On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Creating memories that will last a lifetime

Published: 05-14-2025 2:37 PM

As the 2025 wild turkey hunting season heads into the final stretch, I’m scratching my head wondering, “How did it get by us so fast?” Seems like only yesterday that we were talking about the excitement of another opening day, and now we’re just a few days away from the final week, and already counting the days until opening day of the 2026 season!

Having said that, I learned long ago that the time between turkey hunting seasons creeps along very slowly unless you have other distractions that keep you occupied. For instance, I love hanging with my grandkids, especially now when they’re so young. And that’s a distraction I wouldn’t give up for anything. I like to fish, watch baseball, take care of my property, and do many other things – now, and during the offseason. Plus, I like hanging around with my wife, which is becoming more special with each passing day.

All of this, and more, does just enough to help the time pass by much more quickly, and strangely enough, I enjoy all of it! 

But hey, what a season it’s been for turkey hunters in every corner of southern New England. Young hunters scoring on their first birds, along with fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons sharing moments they will cherish forever. Even seasoned hunters, like myself, still doing what we love and relishing every single second we have in the springtime woods enjoying nature, while matching wits with any gobblers who dare accept an invitation to “the dance.”

I’ve come across a few this year I’d just as soon never invite to the dance again! Or maybe I would? The point is, young or old, new hunters or longtime veterans, every time you go it’s a moment to be savored, whether it’s win, lose, or draw. And that’s really when the joy of turkey hunting has a total hold on you – while you’re chasing the “great springtime bird” into those high places, during the pre-dawn springtime hours, that only a few ever see.

The absolute greatest moments in a turkey hunter’s life are the memories made while hunting with family and friends. And the absolute best of those moments are when you manage to spend time with a young person who, later on in life, carries on the tradition of wild turkey hunting to the next generation of hunters, while sharing the lessons they were taught when they were young. For example, I’ve known Steve Smead and his father Mike, both from Heath, for decades. I watched Steven grow up to become not only an excellent turkey hunter but also a dedicated deer hunter. And he’s instilled the same love for the sport of hunting to his youngsters, Charlotte and Landon, as he received growing up from his dad. During the early part of the Mass. season, Charlotte managed to harvest not only one big gobbler but two. And her brother Landon, not to be outdone by his sister, scored in both Vermont and Connecticut. What a great feeling that must have been to the entire family, watching these youngsters carry on a tradition that means so much. Congratulations Charlotte and Landon, and keep listening to dad and grandpa.

Just the other day I got word that Brody Hicks, son of Buckland’s Ryan Hicks, and grandson of Charlemont’s Paul Hicks – both great hunters in their own right – harvested two nice birds in Connecticut, which has become a favorite state of mine to hunt in as well. I’ve known this family, it seems, forever, and I’m telling you that I am certain there was a level of celebration that was heard from Buckland all the way up to Berkshire East Ski Area, reveling in the success of these Connecticut hunts for Brody. Steve and Mike, along with Ryan and Paul, have now brought this full circle, as their turkey hunting legacy continues on with their children, and perhaps others along the way. Hopefully Charlotte, Landon, and Brody will take this love for turkey hunting, and hunting in general, to a new level someday, by mentoring other young and new hunters whenever they can!

It’s moments like these, and the memories they spawn, that mean the most to hunters like Steve, Ryan, and their fathers. Same goes for myself, especially at this stage in my life as a turkey hunter. Memories of watching young people, older people, and even small kids, smile that smile of pure joy the first time they hear a wild turkey gobbling. Watching their eyes dance as the “Old Monarch” responds to you, moving slowly toward your location, and suddenly, with the speed of thought, he’s there right in front of you, still coming, and laser focused on you. At that moment, the people with you know they’re part of something special, something larger than just hunting. And they want it to last forever, and deep down inside, so do you!

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​​​​​​Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net