It all started when My wife gave birth to my son on March 13th. Unfortunately he didn' t survive. We had to make a decision whether to cremate or bury him. We decided to have him cremated. Well anyway I told him as he passed in my arms that I would take him hunting.(sorry if this offends anyone).
So here we go: It' s 3am in the morning as the alarm clock goes off, it' s been a long week of hunting and it' s the second saturday of the Spring season. I had been guiding all week and had called in many birds for my clients but today was my day to hunt. I got dressed and put the canister with my son in it in my breast pocket close to my heart. I woke up my brother law and told him it was time to go. He got up and got dressed all the while we discussed what bird we were going go to after. We decided on a bird that was out close to an intersection of an old logging road. We put on our turkey vests and started the long dark walk out to the spot.
Upon arriving at the spot I wanted to set up at I put out my hen decoy, picked a nice blow down to tuck into and a tree for him to lean against. It was a beautifully quiet and calm morning. As the sun started to rise it just made the walk all the worth while. About 15 minutes after the light broke I heard him gobble on his own about 100 yards in front of us to the south. I waited for him to gobble again and started my soft tree calls. As soon as I started he gobbled back at me and a hen started calling back about 60 yards to the west of me. ( you know that feeling you get when you know your' e where you' re supposed to be :-) ) Well he gobbled for awhile and I just hushed up. The hen got more and morre excited as he gobbled. At about 6am I saw the hen fly down and heard the gobbler fly down. The hen started calling to him pretty exciedly so I started mimicking her abut getting a little more excited than her. I could hear him coming towards her and saw her walk out onto the logging road and just stand there as if to say here I am. I stopped calling for about 15 minutes and just listened to him gobble at her. I then could tell that he too had stepped out onto the logging road but was just opn the other side of a hill in the road. I watched as she perked up. I started calling to him excitedly again and he responded with double and triple gobbles. He then shut up but I could here the famous pfffffftttttt drummmmmmmmmmm. I could hear him coming closer. I touched my breast pocket and said to my boy it just doesn' t get any better than this. The First thing I saw was the Awesome fan coming up over the hill. Then he stepped up over to show me his impressive beard and body size. He was brilliantly colored with all the bronzes, reds, whites, and of course blues. I watched him walk up to the hen and just strutt like he was the king. I started shaking with (I dont care who you are you shake at a sight like that) excitement. I kept calling to him and he kept strutting for me. He got with in 25 yards of me and hopped up on the bank of the road. I wathced him for awhile til I could get a clean shot at him. I took that special bird with one clean shot. I walked over to that majestic bird and gave him thanks for being there and giving his life for me and my son. I looked skyward and thanked God for giving me such a gift. I spread some of my Son' s ashes there where the turkey laid since it was my son' s bird and not mine.
I just wanted to share this with all of the turkey hunters, and I hope that nobody is offended by my story, if you are I apologise to you. Thanks, Pat

Pat, my friend,That has to be the greatest post I have ever read.I can' t put into words how it made me feel.

Pat...how could anyone get offended at such a heart warming story as that!!!!!! Sorry to hear about your loss & good luck in the future! Brampton Mike [8D]

now i was waitin' to get offended, but i never did, i just got all warm and goose-bumpy.........now that is just the best story.....me and fl. got to thinking about it one day, what we would do, a burial or cremation, well i want to be cremated and somehow be made in to a shotgun shells.....i' ll be able to hunt after i' m gone...as sick as that may sound, lol.......what you did isn' t too different.....i think he was the happiest lil boy in heaven that day.....i' m sorry for your loss.........truely a touchng story, thank you for sharing it with us

Pat, I agree with everyone else. That has to be one of the most heartwarming yet kinda sad stories I' ve ever read. I' m really sorry about the loss your family has experienced but am too thankful to God that he gave you such a gift. Thank you for sharing your story.

Pat, u know my feelins from the N.W.T.F. board. Carry on my friend, we r with u!!!!!!

My friend, that is something , your are a special person and turkey hunter. Sorry to hear of your loss my friend...BT

That was a wonderful story,sorry for your loss.

Pat no offense here buddy!!Wonderful story and way to help find comfort in remembering your son!My hearts out to you and yours!!!

Pat I' m not exactly sure what to say bro. You were here for me more so than a lot of my family when my dad past away three weeks ago. As far as I am concerned anyone who is offended by you and your sons first trip can go jump off a log. I can't say I feel your exact pain but one very similar. I admire you for your dedication and keeping your word. Bro you got my number if you ever want to talk you know what to do. Just remeber what you told me about your son and my dad being together!!!!!!!!!