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Coming from Alaska, the idea of turkey hunting was always something we watched on television—lots of calling, excitement, and the promise of action-packed mornings in the spring woods. But we’d never done it ourselves. That changed this year when my son Asher and I decided to chase turkeys in Kansas. Spring is a great time to be outside, and what better way to make memories than with a father-son hunt. We both drew Kansas turkey tags, and Asher even played a little hooky from school to make it happen. Another adventure began as we departed from the Boise Airport, heading south to meet up with our good friend Cole Smith of Native Thunder Outfitters.

We were also meeting David, our Creative Director, who would be filming the trip for our Shoshone Adventure Consulting YouTube channel. We’ve worked with Native Thunder for years—sending over 100 clients to hunt turkeys, ducks, geese, and whitetail deer—so we knew we were in for something special.

The first morning was stunning. We settled into the blind in the dark and listened as the woods came alive with the sounds of birds and gobbling toms waking up on the roost. It was absolutely perfect. Asher was locked in, ready to go. After about an hour, just as Matt predicted, a gobbler and hen appeared from our right, moving across the open field. Asher waited for the right moment and dropped the big bird at 35 yards like a sack of potatoes. It was an awesome shot, and he was so excited. The gobbler had great spurs and a long beard—an excellent bird for Asher’s first. After taking photos and soaking in the moment, we headed back to the lodge. That evening, we took a break from hunting to film content for an upcoming seminar series on our YouTube channel, then feasted like royalty on tomahawk ribeye and sides.

The next day it was my turn. We set up in a new spot where we could hear gobblers on the roost a few hundred yards away, but they weren’t playing nice. That’s turkey hunting—the highs and lows are all part of the game. After a much-needed midday nap, we tried a new location. Matt said there was a good chance birds would already be in the field when we arrived—and he was right. Not just one or two, but six longbeards were feeding in the field. We crept through the grass, David filming the whole way, and waited for our chance. Eventually, the birds moved behind a large oak tree, just big enough to conceal me as I raised my shotgun. A big tom stepped out, and I took the shot—67 yards. A long poke, but with the right ammunition, it was a clean kill. That night, we wrapped up our hunt with a feast of smoked pork loin wrapped in bacon, topped with mushroom gravy. The food, the company, and the experience made for an unforgettable trip.

We finished the adventure fishing for bass at a friend’s pond, catching some great fish while turkeys strutted nearby. It was peaceful, beautiful, and everything you want from a spring morning in the woods.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: hunt with your kids, not for them. Sharing these moments with Asher—watching him take his first turkey, laughing over meals, and soaking in every bit of it—was something I’ll never forget. From our first goose hunt together in Alberta to duck hunting with his sister in Kansas, these “firsts” are the building blocks of a lifetime of memories.

For a top-notch turkey hunt, we can’t recommend Native Thunder Outfitters enough. Give us a call—we’d be honored to help you plan a trip of your own.

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Peyton Merideth is the CEO of Shoshone Adventure Consulting.

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