Conclusion: Col. Kurtz and the Heart of Darkness

[Brian Lovett]

In "Decision Time," Editor Brian Lovett shares a scenario from his 20-plus years hunting turkeys. Each hinges on a critical decision. Post what choice you would have made, and then see how things actually turned out.

Conclusion: Col. Kurtz and the Heart of Darkness

The best idea, of course, was to listen for the bird from the field and then move or make a setup depending on the turkey's location. But as you probably noticed, I had never hunted that turkey at fly-down time. Why? I'd been stuck on another evil turkey elsewhere. I couldn't kill that bird, either, so it made even more sense to try Col. Kurtz from the field at flydown.

But I didn't. I tried the other turkey and whiffed. Then I went in on Col. Kurtz at about 9 a.m. He wasn't in the big northern field, so I figure I'd slip along the logging road to the southwestern edge of the farm, which, as mentioned, as the one area where I'd never seen him.

My calls netted no responses, so I continued easing along, hoping to eventually peek out into the neighboring fields. About 50 yards from the edge, however, Col. Kurtz and his tribe poked their heads up, busted me and high-tailed it off the property.

Unreal. The illogical plan of going where they'd never been might have actually worked -- if the bird had answered a call before I blundered in and boogered him.

I love the smell of failure in the morning.

What decision did you make?

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[dewey]

Did you ever terminate his command with extreme predjudice?

Dewey

[Brian Lovett]

Nope. Col. Kurtz and the tribe busted me on the final day of the season. Hopefully we'll continue the engagement this spring.