Great hunt with a good Texan friend !

[Shadetree Callers]

 This May , a good friend, Dennis,  flew in from Dallas to hunt Easterns with me here in Ohio . Our hunt didn't start until the last day of the season but the birds were still very vocal and just starting to respond to calling again . On our first morning we set up in a great fly-down area and Dennis soft called on  a tree-yelper . We had Toms and jakes all around us and they were really carrying on that day . We called two super jakes right off the limb and they landed within sight and worked in to the calling . After watching the show they put on , we moved to another set-up and went different ways . I worked a couple big gobblers but they stayed out at 60 yds. The next morning , Dennis went to our original set-up from the first morning and I separated from him about 1/2 mile . Well sure enough , come first light I hear a single shot from Dennis' direction . After meeting back up with him , I could see feathers spread everywhere about 30 yds in fron of his set-up . He proceeded to tell me he shot one of the jakes from the day before but the full fan on the bird he was hiding under his coat , gave it away . He shot a beautiful 3 yr old gobbler with spurs over an inch and a ten inch beard . That's a great bird anywhere in my opinion . The bird topped the scales around 22 lbs. To top it off , Dennis called his gobbler in with a fencepost caller I made for him in the style of Swiney Rayfield from Eminence , Missouri . Our third day was a wash-out due to heavy rains that moved in during the morning . We were set up on two toms gobbling below us until the rain started . Then they were gone and we left for the cover of our vehivle . It was a great hunt and I look forward to more great times in the field with my Texas buddy ! Congrats again my friend !!!

[drabndouble]

Beautiful bird ! Congrats to ya both .

[augiedog55]

Thats what it all  *gobble*about

[rocfish13]

Great story! Fine looking bird!!  Your friend's smile says it all! Congrats to both of you!! Gary   

[Turkeybuster]

Fine bird and a good story Congrats. to both of you.

Jon

[hunter22]

Bob,

Congrats man. Awesome pics.

My most memorable hunts are the ones I have had with my son and friends. I get a lot more pleasure in calling a bird in for my son or a friend and see their smiles after they harvest it than killing one myself. But don't get me wrong, I do like to pull the trigger occasionally.    

[Porter]

Nice bird and what a way to enjoy a good friend!

[PostDriver]

Well, as I'm sure you've figured out, there's more to the story  

I had asked Bob to finish me a call from a Swiney Rayfield lid that he had obtained from Mrs. Rayfield (which was hanging on her living room wall).  It turned out that Bob also had some wormy butternut he had gotten from Swiney before his death, and that worked out just fine.  Great sounding call, with loads of provenance.

On that second morning, Bob told me before we left the motel that he was down to one shell.  I told him not to worry, I was well stocked.  When we got to the farm, I handed him a box of 3.5" Hevi's; he informed me his gun wouldn't shoot the long shells!  Sooo, he's back to one 'bullet'.  When that hit me, it was like a deja vu thing and all I could think of was Barney Fife!  Well, we both picked up on that and for the rest of the hunt (and to this day), it's Barney and Andy between us.  Lots of fun.

I'm very pleased to have had the opportunity not only to hunt with Bob, but also to earn his friendship.  I'm looking forward to more hunts with him in the future!

Thanks, Barney    


 

[jmck]

thanks Dennis for as Paul Harvey says,,,,,,,and now for the rest of the story. Ole one bullet Barney 
Its great when ya hunt with guys and develope a kinship and also wierd how ususally something seems to come up that sticks as a THEME to joust or rember the hunt by.\Congrats to both of ya on a memorable time

[ncturkey]

Great story. great caller