My little girls first turkey

[btbkiller]

 It was turkey season 2010 when my 8 year old daughter first express to me that she wanted to go turkey hunting.  As you all know it is much more challenging to bring a child turkey hunting to me than simply crawling into a box stand during deer season.  The morning began by her asking 500 times why we weren't in Mississippi and why we were only 10 minutes from our house in Livingston,La.  You see my daughter believes that Mississippi is the greatest place on earth when it comes to hunting.  What she did not know is that I had been spending numerous hours scouting birds and had located 3 long beards and 9 jakes positioned between a hardwood bottom and a 30 acre field.
After getting into position we waited until the sky began to break light and I delivered a few owl calls which resulted in 6 gobbles.  I could barley see her eyes but did notice that they became very large.  You see that is a moment I will never forget when the excitement & addiction was placed into my daughter's heart for turkey hunting. It made me proud but I also felt as if I had gave her a disease. A disease that can not be cured! We must have heard 300 gobbles from the long beards and jakes before I made a fly down call and began playing the game. 20 minutes went by and we heard all 3 long beards crank off close to the field's edge.  5 minutes later and they were triple teaming my half strut gobbler decoy. I mean really whooping him up at 15 yards. I whispered "shoot" but never heard that familiar shotgun gun blast. As I looked down I observed my daughter who was pale white and shaking like a leaf.  In shock! The long beards spooked moments later and left just as quick as they had come in.  My daughter's eyes began to water and she stated that she did not shoot because she was scared that if she had missed, the turkeys would have jumped on her. I began laughing and told her that we had until the day I died to get her a turkey lol. 45 minutes later I began calling which produced 9 jakes who also came straight to us and began to whoop my already beating decoy.  This time I never even had to say a word.  She rolled one of the jakes that produce a 4 inch beard.  She began to cry in excitement and ever since that day has become my turkey hunting buddy.  Even at the age of 10 now she knows more about turkey hunting than some men I know.  I called in numerous jakes since then but she will not shoot them and she lets them walk.  What makes me proud is to hear her in her room working a slate call or box trying to perfect the skills needed to create the perfect moment.  You see people who work hard and perfect a skill get rewarded in life just like turkey hunting.   Thanks for reading

[Shadetree Callers]

Great story !

[B-Ready]

A hunting buddy for life.... Great Story!!

[Turkeybuster]

That is a great story and Congrats. to her on her first bird.

Jon

[btbkiller]

Thanks

[West Augusta]

Great job Dad pass on the tradition. Another member of the Tenth Legion.

[KPcalls]

 Good story Ben.....Sounds like she's hooked....

[jmck]

Congrats Ben---there is NO feeling like taking your child hunting and witnessing them "FEEL" what this sport is all about.
May you have countless cherished memories sharing a tree with her.
Take a child hunting,,,,,,and you will never have to hunt for a child !!!

[barry]

Big Congrats to you both!

[btbkiller]

Thanks guys

[ncturkey]

Awesome.

[Blackfalcon]

Thanks for sharing the story..a lifetime memory neither of you will forget. Priceless!!