LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – At just 8 years old, Noah Bryant of Lewisburg, West Virginia, has already built an impressive start in the turkey woods. With a couple of Eastern wild turkeys under his belt, Noah recently took on a new challenge—pursuing the elusive Osceola wild turkey in Central Florida.
When his father, Phillip Bryant, suggested making the trip south, Noah didn’t hesitate. He was all in.
After arriving in Florida, the pair spent time scouting the area and quickly found success locating birds. “We saw a couple gobblers and I got really excited,” Noah said. “I couldn’t wait to get a chance at my first Osceola.”
That opportunity came the very next morning.
Phillip set Noah up in a perfect position as the woods began to wake up. With steady calling, Phillip worked three Osceola longbeards into range. As the gobblers strutted in, putting on a show, Noah stayed calm and ready.
“When they came in, it was awesome,” Noah said. “Watching three Osceolas in full strut was really exciting.”
When the moment was right, Noah made it count—successfully harvesting his very first Osceola wild turkey.
The hunt marked a major milestone for the young hunter, adding another subspecies to his growing list. At just 8 years old, Noah is now only a Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkey away from completing his Grand Slam—a remarkable accomplishment for any hunter, especially at such a young age.
“I’m really excited to try and get my first Rio and Merriam’s turkey next,” he said.
With his passion, composure, and early success, it’s clear Noah Bryant has a bright future ahead in the turkey woods.
