Turkey with 10 beards bagged by young Missourian

Submitted photo/ Kooper Bay, 11, with his first turkey. He shot the big gobbler during the annual Youth Hunt. The big bird featured 10 beards.

April 11, 2015 at 8 a.m., will be a date and time that 11 year-old Kooper Bay will never forget.

For that was when he shot his first wild turkey gobbler. It wasn't just a turkey gobbler he shot, it was also a bird with 10 beards, scoring 179.25 by the National Wild Turkey Records, making it the third highest score in Missouri and ninth in the nation.

The 10 beards measured a whopping 68.0625 inches. The various beards measured, 4 15/16, 5 1/8, 6 3/4, 6 1/2, 6 7/8, 7 5/8, 6 3/8, 7 1/8 and 10 1/4 inches. The big bird weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces and had spurs of 1 1/16 and 1 inch.

Submitted photo/ This gobbler with 10 beards was taken by Kooper Bay during the 15th annual Spring Youth Hunt.

Kooper entered his bird in the 13th annual youth turkey hunt contest at Walt's Archery and Gun to be scored. He took first place of the 33 entries and was awarded a new shotgun. His mother, Melody, said they spent the rest of the day taking photos and showing off the record bird.

"Kooper has been using his turkey call all day," she said.

The hunt unfolded just like a turkey hunter would like. Rick Bay, Kooper's dad, Kooper, and his brother-in-law Kevin Sawyer hit the woods just before sunrise and set up in a spot where they had heard turkeys.

Rick said, "We had seven or eight turkeys gobbling and knew there were plenty of turkeys in the area. We were close to some birds, but when they flew off the roost, they went in a different direction where another hunter was calling. We then moved to another spot when we heard some birds right there.

"We didn't have time to put the decoys where we wanted when two big gobblers appeared. We got the decoys out and I cleared a spot for Kooper to sit. After making a call, the toms came running. After sitting there for about two or three minutes, they came around the corner and when they saw our decoys, they went back into the woods, but after more calling, the gobblers started moving towards us. I told Kooper to take the second bird because a lot of the time the larger bird is behind the first bird. At about 30 yards out, Kooper fired his 20 gauge shotgun and dropped the big bird with a well placed shot."

Sawyer said, "I saw the tow birds heading our way and then go back into the woods. I made several soft calls and they came back out. I was in a position to see all the action and watched Kooper make a good shot."

The Humansville fifth grader said he was very nervous when watching the toms heading his way, but was able to take advantage of the situation and get his first turkey on his third Youth Turkey Hunt.

He is looking forward to going after another turkey during the second week of the regular three week season that started Monday.

Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not take another bird until April 27. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season. The Youth Season limit is one male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard.

The first Youth Turkey Weekend Hunt was held back in 2001. The youngsters took 4,441 bearded birds this past season, which was up from last year when 4,332 birds were harvested. Franklin County was the top county this spring with 117 birds checked followed by Greene with 88, including 52 adult gobblers and 36 juvenile gobblers.

Cedar County was close behind with 87 birds checked, including 60 adult gobblers, 21 juvenile gobblers and six bearded hens. Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through the Missouri Department of Conservation's First Turkey Certificate, complete with photo. To learn more contact MDC at mdc.mo.gov/node/10469.

The young hunter also got a deer last year and is looking forward to going to South Dakota for pheasant hunting this year, now that he has completed the hunter-education requirement for that state. He also plays baseball and basketball.

It's easy to see why the Missouri Department of Conservation holds special youth hunts. The thrill and excitement from Kooper's turkey hunt, and the big smile on his face tells it all.

After all, the future of the sport is with today's youngsters.