Turkey Hunting with Young Hunters: Q&A with Slayer ProStaffer
Written by: M.D. Johnson
Photos by: Josh Montgomery
Spring is a busy season for outdoor enthusiasts. Between tending to gardens and greenhouses, the first lawn mowing, and fishing for walleye and crappie, there’s plenty to do. But for turkey hunters, spring adds a whole new level of organized chaos—scouting, setting up ground blinds, practicing with calls, acquiring more calls, patterning, choosing the right camouflage, and, of course, even more scouting. It’s a time of year when turkey hunters are running at full speed in every direction.
Maryland’s Josh Montgomery is no exception. A member of the Slayer ProStaff Team, Montgomery, 39, is a husband to Megan and father to 13-year-old McKenna—a turkey fanatic in her own right. As he gears up for another East Coast gobbler season, we caught up with him to talk about his passion for turkey hunting and the special moments he shares with his daughter in the field.
Slayer: Who is Josh Montgomery?
Josh Montgomery (JM): I grew up in Maryland and have spent most of my life here. I have four brothers and a sister, but I didn’t come from a hunting family. Even now, I’m the primary hunter among us. My brothers hunt occasionally, but I’m the one who stuck with it. My dad wasn’t really into hunting, but looking back, I was always drawn to the outdoors.
Slayer: Tell us about your turkey hunting background.
JM: My uncle was big into the outdoors, and since he didn’t have kids of his own, he would take me and my closest brother (in age) shooting and hunting. He’s the one who guided us through hunter education. He even bought me a used bow, so I started with archery before trying any other type of hunting. (Laughs) A lot of trial and error. But at heart, I’m a bowhunter.
Right before McKenna was born, about 14 or 15 years ago, I decided I wanted to try turkey hunting—and I wanted to get my first one with a bow. It took a few years to learn, meet new people, and figure things out. About four years in, I finally shot my first bird with my bow.
Slayer: Your daughter, McKenna—tell us about her turkey hunting adventures.
JM: She loves it! I took her waterfowl hunting a few times when she was around nine, and she got her first goose that year. The following spring, she went on her first turkey hunt, and on public land, she shot her first longbeard. Waterfowl hunting is fun, but getting that first turkey is a huge achievement. It’s hard to put into words. I think back to my own experiences hunting with my uncle and how much that shaped me. Now, being able to share those same moments with my daughter is really special.
Slayer: What are some challenges of turkey hunting with young hunters?
JM: Oh, absolutely, there are challenges. With any type of hunting, patience is key. You have to stick with it through slow and tough times. Some days are quiet, and it’s important to keep kids focused and engaged without pushing them too hard. You don’t want to create any negative experiences that might turn them away from hunting. It’s a balancing act—keeping it fun and interesting while also teaching them persistence.
Slayer: What do you hope McKenna takes away from her hunting experiences?
JM: At the end of the day, it’s all about spending time together. She seems to enjoy it—she’s already asking, “Hey, when’s turkey season? When are we going?” That means a lot to me. It’s about making memories and ensuring she gets to experience and appreciate the outdoors.
Unfortunately, some people think hunters are just out there to kill, but that’s not true. I enjoy just being in nature. I don’t have to shoot something every time I go out. Hunting is a natural part of life, and sharing that experience with McKenna is important to me.
Slayer: If money and time weren’t a factor, what would be your dream turkey hunt?
JM: I’d love to complete the Grand Slam or hunt Gould’s turkeys in Mexico. And if I do it, I’d want to do it with my bow. That’s just the bowhunter in me.
Slayer: What’s your go-to turkey call?
JM: I’m no expert caller, but in my experience, less is always more. Locating birds, scouting, and understanding their habits are just as important—if not more—than calling. I use slate and box calls, but when it comes down to it, I rely on turkey mouth calls. I’ll go through a few each year to find the one that works best for me, and then (laughs) I’ll use that one all season.
It really depends on how pressured the birds are. Hunting on a refuge is like another world, with a high number of birds and controlled pressure. Then I’ll go to public land that gets hunted hard, and I’ll be lucky to hear a gobble. That’s when patience becomes essential.
