This book is a collection of stories written by one of America's most traveled and experienced turkey hunters; a man who has taken multiple toms from 49 states. Such a feat didn't come easily, so you might expect these pages to fairly drip with wise words of wisdom and sage advice on how to hunt those wily, elusive birds...and they do. However, "Doc" Weddle didn't write an instruction manual. Instead, he takes the reader on a trip down memory lane to recall exciting hunts which helped shape him into becoming the true "Turkey Man" that he is today. Novice or veteran readers alike will undoubtedly gain valuable knowledge here, but the author is first and foremost a storyteller, and he has written this book simply to entertain his audience in a manner reminiscent of outdoorsmen standing around campfires and sharing the colorful details of their hunts with cohorts and companions.
The tales told between these covers will propel the reader across every geological region of the United States; from the hot, humid, jungle habitat of southern Florida, to the arid, cactus-laden plains of the desert southwest, and right on up into the snow-capped mountain states...plus, nearly everywhere else, in between! Whether Doc is chasing after the Rio Grande, Osceola, Eastern, or Merriam's subspecies, these accounts are bound to strike a chord with fellow turkey hunters, for they come straight from the heart of a man who has literally designed a life around hunting turkeys all spring long, and wherever he chooses to go. Additionally, there is an element of awe factor involved here, since just about every one of these tales take place on public lands. Few people would be willing to endure the hardships inherent in following such a difficult path, but our author prides himself on persevering through adverse conditions, and excelling in tough environments where others tread lightly, if at all. The reality is that he's been doing this very thing for over three decades, and never returns home without new and exciting stories to tell. His cooler usually contains fresh turkey meat, as well.
These accounts of pursuing the "poor man's big game" are filled with all the joys and jubilations that come from a remarkable lifetime spent afield, but they're also spiced with the problems and occasional heartbreaks which inevitably occur during any difficult quest pursued. Exciting and fascinating encounters with wildlife (both animal, and human) seem to be a regular occurrence on the long and winding path of Doc's travels, and anyone who shares his same passions for early morning sunrises spent communicating with America's Grandest Gamebird is bound to enjoy reading this book.
Weddle, Tom Doc: - Tom "Doc" Weddle is a carpenter from Bloomington, Indiana. Infected by the turkey hunting bug decades ago, he is a man completely unable to resist the siren song of the wild turkey's mesmerizing gobble, and any springtime morning will likely find him in hot pursuit of his favorite gamebird. Unwilling to compromise those glorious months of March, April, or May by doing anything besides hunting, this fellow has long been one of the most die-hard turkey chasers in the nation. In fact, he stands tall amongst his peers by accounting for multiple U.S. Slams (the harvesting of a wild turkey in every state except Alaska). Even more impressive is that Doc hunts without benefit of guides or outfitters, and the vast majority of his exploits take place on public lands. It won't hurt his feelings one bit if you call this guy a turkey hunting fanatic! The art of turkey hunting is unlike any other outdoor endeavor, primarily in how much communication occurs directly between the participants. Oh sure, there are a few other game animals with which we converse (waterfowl, elk, etc.), but it is the intimate relationship established between hunter and hunted, coupled with the inherent wariness of the intended game itself, which makes turkey hunting (and thus, turkey hunters) so unique. Plus, the mere sound of the wild turkey's gobble and drumming create such a groundswell of excitement and anticipation in the hunter's heart, that there is simply nothing else with which it can be compared. Our author has seen just about everything during a lifetime spent in the great outdoors, but it wasn't until he began hunting wild turkeys as a young adult that he discovered the pinnacle of breathless excitement and overpowering emotions which occur regularly during any turkey hunt, and the sport immediately became an integral part and parcel of what this man is. People can generally control their innermost passions. Not Doc. Turkey hunting is much more than just a pastime for him. He eats it, breathes it, loves it, and lives it. Nothing in this world brings him as much enjoyment and peace of mind as an early morning dawn on some isolated hardwood ridge, listening to the thundering gobbles of wild turkeys. That is when the stars all align for this "Turkey Man," and that's when he feels most alive! Turkey hunters taken as a whole are generally a noble breed, and Tom Weddle is most assuredly cut straight from cloth particular to this brand of rugged outdoorsman. In reading his first book, I think that you will come to share (or, at the very least, to better understand) the fires which fuel every turkey hunter's soul.
