By Sherman Shifflett
Opening day of any hunting season is always exciting, and the 2021 spring turkey hunting season was no different. Lloyd Runnett and his son, Robert, both bagged big birds on Saturday, April 10, 2021. I have known the Runnett’s since I arrived in Louisa in 1968, and they have always treated me like part of the family. I deer hunt with them, but never got into spring turkey season.
Lloyd and Robert left home before day-break, and had not gone but a few hundred yards from the house when a turkey gobbled in the hardwoods. They quickly took stands, close together, at the edge of the hardwoods, figuring the turkey was headed to an open field behind them. Robert called and the Big Tom worked his way towards them. When the turkey got fairly close, Robert taught his dad a new trick. Robert beat his hat with his hands and tapped his hat in the leaves. Lloyd said it sounded exactly like a turkey leaving the roost, wings flapping and landing in the leaves. The turkey took off in a dead run towards the sound and to his demise. The big bird weighed 19 lbs. and had a 11 1/2″ beard. Success in just 20 minutes.
Lloyd took the turkey home. Then, he and Robert took a logging road 1/4 mile thru the hardwoods to an open field where they had food plots. They set up in some planted pines nearby, called and waited. Subsequently, two gobblers approached the food plot. When they got within range, Robert took the larger one, a nice bird weighing between 15-16 lbs. Both hunters had success within an hour and a half.
Father and son hunting together, both successful, nice weather, good memories. That’s what it is all about.