"Wilmont Willie"
- He wasa boss gobbler that had a deep, resonating and unique gobble. The dam* bird was with hens from day one all the time throughthe end of the season year after year. Once, late in the season, I got near his roost before daylight. He gobbled to a purr, but waited to fly down until his harem gathered below. Once on the ground, he would gobble to my yelps, but the hensled him away from the "competition"as always.
Willie got about 200 yds away, and I staged a gobbler fight - loud purrs gotWillie to leave his harem and he camegobbling every other step in my direction, boy I was ever excited... I was using a slate with two strikers, so no gun in the hand. Then Willieapproached just below me in a hollow, gobblin' his brains out, well within range; I picked up my gun expecting him to peek over the top any second -Willie went quiet as soon as my "fight" went quiet. I kept it up with a few clucks and purrs with the mouth call, the silence was deafening. After a bit of timeWillie finally answered200 yds away, and he continued opening the distance.The monarchdied of old age as far asI knew.
-fsh