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May 04, 2003
Girls take aim on turkey-hunting success
By TONY MOLLUS, St. Joseph MO News-Press, outdoors@npgco.com
Two young turkey hunters and their fathers made history recently.
Family history, that is.
On Sunday, April 13, Lexi Caton, 8-year-old daughter of Don and Kim Caton, took her first gobbler while hunting with her dad on a friend’s property south of town. The bird weighed in at a whopping 25 pounds and sported a 9¾-inch beard and 11/8-inch spurs.
Lexi took the bird with her own shotgun, a Rossi .410 that she saved up for and purchased herself. The bird fell to a load of sixes put right where they needed to be. The big bird was the second tom that Lexi saw come in. The first, a jake, stayed a little too far out of range to suit Lexi, so she elected to pass on him rather than risk the long shot.
When the big bird finally showed himself and came in close enough for a clean shot, Lexi did her part and put the bird down quickly and cleanly. She raised more than a few eyebrows at the check station when the giant bird was brought to the scales. After all, it’s not every day they see a turkey that looks bigger than the hunter who took it.
The day before had found Aubrey Turner, daughter of Terry and Julie Turner, entering the woods of the family farm east of St. Joseph with her dad for her first day of spring turkey hunting. Little did she know then that the wait for her first long beard would be a short one.
Shortly after 7 a.m. A gobbler answered her dad’s calls and began to move nearer. By 7:25 the big bird was standing a mere 14 yards away and Aubrey put the hammer on him with a load of 71/2s from her Remington 870 2- gauge topped with a Red Dot scope. Aubrey had practiced all spring, getting ready for her big chance and when good fortune and good hunting came together, she was ready.
At nearly 22 pounds with a 10¾-inch beard and 1/8-inch spurs, this old bird would have given the shakes to any veteran turkey hunter. Aubrey, however, kept her cool and made a great shot. The big bird went down on the spot and Aubrey immediately decided that this was to be the family’s Thanksgiving turkey come next fall.
Both of these girls are truly blossoming outdoors people. Since they were toddlers, they have shown a keen interest in hunting and fishing. Their love for the outdoors is their own, though it is true that their parents cultivate it.
They are not likely to end their hunting and fishing experiences any time soon. The game animals and fish that inhabit the woods and waters of Northwest Missouri will be matching wits with these two for years to come. If family history is any proof, a bunch of turkeys out there will be in some serious trouble from this deadly duo from this spring on.
No wonder their respective parents seem to have a permanent smile upon their faces. Who can blame them?
Congratulations, Lexi and Aubrey, and welcome to the wonderful world of the hunting in the beautiful Missouri outdoors.
Oh, and a great big thank you to your folks for introducing you to a way of life that all your fellow hunters hope will bring you a lifetime of joy and adventure.
End article
===========================================
Way to go Lexi and Aubrey!
Girls take aim on turkey-hunting success
By TONY MOLLUS, St. Joseph MO News-Press, outdoors@npgco.com
Two young turkey hunters and their fathers made history recently.
Family history, that is.
On Sunday, April 13, Lexi Caton, 8-year-old daughter of Don and Kim Caton, took her first gobbler while hunting with her dad on a friend’s property south of town. The bird weighed in at a whopping 25 pounds and sported a 9¾-inch beard and 11/8-inch spurs.
Lexi took the bird with her own shotgun, a Rossi .410 that she saved up for and purchased herself. The bird fell to a load of sixes put right where they needed to be. The big bird was the second tom that Lexi saw come in. The first, a jake, stayed a little too far out of range to suit Lexi, so she elected to pass on him rather than risk the long shot.
When the big bird finally showed himself and came in close enough for a clean shot, Lexi did her part and put the bird down quickly and cleanly. She raised more than a few eyebrows at the check station when the giant bird was brought to the scales. After all, it’s not every day they see a turkey that looks bigger than the hunter who took it.
The day before had found Aubrey Turner, daughter of Terry and Julie Turner, entering the woods of the family farm east of St. Joseph with her dad for her first day of spring turkey hunting. Little did she know then that the wait for her first long beard would be a short one.
Shortly after 7 a.m. A gobbler answered her dad’s calls and began to move nearer. By 7:25 the big bird was standing a mere 14 yards away and Aubrey put the hammer on him with a load of 71/2s from her Remington 870 2- gauge topped with a Red Dot scope. Aubrey had practiced all spring, getting ready for her big chance and when good fortune and good hunting came together, she was ready.
At nearly 22 pounds with a 10¾-inch beard and 1/8-inch spurs, this old bird would have given the shakes to any veteran turkey hunter. Aubrey, however, kept her cool and made a great shot. The big bird went down on the spot and Aubrey immediately decided that this was to be the family’s Thanksgiving turkey come next fall.
Both of these girls are truly blossoming outdoors people. Since they were toddlers, they have shown a keen interest in hunting and fishing. Their love for the outdoors is their own, though it is true that their parents cultivate it.
They are not likely to end their hunting and fishing experiences any time soon. The game animals and fish that inhabit the woods and waters of Northwest Missouri will be matching wits with these two for years to come. If family history is any proof, a bunch of turkeys out there will be in some serious trouble from this deadly duo from this spring on.
No wonder their respective parents seem to have a permanent smile upon their faces. Who can blame them?
Congratulations, Lexi and Aubrey, and welcome to the wonderful world of the hunting in the beautiful Missouri outdoors.
Oh, and a great big thank you to your folks for introducing you to a way of life that all your fellow hunters hope will bring you a lifetime of joy and adventure.
End article
===========================================
Way to go Lexi and Aubrey!
