I finally broke the ice on 2020 turkey season this past Monday. My oldest son and I got on this bird late Saturday morning and he put on one heck of a show but never would close the gap to killable range. Since I knew he'd probably be in the same area, Monday I came in from the opposite side and got on the same ridge he had been on Saturday hoping he'd come back to his comfort zone. I sat down and around 600 I heard him drumming in the tree. I had unknowingly gotten withing 100 yards of his roost tree! When he started gobbling and daylight started breaking, I could see him on the limb. I made 3 clucks with my Ben Lee Super Hen trough slate call that I bought as a teenager and he answered back. He stayed in the tree drumming and gobbling for about another 35-40 minutes. I could see him walking up and down the limb like a cat and he even hopped to another limb and back to the original one presumably trying to get a look at where this hen was he was hearing. I pulled out another call, one I never use but always take with me for sentimental reasons. It's tiny Ben Lee slate call that I bought back in the late 1970's at the World Championship Turkey Calling Contest when it was held at the Montgomery Civic Center. Ben Lee won that night so I used my allowance bought my first turkey call. It's a tiny little call and makes a higher pitched call than I normally use, but I decided to go ahead and hit him again with 3 more soft clucks. He gobbled right back and that was it. He pitched down in my direction and actually landed in gun range but a rise over the hill prevented me from seeing him. I flipped the safety off and waited for him to crest the little ridge. In just a minute or two I saw that white head as he came over the hill and at 23 steps I let the ole Winchester 1300 send some TSS his way. Bird #1 was down and man, what a rush! It just never gets old!! I thank the Lord for letting me see another turkey season and to kill another fine bird.

I tried to post up 30 seconds of video of him gobbling on the limb but evidently that's not possible with Imgur. At least not with sound. Anyway, here are the post hunt pics!


He had just stepped over this dead log. Last step he ever took.


Pics of the old calls that fooled him.


Post hunt reflections and a good smoke enjoying the moment!


Dr. B

Congrats doc! Great story and pics 👍🏻

I’m digging the gear Benjy. Congrats!

Good deal. Congratulations on a nice bird!

Boom

I have some of those same calls, Doc. They sadly never leave my vest as I am worried I will lose them. Great photo's and congrats on the bird.

Great story, great bird!

Congrats!

Great Story! Congrats man!! Btw...I'll give it to you...you are the original post smoke bird guy! Pinhoti has only been copying with their victory cigars compared to your pipe! Love it!

Congrats Benjy!

I remember you looking for the striker that went with it a few years ago

Awesome. Congrats! My Dad has both of those calls. Always thought about slipping one in my vest one morning.

Congrats man! Great story and pictures

Congrats!

I was just about to say....Celebratory smoke before it was cool!

Have to say pretty cool doc

I looked everywhere for one of the original clear plexiglass strikers with the green funnel top that came with that Super Hen but never found one. That’s a black Primos plexiglass striker but it still sounds awesome!

Dr. B

Congrats! Cool story and fantastic photos.

I’ve got a 1970’s Super Hen myself. I’d have sworn it came with a corncob/cedar striker.

Orion, mine had a clear plexiglass striker that was tapered at the tip and had a dark green funnel on top. I lost the original one but was put in contact with a lady (seems it was someone still handling Ben’s turkey calling business after he died) who mailed me a replacement for $5. I remember talking to her on the phone since this was before internet was popular. I mailed her a check and she sent the striker which I eventually lost it too. 😡

Dr. B

Good story bamaeyedc. Love the old calls. My granddad carried those exact same 2 calls. I hope to get them from my uncle one day since I'm his only descendant that hunts . They would mean the world to me. It's the simple things...

Awesome story and kill!!
May the good lord bless you with
many more!