Dean hunter’s gobbler fever

By Mike Giles

April 25, 2008 12:45 am

— Peering down his gun barrel, Dean Hunter waited with rapt attention for the trophy gobbler that was about to step into his sights. Just a few more steps and the old bird would be history.
More than a few years back J. D. Doerner made a trip to Idaho with a friend on an elk hunt. During that trip Doerner made the acquaintance of Dean Hunter and the two began a friendship that would last a lifetime. That first trip eventually sparked Hunter’s interest and desire to tangle with a gobbler after hearing tales of Doerner’s battles.
Doerner joins Hunter out west as often as possible in pursuit of bugling elk. And Hunter travels deep into the heart of Dixie each spring in search of the king of the southern woods, the wary eastern wild turkey gobbler. The bond that formed between the two hunting friends has strengthened over the years and they enjoy the pursuit of their game no matter where they may be.
Last Saturday Doerner scouted out a spot that he had been saving for Hunter for quite some time. Doerner had harvested a gobbler on the spot the first year he leased it and then let it lie for awhile. In the meantime he planted Mossy Oak’s best clover mix to attract and sustain both deer and turkeys. During his impromptu scouting trip he found plenty of turkey sign and even gobbler sign.

Separate setups

Arriving at their destination last Tuesday morning they decided to split up after they didn’t hear a bird gobble on the roost. Hunter set up along the clover patch and began calling with his custom made Albert Paul box call. The box had been a gift from Doerner back in 2003.
“I tried a few of the other calls but couldn’t make them work,” stated Hunter. It didn’t take him long to become proficient with the Albert Paul box call, however.
After setting up near the clover patch Hunter began working his magic with the box call and sending out sweet come hither pleadings to any gobbler within ear shot. Before long he was rewarded as two birds came into the patch looking for the hen. Alas they were only a hen and a young Jake.
A short time later Dean heard a strange noise coming from something approaching the patch. As it got closer Hunter finally realized that a gobbler was steadily headed his way and clucking very loudly all the while as he looked for a willing hen.

Time to act

As the bird strode into the sights of Hunter, the veteran outdoorsman centered the bead of the Mossberg shotgun on the gobbler and squeezed the trigger. At the roar of the shotgun report the turkey rolled at a distance of 50 steps, before getting to his feet and running away.
Doerner wasn’t discouraged as he found a couple of piles of feathers. “Don’t think you missed that turkey even though he ran off,” noted Doerner to an obviously disappointed Hunter. After finding two piles of feathers Doerner was sure that the bird was mortally wounded.
After a short search they found the gobbler piled up in a deer trail. “The gobbler had flown about 75 yards and crash landed on the side of the old logging road,” related Doerner. The Mossberg turkey gun was teamed with a load of Remington Hevi Shot 12 gauge Magnums.
Though the wise old gobbler had given them the silent treatment, Hunter had persevered and called the old monarch up silently, save for the clucking that alerted the proud hunter. The trophy tom weighed 18 1/2 pounds and had an 11 inch beard and 1 1/4 inch spurs!

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