Moving In For the Kill

EDITOR'S NOTE: My good friend, Sherry Crumley, the wife of Jim Crumley, the creator of Trebark, a longtime, avid turkey hunter, a member of the board of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) as well as wildlife activist in their home state of Virginia, remembers her favorite turkey hunt this week with Bo Pitman, the lodge manager at White Oak Plantation in Tuskegee, Alabama, as he helps her go after a wily tom.

"Miss Sherry, the turkeys are 30 to 40 yards in front of us on the other side of a little knoll," Bo explained. "We need to crawl about 10 yards to get to that elm tree. Just follow me. Move only when I move."

I watched as Bo belly-crawled on his hands and knees through briars and dried cow manure. As I raised my eyes slightly, I saw Bo crouched over, sitting with his legs folded underneath him.

"I see the turkeys at 35 yards," he reported quietly. "But I believe we've got to get within 20 yards of the birds for you to take the shot." Bo motioned for me to move beside him while he observed the turkeys. He instructed me to, "stay low to the ground, get your knees under you, hold on to the tree, and pull yourself up so you can see the turkeys."

After getting into position with my legs under me, I spotted a gobbler's tail fanned no more than 20 yards from me. "Put your hands on this elm tree," Pitman coached. "Slide your head up beside the tree as if you're a part of it."

The tree had a diameter of only about 8 inches. To remain as close to the tree as possible, I put my gun between my knees, held on to the tree and slowly pulled myself up to enable me to watch the turkeys.

"We both need to straighten up at the same time to see the turkeys," Bo said. "When I say, 'Whoa,' you freeze. When I tell you, 'Okay,' continue straighting up." After 10 whoas and okays, I could see the turkeys coming to us as I sat on my knees, half-bent over and trying to remain motionless. Every muscle in my body felt knotted. Then I heard scratching 10 yards to my left. I slowly cut my eyes toward the sound and saw four hens scratching in the leaves. I knew we couldn't move. The hens had us penned down. If we changed our positions at all, we not only would spook them but also the gobblers.

For more information about White Oak Plantation, call (334) 727-9258, or, visit the website www.whiteoakplantation.com. To learn more about Trebark camo, go to www.trebark.com.

TOMORROW: HENS TO HER LEFT, JAKES TO HER RIGHT