NY Youth Hunt

[Squirrelhunter91]

We didn't kill a bird but we sure had fun trying.

Saturday started off with us headed to an old Paupers Cemetery, a place that always holds birds. I scouted all of last weekend, trying to figure out where the gobblers were but to no avail, I never did scout any gobblers in our usual spots. They were always in a spot where they had never been in prior years. As we were getting out of the truck, a guy Jack pulled up with his son. He was taking his son up the mountain to try and get his kid a bird. We wished them good luck and were on our way to the cemetery because we had a hunch there might be a few in there. And we were right. At about 5:40am the first gobble sounded off, a bird roosted about 300 yards to our west, followed by two more birds to the south, a long ways off. We decided to try and get close to the one to the west. We moved in as close as we thought we could get without spooking him and set up. I put out B-mobile and 2 hen decoys. So I started up on my Purdy's slate call and he hammered back. And then of course, he has a hen with him and she starts up and cackles and yelps and cutts and does everything an angry girlfriend would do. I imitated her sound for sound. She never did come in, she just led the bird away. At about 6:05am, a shot rang out. Jack's son had shot a bird. the birds pretty much went quiet after that. We sat til 7:30 or so then went to town to go see Jack's bird. It was a jake, roughly 15lb, with a 1" beard and like 1/8" spurs. Definitely last year's poult. We ate breakfast and then went back out onto the mountain behind our property, but didn't see any birds.

Sunday was a little bit better. It was supposed to rain Saturday night (which it did) so we were gonna sleep in. We slept in all the way to 9:00am!!!! We got dressed and decided to head out. We went right up the mountain behind our property. I had a spot in mind that was always good for late morning gobblers. It was where I shot my bird last year. These birds strut in the middle of a bunch of fields on a horse farm that borders the mountain. We headed straight for the field and I pulled out my Purdy's slate call once again and let loose a bunch of yelps into the field. GOBBBLEE!!!!!! Two birds gobble back about 200 yards away. I tell Aj and my dad to get set because they're gonna come running, just like my bird did last year. I told Aj to watch the opening in the rock wall because they'll most likely walk right down the path.

15 minutes and 5 gobbles later, a jake pops up about 20 yards to Aj's left. As he comes over the rock wall, he drums real quick and is looking around for the hen. I didn't set a decoy out because I thought they were gonna come running in like my bird did. So of course as Aj tries to swing his gun over for a shot, the bird starts putting and high tailing it. I try to calm him with soft purrs and clucks, but to no avail he took off towards the top of the mountain. We sat for another 15 minutes and I continued to call when another bird gobbled about 150 yards behind us. He would gobble, I would call. Then he shut up so we decided to move. Of course we walk right on top of this bird and he takes off, climbing a rock ledge! I mean walking straight up a huge, flat boulder. It was another jake. It was probably the other one we heard in the field with the jake that came right in. He did a 200 yard circle around the back of us.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We figured out where the turkey's are and did alot of riding on the quads. Now this weekend, I have an idea to get on that bird we worked on Saturday. It should work. Can't wait. The weekend can't get here quick enough!!!

[RangerClay]

Sounds great Joe! Better luck next weekend.

[Adjam5]

I was very proud of my sons Joe(16) and AJ(14) this past weekend on AJ's youth turkey hunt here in NY. It brought a tear to my eye watching my boys get in position and set up on a gobbler. AJ did not shoot a bird, but a Jake came in range but there were too many saplings in the way and he elected not to shoot. Joes calling was superb and was beaming with pride as I watched my boys in action. This is what I have dreamed about when I thought about having kids. I was blessed with 3 sons.

I can't wait to do it again next weekend. It was one of the BEST times I have ever spent afield with my sons.

Next weekend my little guy Michael(11) comes too.

I will be in living a dream hunting with all 3 of my sons.