An Alabama jake started the author down the traveling turkey hunting road.
Editor’s note: In this blog, Editor Brian Lovett looks back at memorable moments in his turkey hunting journey. This entry covers his first out-of-state hunt.
After I’d stumbled my way to a few Wisconsin gobblers and jakes, I took the next logical step in my turkey hunting career: becoming the editor of a turkey hunting magazine.
OK, that’s not exactly how it worked. Basically, my employer decided to bring the editorship of Turkey & Turkey Hunting in-house during Summer 1995. “Hey, you’re a turkey hunter, aren’t you?” someone asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
“Congratulations,” they said. And I was the new editor of T&TH.
As part of my duties, I got to go on an Alabama turkey hunt with the folks at Mossy Oak. I was thrilled to meet those famous hunters, including Toxey Haas, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland and then-videographer Troy Ruiz, plus a little-known but soon-to-be-renowned guide at Bent Creek Lodge: future three-time World calling champion Don Shipp.
“This will be awesome,” I thought. “These guys are accomplished turkey killers, and I know a little bit about turkey hunting, too.”
And after about an hour in their esteemed company, I realized that I knew very little about turkey hunting. But the crew was very patient with me, and on the second morning of our hunt, we struck gold.
As dawn was breaking, three birds gobbled deep in a woodlot. Toxey gave Troy and me the thumbs-up, and we headed across a field toward them. The birds choked themselves on Toxey’s first tree yelps, and then they sprinted off the roost to within yards of my quaking gun barrel.
They were jakes, but I didn’t care. Neither did Toxey.
“You haven’t killed many turkeys, have you?” he whispered.
“Nope,” I replied.
“Well, go ahead and … .”
Boom.
With that, I flattened the middle bird and had an Alabama turkey. Sure, it was a jake. And yes, I’d shot the bird to the left of the turkey Troy had asked me to shoot for his video, but it was OK. With handshakes all around, we celebrated a great March morning.
During those whirlwind days 16-plus years ago, I received a lifetime of lessons about my new favorite activity and vocation. When I returned to Wisconsin, I figured that maybe I’d learned a tiny bit about turkey hunting.
Man, I remember that year like it was yesterday. I was a 20 year old WANT TO BE turkey guide that thought I knew a lot about turkey hunting. I was taught a lesson or two during that season of guiding at Bent Creek! But man was it great being at a lodge guiding with guys like Don Shipp, Bob Walker, Larry Norton, “Butcher”, “Flat Get It”, Mr. Martin and Rodney Craft . I remember sharing camp at Bent Creek that year with guys like Paul Butski, Preston Pittman, Toxey Haas, Troy Ruiz, Chris Kirby, Mark Drury, Eddie Salter, Will Primos and Rob Keck! Spent time writers Brian Lovet, John Phillips and Tom Fagley which I called 2 turkeys for Tom that he missed! Had one evening hunt with both Will Primos and John Phillips, man what an experience setting in the turkey woods with two iconic people in the outdoors business and also had an evening hunt with Troy Ruiz and Larry Norton. One of the craziest things that happened that year was going to roost a bird with Troy and Brian Lovett. I was going to take them to a “CERTAIN TO ROOSTE ONE SPOT”. We didn’t hear a darn turkey. I went back the next morning and 6 different turkeys gobbled in there. Why in the world didn’t they gobble the evening before? All I could think is that is just my luck! That was a year I will never forget.
That was quite a crew there, wasn’t it, J.C.? It was like a collection of famous turkey hunters and great turkey writers. I was like a fish out of water, but it was just a great time. Remember watching the T.K. and Mike videos every morning before we’d head out?
JC(Jason Conrad) another funny thing was when Mark Drury was exstremely sick and such a sore throat that he could talk. I remeber Leo telling him he had something down at his vet clinic that would take care of it. It’s almost impossible to get that many of the top guys in the industry together now days.