by Sam Brocato, Executive Director Partners of the Cherokee National Forest
posted May 3, 2008
) Photo by Sam Brocato "The Man" with an awesome Cherokee National Forest turkey. |
The morning began at 3:00am Knoxville, TN time, with two cups of coffee, the required camo clothing apparel, the straight shooting 12 ga. Beretta, and he is headed south to Cleveland to meet up with a local guide known for the endless relentless pursuit of Eastern T-birds for the last 36 years in 13 different states, with the goal to complete a Dixie Grand Slam. (a gobbler in all the southern states).
At 5:05am both are headed east to the mountains of the Cherokee NF. At 6:05am, both are anxious and hyped-up for the relentless pursuit. At 6:20, Guide elevates himself on an old stump, barking imitation screams of a barred owl.
6:24AM, a gobble is heard in the dark horizon and both pursuers are pointing in slightly different directions. One more owl call and Guide has the strategy in the making, as he and the Man are making medicine on ascending the lead ridge to the top of Courtship alley.
"Gobbler in the dark" is east of a huge hollow, but within striking distance of a flat top secondary ridge about 20 minutes away. Guide knows its a strut zone...this flat top lead receives the earliest God given sunlight rays of any morning in the south and it is courtship alley for turkeys.
Guide stops in the middle of the climb to share with the Man, that all things surrounding us and that can be seen are made by HIM. You can hear the voice of God speaking. It makes me tremble!. At 6:45am, T-bird is in Courtship alley and answers my owl call. At 6:55, the Man's back is against a good size chestnut oak with Beretta in the fire in the hole mode. Guide lays some hot cutts from the Buster Faidley's 1995 glass over slate and the mountain monarch answers. The time of truth is upon the Man, the King Kong of this watershed is in full strut at 60 yards in a descend mode and Guide soundly advises, let-em get closer. At 30 yards, the words of wisdom are spoken, "take-em" but no report from the Man. At 25 yards and 7 bells, this fine, two 9" bearded, 1 1/4" spurred limb/bridge-rail hanging Southern Appalachian Eastern Gobbler should have stayed in Courtship alley cause he now belongs to the Man. The Man looks Guide in the eye and asks, "that's it"?
Over a prepared breakfast in-the-woods of oatmeal with raisins and orange slices, the Man gives thanks to our Lord for the fine morning celebrated in His creation and blessings for the food prepared. This Man is Dr. Gary Schneider, Associate Dean (retired) and Professor Emeritus, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at The University of Tennessee,Knoxville-TN and I recognize him as a "Hero".
Summary: the picture attached shows one beard as the other was severed by shot and is in the Man's left coat pocket. Also that is a East Brainerd Lumber Company hunting cap, compliments of Frank Kinser, Vice President of Partners.
Worth?.........Priceless. I love this game.
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