This was a fall hunt with my turkey dog at Fort Cambell Kentucky military base....I don't recall the area number.
A fellow from Virginia had came to hunt with me and Buster a few days....he had been asking him to make him a box call for several years. I didn't know when or if I would ever get around to it so I suggested that he get a Turpin copy from Irving Whit...I had seen that Whit had made some exact copies of a an original Tom Turpin box that this collector owned and they lOoked really nice.
When Earl and I met up at the hotel he couldn't wait to show me his new boxes....he had bought three of them. I don't really like to critique another callmakers work but Earl insisted I give him my thoughts.
I told him to play them....then I stroked all 3....I remarked that you might get by hunting with this one.
Next morning we were at our area and we worked the roads trying to locate a flock (get them to talk) while they were on the roost....no such luck.
After a time we took out walking it was time for Buster to do his thing.....a short time later about two hundred yards ahead of us Buster cut loose barking and squealing. We got up with Buster and he helped us find the flush site.
It was a long set....we had few turkeys answer and a couple that came in silent that we didn't get a shot at. After several hours my azz was getting sore and I suggested we go get something to eat....
We couldn't get signed into a different area so we came back to finish out the day.....I wasn't too keen on this area because there was a lot of hidden razor wire in the area.
I kept Buster leashed as we walked in I told Earl he could '''help me out with the calling some this afternoon if he wanted to".
I moved about 100 yards west of our initial stand....there was a small filled in pond in the woods I saw a nice spot with two trees with a foot tall log to set up Buster behind with the pond at our backs. I told Earl we're going to sit here....I told Earl pick you out a tree about 20 or 30 yards to the west I'll stand right here until you're situated so well be sure no one gets in a line of fire.
Earl took a little while he finally sat down.....I was still standing before I said down I pulled out my Maple and Ebony box call and hit her a lick...a turkey immediately answered back I called again and they were closer I figured I best get ready....I sat down called again and they were coming....I popped my diaphragm call in and started working them over pretty good there was two of them and they were moving a little west of me towards Earl just out of sight. I'm thinking Earl is going to get the shot.
About that time Earl hit his new Whit box call....the turkeys did an about face and were leaving town....I tried to turn them around to no avail they kept talking while getting further and further away.
After a time the light is fading....I stand up and whistle. Earl see me and gathers his things up....as I'm standing there I'm thinking I ought tell Earl that pond would be a dam good place for that box call....when he got over to me I didn't do it.
When Earl gets over to I asked him....why did you start calling on that box dang thing sounded like a gOose.
Earl pulled the call out of his vest looked at it and pitched it over his shoulder into the pond.....I laughed and told him that's what I was thinking he should do with it....I remember telling Earl you should have could have sold to a Yankee they wouldn't know the difference.
We had good laugh....went and ate supper at Richard Hudsons house had a few laughs about the hunt.
Two days later we were forced back into that area....we fished the call out of the pond and Earl gave the "pond call" to Richard Hudson and a box call maker was bOrn
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I told it just for yOu Donny
