Christine

Thank you so much for the prizes! I love them all! Sarah

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My First Turkey Thanks to my science teacher Mr. Scott Jordan, I had the wonderful opportunity to hunt with his amazing friends Mark and his son Dan. They are amazing callers who helped me to get my first turkey this year, but my story doesnt start there. Last year, Mr. Jordan offered to take me turkey hunting. I was nervous since this would be my first time ever hunting, but I said yes. when he told me he would be at my house at about 3AM, I was very shocked, especially since I usually sleep in whenever I can, but I got up anyway. All I really knew at that point was that I was going somewhere in Allegany with one of Mr. Jordan's friends while my friend Chloe, who also went with us, went with the other. Dan took me to a different place then my friend, Mark, and Mr. Jordan were going. Once we got there, we walked for a while to the top of a hill and waited until sunrise. We found out that Chloe had shot a monster bird, and that another one was responding to Mark. Dan sped me to that hill to try and get it. We made it up the hill just in time. I didn't know what to do, so I just followed my teacher to a large tree and waited. I was a nervous wreck, and was saking so badly that I was sure I was going to be seen, but the bird kept coming. when I saw it I aimed and took a shot. And missed. Because of my excitment, I hadn't lined the sights correctly. I was heartbroken, as we all climbed back down the hill. We didnt hear another bird that day, but Dan had offered to take me out again the next day and I went. I missed again the next day, and as feeling horrible. If it wasn't for Dan and his stories, I probably would've lost my confidence completely. Mr. Jordan took me out a few days in the mornings before school, but we saw nothing. This meant I was top on his list for the next year(which is this year). This year, opening day, Mr. Jordan took me out again, this time with Mark, and another one of my friends, Ryan(Dan was unable to make it). We all followed Mark to a hill. He had been calling there every night for about a week or so just to make sure he knew where the biggest and most willing birds were. He's very committed. We all trekked up the huge hill and waited again for sunrise. I had been sleeping when all of a sudden, Mark made a call, and imediately after, a turkey responded. I remember thinking, "That is my bird." I have no clue if the turkey that responded was the bird I shot because there were about 5 others answering him. I was rushed to a large tree where I waited. Dan was using two calls at once. I was a lot more confident this year. I kept thinking, "If I can drop a deer, I can kill a turkey. I mean, third times the charm right?" The turkey was continuously getting closer, but when I saw a little blue head pop out from behind a tree, and disappear again, I realized, "Oh man, this bird is here!" I shifted to a better position when it went behind the tree. My teacher kept asking if I could see it, of course I couldn't. That's how it always seems to work, everyone can see it except the shooter, but then, the blue head popped out. I waited for it to stop moving and I shot. "You got him!" my teacher said. I didn't hesitate, I placed the gun on the ground and started sprinting after it. On the way, I threw the backpack I was wearing on the ground because it was slowing me down. I finally got to the bird and stomped on its neck because that's what my friend Chloe said she did. When Mr. Jordan got there, he asked me what I was doing as I stomped its neck a few more times. He stopped me and grabbed the bird by the neck and eventually put it out of its misery. Ryan and Mark ran over and they all congratulated me. I was so excited, and Mr. Jordan recorded the whole thing for his show CRCS Outdoors. He interviewed me until Mark said that there was another bird responding to his calls. They had to set up Ryan and try to get one for him. Unfortunately, nothing came, even after we travelled around. We set off to get my bird weighed and signed up for a contest. I had a 20lb bird. It had a missing spur, and that was going to hurt my score for the contest, but I didn't care. The turkey was my unique trophy, and it was good enough for me. We all went back to my house where my mom and grandparents were waiting to see. Sadly, my turkey was gone pretty quickly because Mr. Jordan butchered him up for me, but now I have turkey feet on my kitchen counter, wings in my garage, and a tail in my basement. By Sarah Cole age 14

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