04/03/2023
TURKEY REUNITED
Back over 25 years or more I shot my first ever turkey with the faithfull Hoyt. Sent it to Kelly Morris Mo.
World class turkey Taxidermist, now wholesale only, does about 1000 turkeys a year. While waiting for him to mount him up I built a glass case, no dust no critters no fingers. Had it in my living room for a year or more until I bought a sofa and now and then I had no room so I gave it to my buddy for his newly built man cave. He has had it since 1987 or more. He recently decided he is getting old, quit deer hunting and has sold all his guns, hunting clothes etc. He called me the other day and said the turkey has to go. I had a customer buy the glass enclosed grouse & quail, I showed him the turkey and BAM, gone.
The turkey was my first and with a bow & arrow in around 1995 or so. I made the trip to Waterville Lycoming county Pa. with intentions of killing a turkey. The white van had minor driving issues but she made it with no issues, I miss that buggy. It was a good hauler and the dead deer loved her. First stop after a 6 and a half hour drive was at the Wagon Wheel Bar, I knew the owner Tony. The Waterville motel was closed so Tony offered me a room, I ate dinner (Black Diamond steak) a vacuum sealed marinated steak and went then to bed. Got up at noon, road around visited places until 4 PM.
I pulled up to the gate at the state land area I planed to hunt, I found the spot while trout fishing. Two guys were camping and I stopped to BS and find out where they were hunting. After a brief chat about info needed I drove down to where I parked to fish right next to a Pa. Game Commission bear trap (saw a bear close). When I opened my door it creaked out loud and a turkey gobbled. I was set for the AM, I got up and 1 hour later I was setting on a stump hot chocolate in hand waiting for daylight. When it was light enough to see I hit the call it was interrupted by at least 3 turkeys. They gobbled and I saw one fly down almost in my lap. He landed about 15 yards from me in 3 foot tall ferns. As he was walking in strutting down a deer trail I released a snuffer tipped 2317 right in his p**p hole. He ran about 20 yards until the stuffer sticking out his chest caught a stick and flipped him over. Man ole Man my first turkey with archery equipment. On the way out I stopped by the camping hunters and told them I got one and guy #1 said to me I didn't hear any shots, I said you wouldn't of I shot it with my bow and they both doubted me until they saw it. They parked right next to my van.
I remember that awesome feeling like it was yesterday.
