PathfinderJR 2012 Turkey

[Pathfinder101]

Not really the way we planned it, but who are we to look a "gift bird in the mouth"?
JR didn't have baseball practice tonight so as soon as he got home this afternoon I ordered him up to his room and into his cammo, then we bombed out to the nearest spot (yes, public land, and yes, overhunted-but better than sitting at home ).
On the way out we spotted the turkeys out in a field so we formulated a plan to get ahead of them and ambush them where we thought they might roost.
No sooner had we left the truck and a turkey pops his head up and takes off running.  PathfinderJR pulls up and pounds him head-over-heels, on the run at about 10 yards. 
Since it was early yet, we decided to tag the bird and leave him at the truck and continue with the orginal plan (this bird had been a loner, the flock was still out in the field).  So we fought our way out to a good spot(ankel deep water most of the way) and set up the decoys.
Unfortunately, a "double" wasn't in the cards for us.  A lone gobbler came in, but he came in quiet as a mouse, and behind us.  We spotted him at the last second, and when he went behind a bush I told JR to get ready, but he made too much movement turning 180 degrees in our "blind" (pile of sticks and brush-unfortunately open to the rear) to get his shotgun oriented the right way, spooked the bird...and that was that...
The rest of the birds decided to roost on the other side of the river tonight.

No complaints though, biggest bird either of us have killed;  9 1/2" beard, 1 1/8" spurs.  Happy kid

[BullMagnet76]

Very Nice Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[Chase 1]

Those are awesome pics that you can treasure for a lifetime! Congrates!

[carpsniperg2]

Good deal

[Deep Forks]

Nice bird with great spurs and beard.    Go get another.  

[ICEMAN]

Excellent! Good job JR! Good job Dad!

[Pathfinder101]

Thanks all.  Goin' fishing today, but the gun and gear stays in the truck, just in case...

[ShaneTyTrey]

Nice work that is awesome

[turkeydancer]

   Yyyyyyaaaaahhhhooooooooo !!!!!!!!

[Pathfinder101]

Wow.  We should have stayed and hunted turkeys.  Lenore was worthless.  I can't believe it turned this early...   Long trip for nothing.

[buckhorn2]

Maybe you will get one on the way home you have an awesome partner there he is getting quite a collection of trophys. Nice bird they sure are pretty.

[Pathfinder101]

Yeah, I should have started a thread on here asking if Lenore was worth fishing.  The local guys probably would have saved me $100 in gas.  I have never seen it "turn" in April already...

[runamuk]

congrats to junior

[PathfinderJR]

Thanks everyone

[Pathfinder101]

Thanks all.