Rich and I learn about turkeys

This is the first of a two-part humor story about hunting turkeys.

Foreword

This story was written and first appeared in the Columbia Basin Herald in 1992, but the story takes place in the early 1960s before transplanted turkeys took hold and turkey hunting was allowed in Washington State.

Turkey hunters are intriguing people. Each year they slip into clothing which makes them disappear when they enter the forest and try to entice a large bird into shooting range. The camouflage clothing consists of outer pants and shirt or a complete coverall unit.

Some turkey hunters apply ample amounts of facial paint to hide their faces. Others use a head net and a hat for the face disappearing job.

A hunter in search of turkey usually has a variety of calls in his possession. Any one or any combination of the following may be carried by a turkey hunter: The mouth yelper, slate box, tube call, friction call, cedar box and/or a diaphragm call. Some hunters don't use a call other than their mouth to entice a turkey within range.

Turkey hunters need a weapon. I've heard of hunters taking the big birds with .410 shotguns, but the weapon most often seen in the woods is a 10, 12 or 20 gauge. Bowhunting is becoming a popular way to take turkeys.

Rich and I became interested in pursuing wild turkey the fall we turned 16. We read a story about turkey hunting in a national outdoors magazine and became instantly hooked.

"Looks like something we should chase," Rich said. "We need to get all camoed up and go after 'em."

"Yeah, looks challenging," I said. "We could practice our callin' till we sound like real gobblers."

We started our turkey calling practice in July, so we could be in top form for the fall season, as the magazine article said took place each year. We found and purchased an old slate box at a second-hand store.

We were excited about our find and commenced practicing; first outside when we were fishing during the summer, then in my room after the cool weather of fall was upon us.

Rich tried the box and I used my mouth at first. Then Rich gave me the box and he used his mouth. We worked on the various calls that we read about until we were sure we had them right. Dad knocked on my door after five minutes of the first indoor practice.

"You boys OK?" he asked. "Sounds like someone or something is sick in here."

"Yeah, Dad, we're just practicin' our turkey callin'," I said. "Can you help us any?"

Dad entered the room, sat in the bean-bag chair and offered his turkey hunting knowledge.

"They say turkeys are wary birds and hard to hunt," he said.

"If turkey hunting was easy, we wouldn't want to do it," I said.

"Yeah, we don't want it to be easy," Rich said. "We want a challenge."

Dad chuckled and then said, "Where are you guys goin' to hunt?"

Rich looked at me and I looked back. We actually hadn't thought about it.

"Well," I said, "in the forest where the turkeys are."

"There's no turkey hunting in Washington," Dad said. "They hunt turkey back east, but not in Washington."

Well, this news burst our bubble to say the least.

"There's got to be some kind of turkey for us to bag," I said.

"I'll give you a dollar for every turkey you identify between now and Thanksgiving," Dad said confidently.

Next week: Rich and I learn some turkeys don't have feathers.