Share a Dick Kirby story

[buffalogobbler]

I can see Dick now,
in the callmakers hall in Heaven.
Kickin' back in an easychair and talkin' turkey with Cecil Frey and the other Greats of our rich American callmaking history.
Thank you Dick and Cecil for the inspiration that you have provided for us all!


I would like to invite everyone to share a story, thought or pic of Dick Kirby or one of his calls and what it means to you.

I'll start.
In May of 1992 I was starting my fourth turkey hunting season and there was a Tom gobbling his fool head off at the top of the hill.
I had done my preseason scouting and I was there too!
I set up against a huge Gnarled old Maple tree that had once been part of a fence line. I did'nt notice at first but there were strands of barbed wire comming out of the tree and I ripped the seat out of my pants.
But the gobbler was Hot and on the ground!
He had hens with him and I had heard that you should imitate the hens to bring the gobbler in.
I had just learned to use a mouth call, so I popped in a "Quaker Boy Special" and tried to imitate the noises that the hens were making.
Before I knew it there were 6 hens standing in front of me and behind them was the biggest baddest strutting gobbler I had ever seen!
My gun was up on my knee and he went behind a tree at ten yards,I was going to shoot him when he stepped out on the other side, but he never came out!
He just angled off behind the tree!
I yakked on that Quaker Boy Special, making all kinds of noises but he just walked off.
And then from right behind me another tom gobbled!
And two Jakes came wanderin' out in front of my gun...
BOOM!!!!
I just killed my first turkey!!!
And I did it with a Quaker Boy Special!
A few years later at the NWTF convention I got the chance to tell Dick that I killed my first turkey using one of his calls.
He just kinda smiled and congradulated me.

Here's another,
Every year at the beginning of August in Western New York, we hold a Youth Archery Camp for 30 kids.
It's totally free for the kids and staffed by all volunteers and Dick has been involved for many years donating calls and giving seminars.
Last year the kids made blue bird houses and Dick sat with the kids signing and drawing turkeys and things on thier bird houses and this year despite his back pain he put on the game calling seminar and the kids loved every minute of it!
Afterwards he gave every kid a call of thier choosing and spent a little time with each kid, helping them with thier new call.
When he went home that night,
it was to a chorous of thirty kids blowing Turkey,crow, owl and deer calls!
I hope it put a smile on his face!

Kevin

[letinmfly]

Thanks for sharing your stories Kevin.

[GR8CALLS]

Great story Kevin!

 Dick was always a very giving person....particularly when it came to turkey hunting. Our first chapter auction was coming up and we were having a difficult time getting donations. Jim Clay and I decided to contact Dick. He had always supported a calling contest we use to have in Winchester....actually calling in several of them. Jim called Dick and he was very happy to help out. We expected possibly a few calls to give as door prizes..........boy were we way off. Dick sent down enough calls for everyone at the auction, plus more to put on the silent auction. Our first auction was a great success...thanks in great part, to Dick Kirby!

Bill

[rocfish13]

Really nice stories!  He must have been a very kind and generous man! Roc

[Shadetree Callers]

 I , personally , will never forget Dick or his generosity to hunters , callmakers and children too. I remember when I took my first longbox that I ever entered in competition, over to Dick for critique . He sat down and studied the call for more than 5 minutes before offering his advice . He said " I'll give you ..." for a moment , as he paused , I thought he was going to make me an offer on it . LOL. Then he finished, " I'll give you 4 points to work on" . I sat there, humbled to have Dick inspecting my work , and wrote down everyhting he told me . He actually gave me 6 pointers on that call, that made a huge difference in my sound. Then he told me " In the next three years , if you listen to me , you are going to win in the longbox division at Nationals. So each year , as my calls progressed, Dick would sit down and carefully critique them . On my last visit with him , he looked the calls over closely and after 15 minutes , he says " You've got it now Bob!". This coming year at Nationals would have been that 3rd National competition since he started mentoring me on callmaking . I was very much looking forward to showing him what I have to offer the judges now . Dick has done alot to help callmakers in many ways , from me all the way to Neil Cost. How many of us have sat in the woods with a Quaker Boy call in their hands ? More than just a handfull for sure ! Dick will be greatly missed in this world , as a family man , hunter, callmaker , and friend.
 Here are just a few of the calls Dick made for me .
Bob Fulcher
SHADETREE CALLERS  

[Old Geezer]

I worked on several projects for Dick.  When I told him I would get busy and send for the materials I needed to complete them.  Dick told me to wait a few days.  Later in the the week three big boxes arrived on my porch steps.  I will never use up what he sent in my life time.  Dick was a very generous Christian man who was not afraid to share his faith.  He will be missed.

Ralph

[buffalogobbler]

Great stories and pics guy's.
Here's a pic of four calls that Skip Perry made for Dick from the bones of his 25th Grand Slam.

[Arrowhead]

I went to the NWTF convention in Charlotte NC. I had made a turtle shell call for a good friend of mine with the intention of having a bunch of folks at the convention sign it and I would give to him as a gift.

The first stop I made happened to be Dick Kirby. I asked Dick for his signature and he proceeded to draw a great picture in color of a strutting gobbler. When he finished I jokingly told Dick I thought it was too nice to give to my friend. ( I knew he woulkd be thrilled when he got it). Dick said" I'll tell you what, make two more calls and send them to me and I'll draw one one of them and return to you".  Couple months later I sent them off.  Couple months or so later I recieved my call back with another great drawing.I was exstatic. Great gesture on his part.



In the box along with the call Dick returned to me with the artwork was one of Dick's Paddle calls. He had no reason other than the kindness of his soul give me a call.




He was a good man and will be missed by many.