Cody is 3-for-3! That would be a good day at the plate for a baseball player, but we’re talking turkey hunting.
I first met Cody about five or six years ago, when we got together on a guided fishing trip. His grandmother set up the trip, and on that first meeting, I learned that Cody had lost his father in a boating accident when Cody was quite young (today Cody is 16). What a tragic event for a family. But I have taken Cody under my wing a bit and shown him the way of the outdoors.
On one of our fishing outings, I told Cody that he would really enjoy turkey hunting, and if he got the “stuff,” that I would take him out.
That first year was interesting as we had three jakes attack our decoy. It took two shots, but Cody scored!
Last year, it was over soon after we started. We were on our way to turkey country when a big tom ran across the road in front of us (into state land). We parked and hustled into position. After sticking the decoy that his grandmother had made — from the turkey he shot the year before — into the ground and finding a nice, big tree, we began to call. We got an immediate answer, and 10 minutes later, Mr. Big came strutting into range.
Bang! 2-for 2.
This year, we hunted hard on Saturday and came up empty and a wee bit frustrated with some birds that were playing hard-to-get. The next morning, we hunted a different piece of property and got a gobble right away (about 5:25 a.m.). Once the bird flew off of roost, we gave him a few more yelps with the diaphragm call, and there he was, heading for our two hen decoys. Cody’s gun was up, safety was off, and after a few more minutes, the hunt was over.
Next year, Cody will be calling on his own and hopefully we will get it on tape as he goes for the cycle.
Cody took his bird this year with his dad’s 12-gauge, which made things even a little more special.
FYI, currently in Minnesota, it is not legal to guide for hire (for turkeys).
WALLEYEDAN Eigen may be reached at (218) 839-5598, walleyedan@brainerd.com or www.walleyedan.com.
