After missing out on a tag last season, Taylor Woodruff scored one this year, along with a sizable tom. Photo: Mark Sidelinger
I used to think my mornings were chaotic. Then I tried turkey hunting with a school drop-off deadline.
Like many things in my life, this spring turkey hunt started with a calendar reminder. Last fall, I applied for the Illinois spring season lottery, selecting my preferred county and week. With only about 120 turkey tags in the county, my odds were slim, but lucky for me, I drew my top choice—first season.
My stepdad, Mark Sidelinger, is my go-to hunting partner. A few weeks before the season opener, we headed to the range to sight in my 20-gauge shotgun, outfitted with a red dot sight. We patterned it, got it dialed in, and made plans.
Only catch? Mark drew a tag in a different county and would be gone for part of my season. That left me with only two mornings to make it happen.
We had a few options for where to hunt. We picked one with the plan that if it didn’t work out, we’d try another option the next day. But sometimes, turkeys respect a mom’s tight schedule.
We parked at 5:45 am, got our gear, and headed into the woods. About ten minutes in, Mark heard gobbles. He gave a soft call and got an immediate response. They were heading our way.
We barely had time to pick a tree to sit at before three toms came in. Tucked against the tree, heart racing, he called again. Mark leaned in and whispered, “Whenever you’re ready.” A second later- “shoot, shoot!”
Easy for him to say.
What Mark forgot in the heat of the moment was that I’m about a foot shorter than he is, and from my seat, there was a small tree blocking my view – and my shot. It was only for a few seconds, but I’m sure it felt like a lifetime to him. Finally, one of the toms stepped into my sight picture. When the shot lined up, I squeezed the trigger. That Fiocchi TSS ammo is no joke, because the bird dropped instantly.
Never rush your shot because patience always pays off. Photo: Mark Sidelinger
After a quick photoshoot – because you always have to include a photoshoot on your hunt – we were back to the car by 6:30 am, with me ready to shift gears from huntress to chauffeur.
Back home in time to make sure my teens were up (because, you know, teenagers in the morning), I had everything they needed for school, and even managed to make them a decent breakfast. Then it was straight to the school drop-off line…with a turkey in the trunk.
Yep, I’m that mom now. All on a few hours of sleep and a lot of coffee. But hey, that’s what multi-tasking looks like.
Mark told me if I wanted the full experience, I had to clean the bird myself. Challenge accepted.
Dressing out a turkey in the driveway is a huge flex, and sends a not-so-subtle message to the neighbors, particularly the nosey ones. Photo: Mark Sidelinger
With Michael Waddell’s YouTube turkey cleaning video playing, and knife in hand, I was cleaning a wild turkey in my driveway, all while the neighbors drove by. This definitely got me a few double-takes, and it’s safe to say I made an impression.
Suitable for a trophy, this tom found its way to the dinner table. Photo: Mark Sidelinger
Between packed lunches, busy kid schedules, and a full-time job, I managed to notch my first tag. And best of all? I got to remind my kids at dinner that the turkey on the table was brought to you by Mom.
— Taylor Woodruff, Mom AND Turkey Slayer
