HuntingNet.com Forums - A Hunt with JW... According to Turkey Goddess

It seems as though each spring during turkey season, something life changing happens. It might be one of the many reasons I am in love with turkey hunting... Good, bad or ugly I'm completely obsessed and addicted!!! This is a story of meeting a wonderful friend (JW!) for the first time for our first turkey hunt. As some of you know I got on to Hunting Net about 4 years back as a total green horn. I was laid off from work and was determined to fill a life long dream to turkey hunt. Hubby had never been and happily took an interest because I did. JW! (among others like Arrowmaster & Ridge Runner, etc.) spent many hours in chat teaching me. I went out for two seasons & fumbled through - learning more every single time,but no turkey. I don't think my friends could stomach another year with me eating a tag. LOL!!! So here is my invitation to hunt in Wisconsin with JW! And I jumped on it like a duck on a junebug and my story begins...

We had about an 8 hour drive to get where we were staying Saturday night. We met up with JW! (AKA Obiewan) And Roy (AKA Grasshopper) at about 9am Sunday morning. We shook hands and talked about what they heard that morning on the roost. JW! had trolled the area along the road and used an owl hooter. The turkey's were FIRED UP & loved answering to the owl hoot. They located approximately 10+ gobblers doing this. We jumped in the truck and reviewed everything they had learned by scouting the last couple days and we discussed strategy for the 4 of us to hunt in the morning. The area was impressive - very large and intimidating to someone like me who gets access to small areas of farms. This was like the Disney World of turkey hunting!!! Without taking the time JW! and Roy did to scout it would be a very tough place to hunt. We looked at spots - got out to see tracks and spent the remainder of the day talking strategy. Originally hubby & Roy were gonna go after "sh!thouse bird" JW! & I were gonna sit at a spot with tons of turkey signs. Sh!thouse bird earned his name after JW! used porta-potty and he was standing in road in front of it strutting his butt off. He was very vocal & we felt very callable so JW! bartered with hubby & Roy - he wanted me on Sh!thouse. Hubby & Roy didn't bat an eyelash, they were on board 100%. We didn't know how much pressure there would be in the morning, so we parked a truck at our backup spot (where there were tons of turkey signs) and we went to Sh!thouse in the morning. Hubby & Roy were on other side (several miles away running & gunning).

JW! and I got on Sh!thouse early we got set up quietly and waited awhile. Did not hear anything. No gobbling - no fly downs. Called on owl hooter - no answer. Waited til after fly down JW! did a few hen calls - no answer. JW! Waits a few minutes & says he doesn't like this - we're moving to the back up. We got out quick & quiet - both of us surprised that Sh!thouse was gone - we figure as vocal as he was someone tried roosting him last night & spooked him. We were hoping no one was at our backup. We got there & luckily our strategy with parking an extra truck there worked & we got in and set up by 6:40 a.m. We waited a bit & did some calling. JW! is a MASTER at the box call. I came home thinking I've gotta practice on mine! WOW!!! Around 7:30 am he yelps on his yelper. We got a gobble. Now, you wanna talk about watching a warrior spring in to battle!!! Baby, it was ON!!! JW! Snapped into action!Working that bird in to the palm of our hands! About 7 minutes later we see a beautiful red, white & blue head. With gun in my hand both our hearts were racing. He was still in the woods and suddenly made a move south of us. Walking away. JW! was trying to see where he went - he noticed that was a Jake. I tapped him on the knee & pointed directly in front of us. There HE was... in full strut with that big white head - coming our way. My heart was racing - palms sweaty - hands shaking. JW! made a few soft clucks an sat back in his chair, sipping his cup of coffee & whispers to me "Enjoy the show!". I was like W-W-What?????? How can you sit back & relax??? LOL. Then the Tom started moving in the same direction the Jake did. He was moving out of shooting range - JW! took my gun & had me kneel in front of him. I looked out my window because I couldn't see him earlier and THERE HE WAS!!! JW! Clucked at him a few times & got him to stop just long enough. Sitting in his chair he peeked through the blind so he could see the Tom. He whispers to me "When you got the shot, take it." "If you've got a shot ..." BOOM!!! Before I even knew what happened JW! had the zipper down & getting out of the blind. BIRD DOWN!!! OMG!!! I got up to follow him & he said "No! Keep your gun on that turkey!". Once he was out of the blind he made sure my safety was on & gun down & he ran to the turkey. I ran right after him! I really can't remember the last time I was that happy! I got there & I was so excited, JW! says "you're gonna be even happier when you see these spurs!". He grabbed for the leg and the turkey kicked scraping his middle finger with his spur. He got him good - IMO he needed stitches. Once the bird died we got a good look at him. He was beautiful! Big beard - HUGE hooks - gorgeous feathers! We got pictures, we hugged (about 15 times!) and we took him to the truck. He weighed 20.2 lbs, 9 & 7/8 beard and 1 & 7/16 spurs. He was a 5-6 year old. JW! was impressed by this bird - as a spur hunter himself, he had never gotten one with spurs that big. As happy as could be for me, a small part of him fantasized about me hesitating or choking! LMAO!!!

We put the bird in the truck - administered 1st aid on his finger and we finished that day & the next day hunting together & trying to get a turkey for JW! Unfortunately, I didn't get to see JW! kill a turkey, I was REALLY hoping to. Hubby & Roy didn't fill their tags either but being the wonderful men that they are - couldn't have been happier for me. I am getting this turkey mounted. It was an awesome trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat. JW! is a true gentleman & teacher. His heart still races & his hands shake every single time he sees a gobbler and I absolutely LOVE that about him!

JW! - THANK YOU for helping me kill my first turkey!!! The stars finally aligned for Turkey Goddess! :) I'm so glad we got to do this together! I have a friend, a hunt, great memories & a turkey that I will CHERISH forever!!!!!!!!!!

Kim :)