Youth Turkey Hunt Unit 23 AES Camp

[cactusjack]

We went to the Marvin Robbins/Az Elk Society/Game and Fish Mentored Turkey Hunt this weekend. I had 2 hunters. My 12yo daughter and my 14yo daughter. It was their first turkey hunt. The entire event is amazing. We had great food, cooked by Phoenix Varmint Callers (thank you Ray and crew)

The mentors are amazing people, taking time out of their lives to get kids hunting. We had a great time. Our Mentor happens to be a cousin Joe DiVito, and my daughters hunted with him and their 11yo cousin. Family+the outdoors=Amazing.

Opening morning, we got on a couple of birds early. We set up our decoys and our mentor began working. It started slow. There were 2 gobblers talking to us. He worked those birds for 60 minutes before one came up to see where this lonely lady was. The tom came up south of our stand and circled around and came in from the east. My 14yo daughter had it at 30 yards, but the sun was right behind it and she couldn't get a great sight picture. About that time, a hen down near he came up from flew down and started talking. The tom, flew down where she was. I thought it was over. Our mentor, didn't quit. He started sweet talking him and about 20 minutes later I heard a hen coming up the hill near where I was set up with my 12yo daughter. The hen was followed by the tom that flew down and they were headed right to our decoys. At 35 yards my daughter let the hen get by and then unloaded on the tom. She had never shot my 12ga Super Black Eagle, she said it kicked a little more then she was expecting but only wants to shoot it next time. (I only had 3in shells for her, the 3.5s are just crazy) She insisted on carrying out her own bird. The mentor had a scale back at the truck, the bird came in just shy of 19lbs, the daughter weighs 75lb tops.

 

On Saturday morning we were set up and waiting to get a tom to come down to our stand. We heard him talking and before we could talk back, or he even flew down, someone above us shot him. We didn't see the shooter but we were surprised how early we heard the shot, probably 1 second after first light. Oh well, to each his own.

 

We didn't get on anymore birds but had a very successful hunt and an amazing time. It was cold, windy and we even got snow, but my kids and I are ready for next year.

Again, a HUGE thank you to all involved in putting on these camps.

[Campnichols]

Great story Amigo!!!!

[Big Browns]

Great job & congrats! Hopefully you can get your other daughter out when the youth season opens up again in 2 weeks.

[cactusjack]

Thank you. We are planning on going back up on the 5th of May. My 16yo daughter wasn't able to join us, so she is on the schedule then. I love hunting, but hunting with my kids tops all.

[TRKHNTR]

nothing better then hunting with your daughters congrats and good luck on the 5th. great story thanks for sharing.

[Arizona Griz]

Her smile says it all. Congratulations to her.

[Couestracker]

That's awesome! Congratulations to your daughter on her bird. Good luck on the next hunt.

[brian390]

Great write up and way to get a nice gobbler. Congrats!

[AZbowhntr]

Awesome, congrats

[tjhunt2]

Congratulations to your daughter on a very nice bird. Good luck on the 5th. Can't wait to hear the outcome.

 

TJ

[cramerhunts]

Congratulations and good luck on the second leg of the hunt.