Editor's note: Ohio's spring turkey seasons are approaching rapidly, and we hope this story from last year's youth turkey season imspires you to start making plans to go afield!

By Matt Sheterom

Bo Stambaugh and I met for the first time at 6:00 a.m. on opening morning of Ohio's youth turkey season.

His hunting partner was unable to take him so his dad asked if I would. I was excited because my youth partner had to work, so I had the morning open.

The best part was that I had good knowledge of Bo's hunting property and the turkey there since I hunt the properties to the north and drive by them everyday.

I started calling with a slight tree yelp and two gobbles followed immediately. I slapped my chest to make it sound like the hen was flying down. When I knew the toms were on the ground, I started yelping and we were lucky enough to see two toms at 50 yards, but it was too far for Bo to shoot. They were swept away by a lonely hen.

We moved and set up several times, but could not get the toms away from the hens. After several attempts, we located the flock again and watched from a far to determine their direction, and then planned an ambush strategy. We wanted to circle around these call-shy birds to try and intercept them.

Three Warren County men convicted of wildlife violations

CARLISLE, OHIO - A Warren County man will serve jail time after being convicted in Franklin and Clinton County Municipal Courts for wildlife violations related to the poaching of white-tailed deer.