Well, I missed opening day in Virginia last weekend because I had to work, so I took Thursday off to go hunting down in Spottsylvania County. I got in the woods plenty early and was in my stand and settled about 30 minutes before first light. A front had recently come through so it was much cooler than the previous week, and unfortunately, very windy.

I didn't see anything until about 9:00 when a yearling walked by. I was looking / waiting for "momma", but she never showed. That was the last deer I saw all day.

Along about 11:00 I got tired and climbed down, figuring that I'd stalk some going "cross-compartment", with the wind covering the sound of my movement. The terrain down there is heavily wooded and rolling. After crossing three fingers and two draws, I was coming over a bluff overlooking what in more normal times would be a swamp, but this year is a meadow. I couldn't believe what I saw walking through the tall grass - so I moved quietly into position, and from about 35 yards...



First bow kill, first wild turkey -- there were 9 of them in the group, and although this wasn't the biggest one, it presented the best shot!