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Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 17th, 2015, 1:05 pm
by KPcalls
The oldest living turkey hunter I know personally is quite a character as you can tell in the youth hunt story. Jerry told me a story about a hunt back in the early seventies when all the company land in our area was open. There weren't any deer back then and turkey's were far and in between because they were basically hunted year round. Jerry heard of a gobbler not far from his place that was gobbling and he knew that several others were hunting him. He pulled up that morning amongst the rest of the hunters to try his luck at the bird with a backup plan. Before daylight they all scattered in different directions hoping to be near the gobbler when daylight broke. When daylight broke the ole bird gobbled close to Jerry and he could see the bird strutting on the limb. Jerry pulled out his ole wing bone and gave a few tree calls. He could here the others calling in all different directions and knew the bird was surrounded. A couple of minutes went by and the ole bird turned his back to Jerry lowered his head and prepared to fly down in the wrong direction. Just before the bird left from his nightly perch ole Jerry fired a shot in the air high above the bird and sent him on a endless flight far away from danger that morning. He followed up with two more shots shortly after. Jerry walked back to his truck and was met by all the other hunters wanting to see the gobbler and hear the story, and boy was it a story. He stepped out of the woods with his head hung low holding a single breast feather that was in his pocket when he had arrived that morning. He told a story of how that bird landed in his lap after a few soft tree calls on his wing bone, and how he had missed on the first shot because he was mere feet away. He claimed the second and third shots rolled the bird for several flips, but the bird left out of there dragging both wings and stumbling. He apologized for messing the bird up and played it oh so well. The next morning ole Jerry had the woods and the only gobbler around to himself. He made a few soft clucks on his wing bone and killed the bird just after he flew down.... :D

Re: Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 17th, 2015, 3:56 pm
by Bigspurs68
If the story is true or if it's not, it just sounds like an idea that a good turkey hunter might try in desperate times.

Re: Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 17th, 2015, 5:25 pm
by KPcalls
Both stories are true you have my word....it's been several years since I heard the story of the lone gobbler and I'm not sure of the date. He is quite a character and is a hoot to drink a beer with around the camp fire.

Re: Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 17th, 2015, 5:57 pm
by Waddle Whacker
That's pretty slick!

Re: Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 17th, 2015, 9:11 pm
by Bigspurs68
KPcalls wrote:Both stories are true you have my word....it's been several years since I heard the story of the lone gobbler and I'm not sure of the date. He is quite a character and is a hoot to drink a beer with around the camp fire.
Sounds like the kind of guy that new turkey hunters need to hang out with. Right after they quit watching hunting shows.

Re: Hard ball in hard times

Posted: June 18th, 2015, 12:16 am
by ole5beards
You can learn a lot by listening to old timers like him. Best hunting stories I've heard are from guys just like him. And usually there's always a lesson to be learned. Good story!