Hunting with Pop - Pennsylvania
I was really looking forward to the 2nd day of PA Gobbler season. I wasn’t going to be the hunter, but I was really anxious to get behind the camera. The hunter was going to be my longtime hunting partner and mentor, Jason Krause. This was the first time in years I was able to go turkey hunting with Jason Krause of Krause’s Taxidermy. Time just doesn’t allow us to do all the hunting like we once did together. So I was really hoping during this hunt, all the pieces would fall into place.
Jason pulled in around 4:30 a.m. to pick me up. Jason told me we have one more stop before we go hunting—we are going to pick up my 4-year old son Malachi at his mothers. I was really excited for this hunt to take place. We headed to a different blind than we sat in the 1st day where the gobblers walked by. We got all setup and were waiting for the sun to rise.
Before long, we heard some birds sound off. At this point Malachi was curled up in a ball sound asleep. We heard some gobbles fairly close. I was hoping those were the same birds from the 1st day. I had a good feeling if they were, these birds would come into range.
After a couple more gobbles, they appeared in the field—two longbeards followed by two jakes. Jason let him get a little closer and raised his gun. They were about 20 yards from our Ameristep blind setup. Jason squeezed off and we had our second longbeard down in 2 days. Malachi was still sleeping and even the hot weather didn’t wake him up from his nap.
It was still early, 6:50 a.m., and I still had a second tag so we were going to hang out a little bit longer. After about an hour,Malachi woke up. Jason told him that he got one. Malachi wanted to go check out the bird. The look on Malachi and Jason’s face was priceless.
I know I will never forget this hunt and I am sure Jason and Malachi won’t either. I am hoping this was the first of many hunts together. Jason’s bird had a 9-½” beard, ¾” spurs, and weighed 19 lbs. Congrats Jason and thanks for the memories.
Hunter: Jason Krause
Cameraman: Adam Spittler
