We arrived at the hunting club at almost 7:00 and headed for our favorite spot. The birds were already gobbling as we headed across the field but I knew that we would be ok because the fog was so thick that the birds would probably hold tight until they could see a little. After getting set up, Tyler and I said a prayer for Buckshot and asked him for his blessings and a safe hunt. I played cat and mouse with a gobbler for about 30 minutes with my Jackpot glass but I knew that there was no way that he was going to come all the way across the cut field until he could see what was in front of him. There was an old fallen tree in the middle of the backside of field where I had killed my biggest gobbler ever last year and this bird would make his way to this tree and then go back. I told Tyler that the next time that he came to the tree gobbling and turned back, we would pick up our decoys and head for the tree in hopes of catching him when he came back to it the next time.
We approached the downed tree and set the decoys up near the tree on the edge of the field. As we stepped across the dry ditch and sat down we heard him thunder just around the corner in the field. I waited for Tyler to get ready and as soon as he gave me the thumbs up, I gave him 3 yelps with my mouth call and the gobbler immediately cut me off. Within a couple of second, the gobbler came around the end of the tree and when he saw the decoys, he blew up like a lawn and garden trash bag and came running full boar towards the decoys, his long beard nearly dragging the ground. I could hear Tyler's heart beating and the smack in his throat as he tried to find the slightest bit of spit but he was to nervous to make it happen
. The big gobbler ran right past us at 5-6 yards and sailed right on top of our Primos Jake Decoy, flapping his wings on the decoy showing him who was boss. As the gobbler took a break to try and figure out why the jake wasn't fighting back of making a run for it, Tyler sent a load of #6s from his Remington 870 pump 20 ga Turkey Special that we had bought him 3 years ago. Tyler jumped to his feet and was on the Tom within seconds making sure that he wasn't going anywhere but a clean head shot at about 7-8 yards was plenty of assurance that the only place that bird was going was in the back of the truck 
.As the celebration and hugs began, I realized that this whole event that started over a week ago with me losing my job was all a part of God's plan to show me who was actually in charge
. Tyler hauled the big Tom up on the big fallen tree so that we could take a few pictures. We started walking towards the truck which was only about 400 yards away, Tyler asked " Dad, can I have a minute with my bird? I just want to enjoy it for a minute" . My chest swelled with pride as I told him to stay right there and that I would go get the truck. I picked up my cane and slowly walked towards the truck. I stopped about 75 yards away and turned to look back at him and through the fog I could see my son kneeling at the gobblers side. He was obviously in prayer over something that was between he and God the Father. It took me quite some time to get to the truck and even longer to stop the tears of pride and joy that were running down my face. After calming down and thanking God for this moment that he had given us, I cranked the truck and drove to the end of the field where I was met by probably the happiest child in Eastern NC today. Of course one of his first rituals was to call Saxman to tell him of the good news and a reminder that he loved him. We took a few pictures and loaded up the truck. I felt like I was on top of the world as Tyler called Tina, his Grandpa and several friends as he drove us out of the field and into the clubhouse parking lot. It wasn't long before we were greeted by a couple of father and son / daughters that had given it a try this morning but the fog really messed everyone up. I really feel that if they would have stayed and been a little patience, they may have been successful as well.I really want to thank everyone for their kindness, prayers, thoughts and just plain being there for us through a challenging time that we will still have to endure but not without God's plan. He is in charge of this whole thing, I just have to let him. Well, Gotta go clean a bird and show Tyler how to make his own tail fan mount. Thanks for listening to me rambling folks, you're the greatest
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