My First Turkey Hunt

Brianna Giancola
It was a cold, crisp afternoon in mid October when my Dad and & I decided we were going on my first ever turkey hunt! (The first hunt where I could shoot a turkey) We gathered up our guns & other stuff while trying to put on our camouflage.

As we sped down the highway, we had to stop to pick up my Grandfather who was going to hunt with us. We finally showed up, unpacked, and went our separate ways. It was chilly walking down the partially overgrown path to our "spot". Tiptoeing as quietly as possible, trying not to snap any branches, Dad and I finally came to our tree. I was sitting on the right side of a tractor trail facing a cornfield about 50 yd. away and Dad was facing hardwoods with the tractor trail to his back. We sat there for what seemed like an eternity, occupying ourselves by watching squirrels scamper by. Then Dad and I started talking for a little while when all of a sudden he told me to be quiet and not move a muscle. I looked at him funny. Then it dawned on me that something had to be coming because I heard footsteps walking towards us. I started to turn my head to see what was coming but he stopped me short and again told me not to move. Out of the corner of my eye, I tried to see what was coming but nothing showed up. My heart skipped a few beats as the footsteps got closer and closer to us. Then a long reddish-brown foot stepped into sight.

Though I could not see its body, I knew it was a turkey. I slowly tried to put my gun into position so when it walked by the branch that was blocking my view, I might have a shot. "Oh no," I thought. The turkeys started to walk away back to the field behind me! Frustrated, I laid my gun down and started to pout.

When I thought life was just about over Dad said, in a low excited voice, "Bri, turn around. Rest your gun on the tree. Aim and shoot!" "Quick!" I started to shake, I was so excited! I turned around ever so slowly, rested my gun on a random nub on the tree, and tried to pick a turkey. To my surprise, there was a whole flock of them! It was a hard shot but I managed to find a hole in the brush about 34 yd. away from me. I placed the bead at the base of the turkey's neck. And I found it hard to stay focused because I could not stop shaking. I was shaking up a storm! So I took a big breath, picked a spot, and slowly pulled the trigger. BANG! The turkeys scattered and Dad ran toward the flopping turkey yelling, "Chamber another round!" Figures, the darn bullet seemed to be covered in oil, because I just could not get it in the barrel!

Finally, it slipped in. I jumped up and started running for Dad and the turkey. Tripping over every possible stick and stone there was, I at last I got there. The turkey had died by the time I got there. After I unloaded, I just stood there, smiling but shocked. We both couldn't stop clapping and jumping for joy! After our little spaz, we thanked God a million times and packed up then started to walk off. It was one of the best afternoons of my life!

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