It has been almost a year since I completed my World Slam on turkeys with my bow. I have given brief stories about each hunt but not really a thorough account of each individual bird. This whole journey started in late March; I remembering getting to the airport and being delayed due to good ole Michigan 10 degree winter weather. After hours waiting in the airports, I reached Orlando, Florida in one piece and 80 degree plus temperatures. I met up with my cameraman Doug and together we headed for Okeechobee. This hunt in Florida for the Osceola turkey was sponsored by Mossy Oak and after a call to Norman Sneed letting him know we had made it, he directed us to where we would be staying while hunting. A few hours later, Doug and I checked in and waited for the rest of our hunting companions to arrive. All of us gathered at the ranch that we would be hunting and shot our guns and my bow to make sure all weapons were dead on. I was, however, very nervous and practiced poorly. I kept thinking this could not be a good sign. As it grew dark, gobbling Toms sounded off in the distance. This relaxed me a little and even got me excited for what was to come. Norm introduced me to the man that would be calling for me the next morning. It was none other than Bill Zearing, creator and owner of Cody Calls. We spent the remainder of the evening, listening as he coached me on how the hunt would take place. This man is without a doubt one of the best in his field. He has over 40 year of experience and knows turkey and how to hunt them with a bow. Not only that, we where trying it without a blind and with only natural cover to hide us from these super bird eyes.

As the early morning came, we struck out to find an Osceola and see if I could take him with the mighty arrow. This would be the first of six, if I were to complete a World Slam. With nerves like tiny earthquakes and my guide Brandon, Bill, Doug and me all trying to fool the most bionic eyes on the planet, I thought "what where my chances." Not only was I trying to do the impossible, I was bringing an entourage! From there, it seemed like a dream. We had just got in place, which was a hollowed out palmetto patch, a very good hiding place I might add. Daylight started to break and all heck broke loose. Gobbling started everywhere. It was within minutes we saw our first birds, a Tom and his harem. Coming in full strut, he gave us a show to remember. As time pasted he came from the left and arced around to the front of us. He was about 30 yards out front and I quietly asked Bill if I could take him. He told me no, that it was too far and that he could bring him in closer. His other words about every two seconds, where "don't move, don‘t move" in the faintest of volume. I wasn't moving a muscle, but Bill was taking no chances at messing up. Remember he had been down this road many times before. I did everything he said without question. Hens descended on us like locust and the boss hen just knew something wasn't right. She flew up into a dead pine tree and tried her best to find us. Still not being able to pinpoint us, she took her group and Mr. Strutting Tom and led them away.

After all that action, the guys decided that our decoys looked a little shabby and that when the turkeys had left, we where going to fix them up a bit. Just as we started to do that Doug looked out about a 125 yards and saw three Toms heading our way across a field. We stayed put and let Bill work his magic. After what seemed like forever (only 5 minutes) the birds had circled to our right side this time and were heading right at us. A couple hens first, at about 6 feet away passed us. Then some Jakes showed up. They were tall and lean. I called them the basketball playing turkeys. One came right up to us and looked into the pocket that we had made into our hiding place. I thought for sure we were busted. Just then, a nice Tom strutted in from the right side. I was trying to think how I would draw with the dumb Jake looking at me. As the Tom displayed and turned just right, Bill softly told me to draw when the Jake turned. I did without question, but he was so close. I thought to myself, " Where do I put a 20 yard pin on a turkey that is 5 yards or less away?" Aim low was my last self command before I released the arrow. Even then, it hit the bird through the neck and he collapsed. Bill jumped up and ran out and got him. I hugged Brandon and Doug and was happier than an archer has a right to be. We took him back to camp and two others had been successful as well, so we had reason to celebrate. Kristen had killed a Jake and Dan had gotten a big Tom. The guys from Mossy Oak made this first hunt a very successful hunt by putting me under Bill Zearings wing and because of him my first of six hunts that spring was complete. I had finished the first bird in less than an hour and started making arrangements to head for Eastern turkey country, where I would be looking for Tom number Two. The very next morning I boarded a plane and smiled all the way to "Pontotoc, Mississippi." Yeah, Pontotoc, you heard me correctly!