16 years ago

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Sixteen years ago my oldest son went Turkey hunting. With me and his little brother age eight at the time. He was twelve years old. That morning was opening day of Turkey season here in New York State. We hunted at the foot of the Catskill Mountains. Where my friend owned a large piece of land at the time. As any turkey hunter does we entered the woods early in the morning. We climb up the side of a ridge into a large pine tree forest. I put my son with his back to a giant pine and took my youngest with me a few trees back. I scouted this area many times and knew it was loaded with some big Toms. I spent many hours training my son how to load and unload his shotgun. Safety was always first and foremost. As it started getting light I told my son to load his gun. I got up and made sure he did everything he learned from his hunter safety course. When legal shooting time came around I hit my box call. The woods came alive and was scary load.
Gobbles left and right and as it got a little lighter. You could see so many turkeys in all the trees. A few minutes went by and turkeys were living the trees. Branches flying all over the place hitting us on the head and enjoying every second of it. My boys loved it and I was so proud. I turned the call over to my eight year old. I knew there was know way that anything could mess this hunt up. So he starts calling and sure as my name is Anthony. A monster Turkey comes rolling in to us. At first my oldest didn't see him. I don't know how he couldn't see this turkey. He was fully fanned out and gobbling like his pants were on fire. Then the bird showed himself to my son head bright red and coming hard. The little guy hit the call again and he was within ten yard of my hunting son. I told him to shoot I heard nothing. Then I heard click click click. The Turkey keep coming and moved away from my son headed to us. I ended up killing the turkey. We went back to my son and I asked him what happen. He was so pumped about seeing the giant turkey he ejected all his shells. But God was on our side. My little guy keep playing with the turkey call. Another Tom started gobbling I had my son load his gun again. Showed him why the shells all came out of his pump shotgun. The gobbles keep getting louder as my youngest hit the call. The turkey came right in and my son shot him in his tracks. That was the last time my son hunted until this year. Sixteen years later he came back to hunting. We hunted the last three days together enjoying every moment. I never force him to hunt and I never tried to change his mind. But I'm happy to have him back so he can enjoy the out doors with his brother and I.
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Great read Anthony. Something how a turkey thundering in front of us can make us lose our minds like that. It's cool that he still got one also and that he has come back to be out there with you again.

Still remember my first turkey with my 2 older brothers. Ended up with 3 birds that day with mine being the biggest. Great memories.
 
benp

Thanks buddy, it was something that I will never forget the rest of my life. I glad you got the biggest bird with your brothers. Yes it made me really happy he started haunting again. It really was eighteen years ago. My son reminded me. So makes it even better. Thanks again
 
Anthony glad to see you and your boys are hunting all together again , Iam never happier then when my boys are with me in the woods or on the water .
 
Joseph

Your so right my friend! there is nothing better then hunting. Or doing anything for that matter. With your kids. I have been blessed with two great young men. They have both made their dad very proud. I sure you all feel the same way. God bless thanks.
 
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