I have hunted the 1st 2 days of hte IA season and had a close encounter with a gobbler both times.
Yesterday evening I loaded up my 2.5 yr. old son and we went and sat in the DB blind. I didn't expect to see anything but thought he may enjoy it. It was his 1st time. We took books, candy(in noisy wrappers) and had a blast.

when I would call he would go wak, wak, wak with his voice to try and copy me. It was funny as heck. I finally get a tom to gobble and am think sweet, but no way is he coming in with all the noise we are making.

A little later I heard what I think is a drum and we start playing "hide". this is th only way I can get him quiet and i soft call a few yelps and gooooobbbblle about 30 yrds away. I look out the blind and I can see a fan. I don't even have my bow ready yet because i hadn't expect to see anything. I grab my bow, strip the quiver and load a missle. The tom is at 20yrds-full strut.

I am getting ready to shoot him and I think. I didn't even play on killing turkey this evening and this was about Drake. So I am trying to point the turkey out to him. I am watching his eyes and they suddenly get the size of half dollars. He sees him.

Next thing i know Drake goes "HI, TURKEY!". Man that dude turned himself inside out trying to get out of there. It was absolutly hilarious!

Anyway, Take your kids hunting whenever you can. It was definately my best hunting memory thus far!

That's my idea of a successful hunt. Great story.

OH man, is that funny!

Great story, you would of only shot that turkey once, but you'll be telling that story forever.

Great story. I too have been taking my son and daughter since they were 2. My son is now 16 and daughter is 14. They both love to go hunting and my favorite memories of hunting are the ones similar to yours. I wish more people would take their kids hunting. It just goes to prove that it is not the kill that matters, it is the experience that counts.

Thanks for sharing with us. May you and Drake enjoy many more great hunts.

That is such a funny story! Right there when he saw that tom I'd bet he fell in love with hunting and the great outdoors. Keep up the great work everybody!

Great story

Thats funny! I have a little brother and little sister that are both 2 1/2 and I can picture them saying something like that.

hilarious story, I can remember being on the other side of it, its great to take your kids out, the first time I took my daughter out she was only 1.5 but now she loves it at almost 3.
P.S. I'm also a Tomlin and was wondering where you got the name, I thought it was scarce.

To see the name in Iowa throws me off a bit because I was told that my name was 100% confederate. No hard feelings, I hope we are kin so that I could expand my horizons. You should understand by now that we dont have a common name and have to find it where we can. PM me if you get this message, I would love to meet my Yankee Brothren. LOL.