Daughters first turkey!!

[jmsj]

My 13 year old daughter was finally able to get her hunters safety certificate. We hadn't had a class in the area in about 5 years. To celebrate we went Turkey hunting last week.
We had to wait until all the paying hunters had their turn before we could go hunt on the ranch we live on. Needless to say the turkeys are pretty wary by the time the employees can hunt. I am not a very experienced turkey hunter and was concerned that I would not be able to get one into range for her. A friend of mine and probably the best Turkey hunting guide I know heard that she wanted to go and volunteered his services. This guy has always impressed me with how much he has given to the youth of our area.
She got this one at 40 yds. using an Remington 870, full choke and a Pheasant load. I chose not to let her use on of my 3" mag. turkey loads because I was worried how she would handle the recoil. It looked like she hit the turkey with about 8-10 pellets in the head. In fact their was only 1 pellet in the top of one breast.
She was pretty stoked and I was really proud.

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/jmsj515/20140502_062404_zps67926682.jpg (http://s961.photobucket.com/user/jmsj515/media/20140502_062404_zps67926682.jpg.html)

jmsj

[Sweetpea]

Look at that smile!

[Idaho Mule]

That's really great. I am happy for both of you. JW

[jmsj]

Thanks Guys,
She has been my most frequent hunting partner since she was 5. No matter how long the days afield have been I have never heard complain once. That she was finally able to get her hunting license and harvest her first trophy was an amazing experience for both of us.
I can't thank my friend that helped us enough. After guiding hunters all season, he took more time away from his paying job to help us. You can't put a price on that either.
I can hardly wait for fall and see how she does on deer and elk!!
jmsj

[smoked turkey]

That is awesome. A true trophy! Congratulate her for me. 40 yards is a pretty long haul for that load and it was a big bird too.

[MaLar]

That's just cool!
LaMar

[Satokad]

Outstanding. So awesome to see that proud smile on her. I would imagine that if we could see it, the smile on the dad would be even bigger. My daughter went through the Hunter Safety course. Aced the test, got extra prizes and recognition, and now she doesn't want to hunt. Breaks my heart. This is the girl who, when she accompanied me on a deer hunt back when she was 6, pointed at one of the organs while I was gutting the deer and said in an excited voice, "Is that the liver?" I thought I had a hunting buddy for life. Oh well, she's a moody teenager now. We'll see what the next few years brings. I always have hope. Congratulations to your daughter.

[Leslie Sapp]

using an Remington 870, full choke and a Pheasant load

That's what I've always used. I was taught (by my dad) to have 2 3/4" 5's in the chamber, backed up by 3" buffered 2's. If you should miss the head shot, you then fill his fanny full of number 2's as he's taking off.

[crowbuster]

Very nice. You should both be proud. Good job !

[EMC45]

You've done well. She did as well.

[s mac]

Congrats, a big tom is a thrill. That was a long shot, doesn't always work so well.

[John Allen]

Congrats, that is a nice looking bird.

[jmsj]

Thanks guys,
She is still pretty pumped about the hunt.
I hope she will always love to hunt. Now we are waiting for my son to get the hunting bug.
jmsj