If you’re a parent or mentor who has passed along the hunting tradition to a child, then the 2-minute Facebook video below will bring back a flood of memories. And certainly any hunter, for turkeys or otherwise, will understand the emotions showcased here.

This video showed up on my Facebook newsfeed because I’m friends with legendary outdoorsman Cuz Strickland, who describes himself this way on his FB page: “Host ‘Fist Full of Dirt’ podcast. SR VP at Mossy Oak. God, Family, Country. Fan of all things hunting.”

In this video from several years ago, Cuz is hiding in a pop-up blind with his youngest grandson, Ben, who has the nickname Cranky. Ben’s parents are also in the blind. They are after a Mississippi longbeard called “The Devil” because it’s been impossible to kill.

Cranky is using a .410 shotgun. According to Cuz, “It was a cheap .410 pump from a pawn shop. Had a gunsmith cut the stock and barrel, and install an extra-full choke. The 410s are everywhere now. A Jebs choke and Apex ammo, and it’s a slam dunk!”

Cuz wrote the following on his Facebook page, and I know he wouldn’t mind me sharing it with you: “You hear all the time how bad social media is. Well it has a good side as well. Many of you have watched grandson Ben ‘Cranky’ literally grow up, and through your many comments have helped raise him. He reads them all, and I can’t recall a single one that was negative. All the grandkids read comments and see what good people have to say and how they react. That, my friends, is priceless. So from Cranky and the rest of our family, ‘Thank You’ for that. Now let’s get turkey season here as fast as possible.”

Be sure to watch the Facebook video below until the very end. You’ll LOVE what Cranky has to say about his excitement level. (For best viewing, click “enter fullscreen” and turn up the volume.)

Important note: You might think that because of Cuz’s position at Mossy Oak and his connections in the outdoor industry, that Cranky’s first turkey would be a slamdunk. Wrong! Cuz documented the 2-year journey (multiple states) of Cranky pursuing and finally shooting his first bird in the 12-minute YouTube video at the bottom of this page. (Fast-forward to the 6:48 mark if you want to go right to the day The Devil died.)