“The Old Pro Turkey Hunter” by Gene Nunnery

Has anyone read this book?

Good read.

I have. I really enjoyed it.

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I've read it a few times great book. Really like the last few chapters dealing with the sport and fair play. So many "hunting" turkeys nowadays only care about the kill. Some have no idea there have been a set of rules that have been in place since before 1900 when Charles L Jordan's journal was made into a book. Even now over a hundred years later the game is still the same find a Gobbler call the Gobbler into range no tricks no decoys no blinds. There are hundreds of crutches available to beat the Gobblers God given defenses blinds to beat his sight, decoys to play on his aggressive or breeding instincts. Long range shells to beat his tendency to hang up at a distance when something isn't right. He can and is still hunted by the same set of sporting rules that have been in play for over a hundred years there's just fewer every year that can or will put the effort in to beat the Gobbler on fair terms. The Wild Gobbler is a formidable opponent when hunted without crutches that remove his defenses. It's the same with deer a million dollar industry to try and beat the Whitetails nose if they ever figure it out killing the biggest Buck that ever lived would take zero skill, and what would be the point.

Longbeard1975":2c1qqbxx said:

I've read it a few times great book. Really like the last few chapters dealing with the sport and fair play. So many "hunting" turkeys nowadays only care about the kill. Some have no idea there have been a set of rules that have been in place since before 1900 when Charles L Jordan's journal was made into a book. Even now over a hundred years later the game is still the same find a Gobbler call the Gobbler into range no tricks no decoys no blinds. There are hundreds of crutches available to beat the Gobblers God given defenses blinds to beat his sight, decoys to play on his aggressive or breeding instincts. Long range shells to beat his tendency to hang up at a distance when something isn't right. He can and is still hunted by the same set of sporting rules that have been in play for over a hundred years there's just fewer every year that can or will put the effort in to beat the Gobbler on fair terms. The Wild Gobbler is a formidable opponent when hunted without crutches that remove his defenses. It's the same with deer a million dollar industry to try and beat the Whitetails nose if they ever figure it out killing the biggest Buck that ever lived would take zero skill, and what would be the point.

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Great points LB. Nunnery surely makes one think.

Just curious...how long have you been turkey hunting? How long have you held these positions? Were you taught by someone or pick it up on your own? I think most hunters are in a process of a deepening appreciation of the sport. I know that's the case with me.

Longbeard1975":89rsigpq said:

I've read it a few times great book. Really like the last few chapters dealing with the sport and fair play. So many "hunting" turkeys nowadays only care about the kill. Some have no idea there have been a set of rules that have been in place since before 1900 when Charles L Jordan's journal was made into a book. Even now over a hundred years later the game is still the same find a Gobbler call the Gobbler into range no tricks no decoys no blinds. There are hundreds of crutches available to beat the Gobblers God given defenses blinds to beat his sight, decoys to play on his aggressive or breeding instincts. Long range shells to beat his tendency to hang up at a distance when something isn't right. He can and is still hunted by the same set of sporting rules that have been in play for over a hundred years there's just fewer every year that can or will put the effort in to beat the Gobbler on fair terms. The Wild Gobbler is a formidable opponent when hunted without crutches that remove his defenses. It's the same with deer a million dollar industry to try and beat the Whitetails nose if they ever figure it out killing the biggest Buck that ever lived would take zero skill, and what would be the point.

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I like your style. Good to see there are at least a few of us Turkey Hunters left who still honor a "code" when it comes to hunting Gobblers.

I grew up hunting in Louisiana I've hunted the areas were Charles Jordan hunted before he was killed by a poacher in the early 1900's. I've never owned or used a decoy I learned to hunt Turkeys from my Grandpa and his Grandpa taught him and also hunted before there was a daily limit on Gobblers. I don't buy the excuse of the newer hunters not knowing about the old ways. Pick up a book and put down the phone the "Old School" way was the only way for a long time. The hunting manufacturers were the ones hocking the decoys but they never forced anyone to use or buy them. The "New Age" turkey hunting with fans and blinds and decoys is just the easy way.Anyone that uses the internet to learn how to hunt shouldn't be in the woods with a loaded gun. The same exact techniques and calling strategies layed out in McIlhennys book are still just as useful as they were 100 years ago. I can't help but laugh everytime one of the Utube hero's says something about getting back to the old ways or making it simple. Some of us never left and have been hunting the Gobbler on his terms since we started. Pinhoti project is a perfect example the guy talks about not using blinds and decoys and talks down on a guy sitting on a field edge. 5 years ago this same clown was posting pictures on OlGobbler forum of blinds and decoys talked up fanning and he even referred to a Gobbler as a Thunder rooster, then makes a video trying to act like he's an old school hunter. Maybe the last 3 years are so lol. One of his videos this year he goes on about not calling Turkeys thunder Chickens....I guess Thunder Rooster is somehow better or different than Thunder Chicken? I don't know what is more laughable him switching to old school and thinking no one would remember or him leaving all the decoy,fanning and Thunder chicken posts up all over the internet.

10-4 on that. Owens has just about played himself out. He is a great caller, but even with that, he still has to resort to crawling around on the ground to close the distance on better than 75% of the Gobblers he kills. He may be good, but he still isn't good enough to call them all the way to the gun. Perfect example of what calling to much can lead to a lot of times. A good Turkey Hunter could come in and hunt "behind" him and really kill some Gobblers. Had the opportunity to do just that 3 years ago in The Big Cypress

Longbeard and cow-hunter,
I've come to the "Old School" position myself but it was a process. Long story.
What is the best way to persuade "New School" folk to appreciate and adopt the "Old School" style?
Nunnery in my opinion persuades in a masterful way. You read his stories and before you know it you're on the same page with him.

Personally, I'm not out there to try and persuade anybody. I'm at the point where if the Gobbler was not killed in what I consider a "traditional way", I do not want to even here about it, period. Would not phase me a bit if the population of relocated and transplanted "pets" continue to plummet, which would in turn cause the number of bafoons hunting them to also plummet. I would still be able to find a few pockets of Gobblers to hunt on select public ground, enough to keep me happy till the end of my days.