Sunny Saturday in KS

[H1tman7]

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[Over&Under]

[Hermon]

[H1tman7]

Normally I just get to the point on these type of posts but, I'm typing this at work  so well just get bits and pieces done.
Also I will add the disclaimer that my story telling abilities are meager compared to some I see on here.

Hunting has always been a huge part of my life, and is a defining piece of me. Fortunately my son (2.5) is already showing great interest as well. This spring he has been asking to go turkey hunting with dad. Yep, no way am I going to turn him down on that!

I knew there would be plenty of birds active on a new piece of property we just acquired last year. before season we took a Saturday and went out to get the blind set up. we chose an area in a fence line at the top of a large grassy knoll where we had frequently seen a group of toms in the afternoon.

picture of our blind
   

[fnshtr]

[Bernie B.]

Looking forward to this story.  It's great to get your son involved at an early age.          

Bernie

[H1tman7]

So the first 2 sits with landen (son) we only made it for about 40 minutes before the temptation to get out and explore was too great.  I don't blame him. it's a big world out there, and the electric toy 4 wheeler was waiting back at the barn. we still had fun looking for sheds and did get a close look at a group of jakes while we were out and about. On the third sit I was determined to make our blind time last longer since I knew there were birds in the area.  I came in prepared with my work computer, movies, snacks headphones, the whole kit!  

We were in the blind about 30 minutes when I looked up to see a hen working her way down the fence line.  Landen climbed into my lap and had a blast (fake) shooting at her with his nerf gun he chose to bring along (most days he prefers to bring his little fiberglass bear bow). Eventually the hen grew tired of our Jake decoy and moved on. She was shortly followed by another and we repeated the scenario.

After about 2 hours in the blind he was getting restless. Grandpa had just texted that he had arrived at the barn and I could drop laden off and continue to hunt.

Then I heard a noise, that distinctive pffft-buzzz, it was windy but sure sounded like a tom close to the blind, or was it a diesel up at the barn? I looked out a window toward the noise nothing, and then another.... still nothing.  Then out of nowhere a gobble that couldn't be feet from the blind.  Landen and I froze. I looked out the window again as a mature tom followed by 2 others strutted into view. I reached for my bow, as I heard landen whispering "I want to shoot him dad".
I pressed a finger to my lips as the bird was less than 5 yards from the blind.

I finally retrieved my bow and pulled an arrow from the quiver and knocked it on the sting. I began to apply tension as I picked a spot high in the chest...

Then CHAOS erupted! as soon as Landen realized I was going to shoot we skipped straight to meltdown.  The 3 toms utterly confused gobbled once a the racket and promptly exited stage right.

I started laughing so hard I could hardly catch my breath! I don't blame Landen for wanting a turn at all! he had earned it being in that blind with me.

Landen watching a movie while we wait
       

Checking out a hen through dads binos
   

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Now this is Good!  

[rwbowman]

Hahaha! This is the good stuff! Keep it coming!

[BRONZ]

Fantastic!!!  Hahahaha!!

[dhermon85]

[Gary Rieck]

Pop-up blinds, kids and turkeys go together.   Best way to hunt.

[SheltonCreeker]

Great stuff......

[cmh]

[H1tman7]

A few weeks went by and Momma had kept us busy around the house, before I could get out again. This time landen was going to the zoo with grandma so it was going to be just me.

I got in the blind just as the horizon was beginning to lighten. The perfect weather and crisp morning was accompanied by a gobble I estimated to be 3 hundred yards away, possibly further across the road.  I settled in and made a few calls, but it sounded as though the tom was out of ear shot of my calling.  

Seemed like I may need to be patient on this day. So I settled my mind for a long sit as the sun rose, and didn't hear any more from the gobbler.

at 6:20 something caught my eye, the tom I had heard earlier running down the fence line toward me! I scrambled to get set figuring he was going to have a problem with my Jake decoy on his field. Nope he ran right by them, chasing a hen who was out of site from me in the fence row.  Never even broke stride to look at my Jake or hen decoy.

This is a roller coaster of a sport we pursue.  With my ego feeling about as big as the ticks I was constantly picking off I decided to make a few more light calls.  No response at all...

Then about 7:20 I heard a gobble down the fence line probably 150 yards in the direction the tom had gone, but over the hill. Two light locator calls yielded a quick response.

I put the call down, collapsed my stool and got set just in time to see him break the hill and lock on my decoys.  He was 70 yards and closing quick.

[BMN]

[Cyclic-Rivers]

[rwbowman]

[H1tman7]

We're back in the blind this afternoon, quiet so far.  

Back to the story.
So the tom is common in hot. Bow is up fingers are in the string and I'm ready. At about 15 yards he flares to square off with my decoys, offering a perfect broad side. I'm drawn and focusing on where I want to hit. I feel the string drop from my fingers, but I definitely had a panicky release. The arrow is low totally disabling his near side leg. The tom takes a coupple quick hops over to the fence line and pauses. Perfect I thought he can't fly and I'm in pretty good shape. Surely I can run down a 1 legged turkey....

So out of the blind I charge, initially I'm closing quickly. This is going to be a short chase, I'm thinking in my head.  About that time the tom clears the fence to an opening on the other side, gets enough air under his winds to fly. He flys about 200 yards and lands with a head over heels impact just short of  2 thick but small islands of brush in very large field.

Ok back to the blind to give him some time.  Around 10:30 I head back to the farm to grab the kubota to go have a look around the brush islands.

Just as I'm passing the first something catches my eye. It's my tom hunkered down in the grass, alive but definitely not doing great. I drive another 300 yds past him like I didn't see him and start slipping back.

[dhermon85]

And...