When I began writing this story my biggest fear was that there would be some who would look right past all the time, practice, and preparation that went into this hunting trip and think I was reckless or unaware of the dangers. I would encourage you to look at the other stories and pictures (Part I and Part II) to be reminded that we have been at this for a while. I have always been an outdoorsman. At the same time though part of the goal is to encourage those with disabilities to get outside and do what you love to do. Find out what makes you come alive and well…. do that!
We have hunted this same place in Alabama for three years. My band of brothers has been encouraging and helpful in finding my way around the farm. I have driven four wheelers, cooked bacon and eggs, and helped put a roof on a hay shed. We have many hunts under our belt together and are familiar with our surroundings. It is always a must to keep the safety of yourself and others a first priority. I have my own firearm and am comfortable with using it. Now I am familiar enough with the farm that I can get from field to field on my own. I have this map in my mind of where things and places are like an internal compass if you will. This story should include some humor. Remember we are all about hunting, eating, and sleeping, but there is some fun mixed in too. Like me being able to scare my friends in the dark because I don’t need a flashlight. Like my “friends” putting things on or in some cases taking things off my plate at dinnertime. Like somebody lying on my bed very quietly until I sit down to take my boots off and grabbing me. You have to be on guard with these guys.
"Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD “and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks" Jeremiah 16:16 NASB
*Be sure to check out the surrounding verses for context.
On Friday morning I had planned to get up well before daylight and head over to a nearby farm that I have permission to hunt. As usual, I was running behind and hopped in my truck a little after 6:00am. In just a few minutes I was at the farm I hunt. 
Daylight had arrived and I began to wonder if I had missed my opportunity to see or hear a turkey. My conversation the night before with my wife was that I would love to harvest a turkey and be home before my boys went to school. My oldest son always wants to know if I see or got anything. As the season before ended he had hopes for me this season. Upon entering the opening to the first field, I called a couple of times with no answer. I eased on down the tree line to a break between fields and called once again. No answer. As I waited about fifteen minutes and called a couple of more I decided to head back to the truck and try a different spot. With my call, decoy, and gun I walked back to the truck imagining a gobbler in full strut. After driving several hundred yards to a different location I decided to shut off my engine prior to rounding the last curve before the area where I park. As I coasted about thirty yards out of a heavily wooded area to a small patch of woods, I could see into the field in front of me. Something caught my eye as I spotted movement around 175 yards from me on a knoll between the fields. The truck eased to a stop and I realized that this it was a turkey. The turkey turned and walked over the knoll in the opposite direction. Well again I thought if only I had been here sooner, maybe…… As soon as that thought passed through my mind, I could see the turkey was not completely out of site. I grabbed my 
Dad’s old Browning shotgun, three turkey load 2 ¾ shells, put on my gloves, put on my facemask, got settled and watched. There is an old path that is made from tractors and other vehicles that go in and out of the fields. The night before on Realtree Outdoors, David Blanton had used a road bed and a decoy to lure in a big gobbler. I remembered this and watched the make shift trail or road to see what would happen. I did not have time to put out the decoy so I was hoping he would walk the path. The turkey moved around a little bit and then began to move toward me. A few moments later he was coming straight to me. My heart was racing as I could hear another bird gobbling in the distance. As he moved closer I could make out a beard on this turkey. I never touched my call, I just sat and watched. In about five minutes the turkey was only thirty yards out and a little to my left. I shoot left handed and would have had to shift a little for the shot, so I just waited.
When I began writing this story my biggest fear was that there would be some who would look right past all the time, practice, and preparation that went into this hunting trip and think I was reckless or unaware of the dangers. I would encourage you to look at the other stories and pictures (Part I and Part II) to be reminded that we have been at this for a while. I have always been an outdoorsman. At the same time though part of the goal is to encourage those with disabilities to get outside and do what you love to do. Find out what makes you come alive and well…. do that!
