Thirteen year old Leslie Tomlin, of Nelson County, proudly displays the 1 3/8” spurs from her 23 lb 10 oz. Youth Day gobbler! Her first gobbler sported a 10 ½” beard.

 Now remember, Jeff is sitting on the opposite side of the tree, with his back to Leslie, and can’t see the turkeys. Suddenly, he hears walking in the leaves. He envisions the huge gobbler coming in and getting closer to Leslie. Closer, closer, closer, until it’s almost on top of them! Finally Jeff, with his heart pounding, can’t stand it any longer and turns to look. Well there stands one of his cows! She was ready to calve and looking for an out-of-the-way place. Leslie reported that the cow had spooked the turkeys back up onto the ridge. Jeff quietly shooed the cow away, and she went off through the woods to about 100 yards then stopped.

Two minutes later Leslie spots more turkeys on the ridge, and the hunt is on. Jeff makes a couple yelps and here they come. He warns Leslie to remember where the cow is, “Don’t shoot the cow!”, and tells her that the gobbler will be in the back of the flock.

 “I see a jake. There’s a gobbler, a BIG GOBBLER”, exclaims Leslie.

 Jeff whispers a warning to her, “Let the hens pass, and he’ll come right on in. If you spook the hens, don’t worry. But DON’T shoot the cow!”

 Suddenly, the gobbler rushes into the flock of hens, strutting all the way. “Now slowly get your gun up.” The gobbler starts angling away at 25 yards, stops and turns, looking right at Leslie. Jeff whispers, “shoot.”

 BOOM goes the 20 gauge, and Leslie’s first gobbler flips over backwards. “Put the safety on and go get him” yells Jeff. The safety clicks and off runs Leslie to her trophy.

 Jeff gets to the flopping bird right behind Leslie, “Wow, you really bloodied his head!”

 “I’m sorry daddy, I didn’t mean to” apologized Leslie, as Jeff broke out into laughter. “No honey, that’s exactly what I wanted you to do!!!”

 Hugs and high-fives, and they’re off to check in her first trophy. Great job guys!

 Check out Leslie’s hat…”As a matter of fact, I DO hunt like a girl!!”