Clay's First Turkey - MDC/MOE Youth Turkey Hunt 2008

We began the 2008 youth turkey hunt with the MDC and MOE arriving at the Green Conservation Area on Friday evening. After everyone got there we sat down and introduced ourselves. We talked about gun safety and patterned our shotguns. Everyone enjoyed some Sticky Pig B.B.Q. We then learned how to I.D. turkeys and practiced our turkey calls. My Dad and I brought the camper. Most people slept in the building. I had to turn the heater on in the camper.

The next morning we got up early and ate breakfast. My guide Travis drove us to our hunting spot and we walked in a ½ mile. Daylight seemed to come fast so we did a brisk walk. When we got there we were hot. Once we were in the blind we got cold from the wind. I got excited because we could hear turkeys gobbling by us. Travis kept calling on his slate call. Then all of a sudden Travis saw a gobbler 10 yards behind us. Travis told me to put on my face mask and to get my gun ready. When he turned back it was gone. My Dad then said he saw him in the field, still just 10 yards away. Travis asked me if I could see the turkey and I told him I did not. When the turkey fanned out away from us Travis shoved my body until I could see. Then he told me to say when I was ready for a shot and he would make the turkey’s head come up. When I did, the turkey was going to turn around completely, but before he did, I shot him.

Before I even got the shell unloaded, Travis was out of the blind. I was still shaking after running to the turkey. It was still squirming. There was a big hole in its lower neck where I had aimed. It was a good thing that my three inch 20 gauge shells did not go in earlier. Travis and others said that it would have blown its head off. I think we spent more time taking pictures than hunting. There was a guy that was going to interview us about the all day hunting, because they usually had to quit at 1:00 P.M. He couldn’t interview me, I was only out there two hours. When we got back the bird’s weight was 22 ½ pounds, the beards was 10 ½ inches and the spurs were 7/8 and ¾ inches long. After lunch we had more pictures taken with the whole bunch and some more of my bird. We then learned how to clean our trophy and what parts to keep for a reminder. All of the other kids went back out in the snow and wind. Most had heard turkeys in the morning. I stayed behind and helped make supper. No others had a chance for a shot that afternoon. After supper we went to sleep. I had to have the heater going again. During the night my Dad woke up sweating. I had turned the heater on max. My Dad and I slept late Sunday morning. George, another fellow hunter, shot a turkey that morning. It was bigger than mine. We left after we said good-bye to George and his Dad. I hated to leave. It was a really fun weekend.

Clay Hasty