The predawn, pitch blackness was so thick you could almost feel
it brushing against your face.
It was a total, complete, enveloping darkness. Nothing was
visible, not even the waving hand in front of your nose, and
nine-year-old Jacob Lister of Mount Jewett was very apprehensive as
he and his father, Shane, began climbing the hillside rising
steeply before them.
The thin, yellow flashlight beam picked its way ever higher, but
Jacob and his dad still hadn’t reached the ridge top before the
first thin, watery rays of daylight began to grow around them.
The sky lightened to a barely discernable, smooth, silky, steel
grey; the tree tops slowly became visible against it and the frosty
air was clean and sharp on their faces. The exhilaration and beauty
of dawn filled their souls and father and son smiled at one
another. These are special times.
Without warning a loud gobble split the darkness and both
hunters flinched in surprise. Shane hadn’t expected to hear a bird
for another 15 or 20 minutes, but this gobbler wasn’t waiting for
full daylight or even close to it.
The turkey was only around 90 yards away. Luckily, he was below
and to one side of them, out of sight, over the crest of the
hill.
Another bird gobbled some 50 yards to their left and then
another. It took a while for Shane and Jacob to figure out that
this was the same turkey! He was already on the ground and walking
up the valley while it was still so dark you couldn’t see clearly.
This bold gobbler was making up his own rules it seemed.
Shane and Jacob hurried up the valley as quietly as they could,
finally getting in front of and above the gobbler’s path, setting
up against a large, white oak.
Jacob sat right between Shane’s knees, the 3-inch magnum
pointing at an angle down over the hill. It was light enough to see
clearly now and Shane pulled out his glass Cody call and gave a fly
down cackle.
The bird didn’t answer immediately and the suspense built as the
seconds ticked by. A few soft yelps on the call also went
unanswered. Shane grew bolder and let loose with a louder, more
forceful series of bossy hen calls. A loud answering gobble split
the morning silence.
The bird was coming.
Shane continued calling and slowly the bird drew nearer. Shane
desperately wanted Jacob to get a shot and he could feel his legs
begin to tremble from the ever increasing tension. The next gobble
seemed to shake the air around them and Shane could feel Jacob
shaking right along with him. Would this very young, excited hunter
be able to get off a good shot if the chance presented itself? Only
time would tell!
Suddenly, a coal black shape materialized behind a screen of
thick beech brush. The big, red headed bird strutted majestically
back and forth, only 30 yards away, safely hidden and barely
visible behind the thick, orange, withered leaves and branches. At
that distance you could clearly hear the bird spit and drum.
Jacob whispered to his dad, “What’s that sound?”
Shane quietly told him and Jacob, somewhat disgustedly said,
“That sounds really weird, dad!” Shane smiled and felt the tension
slacken a little.
The bird wasn’t coming any closer so Shane decided to risk a
seductive purr.
The gobbler came out of strut at the sound, marched forward
about 30 feet, faced them and gave an absolutely tremendous gobble.
The woods seemed to shake and both hunters jumped at the sound. The
gobbler marched down a little lane and went into a full strut at 20
yards. Shane saw Jacob slowly move the shot gun barrel until it
lined up on the turkey and then whispered, “Shoot him!”
Jacob’s barrel did several circles. Shane could hardly breathe
his chest was so tight. The wobbling barrel continued weaving, then
steadied and went off with a roar! The turkey hit the ground in a
cloud of feathers and both hunters leaped to their feet and rushed
the downed trophy.
Oh, what emotions surged through them! Grown men are impressed
by the size of an adult gobbler. This 20 1/2-pound bird had an 8
1/2-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs. He was a dandy turkey in
anyone’s book!
Young Jacob was absolutely astonished at the size of his trophy.
It seemed to be midway in size between a very large truck and a
small railroad car! He could barely lift him!
But, even better, it was his! He had done it! He had bagged his
first spring gobbler and all the wild imagining in the world, even
the best of his dreams, could never have prepared him for the sheer
wonder and delight of this morning!
Jacob looked up at his dad, his face shining like the rising
sun. They had done it! They hugged, laughed, talked, and relived
their thoughts and emotions during those last, crucial minutes of
the hunt when the outcome hung in the balance.
They stood there, father and son, as the sun rose over the
treetops and beamed down upon them. The years may separate them,
distance intervene, but this moment would live with them
always.
Shane looked down at Jacob and said, “Let’s go show your turkey
to Grandpa Harold.”
Jacob’s face lit up even brighter, he hadn’t realized the fun
was just beginning.
