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"It's pretty exciting," said Robb. "We're all going to watch the program next Saturday (March 14) at Frumpy Joe's in Jonesburg."
The show will air that night on cable channel 606. Broadcast time is 7 p.m. "It will be very strange," added Pais, "to watch a television program that you're in. I'm actually nervous."
While turkey hunting is not unusual for the two ladies' husbands, Dan Robb and Andy Pais, it is a bit out of the ordinary when their wives receive more notoriety for their efforts.
"Dan and Andy are both hunting veterans," said Diana Robb. "They are good friends and they go out on hunts together.
"We just decided to get into this because we saw it as a way to become involved in something they enjoyed," Robb added.
Robb had never hunted before, while Pais had limited exposure to the sport. She had gone on an occasional pheasant shoot in Iowa. Years ago she had also bagged her first, and only, deer.
The idea for the shoot took root last March during the annual meeting of the Boonslick Trail Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) in Jonesburg.
"We knew the television people wanted to film a show on women going turkey hunting," Robb said.
From there fast forward to April when a cameraman for the show was in Columbia on assignment and called to ask about including Robb and Pais in his filming segments.
Robb went to Columbia for a day to hunt, but failed to bag a turkey. The following day she moved over to Sedalia.
She tracked several gobblers through a driving rainstorm with a group, includinng husband Dan.
"The guys were doing the calling," she related. "Finally three turkeys came up to our decoy and I got one."
Robb's turkey weighed an estimated 25 pounds.
"The rush," Robb added, "was just unbelievable."
Pais joined the group the next day and bagged her first turkey on a Friday morning.
"I walked around the woods for a long while," said Pais. "I really didn't think I was going to get one but I finally did."
Her turkey weighed about 27 pounds.
"Believe me, I got a real adrenaline rush," Pais said.
Both Robb and Pais quickly learned about some of the cumbersome elements of playing leading roles in a television program on hunting.
"For one thing, you can't shoot until the cameraman tells you to shoot," Pais explained. "So you have to aim, hold your gun steady and stay that way until you get the go ahead to fire."
"You're constantly on camera," added Robb. "Everything you do or say is being filmed."
Turkey hunting, they agreed, combines elements of patience, skill, dedication and planning.
And a little luck doesn't hurt, either.
"Turkeys have excellent instincts," Robb said. "They can sense you when you're near and they can spot you even when you blink your eyes."
The two ladies took different paths with regard to their turkeys. Pais chose to have hers mounted for display in her home while Robb cooked and ate her bird the day of the shoot.
"If I had it to do over again, I'd reconsider," Robb noted. "In hindsight, it might be nice to have it mounted."
"I'm happy I had it mounted," Pais said. "I'll always remember that first turkey."
Each lady used a Mossberg 20-gauge pump shotgun for their successful kill. The gun was furnished by the NWTF.
Both lady hunters said they are looking forward to their television "debut."
"But at the same time," said Robb, "you're also aware of the potential audience. It's mostly men who are veteran hunters and you know they'll be watching you closely, observing everything you do."
And since they now have a track record of success, the women said they are already planning another hunt.
"It boosts your confidence level," said Pais. "We're going again in April. Plus Diana and I have bonded. There aren't many other women we can talk to about this."
"We do have this unique interest in common," Robb added. "And the fact that we did this together, shared the same experience, makes it even more special."
