Published: April 11, 2008 12:18 am            

Tough tumble with a turkey

Opening day of turkey season found Johnny and Hunter Cumberland in the woods locked up in battle with a wise old gobbler. Try as they might, they couldn’t get the old tom to come any closer than 75 yards. He had hung up, as wise old birds do many times.

Needless to say, young Hunter was ready to go back and try the turkey again. Alas, work and school prevented the duo from returning as soon as they would have liked. After much pleading and cajoling, Hunter finally convinced his dad to go back for the gobbler.

After arriving at their chosen area shortly before dawn, they quickly positioned themselves in a spot where they could hear any gobbler for quite a ways. Suddenly, not one, but two gobblers announced their presence. One was approximately 250 yards away, with the other one perhaps a hundred yards further.

Quickly assessing the situation, the elder Cumberland decided to set up in a green field that usually served as a strutting ground for the mature birds. After sending out a few light come hither yelps, the gobbler cut off Cumberland with thunderous gobbles.



Silent treatment



Cumberland went silent and that’s all the enraged gobbler could stand. Unexpectedly, the giant bird pitched out of the roost tree and sailed over their heads right out into the middle of the field. “As soon as the gobbler hit the ground he went into a full strut!!” exclaimed Johnny Cumberland.

The coal black monarch then began his strutting, pirouetting, dance of love that he hoped would end with a date with the hen that he was about to meet.

Hunter had his shotgun up on his shoulder as the bird approached his shooting line up. Unexpectedly the gobbler stopped a mere five feet short of Hunter’s preferred shooting lane. “The gobbler ran his neck up high as he saw something he didn’t like,” related Cumberland. “I called and he gobbled, but he turned to leave. As soon as he turned and started leaving, Hunter swung and shot at the gobbler and rolled him at 20 yards.”

The bird wasn’t done, however, and got to his feet and sped away. At 60 yards Johnny got up and shot at the bird as well. As the gobbler ran he would fall, roll, flop and run, before disappearing into the woods.



Not done yet



As the Cumberland’s entered the woods they spotted the turkey flopping, rolling and going uphill as fast as he could. “I ran about 75 yards and caught up with him, but I could hardly breathe,” related Johnny. Finally the gobbler ran out of sight and hope was quickly disappearing.

We made one final loop and I saw the turkey stretched out on the ground just lying there,” related an obviously relieved hunter. However, the bird wasn’t done yet, as it jumped up and started back downhill at their approach.

With no gun in hand, or shells to boot, it was now or never and Cumberland sprinted 15 yards and dove on the gobbler. At that the bird erupted in an enraged fury and they both went into a roll with wings flapping, spurs flying and feathers going everywhere. The two were locked in a fierce battle!

Cumberland finally prevailed and got the best of the gobbler, but not before sustaining a few minor abrasions and a wounded pride. During the spring gobbler season things go awry very often, but this was a first for the Cumberland’s. One thing’s for sure, this gobbler and his battle to the death will live on in the Cumberland’s memory forever!

        

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