what happens. About 20 minutes passed, and here comes that wench hen that busted us yesterday, and the only thing in tow was two more hens, and a very tasty legal Jake, which turned out to have three beards on him. The bird came in at 25 yards, Marshall fired first, then Forrest. Marshalls hit was true to the neck, but the bird was still on his feet, and stumbling for cover. I asked Forrest if he was on the bird, in his classic style Forrest chambered another round, and said "yep, Im on him"...and sent the bird down for the count with the final shot., a true team effort, as Marshall had the single shot shotgun. I can't be more proud, the flock was hundreds of yards away, so we called it a morning, while it rained and snowed on us, and headed for breakfast, I have pics, Im trying to load them now. al

[VermontHunter]

WOW !! Rhino called that one true and right ...

CONGRATS to you and your boys Al .. I'll be looking for the pics ...

[Dakota]

That's awesome, Al! Can't wait for the pics, bud!

Dakota

[layin on the smackdown]

Good Deal Big Al!!!! Congrats to the boys....ITs crappy out, so double ATTA BOY to you and the whole team for tuffin it out!

[mike42764]

Congrats Forrest and Marshall; I know that you boys made your dad proud today and i would like to say that it was a pleasure to flim your first turkey hunt. I had just as much fun watching your faces and your heavy breathing your dad shaking like a leaf in the wind. I would like to say i never seen your dad move so fast to get to the bird, like voooooom the blind comes flying up and hes gone. Well thanks for letting me enjoy your first turkey hunt. I will get the video to you as soon as i can get on a dvd. Congrats again Forrest and Marshall, your camera man Mike.

[jesse8953]

Good job boys

[pointing_dogs_rule]

That's great and those have to be "BY FAR THE BEST PHOTOS OF THE YOUNG SEASON".

Good luck to all
the dog

[3seasons]

Congrats, great story.

[bowhunter56]

Well done fellows, a great hunt despite the weather..

[JimT]

Thats very cool Al..... Congrats!!!

[bluelund79]

What a story! Congrats to your boys Al....Nice bird!

[wtnhunt]

Congratulations to your boys and to you too Al. Great story.

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

great story... congrats to you all!

[Ohiobucks]

Congrats to you and your boys Al, awesome!

[Rhino]

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!

Congrats again to Marshall and Forrest on tag teaming that triple beard. Congrats to you too Al.