Rob Helfrich, an avid hunter from Baldwinsville, bagged a spring gobbler near Skaneateles on his first try during the last week of the season. The bird weighed 21 pounds, had a 9.5-inch beard, and 1-inch spurs.
Helfrich actually went turkey hunting for the first time last fall, but “that was more about scouting deer,” said the seasoned whitetail hunter.
“I’m a novice at best, and I wasn’t hunting with anyone to show me the ropes,” he said.
So over the winter, Helfrich turned to YouTube for lessons on how to use a call box and tried again this spring.
“I was in my son’s blind and heard a distant gobble at 6:15 a.m.,” Helfrich said. “I used my call box for the next 90 minutes and eventually brought him within 15 yards.”
The hunt was particularly meaningful to Helfrich because his son passed away in 2019, he said, and hunting from his son’s log-and-burlap blind made Helfrich feel closer to him.
“I miss my young hunting and fishing partner every single day,” Helfrich said. “I also got a deer this past season from his blind.”
Congratulations Rob, we hope your son’s spot continues to bring you good luck and good memories.
Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
Ad Choices