Most of my life, I've been the go-to person for helping other hunters learn the ropes or find the game they were after. Deer guiding, however, has proven to be a particularly thankless job. Hours of scouting and setting up stands culminate in someone else harvesting a deer they haven't worked for. The frustration peaks when hunters make mistakes, miss their shots, and blame the guide.
One memorable incident involved a guest speaker from a nearby college. As a favor to my neighbor, I agreed to take him hunting on my farm. A nice eight-point buck was frequenting a ridge past a stand I had positioned along a fence line. I briefed the hunter on the deer's trail and emphasized the importance of taking the shot before the deer reached the fence for a clear broadside opportunity.
At dusk, I returned to pick up the hunter, only to be berated for not having shooting lanes cut on the other side of the fence. Puzzled, I asked why he hadn't taken the shot before the deer reached the fence. His response? He had been reading his book and only noticed the deer as it approached the fence. By the time he readied his bow, the deer was out of range. Oh, right, clearly my fault. 🤯
The Joy of Guiding Turkey Hunts
Unlike deer hunting, turkey hunting is my favorite game to guide for. Even without a turkey dinner at the end, the thrill of hearing gobbles, yelps, and cuts from wild turkeys is unmatched. I've called in countless birds and cherished the experiences shared with the hunters I've guided.
Some of my fondest memories are from hunting adventures with my kids. On one trip, I called in two jakes to our decoys for my daughter. She missed her first shot but quickly recovered, successfully taking one of the birds with her second shot. Her first turkey hunt was during a family vacation in Virginia.
A Memorable Family Turkey Hunt
Before the trip, I contacted a guide service to arrange a hunt, clarifying that I only needed a hunting spot, not a caller. After a couple of days, the guide called back, saying a friend had a place for us. We met our guide, Dave, who had the day off from his pool service job, early in the morning. He took us to a newly clear-cut area between a farm and a swamp.
In the pre-dawn darkness, two turkeys started gobbling. Dave outlined the land details: a swamp to the east with one gobbling bird, a field to the west, and a clear cut adjacent to hardwoods to the north, separated by a hedgerow. I suggested we set up where the hardwoods and hedgerow met. Dave and my daughter positioned themselves at the edge of the woods along a ditch, while I stayed behind them about thirty yards.
After the birds flew down into the field, I performed some tree yelps followed by a realistic fly-down sequence. Dave whipped his head around at the sound, but my daughter reassured him it was just me calling. I got the gobbler into a double triple gobbling frenzy, and he marched straight towards us. At eighteen yards, my daughter dropped him. He had an impressive eleven-inch beard and inch-and-a-half spurs.
Recommended Gear
For those interested in guided hunting, check out these helpful products:
Investing in the right equipment can make all the difference in a successful hunt, whether you're the guide or the hunter. Happy hunting!
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