Kelly’s Legion

This spring, several of Tom’s “legionnaires” joined forces in Mississippi to help him achieve his goal: “Yelp up and kill one more turkey.”

Mike Jones, Mississippi Department of Tourism, provided the plane ticket and hunting license. Tom could hunt anywhere, but he regularly comes back to hunt in Mississippi. Aubrey Lucas hosted Tom on several of his prior trips to Mississippi and welcomed Tom for dinner and lodging again. When I asked Tom what he wanted to drink — Coke, Diet Coke, Gatorade or water — he said, “Beer or bourbon … and it doesn’t matter which brands.”

Phillip Meredith brought Rare Breed Wild Turkey Bourbon, which is appropriate for Tom. Jimmy Primos took Tom into “The RANGE” for practice shots to choose between a 12 gauge, or the 20 gauge that Jimmy recommended. Tom said he was only going to shoot at a turkey once, so he insisted on the BIG gun.

Tom discussed loss of habitat and the decline in the turkey population with Lynn Posey, executive director of the MDWFP. After 83 seasons of turkey hunting, Tom remains a strong supporter of following the science and the recommendations of biologists like Adam Butler with the MDWFP. But, Tom thinks there has been enough research about where hens nest or spend the winter. He wanted to know where gobblers will be in the spring!

For three days, five-time World Champion caller Preston Pittman tried to call up a bird for Tom, but the birds didn’t care about Preston’s trophies. Describing Preston’s calling, Tom said, “He ain’t human!” Even with about 125 years of turkey hunting experience on their side, Tom and Preston couldn’t get a bird to cooperate.

Brian Pearson, with Beaver Dam Lodge, was a gracious host, and Ms. Birdie made us all gain weight, but there was no dead turkey to cook. Dan Garnand gave all the participants an exclusive “Fan Club” box call, custom made by Preston.

On Tom’s last day, he hunted with Med Palmer with the MDWFP. Med rarely carries a gun. He uses a bamboo tube call he made 38 years ago when he was 12. Tom yelped first, but, when he heard Med, he whispered, “You call.”

Ken Boone couldn’t join us on the hunt, but he loaned Tom his golf cart, which was essential. Stevie McLemore scouted landowner Coulon Jumonville’s “Ponderosa” and found birds in an idyllic setting, just like those Tom describes in his books – a beautiful hardwood bottom between two stands of recently thinned pines, with a food plot barely visible in the distance. As we sat down, a bird gobbled about 200 yards away. Tom got seated while Med moved back 20 yards and began calling. Two gobblers approached. When they came into range, Tom pulled the trigger. No shooting stick. No blind. No decoy. He just turned gently to his right, raised his gun to his shoulder and BOOM! A core group of the legion had come together to see its efforts culminate in the colonel’s spring harvest, a bird with a 9½-inch beard and 1-inch spurs.

Tom had three shells with him. Preston had given Tom one Apex 12-gauge, 3-inch, No. 9 shell, and that was all he needed. Med and I may have been more excited than Tom. We both had tears in our eyes. The 94-year-old poet laureate of turkey hunting had done it again, and his words afterward rang true.

“It ain’t all about the killin’, it’s about the huntin’,” Tom said. He’s already planning on next year’s hunt.

Scooter Whatley videoed the entire hunt for MDWFP/Mississippi Outdoors. While Tom’s hunt took place, Jimmy Whittington had scouted for a Plan B. Ron Seiss, MDWFP (retired), was Tom’s “go-for.” Leonard Bentz, MDWFP commissioner, hosted Tom’s celebratory steak dinner, while they discussed predator control and game laws.

If there was ever a group effort, it was this one. They did not form a complete legion, but it was pretty damn close.