New Nickname Given
This year unexpected extra days off from work for my husband allowed him time to come to the woods for opening day of spring gobbler season in Georgia. Previous turkey seasons he would only have time to hunt weekends for Osceola turkeys close to our home in Largo, Fl. while I would take off to Georgia (alone) and usually add the Eastern turkey to our list of accomplishments each spring. Not only did my husband join me this year, but also we were blessed to have our son and grandson at camp to try their hands at a big old Eastern turkey in the Georgia springtime woods. Our grandson is at home in the woods, he hunts with his father no matter what the prey may be; he fears nothing, as long as his dad is there. For a youngster his knowledge of when to be quiet and sit still is amazing, its not easy to keep children still and quiet while turkey hunting, because it’s the most up-close, exciting and most difficult hunting there is in my book. Braden (our grandson) had a chance at a trophy turkey, but the slightest movement required to put his face mask on, spooked Mr. Tom and off he went to be challenged another time.
Let me get back to the new nickname given, my husband, Brad had the hot hand, the luck of the draw, the four leafed clover, he had something going for him. If there was such a thing as turkey nip, then he must have bathed in it. It didn’t matter where he sat, it seemed as if every turkey in Ga. with a long-dragging beard wanted to be near Brad, yep that’s it, he’s now known as the “Turkey Master”. Opening morning of the season, most of us left camp early. Mike (our son) reluctantly wanted another hour to sleep each time we knocked on his camper door, as his cell phone told him Alabama time not Georgia time. Once we convinced him he had less than 20 minutes before sunup, he was on his way too with Braden in tow. I went my way, Mike and Braden went theirs and the TM (turkey master) went his. We all heard gobbling in the morning but it was Brad that was successful enough to get the big toms to like what they heard and saw. He couldn’t wait to get back to camp and share his success with his grandson, who was so happy that Pop got one.
Next morning the TM offered up another spot to me and he went with me, which is really the best way to hunt spring gobblers. Its really nice having someone else there to experience the excitement of the turkeys gobbling back at your calls and bringing them within shotgun range. Unfortunately the two of us took off with umbrellas in hand and rain gear on. It was a windy, cold, rainy morning but we toughed it out and around 10 am the rained stopped for about an hour before the big storm was supposed to come in. Lo and behold the TM made a gobble call and off in the distance there was an answer. Within a few minutes that gobbler made up the distance and the next gobble shook the woods and our nerves. It wasn’t long and there he was right on our decoys, lightning fast and boom it was over. I had bagged my Eastern thanks to the “turkey master”.
The rest of this hunting trip consisted of Braden having the time of his life, shooting BB guns, riding his four-wheeler and getting as dirty as he possibly could. Sitting on the porch chillin with his sunglasses on, in his camo hat practicing on a turkey slate call until we just couldn’t stand the noise any longer, that's our grandson. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, having your kids and grandkids around is a blessing and should never be a missed opportunity.
Yes the Turkey Master still has those “unexpected days off” from work (that’s another story) and the two of us spent the following five days at our place in Georgia, just the two of us. On the drive back to Georgia I played a dirty April fool’s joke and told him (the turkey master) that I had lost my job too. I couldn’t let him suffer any longer and after 20 phone calls to all his buddies, I had to come clean and tell him it was an April fool’s joke and from that point on, we had a great five days together.
Once again on the first morning out, the turkey master harvested another nice Eastern gobbler. Unfortunately I sat at my spot listening to another hunter close to the property line answer my calling; finally I hollered out to him that I wasn’t a feathered person for him to shoot at. (If you ever experience this kind of situation for safety sake, let that other person know you are not a turkey by hollering out to them.) For the next three days the weather was terribly hot, 87 to 89 degrees and the pollen was unbearable. The last morning we were there while I was patiently sitting and carving “Turkey Master” on a pine limb to pass the time away (hence the new nickname) then off in the distance….boom. He did it again, number three gobbler and his season bag limit in Georgia is filled. The Turkey Master has a 9 inch, 10 inch and an 11 inch triple crown of trophy Eastern Gobblers. I had to really suck it up since I am usually the one that gets all the time off to hunt and play while he has worked hard for what we both have. I am truly a lucky woman to have a husband and a family that is strong, healthy and appreciates each other’s accomplishments. Hat’s off to the Turkey Master, 2010 after all, he has taught me everything I know in the woods! Remember to always be safe, (especially while hunting) courteous and know your regulations.
This year unexpected extra days off from work for my husband allowed him time to come to the woods for opening day of spring gobbler season in Georgia. Previous turkey seasons he would only have time to hunt weekends for Osceola turkeys close to our home in Largo, Fl. while I would take off to Georgia (alone) and usually add the Eastern turkey to our list of accomplishments each spring. Not only did my husband join me this year, but also we were blessed to have our son and grandson at camp to try their hands at a big old Eastern turkey in the Georgia springtime woods. Our grandson is at home in the woods, he hunts with his father no matter what the prey may be; he fears nothing, as long as his dad is there. For a youngster his knowledge of when to be quiet and sit still is amazing, its not easy to keep children still and quiet while turkey hunting, because it’s the most up-close, exciting and most difficult hunting there is in my book. Braden (our grandson) had a chance at a trophy turkey, but the slightest movement required to put his face mask on, spooked Mr. Tom and off he went to be challenged another time.Let me get back to the new nickname given, my husband, Brad had the hot hand, the luck of the draw, the four leafed clover, he had something going for him. If there was such a thing as turkey nip, then he must have bathed in it. It didn’t matter where he sat, it seemed as if every turkey in Ga. with a long-dragging beard wanted to be near Brad, yep that’s it, he’s now known as the “Turkey Master”. Opening morning of the season, most of us left camp early. Mike (our son) reluctantly wanted another hour to sleep each time we knocked on his camper door, as his cell phone told him Alabama time not Georgia time. Once we convinced him he had less than 20 minutes before sunup, he was on his way too with Braden in tow. I went my way, Mike and Braden went theirs and the TM (turkey master) went his. We all heard gobbling in the morning but it was Brad that was successful enough to get the big toms to like what they heard and saw. He couldn’t wait to get back to camp and share his success with his grandson, who was so happy that Pop got one.
Next morning the TM offered up another spot to me and he went with me, which is really the best way to hunt spring gobblers. Its really nice having someone else there to experience the excitement of the turkeys gobbling back at your calls and bringing them within shotgun range. Unfortunately the two of us took off with umbrellas in hand and rain gear on. It was a windy, cold, rainy morning but we toughed it out and around 10 am the rained stopped for about an hour before the big storm was supposed to come in. Lo and behold the TM made a gobble call and off in the distance there was an answer. Within a few minutes that gobbler made up the distance and the next gobble shook the woods and our nerves. It wasn’t long and there he was right on our decoys, lightning fast and boom it was over. I had bagged my Eastern thanks to the “turkey master”.
The rest of this hunting trip consisted of Braden having the time of his life, shooting BB guns, riding his four-wheeler and getting as dirty as he possibly could. Sitting on the porch chillin with his sunglasses on, in his camo hat practicing on a turkey slate call until we just couldn’t stand the noise any longer, that's our grandson. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, having your kids and grandkids around is a blessing and should never be a missed opportunity.
Yes the Turkey Master still has those “unexpected days off” from work (that’s another story) and the two of us spent the following five days at our place in Georgia, just the two of us. On the drive back to Georgia I played a dirty April fool’s joke and told him (the turkey master) that I had lost my job too. I couldn’t let him suffer any longer and after 20 phone calls to all his buddies, I had to come clean and tell him it was an April fool’s joke and from that point on, we had a great five days together.
Once again on the first morning out, the turkey master harvested another nice Eastern gobbler. Unfortunately I sat at my spot listening to another hunter close to the property line answer my calling; finally I hollered out to him that I wasn’t a feathered person for him to shoot at. (If you ever experience this kind of situation for safety sake, let that other person know you are not a turkey by hollering out to them.) For the next three days the weather was terribly hot, 87 to 89 degrees and the pollen was unbearable. The last morning we were there while I was patiently sitting and carving “Turkey Master” on a pine limb to pass the time away (hence the new nickname) then off in the distance….boom. He did it again, number three gobbler and his season bag limit in Georgia is filled. The Turkey Master has a 9 inch, 10 inch and an 11 inch triple crown of trophy Eastern Gobblers. I had to really suck it up since I am usually the one that gets all the time off to hunt and play while he has worked hard for what we both have. I am truly a lucky woman to have a husband and a family that is strong, healthy and appreciates each other’s accomplishments. Hat’s off to the Turkey Master, 2010 after all, he has taught me everything I know in the woods! Remember to always be safe, (especially while hunting) courteous and know your regulations.
