Won't Leave Without You - Ohio

Dusty with the jake that just wouldn't leave without them!

Hunter – Dusty Perillo

Cameraman – Tony Perillo

Just like deer hunting, my husband got me involved in turkey hunting. Hunting period is an obsession that my husband thrives on. He has passed that obsession onto me. I thrive on knowing that deer and turkey season is right around the corner, or knowing that I will be sitting in a tree stand or a turkey blind.

Last year I was lucky enough to shoot an eighteen pound Jake my first time out. This year was only my second year of hunting spring turkey here in Ohio, but I was successful again! On May 4, 2008 at 10:20 in the morning, I shot another Jake, but a trophy in my eyes.

We had been running and gunning all morning and decided to go to a spot we had not yet hunted this season. As we walked down the gas line we heard a shot in the distance and then a gobble about 100 yards from us. My husband immediately made a call to confirm what we had heard and the turkey returned with another gobble. I had such a burst of adrenaline at that moment! We immediately set up our blind and decoys. I don’t think we’ve ever set up a blind and decoys before so fast. My husband, Tony made another call and the turkey responded with a gobble but at approximately 50 yards now. My heart was pounding!!! Next thing I knew he popped out of the tree line and onto the gas line at 20 yards directly in front of me. I saw him and decided not to take him since he was a Jake and only had a 4 inch beard.

Little did I know he was going to hang out and torment me! This Jake ended up circling our blind for about an hour. The whole time he was gobbling, spitting, drumming, and even scratching. At one point he came as close as 4 feet from the blind and gobbled. I thought he was going to put his head in the window of the blind.

I couldn’t believe what I was watching. Finally I looked at my husband and said, “I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to shoot him!” I had to turn completely around and shoot out of the side window because he would not come back in front of the blind. I aimed my TC Encore 20 gauge at his head and squeezed the trigger. BOOM!! I couldn’t believe it, I missed and he was still standing there. He then looked around and let out a gobble as to say “HA HA!” I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not only did I miss, but he didn’t go anywhere! So I reloaded, aimed and waited for the right shot. I squeezed the trigger AGAIN and down he went! I was so excited I almost started to cry. This Jake had tormented me for almost an hour and now he was down and he was my trophy!

This was my second year of turkey hunting and my second year of harvesting a turkey! What a RUSH! I love this and I owe it all to my husband. Thank you Tony for introducing me to this sport and allowing me to have such a passion and an obsession for hunting and most importantly sharing it all with you!

Happy Huntin'

Dusty & Tony