Turkey season yields mixed results, but Barber scores
By By Mike Giles / outdoors writer
April 4, 2003
As we head into the third Saturday of the spring season we are receiving mixed reports from hunters around the state. The early statewide turkey forecast stated that we had more turkeys in the woods this year than any year since the late 70s or early 80s. Opening day found me a couple of ridges over from where I scored on opening day last year. This year however, things were different.
Oh, the turkeys were still there to be sure. However only ten minutes after hearing two toms drum on the roost only 75 yards away, the skidders and logging equipment got cranked up and my opening morning was over before it began. Although they were just thinning the timber, the turkey hunting will be over until they get out of that section of woods. With skidders literally screaming and roaring, any turkeys in the surrounding woods were sure to high tail it to parts unknown.
Successful hunt
A few local hunters have already scored on turkeys however. Just last weekend I joined Gary Barber and Lamar Arrington on a hunt in south Lauderdale County. Lamar gave Gary some instructions on where to go and pointed him in the direction of some gobblers that had already been sounding off on previous days.
Lamar had scored on a nice bird the previous day and I was to join him to hunt another bird. As we made our way into the woods before daylight, it wasn't long before the birds started to chirp. From our vantage point on top of the hill, one could hear for quite a ways off.
As an owl hooted way off in the distance, I suddenly heard the distinctive sound of a mature gobbler's lusty gobble. First he gobbled once, then twice, and finally three times. He was really cranking it out. Alas, he was far off in the distance, perhaps three quarters of a mile across the hollow.
Barber scores
As we continued to listen for a nearby bird's gobble, we heard the boom of a shotgun off in Barber's direction. "That sounds like Gary got one," I remarked to Arrington. Some 25 minutes later we found out the truth as we made it back to the truck. There by our truck sat a triumphant hunter with a glow that is only detectable when a turkey hunter has scored.
It turns out that Barber had heard a couple of turkeys gobbling. When he started towards one of the gobblers, he spooked several hens out of the trees. Now that might sound bad, and in some instances it could be. However it turned out to be just the ticket for Barber.
Shortly after he set up on the old tom, the big bird couldn't help himself, perhaps thinking that the hens were already down there waiting for him. Following a few short, sweet pleadings from the veteran turkey hunter, the bird flew down and promptly came into Barbers view and sights. Seconds later the hunt was history and Barber had notched another long beard to his trophy list.
It doesn't happen that way very often, but on this day Barber took full advantage of an old tom that was desperate for some female companionship. By the looks of the long beard and the sharp spurs, that old bird had probably fought off his share of suitors while courting the local hens. As the king went out with a bang, another turkey hunting memory was made and three local hunters will forever be a part of a successful spring hunt.
