Tommy Carroll At 979 GRD’s Sons Got Their First Turkeys

I have been taking my boys fishing and hunting since they were big enough to go, but this past weekend was special when they bagged their first turkeys.

Turkey Season 2024

I was lucky enough to be able to take out my two boys for the opening weekend of turkey season. I get the landowner permit each year to get me out a week early and had the boys do the same. They have both been through hunter safety and have been practicing shooting and were finally ready to bag their first game.

The Toms were already gobbling when the boys climbed into the blind. It was an exciting opening morning. I had the boys set up to hunt while I did the calling and some shoddy video work. We had a big hen come in that beat up one of my decoys, and then another came in. We were still getting gobbles back in the woods but no Toms.

Then the older boy said, "Three Toms are running across the field right at us."

They came into the decoys and we tried to get a double. The boys had picked out which bird to shoot and then I did a countdown so they could shoot but the bird my youngest wanted to take put his head down, but the older boy shot his first turkey. The joy that ran through all three of us was priceless.

The older boy got a trophy bird right out of the gate. My little guy wasn't disappointed about not getting to shoot his bird because he was thrilled his big brother connected.

We hunted longer hoping the youngest boy would get a chance at another bird but only Jakes (young Tom Turkeys) came into the decoys. We did the evening hunt but only one hen came in.

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The second morning we had lots of gobbles from multiple turkeys but they were far back in the woods. I told the boys not to worry, the birds know where we are because of our calling, and that one is bound to show up. After a couple of hours, the gobbles stopped and no birds were in sight so the little guy took a nap. It's a good thing he rested up because 10 minutes after waking, a hen popped into the field followed by a nice Tom.

There were other birds behind him but rather than waiting for the others to come out and try and get a double with him and me, I told him to shoot the bird when he puts his head up. The bird put his head up, and before he could squeeze the trigger put his head back down, but it wasn't long before he stretched his neck and the little guy dropped the bird.

The excitement from the two boys was amazing. Their hands were shaking, they were breathing hard, and hugging one another. We could not have been more blessed to be able to share this awesome experience

I couldn't be more proud of these two for taking the hunter's safety class seriously, practicing their shooting skills, and going through turkey boot camp with me. I took both birds to the taxidermist and they will soon have their first turkey fans on the wall.

The boys wanted to go fishing since they already had their birds so I thought I would go out for an evening hunt. It was windy but I knew at 6 p.m. the winds would calm down and get the birds moving again. I was right, 20 minutes later a big Tom walked out and I was able to get one, too.

The boys had returned from fishing no long before I got my bird and were able to join me in the woods for the celebration. I have to say of all our trips outdoors, this was the best one so far.