By Will Primos
Dean Davis, a good friend of mine, has a few tips on taking children hunting. His son, Dyllan, took his first turkey this past season in Texas.

Dean suggests hunters involve children in all aspects of the hunt - from scouting to taking care of the game after the harvest. Help them understand that hunting is about enjoying the outdoors, not just taking an animal. They are the ones that will have to protect our natural resources so future generations can also enjoy turkey hunting. Show them videos of gobblers so they will know what to expect when the moment of truth arrives. Most important of all, teach them how to handle a firearm with respect; get them in a hunter-safety program. This is required in most states before children are allowed to hunt.

Get them a locator call like the Primes Hoot Flute. It will mean a lot to them tolocate their own gobbler. Once you move in and setup on the gobbler, have the youngster sit between your legs so you can try to keep them calm, whisper instructions, and help them move at the right time. It is important to help them with range estimation so they will not shoot at a turkey too soon.

As far as guns go, a Remington 870 Youth 20 ga. is hard to beat. This is a small-frame gun that will be easier for youth to hold. Get some turkey targets and teach them to shoot for the center of the neck. Depending on the size of the child, they should shoot 3-inch or 2-3/4-inch shells. The most important thing is to let them have fun; a hard-kicking gun is not fun and will cause bad shooting habits.

There are times when taking a gobbler seems almost too easy, but this is the exception to the rule. Just remember the end result will be determined by how you prepare. So learn from your mistakes and concentrate on each move. No matter how many times you match wits with a spring gobbler you will never know it all. Every time you step into the spring woods, whether it's your first turkey hunt or your 50th, be prepared to learn a new lesson.