Matthew Beck, 23, killed his first turkey on April 13.
He was hunting with his uncle, Rodney Poteat, in the western part of the county.
“My uncle hit his call and we heard a gobble on top of the next hill. He told me to quickly get set up, and he set up 20 yards behind me,” Beck said in an e-mail to the Post.
Poteat called the turkey in.
“It seemed like it took forever for the tom to make it the short way down the hill, but I later looked at the clock and realized it was only a few minutes,” Beck said.
A hen appeared first, making small clucks and purrs, and then the tom appeared. Strutting down the hill, making himself as big as possible, to attract what he thought would be another mate.
“Rodney hit his call again, and the gobbler stretched his neck out and gobbled with all his might. I was shaking, and trying to remember that I needed to take long breaths to slow my heartbeat down,” Beck said.
The tom inflated again and strutted, and then shrunk back down, and that’s when Beck took the shot. At 20 yards, the Remington 12 gauge shotgun made quick work of him.
“I quickly stood up and ran to my uncle and hugged him, then walked over to the bird,” he said. “The closer we got, the faster my heart raced, and the bigger the bird got. My uncle congratulated me, as I stood there in awe of the beautiful bird. I thanked him for helping me.”
Then they began the long walk back to the truck. Beck plans to have the full turkey mounted. The tom’s beard measured 10 1/2 inches, and he had 1 inch spurs.
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The second annual Children’s Miracle Network Bass Team Tournament will be held at High Rock Lake on Saturday, May 30.
Organizers have four levels of sponsorship ranging from $100 to $300. Businesses can also donate door prizes, gift cards or services.
All money raised supports the local Children’s Miracle Network children’s hospital.
Entry fee is $85 per team, with $25 from each entry going to Children’s Miracle Network.
First place is guaranteed $1,000 while the total purse is based on the number of entries.
Contact Jack Scott at tarheel4ever1228@live.com or call 704-213-7142. Donations can be addressed to “Children’s Miracle Network Bass Tournament” Attn: Jack Scott, 547 Winecoff School Road, Concord, NC 28027.
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Larry Schmidt and Bob Groom of Charlotte won first place and took biggest fish honors at the third tournament on the Fishers Of Men Piedmont Division Trail at Lake Norman on April 18. Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert of Lexington placed fifth and Tommy Jones and Kenny Seagle of Salisbury were sixth.
The next tournament will be at Badin Lake on May 16.