Tommy Slick No Guns

[redbeard]

This ageless bird must have become the cockadoodledoo of the walk once the bosses had taken the stairway to heaven, for surely he’d never been boss enough to whup another gobbler.

Funny name is Tommy Slick No Guns, but he got that handle due to being slick legged. My first gobbler I’ve taken without spurs. You could see where they should have came in but he definitely was never gonna have any.

Fairly quick hunt, unlike most; saw, went and conquered is the story line. Using woodsmanship and the lay of the land, I was able to get within 35 yards of him, unbeknownst to me. I was so close that he surprised me when, after him hearing me “feed” in the leaves, he strutted and fanned right in front of me. Brush prevented a shot at that time, so I remained motionless. He did his stuff for a bit and then went out of sight.

Quietly as possible, I found a sorry setup, but best available, got my knife out and cut away some brush and called softly. Feeding clucks on a MadHatter Calls 3-Track player with “The Lucky Lady” peg, given to me by my good friend Dave Constantine, along with some soft yelps from a Pine Box made and given as a gift from another buddro of the tenth, Jerry “Dad” White of Dad’s Custom Box Calls, sent sweet music to the ears of this beautiful struttin’ tom.

A gobble let me know he was interested and continued soft talk was returned with the magnificent drum of the wild turkey. Love that stuff. I let things get real quiet for a while. After an hour of no calling and no sounds from my quarry, I tired of the sorry setup.

I chanced a creep, more like a crawl, up the wood line to a small knoll just 10 yards away. I hoped to glimpse him feeding in the field or give it up if he was gone. Lady Luck had kept him interested I suppose for he was still out there.

Leaf scratchin’ and a few beats of a wing got his attention again and he slowly and warily came my way. ‘Twas a good setup this time, with a little cover in and around me, I was invisible 100 percent. Mossy Oak camo glasses hid my beggin’ eyes and ol’ No Gun’s never saw it coming when I yelped on a Steve Kinder diaphragm to stretch his neck high and mighty.

Fortune from the Good Lord above, good friends like Dave and Dad, and a rare invite from a cuz-n-law to hunt his place near Op-U-Lik-it allowed this fine pretty boy die fine at 35 yards from my gun. 18.6 lbs and 9 inch rope. Hope-U-Lik-It cuz I did!

[hutchies]

Gotta love them ole boys that just keep coming back looking for that hen. Nice story.......strange that he had no spurs though.

[huntinguide]

nice bird, and some fine looking calls

[huntn4bucks]

Me like. Congrats Dean!

[okbowman]

Very nice, congrats!

[M00N]

Congratulations!

[elnor]

I love the Lucky Lady striker.

I've been wanting to make or buy one with a WWII nose art sorta design...that'll be a great project after Strutter's cape is hung and I finish a couple of wingbone calls I'm planning to put together.

[vagobbln]

Congrats redbeard. Killed one a few years back just like that one. Full fan, 10 inch beard and a rollin' gobble, but no spurs whatsoever. Kinda like humans I guess, some are endowed - some aren't.

[Bruce Schmeck]

Another great account of Redbeard sending ol' Tommy-three-toes to Longbeard Valhalla.

Jerry White does make some fine box calls. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago at the Turkeyrama or Buckarama in Perry, nice gentleman. He offered to let me bring a call home with me to PA and send him a check (didn't have the money for it on me). I declined but did appreciate the offer.

[Rhino]

Sure do like it Dean. Congrats on #3.

Never kilt a no spurred bird but had a buddy that did while I was hunting a different area on the same property with him. His bird had over a 10" thick beard but never was gonna have a spur.

[Covehnter]

Great Story and gorgeous longbeard!

What a coincidence, i called a bird in for my buddy yesterday morning before church. . . . had a 11 1/8 inch beard and NO spurs. . . just little pink circles where they were suppost to be. I'm posting the pics and story when i get away from school here in a bit.

[wtnhunt]

Nice bird redbeard. Congratulations.

[hoyt_hunter]

congratulations dean, way to go

[drkillemquick]

Congrats Redbeard, quick question about the sunglasses, how do you like them. I have been hesitating about dropping the 50 bucks to pick up a pair and was wondering if they were worth it. Thanks, congrats again on a great bird!!!

[redbeard]

Depending on the light, they are either good or bad. In the wrong light, you see a screen effect, other times they are clear as a bell. I paid 39.95 via an internet supplier.