Some of the best things about turkey hunting have nothing to do with the birds—and everything to do with the people you meet because of it.
Over the years, these little turkey calls we build at Houndstooth have introduced me to some truly fine folks, many of whom I now call close friends. This story is about one of those friendships, a cold spring morning in Mississippi, and a hunt that ended with a big ol’ gobbler—and a Tennessee fan who made me eat my words. 🦃
Story time....
You know these little turkey callers we make have brought some awesome folks into my presence and I am here to tell ya, I have made some lifelong close friends through Houndstooth.
One in particular is Tyler Davis: a hardcore turkey hunter + TN Vols fan which makes it even better since I am located right here in the home of the Crimson Tide!
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get Tyler to come down from TN to hunt in MS at my friend's farm. I told Tyler if you show up, I will do my best TN version of “GO VOLS”...
He had a tight schedule, and the weather was looking horrible. So, I was betting against the odds that I wouldn’t have to do that😂.
Well... He called my bluff and came rolling into camp at 11:03 pm! I won’t make that bet again but being a man of my word, I mustered it up.
Back to the hunt!
Me and friend Chris decided to take Tyler down to what we call "the Flatwoods" which consisted of pine plantation and some nasty swamps.
We had a lead on 3 longbeards ready to go to work the next morning. When we woke up it was cold, and I mean deer-hunting cold for the south! 🦌
The perfect morning for our three suspects to do their thing... We slid down through the pines to a food plot that had some hardwoods out the back of it that the turkeys historically liked to roost in.
We got hidden as best we could in the thinned pines, and as daylight broke, a turkey gobbled dead in front of us... Then two more gobbled to the left about a 125 yrds apart.
I gave them a few yelps on the All Pro 3 Reed and the turkeys to the left took the lead in gobbling. The two turkeys to the left flew down first coming steadily then the turkey in front flew down shortly after and they met each other in the road.
I could see the dark figures as they gobbled out in front of us and strutted. A couple soft clucks or two was enough for them to slide our way to make a pass at about 35 yrds.
The lead turkey and the back turkey turned to the right and the middle turkey split to the left and Tyler pulled the trigger.
Tyler’s gobbler hit the ground and the other two didn’t know what happened and went to gobbling and running at the same time lol!
Both in excitement we high fived each other and I looked at my watch it was 6:53 am.
We gathered our things and walked over to the big old MS bird laying there... I thought to myself "well dang, it’s over we all got to head back home."
Sometimes I get to feeling a bit selfish on these quick hunts... Yes, I am thankful for them but dang... Ain’t nothing like playing cat and mouse with one till on up in the morning!
It was a quick hunt with two friends that the wild turkey was responsible for bringing all of us together.
I am sure Tyler’s and my adventures will pick back up somewhere in the turkey woods soon!
Whether it’s a quick hunt or a drawn-out hunt, be thankful you're out in the outdoors chasing the wild turkey! 🦃
Just for my TN buddy ~ Go Vols!
It’s funny how a simple little turkey call can bring folks together from across state lines and different backgrounds—and how a turkey hunt can seal a friendship better than just about anything else.
We may pull for different teams come football season, but out there in the woods, all that matters is the hunt and the camaraderie. I’m thankful for friends like Tyler, and thankful for mornings like this one, quick or not.
If you’re headed out this season—whether it’s with old friends or new ones—don’t forget that sometimes the best part of the hunt is who’s sitting next to you under the pines.
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See y’all in the woods,
~ Lyle