Opening Day of Turkey Season

In the southeastern part of the U.S., the opening day of turkey season is a holiday in its own right—a notch above Christmas Day for most hunters. The air turns crisp, flowers begin to bud, and the telltale green pollen coats everything, from our trucks to our boots. And then, the turkeys start to gobble. It’s a day I look forward to with anticipation, year after year.

For me, the excitement of spring turkey hunting goes far beyond just the hunt. It’s a tradition I’ve passed down to both of my sons, a ritual we’ve come to cherish every spring. Our kickoff to the season always starts in Alabama, with the youth turkey hunt. A weekend spent together—whether we're out in the woods, gathered around the campfire, or sitting at the dinner table—feels like a gift. There’s no place I’d rather be.

Hunting in Alabama isn’t always easy, though. The turkeys can be tough, pressured by countless hunters, and the dense pines make for limited visibility. Knowing this, I had my son, Slade, outfitted with a Benelli M2 - 20 gauge and a box of HEVI-Shot Hevi-18. It’s a load that delivers tight patterns, even at 45+ yards—just what we needed for the environment we were about to face.

The morning of opening day couldn’t have been more perfect. Calm, cool air. A sunrise that bathed everything in a soft, golden light. And then—the gobbles. The sound that makes your heart race. We had turkeys talking from the moment we settled into our spot. Slade was the first one ready behind the trigger, and before we knew it, we were set up on a long beard right off the bat. Each time we called, he answered back, but, as always, the hens were jealous and swept him away, leaving us empty-handed. Early season can bring fantastic gobbling, but it also brings plenty of competition. Not discouraged, we decided to walk a loop around the property, hoping to find another bird still looking for a willing hen. After a while, we made our way back to the front and, sure enough, we got a response from another turkey!

We set up on a food plot, placed a lone hen decoy out front, and started calling. The bird answered a few times and then went quiet. We waited in anticipation, staying still, and then—just when we thought the silence might stretch on—we spotted her. A lone hen, slipping through the woods, followed closely by a long beard. And there he was—strutting in, puffed up and putting on a show for us. Slade stayed steady, and with one perfect shot, the turkey hit the ground. We all had a front-row seat to an unforgettable opening morning in Alabama.

It’s been a fantastic start to the season, and I’m grateful for every moment shared in the woods with my family. Here’s to many more days like this, and to the memories we’ll keep making in the turkey woods.