John's Journal...

Hunting Turkeys – For the Love of the Addiction with John E. Phillips

A Turkey Named Ole Slick and Joe Smith’s Song That Lasts a Lifetime and More

Click to enlargeEditor’s Note: I was bitten by the turkey bug more than 45-years ago, and the addiction was so strong that I not only couldn’t shake it, I couldn’t imagine ever wantiClick to enlargeng to try. I still feel the same way. There’s a certain magic whether you take the turkey or the turkey tricks you that is every bit as alluring as the sirens’ call to the Greek sailors in the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” Each spring, I get as giddy as a child on Christmas Eve and as excited as a bride about to walk down the aisle. I hope that maybe you can understand and enjoy this addiction to chasing turkeys as much as I have formost of my life.

There’s always one turkey hunt that stands out in your mind, regardless of the number of years you’ve hunted turkeys and the number of turkey hunts you’ve had. One of the strangest hunts I ever had was the hunt for Ole Slick. Once again, I was hunting with Joe Smith (see Day 2), and we hunted this turkey for three consecutive mornings. Each morning, the turkey would roost in a different tree and fly down to a different field. Finally, on the morning of the fourth hunt, Joe Smithand I met for breakfast before the hunt, and Smith told me, “John, I had a vision last night. In that vision, I saw you taking Ole Slick. After you had Ole Slick on your shoulder, and we were coming out of the woods, the Good Lord gave me a song to sing to you.” I asked Smith to tell me how he saw us he taking Ole Slick and the song the Good Lord had given him. “I can’t tell you right now, but once you take Ole Slick, I’ll give you the song.” True to Joe’s vision, we took Ole Slick. Then when Joe started singing, the hair stood-up on the back of my neck. Joe’s wife was a preacher, aClick to enlargend he sang in the church choir.Click to enlarge The song he sang was so rich and pure that it almost brought tears to my eyes. Now, I could tell you the story, but I believe you’ll enjoy hearing the story more from Joe Smith and hearing the song he gave me as we started walking out of the woods with Ole Slick slung over my shoulder. Check out the video to get the rest of the story, and be sure and watch the video in its entirety because I believe, like me, you’ll really get a thrill and a blessing from the song Joe Smith sings.

Today's Video Clip

Tomorrow: How to Turkey Hunt after the Shot with David Hale, Preston Pittman and Will Primos


Check back each day this week for more about "Hunting Turkeys – For the Love of the Addiction with John E. Phillips"

Day 1: Turkey Hunting Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This
Day 2: Pulling a Gobbler That’s Leaving Back at White Oak Plantation with Joe Smith
Day 3: A Turkey Named Ole Slick and Joe Smith’s Song That Lasts a Lifetime and More
Day 4: How to Turkey Hunt after the Shot with David Hale, Preston Pittman and Will Primos
Day 5: Turkey Hunting Means Agony, Ecstasy and Sometimes Giggles with Larry Norton and Dr. Johnny Lanier

 

Entry 555, Day 3