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Photo Courtesy of Allan Boyd
Allen Boyd (right), cousin Jay Finlayson, Jay’s father, and the bird that made this story possible |
Sharing with the next generation
Hunting is an undeniable part of our national fabric. It teaches respect, humility, teamwork, and a communion with nature. Just like a good lesson that is passed from father to son and mother to daughter, the joys of hunting are something that should be shared with today’s youth so that it can be responsibly passed on to the next generation.
My younger cousin, Jay, was 12 years old when he first wanted to learn how to hunt. His father was not a big hunter, so Jay asked if I would take him with me during my next outing, which happened to be the upcoming weekend. Early that Saturday morning, Jay, his father and I packed up our gear, including the Remington 20-gauge shotgun Jay’s mother gave to him for the occasion, and we set out.
It was a chilly day in March, and the wind was blowing so furiously it was difficult to hear each other standing just a few feet away. I had already picked out the spot in my mind, just on the border of a swamp where turkeys frequently roost. We set up our blind, got out of the wind, and waited for our bird to come.
As the sun rose, the wind died down and Jay was able to hear the first hint of hens clucking. Jay and his father sat quietly as I sounded off a yelp with my call, hoping to entice a gobbler out of hiding. Just as I was telling him not to get his hopes up, we all heard the beautiful sound of a big tom’s gobble and watched as he came out of the brush. For what seemed like an eternity, he stood motionless between our decoys and a noisy group of hens. To entice him our way, I sounded my call again and watched in anticipation as he started strutting our way.
Jay took up a firm position against a tree and sat motionless as the bird continued his march toward us. I moved my eyes and watched Jay adjust his aim, but when I turned back the bird had begun a sprint back toward the cover of brush.
Disappointed, we watched as the bird dashed through the brush and along the edge of the swamp, well out of our range. Just as we were prepared to give up on him, the turkey did something unexpected. It pulled a complete 180 and sprinted right towards us, slamming on the brakes and pausing for just a brief moment about 30 yards away. Jay, who had been watching all of this through the sights on his shotgun, did not hesitate. As the bird realized his mistake and attempted a rash retreat, Jay pulled the trigger and racked up his first turkey with his first shot.
When Jay retells the story, he is always quick to point out that the turkey was not stationary when he actually pulled the trigger. In fact, the bird was attempting to leap over a fence and into the cover of the foliage. The evidence backs up Jay’s claim. When we approached the bird after Jay’s shot, we found it on the other side of the fence, proving that had Jay hesitated for just a second, the bird would have gotten away and Jay would have been 0 for 1.
I know many of you have a story similar to this one that leaves a lasting impression in your heart and mind. It’s a story I will never forget, but the true memory of the experience was cemented days later when I was scouting in the same area where Jay shot his first turkey. As I walked by the swamp and the now legendary escape fence, I stumbled upon a stake in the ground with a homemade sign made out of a piece of dried plywood. When I got close enough to read it, a smile immediately crossed my face. It said, “This marks the spot where Jay killed his first turkey — March 28.”
The same pastimes that have brought joy to our lives will undoubtedly do the same for this country’s next generation. Jay still has the beard from his first turkey, but the experience is a memory we all cherish together. Stories like these are exactly the types of memories the NWTF seeks to foster and promote among its members, and for that they deserve special commendation.
I hope you share these family traditions and create your own timeless and lasting experiences just like this one. Happy hunting. — Allen Boyd, U.S. Representative for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District