HuntingNet.com Forums - I am having a pretty good year!

I started the 2016 Spring turkey season off by teaching 12 students in a WI certified Learn to Hunt Program march 25th. There is a required 4 to 5 hours of class time. We teach what a turkey is, firearm safety, how to pattern a shot gun and why, turke, where to shoot a turkey, hunter ethics, and hunting methods used both run and gun and blinds, and types of calls the wild turkey make along with actual calling instructions. Each student is given a Pot and a Box call free and we do practice.
The last part is presented by a WI game warden (I created his program) on the rules and regulations of spring turkey hunting. Then each student is paired with a mentor who has undergone a state background check and does have a minimum of 5 yrs of turkey hunting experience.
The calls are free, the supper is free, and all shooting is free. This is a state sanctioned learn to hunt and it is all free!
The last thing we do in class - I take each mentor/student pair and the mentor coaches their student how to aim at a turkey as I have a blind set up with two chairs, a shooting stick available, a spatter patterning target of a life like turkey head posted at 20 yards and at the height one could expect a wild turkey would stand. And a few decoys laid out. Goal is to give the student a general idea of what they will see for the shot. A visual picture. This gives the mentor a chance to coach their student both young and old.
Then each student shoots at their own spatter target using a trap load. Something that will give the effect, not beat the student up recoil wise, but clearly will mark that spatter or patterning target.
Then as instructors we can congratulate that student as the pattern clearly shows a good hit or a dead turkey. This mentor program is one firearm between the student and mentor.

On April 2, 2016 - 6 out of 12 students harvested a bearded turkey.

I picked up my student at 5:05 AM and she shot her bird at 7:10 pm one long day she will never forget! And it was cold but she was a real trooper.

Then on April 11, 2016 I took out a father and son on the Youth weekend. The boy shot a bird at 6:30 AMthat walked in knee deep in snow!

On April 16 I called a real nice 4 yr oldTom in for a buddy. That bird gobbled twice at 9 Am and came in strutting.

On April 18th I called in 3 long beards and 3 hens upon which mauled my decoy. My Daughter and I each shot a mature tom at 6:10 PM! My first double with here and we have been trying for 5 years. Each year she would get hers but I just get too dang excited and would miss.

On April 19th I waited for a farmer's grand son and took him out after school. I called in a triple beard to which he shot. That was one happy 13 yr old. I told him he might never do that again as it was like shooting a 30 point buck! I also met all his grand parents, cleaned his bird and owe him a wing bone call! I think I created a new turkey hunter for sure!

On April 26th I called in a bearded hen for my younger brother , 62 yrs of age, another first time hunter!. And I ruined him too.

He shot a bearded hen and two days later I shot a real good tom, over 20 lbs, inchand one eight spurs and a double beard witha beard total over 20 inches. Wow it was my 5th bearded turkey.

That evening we had tags for another zone. We did watch 5 toms and roosted them to which we took a double the next morning at 6:10 AM. Actually took out the strutter and is partner. Both 9 to 10 inch bearders. My Brother is kicking himself for not hunting turkey earlier! I think this might be an annual trip with me in the future and I welcome it as I hunt alone but am getting up there in age far to quick.

Right now I am home doing some wife catch up. Made it to a granddaughters really cold double header fastpitch baseball game. I took the wife out for bloody marys afterwards. Currently I am waiting for my wash to be done so I can re-pack. I have 5 tags left for the next 3 weeks!

Ya it has been a pretty good year! Hey be safe out there.

JW