Tomboy Boots
Turkey Killer
Some of you may remember a post I made in the Deer Hunting forum in 2010. That summer I had read a Father's Day post by turkeymaniac, with a video of he and his Dad fishing. Shortly thereafter I read where his Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That hit home with me. My Dad was 70 years old and retired. He sat at home lonely and bored, spending most of his time in front of the television watching the news. It wasn't like I hadn't tried before to get him to go hunting, but I made up my mind to try again. I almost couldn't believe it when he said "Yes". We spent almost every weekend that deer season hunting together. He killed 2 deer, one hunting with me and the other hunting with my 2 brothers on their hunt club. We had the most fun that season and made some wonderful memories. My Dad was so excited to be back in the woods hunting and to be spending so much time with his family. He joined my brothers hunt club, bought him a camper, a new golf cart customized just for hunting so he could get around on the club, some more guns to add to his gun cabinet, a fox pro for predator hunting.... the list goes on. He stopped watching the depressing news and started watching hunting shows. The change in him was absolutely amazing. Opening weekend of the 2011 turkey season we were sitting in a blind hoping to call in his first turkey. He'd never turkey hunted before but we had seen many turkeys while deer hunting in 2010. We hunted several times but with no success. When deer season opened he spent the first 2 weeks at the hunt club. He shot a 6 pt. buck and he was so proud. I think he ended up killing 3 deer that season and spent a lot of time at the club with his sons and grandsons. For Christmas, Tim Sandford made my Dad a glass pot call using the picture of my Dad with his 6 pt. buck. In February of 2012 my Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That was very hard to accept when he was enjoying life so much and had finally gotten back into something he had loved so much many years ago. Somehow we had to try and make the most of what time he had left. Opening weekend of turkey season my Dad was at the hunt club with my 2 brothers. On Sunday my older brother called in his first ever gobbler, using the same pot call I had used to call in my first turkey on my own. Monday morning they all hunted separate locations on the club. They had dropped my Dad off first. They had their phones on vibrate and told my Dad to call if he needed anything.... before long Donny had a voice mail and wondering what might be wrong he checked it. It was my Dad saying, "I need someone to come take my PICTURE!" Using only the pot call Tim had made him, he had called in and shot his first gobbler all by himself! 
I don't think I've ever been more proud or any happier than I was when they called me. My Dad went to heaven the first of December 2012. I will forever cherish the last couple of years and the memories we made.
I don't think I've ever been more proud or any happier than I was when they called me. My Dad went to heaven the first of December 2012. I will forever cherish the last couple of years and the memories we made.
