Tennessee Turkey Hunting

Lindsay with her 19-pound Tennessee bird.

After several years of successful deer hunting, I had become somewhat bored. Although deer hunting was still a great passion of mine, some part of me wanted something different with more of a challenge. Ironically, soon after my longing for change, a good friend of mine from church introduced me to turkey hunting. After one hunt, although unsuccessful, I knew turkey hunting was the change I had been longing for.

It seemed like forever but the 2008 Tennessee turkey season finally arrived. Opening morning, with great anticipation, I was dressed in my camo with my calls packed and ready. With a 20 gauge shotgun that my friend had loaned me in arm, I settled up against a fallen tree and waited on the sun to emerge.

Like an answered prayer, a loud, dominating gobble disturbed the quiet of the early morning air. Unknowingly, I had settled a mere 50 yards from the gobbler's roosting tree. So, I knew as soon as he hit the ground I would have to shoot quickly. After the winged animal descended from the tall tree top, he began moving down a hill away from me. Quickly, I called softly on my Knight and Hale slate call. Then, all of the sudden, the large strutting bird appeared on the hilltop. At 30 yards I made the shot. The shot was good and my first turkey was on the ground. The bird weighed 19 pounds and sported a 9.5 inch beard with 1 inch spurs. I finished my season with 3 birds harvested with a borrowed shotgun and an excellent call from Knight and Hale.

Special thanks to Harold Knight for sharing his love of true ethical and passionate hunting to others... It was a honor to meet you at the 2009 NWTF expo in Nashville. You are my hunting hero!