We set up in my usual spot, we were graciously gifted a Hawk semi hard sided blind from GSM Outdoors a couple seasons ago so I set that up for the first time as it was going to be chilly.
My first time in a big blind. I can see how people get used to this style of hunting. But I'm a gunner, I need to move.
2 minute to legal I'm messing with a propane heater, it's -9°C with the wind, when I hear a weird hollow sound. I figured it was a bear as I had gotten a pic of a big girl at my blind hours prior. But to my surprise it's a Tom in a full on sprint towards my decoy setup. He proceed to beat up my Jake for a solid minute while he unknowingly has a red bead on his neck.
When my watch vibrated signalling legal, I asked if my son wanted it, and bang, it was down. We celebrated and My son Nate told me his heart was beating out of his chest! Hahah! But then the bird stood up, as it was ping ponging around I shot clean over its head, which must have stunned him because he stood with his back to me for what fealt like forever. So I took the opportunity and slipped two more shells in John Wick style, if John which was in the dark with gloves on and staring at some kind of zombie turkey.
I told Nate, if you see him out his head up, Tell me right away. Then, like nothing happened he turned right and went right back at my decoy. His head looked like it would fall off and then stand back up again.
Soon as he gave me the shot he dropped, and there he was. Not sure what happened on the first shot as he jelly headed pretty hard, but obviously there wasnt enough vital to do the job. But if you've ever seen a turkey with half its head and neck not functioning still fighting a decoy. It's an odd sight for sure. Says a lot about how tough the drive is in these bird.
When all this settled, it was still inside the first minute of season ,
. We went for breakie in our gear and he went to school. He was getting the 2023/24 Integrity award at his school assembly at 11am, and he wore his full Badlands setup up to get his award infront of the school. So to surprise him, I wore mine too
. Got some good stares, but I don't care, I'm a proud Dad building junior hunters! 
