It took me 9 years to get my first bird. When I was 12, I went a few times with my Poppop. I was a decent caller, but it just never seemed to work out (birds hung up, etc). When he got sick and passed, I took a bit of a hiatus and just never went again. I occassionally messed around with my calls though. Last year, I remembered just how much fun I had that one year, and how much Poppop loved turkey hunting. I practiced, did my homework, remembered as much as I could of what I was taught. Last spring I hunted hard and was rewarded with my first bird. 18.5 lbs, 10" beard, 1" spurs. I'm hooked now...
-- B