Always seems to me that some of the funniest things in life happen while out hunting and fishing, and many times, these incidents and mishaps become forever etched in our memory. Sitting here looking out the window at a snow covered ground, counting the days down to hearing that first gobble of the spring, started me to reminiscing about some past hunts and some of the characters I have been privileged to meet along the way in my 35 years of turkey hunting. These chance meetings and relationships have provided the opportunity to hear words that become an instant "quote" that defines that precious slice of time, and serves as the vehicle to retrieve the memory as well as bringing a smile to your face when heard. Sure you all have some that can be shared.
"If he is in sight, he is right"
Told to the late L.A. Dixon by his nephew. L.A. called, the bird came out in a field ~ 200 yards away strutting toward a decoy. The nephew shot the instant the bird came into his sight. L.A. asked, what possessed you to shoot at that turkey completely across the field.
"If you had killed that turkey, you'd need to throw that shotgun in the trash 'cause it would have strained the crap out of it !!"
The late Ray Sherron speaking to the late Leroy Pennington in the mid 1970's, after several of us went back to look at where he had shot at a big long beard strutting in a logging path. From where Lee was sitting to the tracks left in the dirt by the departing gobbler were 127 long strides from a 6" 2" man.
"Call him back Daddy"
Me speaking to my Dad in April 1970 during my first ever encounter with a big ole spring gobbler, who slipped through pines undetected and then stepped in dry oak leaves at about 15 yards. Startled, I jerked my head around and threw up my hand upon hearing the unexpected crunching of leaves so close by.
The gobbler didn't stick around to see why I waved....and did not come back!
