Thomas County Boy Kills Gobbler With 14-inch Beard

Making memories in Thomas County are (from left) Scott Barwick, of Thomasville, and Blake and Byron Rhodes, of Boston.

By Scott Barwick

Twelve-year-old Blake asked his mom Heidi, “Mrs. Susan and Mr. Scott are kind of like family now, right?” She smiled after thinking about it and agreed with a yes. Susan and Heidi became friends when their places of employments were right next to each other and later they became business partners. They own Kaleidoscope, a women’s consignment clothing store in Thomasville. Since then I’ve become close with Heidi’s husband, Byron. 

I’m always looking for someone to hunt and fish with, so I’ve invited Blake and his dad Byron on several hunting and fishing excursions. After Blake harvested a huge doe on my hunting land, I mentioned to them about Blake getting his first turkey in March. 

Months later, on youth weekend, Byron and Blake rode with me to my hunting land in Thomas County. Wearing tall waterproof hunting boots, we sloshed in the ankle-deep water. We finally arrived at the large camouflage pop-up blind that I brushed in a month prior. I arranged the three turkey decoys—two jakes and one hen—about 10 feet away from the set. Blake settled in the front of the blind while Byron was to his back left and I was in the far back, all crammed in a tight blind.

After 7:15 and not hearing any turkeys, I was getting nervous that there weren’t any birds around so I pulled out my slate call and made a low yelp with a wooden striker. To our surprise a gobbler answered just a couple hundred yards away. All our eyes drew open wide and everyone was smiling like a miracle just happened.  Everyone was smiling and was eager on what was yet to come. As the single gobble thundered, several other turkeys sounded off, as well. Hens were cackling, jakes were producing faint gobbles and a single boss bird was out producing them all in decibels.  

Byron was filming with his phone as one by one all the turkeys flew down into the field just 75 yards away. All the birds landed directly in front of us, except for one lone hen that settled to the right just 20 yards off near the decoys. As four jakes and several hens began to move to the left and away, the white-headed gobbler, with a ground-dragging beard, was in full strut portraying his dominance. He stared at the decoys and the lone hen. He slowly walked in their direction. 

I instructed Blake to get his gun ready next time the bird pivoted his beautiful fan blocking his eyes from our location. He propped the heavy gun on the rest and gently shouldered his dad’s gun. Byron whispered to switch the gun off safety and on to fire. The bird was at 40 yards and within range, but there were several twigs blocking the shot. The bird, moving to the right and closer, was soon to be in the perfect position for a shot.

Finally, the moment we were all waiting for. I whispered to shoot at the base of the bird’s neck whenever he felt comfortable.  After a few short seconds, a blast emerged from the gun and the huge gobbler was on the ground kicking. We all excitingly laughed and yelled (you got him!) Blake was still in awe to realize what he had just accomplished.

We rushed out to the trophy to find he had 1 1/2-inch spurs and a 14-inch beard. We took photos and headed home to butcher the meat and begin drying the tail feathers, beard and spurs. No doubt a great hunt and a memory of a first turkey for a 12-year-old boy. We suspect more exciting adventures for these guys, especially since alligator season is in the future.