Don't you just love special orders for special friends. No way to explain this order except with a story. -- After the end of this past season, I was approached by my hunting partner of about 30 years, to make a reproduction of a special call for him and the owner. The last weekend of the season each year at Tunica, Ms. is saved by my friend Wade Wineman for the Winn's. Hal and his son Eustice. Both taught the ways of the wild turkey by their father and grandfather Dr. Eustice Winn. Dr. Winn was an original member of the OK Hunting Club back in the 50's, that Wade has written about in his turkey books. The last weekend of this past season was a rainy one, and after a thunder storm at first light. Hal and Eustice IV got out from under a deer stand and started to hunt. Going separate ways, Eustice spooked a group of birds, got a big rounder on them, and set up. After a while he started yelping on a 55 year old call that had been given to him by his grandfather on his sixtenth birthday. Eustice is 23 and has mastered the art of calling on that original Stribling, and boy he make it talk. After a short series of calls, Little Eustice killed this fine gobbler. A hermit bird we think. Came in by himself. Did not say a word. 12 inch beard and 1 1/2 spurs. Didn't weigh that much. As fine a Eastern you will ever kill in Tunica Co, Ms. A real trophy bird.
After the season I got with Little Eustice to borrow that old call and make templates. The call has Dr. Winn's name on one side and Eustice Winn IV on the other. The Winns' are restoring their old Antebellum home in Benoit, Ms., the Burris Home. Little Eustice gave me a piece of walnut 4x6x24, that was a piece left over from restoring the winding staircase. The persimmon is coming from a tree off one of the Clubs that Dr. Winn was a member, Burke Landing, near Clarksdale, Ms. I can't wait to finish this project. I'll post the results when the calls are finished. I cut the walnut blanks out this AM. .
