Well, it has been a few months since my last hunt, and I was starting to get a little anxious. I hate when hunting season is over – not so much for the sport as for the opportunity to experience nature. So, I started asking myself what I should and could hunt. Then, it dawned on me that I had NEVER shot a turkey. Yes, the master huntress (lol) had never shot a turkey so I decided that I would go turkey hunting….at the end of the season!!! So, everyone said – good luck calling them in because you are going to need it! I planned a hunting trip to the hill country (right outside of Junction, TX). However, the day before the hunt, the forecasters called for bad storms and pitiful weather. I contemplated cancelling my trip, but I needed to get away! So, I forged ahead with my plans, and off I went! A friend of mine, Roger Dillard (Hill Country Adventures), took me out to a property that he hunts, and the adventure began. We arrived at the property late in the afternoon. Our plan was to scout the property for gobblers and hunt the following morning – early!!! Nonetheless, we wanted to be prepared for the best case scenario – gobblers in the evening. So, we suited up in full camo, grabbed the shotgun & shells, and headed out on foot to find a good location to hunt in the morning. Within minutes, we found a great location – a small patch of brush with great trees for cover. We sat down on the ground and observed the wooded area around us. The solace that you find in the woods is unmatched. We simply sat on the ground and took it all in…until I saw a snake slivering towards us. I sat still and silent, praying that he would sliver the other way! To our good fortune, he did!!! Shortly thereafter, we were approached by a jackrabbit – hopping within 5 feet of us, and then we saw the hens...the wonderful hens! Was this really happening? To our amazement, three hens walked in front of us (within 50 yards). Our hearts raced. How could we set up to shoot a possible gobbler without spooking the hens??? Fortunately, a group of does (6 to be exact) came in to distract the hens, but what if we were spotted by the does??? Oh my!!! The does were within 50 yards of us….we knew that the hunt was over. The adrenaline was pumping, and then we heard it….the sweetest sound – gobble, gobble, gobble. The gobblers were about 100 yards away, and they were gobbling! We could not see them, but we could hear them. Roger got the turkey call and scratched it a few times….just enough to keep from being noticed, and I got my shotgun and assumed the shooting position (right off of my own knee)!!! Quietly we sat – hoping to see the gobblers strut in, and THEY did. A small jake led the way. There were 3 gobblers…3 GOBBLERS!!!! We were shocked! The second gobbler strutted in – he was huge! However, he was missing several back tail feathers (he only had ½ of a fan) and he was so old that his pigmentation was severely faded, but he was a great tom! He walked within 25 yards of where we were sitting, but I did not take the shot…I held out for gobbler #3! I thought to myself that I had just made the biggest mistake of the week! How could I pass on the terrific gobbler? But I held out for the pretty gobbler that I could mount, because I wanted to mount my first turkey……when he strutted in, I was so grateful that I was patient!!! He was INCREDIBLE (at least to me)!!! His coloration was vivid…he was fantastic! I anxiously waited for him to get within shooting distance, and he did. I took a deep breath, aimed my shotgun, and took the shot. Instantly he dropped! I DID IT!!! My initial reaction was to jump for joy and high five my friend, but I simply sat quietly and still as I had been all evening. I wanted to take in the moment….we were sitting in the woods surrounded by wildlife….it was truly spectacular! No words could do justice to the beauty of the day! After the other turkeys and the does scattered off, we came face to face with my gobbler! He was everything that I hoped that he would be! The trip was nothing short of a hill country adventure! It was an amazing and blessed experience! I have never experienced anything quite like it, and I cannot wait to experience it again! For anyone that has never been turkey hunting – it is a must! For me, it was the experience of a lifetime and exactly what I needed! Happy hunting!!!

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