IT WAS 3 A.M.<\/span><\/strong> when Price Shurley\u2019s alarm clock awoke him on the morning of April 8, 1969. Taking care to not disturb his spouse, he eased away from bed, slipped into his camouflage coveralls, and double-checked his gear. Assured his callers, headnet, shells, and knife had been of their correct pockets, he shouldered his previous Browning 12gauge automated and stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind him.<\/p>\n Outside it was lifeless calm. As was his customized, he appeared up into the predawn sky. Overhead the celebrities sparkled brightly, bringing him promise of turkey gobbling and one other stunning spring day within the Mississippi woods.\u00a0<\/p>\n At 3:15 a.m. Shurley joined a searching companion for breakfast at a McComb cafe. After a hearty breakfast they started the 11-mile drive to some woods in Amite County the place the morning\u2019s hunt would happen. Shurley had scouted the woods numerous instances to find turkeys and to review their actions. Two afternoons earlier than he had made a blind of pure vegetation on a low ridge the place he anticipated the turkeys would transfer after they got here off the roost. Shurley deliberate to place his companion on this blind.\u00a0<\/p>\n At 4:45 a.m. the 2 males stepped from the truck and started the threequarter-mile hike that may take them to the searching space. In due course the blind was positioned and Shurley\u2019s buddy took his seat. Shurley then continued on for a protected distance earlier than sitting down along with his again to a big pine.\u00a0<\/p>\n About 5:50 a.m. Shurley started to putt<\/em> sometimes along with his diaphragm mouth caller. Two hens answered his calls, and at about 6:45 a.m. they flew off their roosts to the bottom. Shurley tried to name them up, hoping {that a} silent gobbler could be current after they got here into view.\u00a0<\/p>\n After about quarter-hour of intermittent calling, Shurley appeared round and noticed his companion approaching. He motioned to disclose his place, then appeared again within the course he anticipated the turkeys to look. Shurley\u2019s companion had certainly seen the motion, however to him it appeared precisely like a gobbler\u2019s head, and he shouldered his gun for the shot. When Shurley glanced again a second later, he appeared into the muzzle of a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with three-inch magnum shells at a variety of twenty-two yards. He waved once more, but it surely was too late. The gun roared, sending a load of No. 6 shot crashing into Shurley\u2019s face.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a terrible hunting accident,\u201d recollects J. E. Thornhill Jr. of McComb, Mississippi, who was an in depth buddy of Price Shurley. \u201cIt always is when one friend shoots another. Price survived somehow, but he was totally blind for the rest of his life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Thornhill believes the accident would have killed a lesser man. Shurley was a robust specimen, standing six-feet 5 inches and weighing greater than 250 kilos.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looked as though he could play defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers,\u201d says Thornhill.<\/p>\n PRICE SHURLEY<\/span><\/strong> labored as a locomotive engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad, however he was higher identified for his searching and fishing skills. He was usually acknowledged to be one of many most interesting turkey hunters in south Mississippi. Stories of his calling potential and searching prowess had been legion. He was 50 years previous on the time of the accident.<\/p>\n He hunted all Mississippi recreation from deer to doves, however turkey searching was his old flame. He was additionally knowledgeable at hand-grabbing large catfish. It is alleged that Price Shurley had an uncanny sense of contact for large fish. Once he had positioned a catfish in a hole log or up below a washed-out riverbank, he may take a twig and, by feeling the fish, estimate inside ounces what the catfish would weigh when he lastly wrestled it out of its lair.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he was such a successful hunter and hand-grabber,\u201d Thornhill recollects, \u201che was typically labeled as an outlaw by those that had been jealous of his success. But in all my years afield with Price, I by no means noticed him \u2018outlaw\u2019 any recreation.<\/p>\n Shurley had all the time been a cheerful, sociable man, however after he misplaced his sight he grew to become brooding and morose. Eventually he started hand-grabbing once more, for it’s contact and never sight that’s essential on this distinctive sport. On fishing journeys he appeared to return out of his shell and revert to the previous Price once more. But when spring got here and the scent of blooming dogwood crammed the air Price Shurley actually damage.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess there were just too many old gobblers in his mind for him to accept the fact that he had bagged his last one,\u201d Thornhill reckons.<\/p>\n He recollects a day when he paid Price a go to. They sat on the porch and loved a very good discuss bygone days that they had shared within the area.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was dusk and I was about to leave when Price asked me to stay a minute longer,\u201d Thornhill remembers. \u201cHe went inside and returned with his old Browning autoloader in his hands. He said it was too good a turkey gun not to be in the field and he wanted to pass it along to me. I insisted on paying him for his shotgun. Driving home that evening I realized that Price had finally accepted the fact that he could never bag another gobbler. When I got home I put my gun in the rack, and I\u2019ve used Price\u2019s Browning since that day.\u201d<\/p>\n Thornhill and different buddies sometimes took Shurley with them on late afternoon rides by means of the large woods, the place they’d cease and hear for turkeys to gobble as they flew as much as roost at twilight.<\/p>\n \u201cI could never tell from Price\u2019s reaction whether these outings helped or hurt him,\u201d Thornhill recollects. \u201cI do know that he appreciated to offer recommendation to hunters who had been having issues with good gobblers. He listened fastidiously because the hunter advised him about it. He would ask numerous questions on the way in which the birds reacted to varied calls and concerning the lay of the land. Then he would recommend a sequence of calls to attempt, or encourage a change within the place of the hunter\u2019s blind. He all the time anticipated a report on how his recommendation had labored. I may sense his psychological involvement and the pleasure he received from the tales I advised him about good turkeys I attempted to work.<\/p>\n Thornhill recollects that Shurley\u2019s bodily adjustment to blindness was fast. \u201cWhen Price had his sight he was an amazing woodsman,\u201d he stated. \u201cHe used all his senses, and I discovered an important deal from him once we had been within the area collectively. I suppose being blind served to sharpen his already outstanding remaining senses. He may determine males by the sound of their stroll and girls by the scent of the cosmetics and fragrance they used.<\/p>\n Thornhill thought of taking Shurley alongside on a hunt in order that he may take heed to the calling and gobbling, however when he thought of how powerful it’s to barter turkey woods the place pace is commonly important, he was afraid it might be too troublesome for Price. He determined that if he ever roosted a hen alongside a highway, he would invite Price to return alongside, however that good state of affairs by no means appeared to look.<\/p>\n Then about three years after the accident the spring turkey season rolled round. Halfway by means of the season Thornhill positioned a very good gobbling turkey and tried to name him into vary. This previous tom resisted his most attractive requires six days straight.<\/p>\n \u201cFinally, I asked Price for advice,\u201d Thornhill advised me. \u201cI advised him all the pieces I may bear in mind about every hunt, recalling as many particular particulars as doable. He listened intently, quizzing me after I didn’t make some level clear. While we talked, I remembered how his eyes used to glitter once we plotted towards an previous boss gobbler.<\/p>\n \u201cAt last he settled back in his chair and said, \u2018There\u2019s some obstacle between you and your turkey-a fence, a thicket, a creek. There is some spot of ground there that he chooses not to cross. You have two options\u2014come in from another direction or make him overcome his fear.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA CREEK WOUND<\/span><\/strong> by means of these woods, and I advised Price I had by no means been capable of get a gobbler to fly throughout a creek. A giant grin unfold throughout his face, and he stated, \u2018Well, that\u2019s one distinction between you and me. I by no means had that downside.<\/p>\n \u201cI wished that gobbler badly, however I wished much more to see if Price may name him throughout the creek, so with out actually contemplating the implications, I advised him I might choose him up at 4:00 a.m. He would do the calling and I might do the capturing.<\/p>\n At first he made no reply. He simply sat there behind these darkish glasses. Then I detected the hint of a smile and he stated he could be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n At daybreak the 2 males had been half a mile into the deep woods. They stood in silence because the sounds of a brand new day grew louder. Then approach throughout the underside an owl hooted and the previous turkey devoured from his roost tree in reply. Arm in arm, the hunters moved ahead 300 yards whereas the turkey continued to gobble.<\/p>\n Thornhill helped Shurley take his seat on the base of a giant tree. While he minimize branches and usual a blind, Shurley raked away floor litter the place they’d sit facet by facet. As Thornhill sat down at his buddy\u2019s left facet, the turkey devoured from the bottom. He was off the roost.<\/p>\n \u201cPrice put his mouth caller into place and began making a series of excited clucks, and the turkey answered immediately, as I knew he would,\u201d Thornhill recalled. \u201cThen for the next half hour Price and the bird exchanged calls. We could course the bird easily because he was so vocal, and I knew he was nearing the creek where he had stopped each day to gobble and strut for another hour. I whispered this information to Price, but he only replied \u2018Sit still.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The gobbler did in reality cease on the creek, which was 80 yards or so away in entrance of the blind. He strutted and devoured on the far facet of the stream, strolling backwards and forwards over a 50-yard space. The tom raged and devoured for half-hour, however Shurley made no reply. Thornhill strained his eyes for a glimpse of the turkey.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then the gobbler hushed, and I began to wonder if he had crossed the creek and was coming in or if he had found some hens and was moving away,\u201d Thornhill stated. \u201cI used to be about to inform Price to name once more when the turkey devoured a ways away from his strutting space. Instantly Price started a name I had by no means heard earlier than. It was a sequence of loud and damaged cackles with some shrill whines and excited putts thrown in.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tom answered with a double gobble, and then we heard his heavy wings beating. I didn\u2019t see him, but I could hear him as he flew across the creek and pitched in 75 yards or so off to our left front. I figured the turkey would come in from the left on Price\u2019s side of the blind, but it wasn\u2019t until I put my finger on the safety that it occurred to me to pass the shotgun to Price. He was making some soft clucks and purrs when I silently pushed the gun across his lap. \u2018You kill him,\u2019 I whispered. \u2018I\u2019ll help you kill him, Price.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n When Shurley moved his arms to the smooth-worn inventory of the Browning he whispered, \u201cThis is my gun.\u201d It was; it was Price\u2019s previous turkey gun.<\/p>\n \u201cBy this time, my heart was in my throat,\u201d Thornhill says. \u201cHaving that gobbler on our side of the creek was thrilling, but what we were about to try had me breathing so hard I was afraid the turkey would hear me. All this time Price sat there like a man made of stone.\u201d<\/p>\n Minutes handed earlier than the turkey devoured once more. They may inform he was 50 or 60 yards away now, however nonetheless out of sight. Luckily, he was nonetheless off to the left the place the barrel of Price\u2019s gun pointed because it lay throughout his lap. Thornhill stated a silent prayer that the hen would maintain his course.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then he gobbled again loud enough to knock off your hat, and Price let go a loud cackle right back at him, much louder than I would have dared to call,\u201d Thornhill continued. \u201cThe turkey answered with a fast gobble, and Price countered with one other cackle, to which the turkey double devoured. Price had blown that turkey\u2019s thoughts, and knew then it was solely a matter of time earlier than he got here up. I prayed he would are available in so Price may get a shot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe may hear the heavy drone of his strut and the rasping of his wing ideas as they dragged the bottom. He was transferring barely to the left once more, and I appeared previous the tip of Price\u2019s nostril in an effort to see him.<\/p>\n \u201cThen, suddenly, he appeared. He was in a full strut and every bit as big and beautiful as I knew he would be. His head was a flaming red with wattles as big as buckshot. His beard was a black stripe down his bronze breast. My heart was pounding as I whispered, \u201cThere he is,\u2019 and Price silently slipped off the safety.\u201d<\/p>\n The turkey stood immobile for a number of seconds after which moved slowly ahead. When he stopped he was not more than 40 yards away. The turkey\u2019s head was behind the trunk of a giant pine. Thornhill whispered to Price to shoulder his gun, which he did in a single fluid movement.<\/p>\n With the fingers of his proper hand, Thornhill touched Price\u2019s proper elbow and pushed gently. Price responded, and the muzzle of the gun moved to the left. Thornhill appeared down the facet of the barrel and whispered, \u201cUp\u2014up some more,\u201d and he noticed the barrel decide on the half-hidden gobbler.<\/p>\n \u201cRight there,\u201d I whispered, and Price froze the gun in place. \u201cFrom where I sat I was looking down the side of the barrel. As strong as Price Shurley was, I knew in my heart that he would hold the gun steady for as long as it might take to get the shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Probably solely seconds handed, but it surely dragged like hours whereas the 2 males sat ready. The thought crossed Thornhill\u2019s thoughts that Price needed to kill this turkey. He hadn\u2019t thought of what failure may do to his buddy. Now it got here to him that the subsequent second may destroy Price Shurley. A miss now may accomplish what a magnum load of No. 6\u2019s had didn’t do on one other turkey hunt.<\/p>\n Finally the gobbler stepped out, however he was partly screened by underbrush. He angled barely to the left once more, and once more Thornhill pressed Price\u2019s elbow. The muzzle inched to the left, after which the turkey stepped away from the comb.<\/p>\n \u201cShoot,\u201d Thornhill whispered, and the Browning roared.<\/p>\n \u201cPrice held the gun,\u201d Thornhill displays, \u201cbut the good Lord must have been with him, because the turkey went down with feathers flying.\u201d<\/p>\n Thornhill sprang to his toes, dancing and yelling, \u201cYou got him, Price! You did it!\u201d But when he appeared down at Shurley, he was simply sitting there with the shotgun throughout his lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI always went straight to my turkeys,\u201d Price stated quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thornhill turned and ran to the fallen gobbler. He was a positive turkey with a 9 1\/2-inch beard and lengthy, hooked spurs. He carried him again to the blind man and positioned the nice hen throughout his legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Price\u2019s fingers labored their method to the spurs first, and he ran his thumb and index finger over them. Then he stroked the heavy beard and felt the guidelines of the wings, which had been worn blunt by strutting. He hefted the turkey and guessed the large tom\u2019s weight at 20 kilos.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell from the way Price reacted to the kill how he felt about it all,\u201d Thornhill remembers. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what I ought to say, so I didn\u2019t say something. Price got here to his toes, so I picked up the turkey and the gun and we began again to the truck. He took maintain of my proper forearm and we slowly labored our approach out of the woods.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the experience dwelling Price was quiet, and I understood. I knew he was desirous about all the pieces that had taken place that morning and that he would come to some conclusion about what all of it meant to him. I used to be fearful sick that it had all been a tragic mistake, and that killing the tom would stop Price from coming to phrases along with his blindness.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe will need to have been about midway dwelling when a smile crossed Price\u2019s face, and he stated, \u2018I knew we would take him when he double gobbled on our side of the creek.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRelief swept over me, and we started to speak about each name Price had made, each reply the turkey had given, and each contact I had made on Price\u2019s elbow. All the stress vanished, and we laughed and congratulated one another on our million-to-oneshot hunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were almost home when Price asked, \u2018He\u2019s still in the bed of the truck, ain\u2019t he?\u2019 I glanced around and assured him the turkey was there. \u2018Good,\u2019 he said with a smile, \u2018A turkey isn\u2019t yours for sure till you close the oven door.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The two males confirmed that turkey all around the county and advised the story of the hunt 100 instances. And that hunt remained the excessive level of Price Shurley\u2019s life for the remainder of his days. He died in 1976 of pure causes not associated to his searching accident.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a crazy idea, and we didn\u2019t set out to do it,\u201d J. E. Thornhill advised me. \u201cI don\u2019t think we could have done it again, but we did it that time, Price and me. And if I take a thousand turkeys before I am done, none of them will ever mean as much to me as Price Shurley\u2019s last gobbler.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Read extra\u00a0OL+<\/a>\u00a0tales.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n