I met Karl when I called him around eight years ago and asked him for permission to hunt his property up north by me. Karl was suprised that I called and said anyone man enough to ask permission and not trespass is good by me. He gave me rights to his property for all recreational purposes when he is not around. Since a strong relationship has formed.

Karl is 80+ years old and has two hip replacement surgeries. Last year he stated that he was going to quit deer hunting because it was becoming too difficult. Not wanting to see a man whom loves hunting so much end his hunting career, Sally and I volunteered to track, haul, gut and skin all of his deer if he vowed to stay at it.

Karl called a few weeks ago and said that he was coming up to turkey hunt. Immediately my brain started racking as to how I could get a fellar who cant walk very far a turkey. Out of the 30 or so properties I have too hunt 5 or so provide walking of only 100 yards to prime turkey territory.

Karl and I hunted tuesday.  with no success, worked a few birds early but had none come in. I hunted with sally wednesday and than was back with Karl today. Are first few setups resulting in limited gobbling.

I decided that we would go to a piece I had that had tons of birds. Karl setup facing the north in his Mossy oak lawn chair, due to hip replacements Karl cant get up from the ground. I set up Duane(full mount strutter) behind us in small foodplot in case the birds came from that direction. After about an hour I hear a horn honk on the road about 400 yards away followed by a gobble. I figured the birds were on the road and would eventually show up. After about 10 minutes I hit the call and was hammered by a distant gobble. A little while later the same thing yet a touch closer. I hit the call again and the birds were within 150 yards. Karl stood up and threw the lawn chair outta the way standing behind the tree. I hit the call again and noticed the birds were walking down the two track and would enter the field next to the truck along the swamp to our left.

Karl said I see them on the two track. I hit the call and they gobbled and began coming. One bird of the three came into 15 yards and was a miracle they didnt see us. I myself am wondering why Karl isnt shooting. The bird than somewhat spooked and went to thirty yards. BOOM Karl missed. And the birds walked about 100 yards to the two track and stood there. Karls had tried pulling the trigger earlier but had not fully racked his 835 close and the bird spooked upon him doing so.

In the meantime I can here Karl cussing loudly. LOL This piece of sh1t mossberg, somebodys gonna get a good deal. I told Karl to be quiet as the birds were still strutting. I started calling again and this time gobbling. It was a miracle the birds were coming back. The bird Karl shot at stood back at 50yards as his two twins walked in to investigate Duane. They got to Duane and started pecking at his head. I told Karl to throw his gun up and shoot one, when he threw his gun up they starting walking away BOOM And one of the two flopped.

I have never seen a man so excited as what Karl was. I have never been so relieved as I have never put so much pressure on myself to put a bird in front of someone. Despite his limited mobility, the lawn chair and being blind in one eye we had done it.

It was the most rewarding thing for me to see the excitement in his face and hear it in his voice like a 12 year old. I have never hunted with someone that has appreciated the kill as much as Karl had on this day. The bird was a two year old with a 9 inch beard. 

I have no words... very, very cool!

Congrats!

"You pay your dues for every gobbler" - Denny Gulvas

And to the Turkenator, I got to hear Denny Gulvas in a seminar at the NWTF Convention in Atlanta back in the winter.  Hearing that man call is unbelievable.  I closed my eyes when he would run his diphragm call, and I would have sworn there was a live hen on that stage had I not known otherwise.  Chris Parish was up on stage with him, and every time Denny called, Chris would say something like, "I don't know what I'm doing up here.  What am I supposed to do after that!"  If any of your have never been to theh National Convention, it will be in Nashville next year in February.  Every turkey hunter owes it to themselves to go to that event, at least once!

God Bless,

Cliff

Yeah Doc, Denny is without a doubt one of the greatest callers ever in my opinion... and has an expertise of turkey's, how to hunt turkey's, and turkey calling that many will never in a lifetime accomplish.

Many of today's top competition caller's have been influenced by Denny Gulvas... such as Woodhaven's very own Matt VanCise.

The fact that Chris Parrish (multiple Grand National Senior Champ... Grand National Champion of Champions Champ... multiple U.S. Open Champ... etc.) said that while calling with Denny says a heck of alot in my opinion... even if there were a hint of sarcasm on Chris' part.

I advise anyone who has a chance to speak with Denny Gulvas to do so and to also get ahold of some of his tape's and/or DVD's... IF you don't think you already have a diploma in killing turkey's that is.

I also agree that anyone who has ANY interest in the wild turkey or just plain hunting and calling in general owe's it to his/her self to check out the NWTF Convention... it's a great time and it's like being a kid in a candy store for any turkey lover. 

"You pay your dues for every gobbler" - Denny Gulvas