Let’s start with turkeys…. The season thus far has been phenomenal. Fourteen clients have hunted with my Rebel Yell Outdoors and fourteen gobblers got to travel home with my collection of Yankee turkey hunters. Well, all but two rode north of the Mason and Dixon line.
Two of them handsome toms remained local after a hunt with a hometown hero of mine. Mister Brian Waller of Floral City, an impressive gentleman of both stature and character, brought his tiny-tubed .410 shotgun out for it’s maiden hunt and toted home fat pair of two year old toms for his family’s table. Our first morning’s hunt allowed us some close encounters with our feathered nemesis, but no shot opportunities were presented. However, Brian found success on the second morning.
I’d had some minor health issues arise, which needed a quick visit with a Dr, so I gave Brian direction to where to sit and call from. Turns out the rascal didn’t need me as he brought in not one, not two, but four gobblers of which only two got to run away. Congratulations, Brian!
And gun safety…. Well, one of the top rules of firearm handling is, “know what’s beyond your target.” I had a client from Kentucky, only this past Saturday, who demonstrated just how important that rule is
He had a big tom slipping in to my calling, which was approaching us from the rear. Rather than wait on the bird to pass us by and enter a safe zone to shoot, he chose to turn around and shoot his turkey in the beak. Oh, he got his bird! And a little extra…. He as well shot the window out of his buddy’s 2025 F-150. He was so focused on the turkey that he failed to check his field of fire.
Bringing up a lesson for all of us to heed. “Know what’s beyond your target”!
If you have any questions or comments on this week’s column, please reach out to me at [email protected]. God bless and good hunting!
