WEBVTT - Ep. 207: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - The Gift of Time

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to This Country Life. I'm your host, Brent Rieves

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<v Speaker 1>from coon hunting to trot lining and just general country living.

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<v Speaker 1>I want you to stay a while as I share

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<v Speaker 1>my stories and the country skills that will help you

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<v Speaker 1>beat the system. This Country Life is proudly presented as

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<v Speaker 1>part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network, bringing you the best

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<v Speaker 1>outdoor podcast the airways have to offer. All right, friends,

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<v Speaker 1>pull you up a chair or drop that tailgate. I

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<v Speaker 1>think I got a thing or two. The teacher the

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<v Speaker 1>gift of time. Time is a precious gift and one

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<v Speaker 1>that shouldn't be taken or given lightly. I've only got

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<v Speaker 1>so much of it. Time is a blessing and a thief,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm going to talk about that today. I've got

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<v Speaker 1>a special announcement coming up at the end of this episode,

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<v Speaker 1>so be sure to hang around at the ends. First,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going to tell you a story. Nine years, eleven months,

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<v Speaker 1>and five days ago, my brother Tim and I were

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<v Speaker 1>in Kansas turkey hunting at my friend Clayton Dick's place

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<v Speaker 1>up in northeast Kansas. Now, Clayton is a code hunter

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<v Speaker 1>and hunting with my dad here in Arkansas, along with

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of other folks, and Clayton had invited me

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<v Speaker 1>to come up and hunt on his land and said

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<v Speaker 1>it was covered up in turkeys. It was a heck

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<v Speaker 1>of a drive up there, and I didn't want to

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<v Speaker 1>drive it by myself. It took several attempts, but finally,

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<v Speaker 1>after buying his license and tagged, my brother Tim agreed

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<v Speaker 1>to go with me. Now, if you're a new listener

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<v Speaker 1>to this country life, Tim was my older brother. If

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<v Speaker 1>you're a regular listener to this country life, you should

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<v Speaker 1>know that among all the wonderful qualities my partner in buffoonery,

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<v Speaker 1>mentor and hero possesses, being away from home one of them.

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<v Speaker 1>He's a lot like our dad was. He likes to

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<v Speaker 1>go and do stuff, but at bedtime he prefers to

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<v Speaker 1>be at home, and bedtime for him is usually not

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<v Speaker 1>long after dark. He likes things the same way all

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<v Speaker 1>the time. No deviation is his policy. He goes to

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<v Speaker 1>bed early, He reads for a while before cutting out

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<v Speaker 1>the light and going to sleep, regardless of the outside

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<v Speaker 1>temperature or time of the year. He keeps a window.

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<v Speaker 1>He keeps a window cracked, a fan blowing, and both

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<v Speaker 1>of his feet sticking out the bottom of the covers.

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<v Speaker 1>For the rest of his sleeping habits. You can refer

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<v Speaker 1>back to episode one, nineteen of Duck Camp Etiquette of

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<v Speaker 1>This Country Life anyway. Fact, Tim doesn't like to travel.

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<v Speaker 1>He wants to be somewhere and do whatever he does there,

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<v Speaker 1>but then he wants to be home. Nothing wrong with that,

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<v Speaker 1>but for a cameraman trying to make his mark in

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<v Speaker 1>the outdoor business, I needed someone to film, and I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't want just anybody. I wanted Tim, so I bribed

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<v Speaker 1>him with his turkey tags and the romance of traveling

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<v Speaker 1>out of state to hunt a turkey. We were going

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<v Speaker 1>on safari all the way to Kansas. After almost twelve

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<v Speaker 1>hours of driving, of which Tim did zero, we finally

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<v Speaker 1>pulled into Clayton's house. He got us lined out for

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<v Speaker 1>the next morning's hunting. By daylight. The next morning we

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<v Speaker 1>were listening to turkeys blowing the bark off of trees

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<v Speaker 1>and watching them straight away in the distance with a

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<v Speaker 1>harem of hens. Set up. After setup had us on turkeys,

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<v Speaker 1>and we weren't lacking for finding them. They were everywhere.

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<v Speaker 1>Clayton was right, his property was covered up in them.

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<v Speaker 1>And those gobblers, man, they were covered up with hens.

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<v Speaker 1>No big deal. With that much action going on, it

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<v Speaker 1>was only a matter of time before we accidentally sat

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<v Speaker 1>down in front of a bunch of turkeys that were

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<v Speaker 1>walking in our direction rather than away from it. We

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<v Speaker 1>were driving around glass and fields and prairie for groups

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<v Speaker 1>of turkeys and spotted a group of a dozen or

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<v Speaker 1>more a mile or more away that had several strutting

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<v Speaker 1>turkeys in it. We studied them the terrain that they

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<v Speaker 1>were moving across in the direction they were traveling with

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<v Speaker 1>my camera and a little known mapping app that had

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<v Speaker 1>just come out the year before called onex. That would

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<v Speaker 1>be the first time I would use it to get

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<v Speaker 1>in front of a turkey. We had to plan. Loaded

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<v Speaker 1>up in the truck and started easing that way down

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<v Speaker 1>Tumbleweed Road in the middle of Clawhammer, Kansas. I was

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<v Speaker 1>driving in the middle of this gravel road, taking my

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<v Speaker 1>time and looking at the map for the place we'd

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<v Speaker 1>planned to park to get after those turkeys, and we

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<v Speaker 1>met a couple of cars and moved over, and we

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<v Speaker 1>were getting close to where we were going to make

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<v Speaker 1>our play when Tim said there's a car coming up

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<v Speaker 1>behind us. I lasked in my rearview mirror and I

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<v Speaker 1>saw the weirdest contraption I'd ever seen. It was a

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<v Speaker 1>little car with a periscope looking deal mounted to the roof,

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<v Speaker 1>and as it got closer I saw it it was

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<v Speaker 1>a Google Maps car coming up behind us. I moved

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<v Speaker 1>over and Tim and I did our dead level best

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<v Speaker 1>to show the world through Google Maps that we're a

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<v Speaker 1>couple of clowns. We were waving our arms out the

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<v Speaker 1>windows like we were karate fighting swarm of yellow jackets.

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<v Speaker 1>The little car shot on past us. I told Tim

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<v Speaker 1>too bad that joker didn't come by thirty minutes from now,

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<v Speaker 1>and he asked me why. I said, because it could

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<v Speaker 1>take a picture of the turkey you were about to kill.

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<v Speaker 1>We laughed. Twenty eight minutes later, Tim pulled the trigger

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<v Speaker 1>on the first and only turkey he's ever taken out

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<v Speaker 1>of the state of Arkansas. Plus, we just had our

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<v Speaker 1>picture taken by the Google car and that's just how

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<v Speaker 1>that happened. But wait, there's more. You didn't think that's

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<v Speaker 1>how this story would end, did you, with some anti

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<v Speaker 1>climactic ending. Come on, man, y'all know me better than that.

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<v Speaker 1>I've given you every clue you need to win a

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<v Speaker 1>brand new case pocket knife that I will send to

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<v Speaker 1>you from my personal collection for the first person to

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<v Speaker 1>find mine and Tim's picture on the hunt I just

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<v Speaker 1>told you about, and send it to the email address

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going to give you at the end of this episode.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't send it to me, send it to the one

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<v Speaker 1>that I give you at the end of the show.

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<v Speaker 1>Screenshot it and send it in with your information. First

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<v Speaker 1>person that does it wins the knife. Trust me, it's there.

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<v Speaker 1>I just looked at it. The gift of time. Inviting

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<v Speaker 1>someone on an adventure can mean a lot of things

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<v Speaker 1>and encompass a whole lot of different opportunities. It can

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<v Speaker 1>be as little as offering a seat to tag along,

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<v Speaker 1>paying for a hunt or a fishing trip to go

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<v Speaker 1>with a guide, or maybe working on a strategy yourself

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<v Speaker 1>to set someone up for success running trail cameras or

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<v Speaker 1>baiting a bear, scouting online on foot, getting permission, planting

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<v Speaker 1>food plots, brushing blinds, hanging stands, whatever the case may

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<v Speaker 1>be that has you doing all the legwork, only to

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<v Speaker 1>hand it over to someone else to reap all the

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<v Speaker 1>benefits of your labor. Giving anyone anything shouldn't be done lightly,

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<v Speaker 1>and in return, the person receiving it shouldn't take it

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<v Speaker 1>for granted either. I know there's not a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>thought that goes into saying, hey, want to go fishing,

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<v Speaker 1>if fishing for you is walking out behind the barn

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<v Speaker 1>to the pond, and I'm not trying to make more

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<v Speaker 1>out of something that isn't there. I know my way

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<v Speaker 1>of thinking probably is at mainstream, and I may put

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<v Speaker 1>too much emphasis on the invitation, But consider this, vast

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<v Speaker 1>majority of the memories that I've related on this show

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<v Speaker 1>have culminated from an impromptu opportunity to share the wilderness

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<v Speaker 1>with someone. That got me to thinking about the importance

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<v Speaker 1>and the value of giving someone an outdoor experience and

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<v Speaker 1>how it's received. Now, these thoughts wouldn't have entered my

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<v Speaker 1>mind a few years ago, and I catch myself now

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<v Speaker 1>thinking back to times when I should have asked someone

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<v Speaker 1>to go with me. I always talk about the joy

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<v Speaker 1>of shared experiences being multiplied, and I firmly believe that's true.

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<v Speaker 1>But in the early stages of my outdoor life, the

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<v Speaker 1>outcome of that trip was what I based my success around.

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<v Speaker 1>I actually had to wait until it was over to

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<v Speaker 1>know whether I'd enjoyed myself. My value was placed on

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<v Speaker 1>the contents of my game bag or the fishing crib.

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<v Speaker 1>I think back now on times when I was a

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<v Speaker 1>kid and even a young adult hunt with my dad,

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<v Speaker 1>family and friends, and nine times out of ten, the

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<v Speaker 1>harvest is a little foggy, but the interaction with them

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<v Speaker 1>or what is crystal clear. A couple of weeks ago,

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<v Speaker 1>I was in Mississippi turkey hunting with my friend Jordan Blissed.

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<v Speaker 1>Jordan and I had been burning gas and boot leather

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<v Speaker 1>looking for turkeys that had a chronic case of the lockjaw.

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<v Speaker 1>We couldn't find a golden turkey with a search warrant.

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<v Speaker 1>Sometimes it be that way, but it certainly wasn't for

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<v Speaker 1>a lack of trying. And we found a little comfort

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<v Speaker 1>in that no one else was here in turkeys either

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<v Speaker 1>where we were. Misery loves company, and there were seven

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<v Speaker 1>of us in camp. We were all suffering together. And

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<v Speaker 1>then Keith Pope called Jordan and said, I heard three

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<v Speaker 1>this morning. You and Brent, come on, man. He didn't

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<v Speaker 1>have to tell us twice. After two and a half

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<v Speaker 1>days of listening, walking, calling, driving, and peating it over

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<v Speaker 1>and over again, Keith had thrown us a rope before

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<v Speaker 1>we drowned. In a sea of despair and disappointment. We

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<v Speaker 1>met Keith at the appointed rally point after some highly

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<v Speaker 1>original navigation by Jordan. We were six minutes late. That

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<v Speaker 1>has nothing to do with the story. Just thought i'd

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<v Speaker 1>throw that in there for Jordane's benefit. Anyway, I jumped

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<v Speaker 1>in the truck with Keith and away we went, Jordan

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<v Speaker 1>falling close behind. Soon we were all standing together. After

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<v Speaker 1>slipping behind Keith to a point of an old ridge

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<v Speaker 1>facing north and waiting for gobling time, they commenced to hooton,

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<v Speaker 1>and soon enough we heard a turkey. I dang there,

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<v Speaker 1>gobbled myself listening to their high pitched squill and low

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<v Speaker 1>end oul hoots. I can make a turkey gobble with

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<v Speaker 1>my rendition of a barred out, but that high note

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<v Speaker 1>they and others I know ughs, absolutely eludes my vocal range.

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<v Speaker 1>Those boys are flirting with falsettos that would make the

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<v Speaker 1>bee gi'es jealous. Anyway, the goblin was music to our

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<v Speaker 1>ears in a way we went. We sat up in

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<v Speaker 1>our first location and had a gobbler answer. Several times.

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<v Speaker 1>We heard a hen up and back at us, and

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<v Speaker 1>we knew we were probably in for a long hunt,

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<v Speaker 1>which was not what we counted on. Jordan and Keith

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<v Speaker 1>both had businesses to attend to later in the morning,

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<v Speaker 1>so if it was going to happen, it needed to

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<v Speaker 1>happen quick. A gobbler with hens hunt isn't usually very

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<v Speaker 1>fast or successful, but it was the only game in

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<v Speaker 1>town and we were in it. Then we realized we

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<v Speaker 1>were here in a second turkey moving in from the west,

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<v Speaker 1>and the gobbler we'd initially sat down on wasn't getting

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<v Speaker 1>any closer, and we could hear drumming. And while that

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<v Speaker 1>sound is suddenly subdued, you can hear it a long

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<v Speaker 1>way if you know what you're listening for and the

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<v Speaker 1>conditions are right. Keith knows that property inside and out,

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<v Speaker 1>and he showed me his own ax map of how

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<v Speaker 1>the property laid out. And it may sense that while

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<v Speaker 1>we could hear that turkey drumming, it was obvious he

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<v Speaker 1>was in a small opening at the edge of the property,

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<v Speaker 1>just strutting back and forth and gathering up hens for

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<v Speaker 1>the daily spring singles. Make sure he was hosting for

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<v Speaker 1>the hens we could hear, and the additional gobbler that

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<v Speaker 1>was easing away. It seemed like the place to be

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<v Speaker 1>So we got up and we moved closer. Keith took

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<v Speaker 1>us on a round about course that got us within

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<v Speaker 1>one hundred and twenty five yards of the dance party.

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<v Speaker 1>Now we may have been a football field away from

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<v Speaker 1>the band, but we were on the dance floor for sure.

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<v Speaker 1>In addition to that, there was a small wood road

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<v Speaker 1>that wound from where we stood to where that gobbler

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<v Speaker 1>was dropping them sick Beach. From behind the DJ booth,

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<v Speaker 1>Jordan and I grabbed a tree on the east side

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<v Speaker 1>of that little road, in the edge of a pine thicket.

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<v Speaker 1>Keith picked one a few yards south of us. To

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<v Speaker 1>our immediate west and north was hardwoods. And the extra

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<v Speaker 1>turkey that was gobbling his way closer to the ship

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<v Speaker 1>dig been hosted in front of us. We called him. Bowl.

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<v Speaker 1>Turkeys answered, first turkey still in his spot, and the

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<v Speaker 1>other turkey getting a little closer to him. We weren't

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<v Speaker 1>battling turkeys. Now, I felt good about what lay before.

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<v Speaker 1>These turkeys had had very little hunting pressure on them.

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<v Speaker 1>They weren't call shy, they didn't get any outside influence

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<v Speaker 1>in this place that Keith had developed into a little

0:13:27.080 --> 0:13:33.120
<v Speaker 1>turkey sanctuary. I felt good, great even about my chances

0:13:33.120 --> 0:13:36.920
<v Speaker 1>of killing the turkey. The turkeys weren't the issue. Time

0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:41.800
<v Speaker 1>was normally faced with a scenario like this, time is

0:13:41.840 --> 0:13:44.760
<v Speaker 1>on my side. I just sit and wait for the

0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:47.680
<v Speaker 1>hens to slip off, and the turkey I first started

0:13:47.679 --> 0:13:50.439
<v Speaker 1>messing with comes in like he owns the place, strutting

0:13:50.520 --> 0:13:53.240
<v Speaker 1>and gobbling. When he gets close enough, I send a

0:13:53.240 --> 0:13:55.320
<v Speaker 1>dip of lead shot for him to put between his

0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:59.640
<v Speaker 1>cheek and gum or old sneaky pete that was occasionally

0:13:59.640 --> 0:14:02.720
<v Speaker 1>goblet from the west. He'll shut his pie hole and

0:14:03.080 --> 0:14:05.480
<v Speaker 1>slips in in stealth mode, looking to a lope with

0:14:05.559 --> 0:14:08.320
<v Speaker 1>the calls he's been hearing. That sounds like a hen turkey,

0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:11.280
<v Speaker 1>It looks a whole lot like me with a shotgun.

0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:16.840
<v Speaker 1>Now this day, time was not on my side. I

0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:18.600
<v Speaker 1>was hunt with a couple of fellows that look at

0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:22.280
<v Speaker 1>life responsibly and take their work seriously and not gonna

0:14:22.320 --> 0:14:25.200
<v Speaker 1>miss appointments. How I got hooked up with them, I

0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:28.840
<v Speaker 1>have no idea, but the sand in the eyeglass was

0:14:28.920 --> 0:14:31.760
<v Speaker 1>running out, and when it did, regardless of what was

0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:33.880
<v Speaker 1>taking place in the hunt, they both had to go.

0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:38.840
<v Speaker 1>And I understood, After all, I was the guest. The

0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:41.480
<v Speaker 1>goblin had gone silent for a couple of minutes while

0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.200
<v Speaker 1>we waited to see what would happen next. Now, in

0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:46.600
<v Speaker 1>my mind I had already played it out about a

0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:50.040
<v Speaker 1>hundred times. The pine ticket to the east wasn't too

0:14:50.120 --> 0:14:52.920
<v Speaker 1>thick for that turkey to approach from, but he would

0:14:52.960 --> 0:14:54.840
<v Speaker 1>have had to work a lot harder to get there

0:14:55.960 --> 0:14:58.760
<v Speaker 1>if he chose to come that way. When he got

0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.400
<v Speaker 1>close enough to realize that but he'd been tricked. He

0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:03.000
<v Speaker 1>had been close enough for me to reach out and

0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:05.920
<v Speaker 1>grab him and take him hostage. If he came down

0:15:05.920 --> 0:15:07.840
<v Speaker 1>the road from the north or through the oaks from

0:15:07.840 --> 0:15:11.720
<v Speaker 1>the west, he was doomed. A kevlar vest, combat helmet

0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:15.560
<v Speaker 1>and whaling's vet Dr. Bradshaw couldn't have saved him. I

0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:18.680
<v Speaker 1>was excited and and nervous with anticipation about what I

0:15:18.720 --> 0:15:22.560
<v Speaker 1>felt was about to happen. I glanced at my watch.

0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:26.000
<v Speaker 1>We were looking at about twenty more minutes before we

0:15:26.040 --> 0:15:29.600
<v Speaker 1>had to scadaddle. Keith called from behind me, and that

0:15:29.640 --> 0:15:32.600
<v Speaker 1>turkey that hadn't gobbled him close to three minutes cut

0:15:32.680 --> 0:15:35.240
<v Speaker 1>him off with a gobble. Here we go, I thought.

0:15:35.960 --> 0:15:41.880
<v Speaker 1>Twenty sixons later, boom, someone across the property line put

0:15:41.920 --> 0:15:46.040
<v Speaker 1>an end to the whole party, and a hush fell

0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:49.880
<v Speaker 1>over the crowd. I knew what had happened immediately, but

0:15:49.960 --> 0:15:52.720
<v Speaker 1>it was the one thing I hadn't counted on happening.

0:15:54.200 --> 0:15:56.080
<v Speaker 1>It took me a few seconds to do all the

0:15:56.120 --> 0:15:58.640
<v Speaker 1>math in my head, remembering how close we were to

0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:01.320
<v Speaker 1>the property line in the corner from the map that

0:16:01.720 --> 0:16:04.600
<v Speaker 1>Keith had showed me, and estimating where the shot had

0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:08.160
<v Speaker 1>come from. It seemed that that guy was about the

0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:11.160
<v Speaker 1>same distance from the turkey that we were. He just

0:16:11.200 --> 0:16:14.920
<v Speaker 1>happened to be where that rascal wanted to go. The

0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:18.680
<v Speaker 1>fact that Jordan and Keith were jumping up and charging

0:16:18.720 --> 0:16:21.760
<v Speaker 1>in the direction of where that turkey just got smashed

0:16:21.960 --> 0:16:26.960
<v Speaker 1>validated my assumption that nobody was trespassing. That turkey died

0:16:27.000 --> 0:16:30.840
<v Speaker 1>across the property line. I started laughing. I turned and

0:16:30.880 --> 0:16:35.120
<v Speaker 1>looked at Jordan's He was laughing too. Keith eased up

0:16:35.160 --> 0:16:38.840
<v Speaker 1>to where we were sitting, and he was laughing. What else?

0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:44.720
<v Speaker 1>What else could we have done? What would getting upset accomplished? Now?

0:16:44.760 --> 0:16:47.320
<v Speaker 1>I'll admit, in my younger days, I probably wouldn't have

0:16:47.720 --> 0:16:51.280
<v Speaker 1>taken that roller coaster swing of emotion and such good stried.

0:16:51.400 --> 0:16:55.760
<v Speaker 1>But those younger days have gone, and there's there's validity

0:16:55.840 --> 0:16:58.800
<v Speaker 1>to the tired old adage of hunting it and about killing.

0:16:59.240 --> 0:17:02.440
<v Speaker 1>I've said it, I've read it, and it's the easy

0:17:02.480 --> 0:17:05.720
<v Speaker 1>phrase to utter when you're unsuccessful or trying to explain

0:17:05.800 --> 0:17:08.560
<v Speaker 1>to a non hunter or even an anti hunter, why

0:17:08.680 --> 0:17:11.919
<v Speaker 1>we do what we do. I didn't get up ours

0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:14.760
<v Speaker 1>before dawn to go out there that morning, toting a

0:17:14.800 --> 0:17:17.960
<v Speaker 1>seven pound shot gun, enough calls to stock a small

0:17:18.000 --> 0:17:21.600
<v Speaker 1>sporting goods store, and risking the West Nile virus, malari

0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:24.800
<v Speaker 1>and heartworms to listen to someone not in my hunting

0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:27.600
<v Speaker 1>party shoot the turkey that I'd been frying in my

0:17:27.680 --> 0:17:32.520
<v Speaker 1>head for the past fifteen minutes. So why was I laughing?

0:17:33.359 --> 0:17:36.280
<v Speaker 1>It's because the gift had already been given to me

0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:40.040
<v Speaker 1>that morning. I've said it before, and I never tire

0:17:40.080 --> 0:17:43.760
<v Speaker 1>of saying it. If it's not incoming gunfire, it ain't

0:17:43.800 --> 0:17:47.959
<v Speaker 1>that big a deal. Along with my dad's mantra of

0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:51.520
<v Speaker 1>saying if you ain't having fun, it's your own fault.

0:17:52.480 --> 0:17:54.439
<v Speaker 1>Now you stir that up and you got yourself a

0:17:54.440 --> 0:17:57.800
<v Speaker 1>recipe for laughing when your turkey dies at the hands

0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:03.399
<v Speaker 1>of some nameless individual. Cross the fence line. Keith whipped

0:18:03.400 --> 0:18:05.120
<v Speaker 1>out his phone and sent a text to his friend

0:18:05.119 --> 0:18:10.639
<v Speaker 1>who hunted property next door. A minute later, and Keith

0:18:10.680 --> 0:18:12.880
<v Speaker 1>gets a picture of a rubber boot on the neck

0:18:12.920 --> 0:18:19.440
<v Speaker 1>of my Mississippi longbeard or was it. I thank Keith

0:18:19.520 --> 0:18:22.840
<v Speaker 1>for the inviting Jordan for hosting me while I was there,

0:18:22.880 --> 0:18:26.280
<v Speaker 1>and they tried to apologize for how that hunt unfolded.

0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:29.280
<v Speaker 1>Now they already knew because they were turkey hunters just

0:18:29.359 --> 0:18:31.960
<v Speaker 1>like me. But I told them it didn't matter, because

0:18:31.960 --> 0:18:36.040
<v Speaker 1>it really didn't matter. I've killed way over one hundred

0:18:36.080 --> 0:18:38.400
<v Speaker 1>turkeys in my life and watched at least the same

0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:41.400
<v Speaker 1>number get thumped by folks I was calling for filming,

0:18:42.160 --> 0:18:45.080
<v Speaker 1>and that one getting hauled out by someone else wasn't

0:18:45.119 --> 0:18:48.680
<v Speaker 1>going to hurt me one bit either way. I told

0:18:48.720 --> 0:18:51.359
<v Speaker 1>Keith that I appreciated him and Jordan for inviting me

0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:54.399
<v Speaker 1>there and giving me the opportunity to experience the beauty

0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:58.280
<v Speaker 1>and the drama that is spring turkey hunting. That's the gift.

0:18:58.800 --> 0:19:02.440
<v Speaker 1>That's the gift that wouldn't be taken lightly or received

0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:06.040
<v Speaker 1>as such for the folks like the three of us

0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:08.679
<v Speaker 1>that were there that morning, four counting the dude to

0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:12.440
<v Speaker 1>cross the fence. The interaction with the goblin turkey during

0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:17.280
<v Speaker 1>the spring ritual is second to nothing, but only to

0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:20.960
<v Speaker 1>those who value it as we do. It may be

0:19:21.080 --> 0:19:23.960
<v Speaker 1>bream fishing to the next person, or deer hunting or

0:19:24.000 --> 0:19:27.679
<v Speaker 1>frog gigging. It could be anything. That's why when I

0:19:27.720 --> 0:19:30.400
<v Speaker 1>see an expensive paint described as a work of art

0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:32.960
<v Speaker 1>that to me looks like a monkey with a box

0:19:33.000 --> 0:19:35.119
<v Speaker 1>of colors did it in the dark? I have to

0:19:35.240 --> 0:19:39.439
<v Speaker 1>let it go. Beauty and value truly are in the

0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:41.800
<v Speaker 1>eye of the beholder. Whether it's a big boss gober

0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:44.280
<v Speaker 1>strutting in the gun range, a trout rising to a

0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:48.119
<v Speaker 1>perfectly cast dry fly, or a piece of art that

0:19:48.119 --> 0:19:51.440
<v Speaker 1>looks like a primate did it in the dark. Who

0:19:51.560 --> 0:19:54.120
<v Speaker 1>are we to tell them they're wrong? They certainly can't

0:19:54.200 --> 0:19:58.600
<v Speaker 1>tell us we are. We should appreciate even the smallest

0:19:58.600 --> 0:20:01.919
<v Speaker 1>of gestures and gifts from our friends, because if you

0:20:02.040 --> 0:20:04.600
<v Speaker 1>really look at it and see what the true gift

0:20:04.720 --> 0:20:07.720
<v Speaker 1>is in each event, it's not a frazer full of

0:20:07.760 --> 0:20:11.440
<v Speaker 1>help meat or a live well full of fish. It's

0:20:11.480 --> 0:20:17.359
<v Speaker 1>their time, their time, and your time, and there's only

0:20:17.440 --> 0:20:20.480
<v Speaker 1>so much of it to go around. That's why it's

0:20:20.520 --> 0:20:23.800
<v Speaker 1>important and that's why I value the outdoors so much,

0:20:24.760 --> 0:20:27.480
<v Speaker 1>at least in my case, is to share that time

0:20:27.520 --> 0:20:32.960
<v Speaker 1>with someone I value experiencing an event. I value time.

0:20:33.080 --> 0:20:37.119
<v Speaker 1>That's the most precious gift we can give. Thank you

0:20:37.160 --> 0:20:41.040
<v Speaker 1>for giving me your time each week. Now pay it forward,

0:20:41.400 --> 0:20:44.480
<v Speaker 1>Grab up a pal and go hunting, fishing, or shopping

0:20:44.480 --> 0:20:47.840
<v Speaker 1>for monkey art. Just spending some time with someone you value,

0:20:48.600 --> 0:20:55.440
<v Speaker 1>and the rest take care of itself. We were almost

0:20:55.520 --> 0:20:58.000
<v Speaker 1>all the way back to the truck when Keith got

0:20:58.000 --> 0:21:00.480
<v Speaker 1>a second text from that cat that shot my turkey.

0:21:02.440 --> 0:21:06.240
<v Speaker 1>Here's what it said, y'all's turkey is still there. The

0:21:06.280 --> 0:21:08.920
<v Speaker 1>turkey I killed came in from the west and fought

0:21:08.960 --> 0:21:12.199
<v Speaker 1>the one y'all were working for about two minutes, biggest

0:21:12.240 --> 0:21:15.399
<v Speaker 1>fight I've ever seen. I called to him when it

0:21:15.440 --> 0:21:17.080
<v Speaker 1>was over, and he came running to me and I

0:21:17.080 --> 0:21:21.320
<v Speaker 1>shot him. Well, dad gone. I had forgot all about

0:21:21.359 --> 0:21:27.040
<v Speaker 1>the second turkey time. There was a time when I

0:21:27.040 --> 0:21:29.359
<v Speaker 1>would have turned around and went back after that joker,

0:21:30.920 --> 0:21:35.879
<v Speaker 1>But this time our time had run out. There was

0:21:35.920 --> 0:21:40.919
<v Speaker 1>no more time. And that's how it happens. What seemed

0:21:40.960 --> 0:21:43.439
<v Speaker 1>like a cut and dried moment turned into something different.

0:21:44.040 --> 0:21:46.919
<v Speaker 1>It went from fixing to kill a turkey, thinking that

0:21:46.960 --> 0:21:50.720
<v Speaker 1>turkey was dead, to learning that there'd be another time.

0:21:52.200 --> 0:21:55.800
<v Speaker 1>Keith invited me back in the hope and promise of

0:21:55.880 --> 0:22:02.200
<v Speaker 1>another time. Well, that ain't a bad gift either. All right,

0:22:02.359 --> 0:22:06.199
<v Speaker 1>y'all listen up. Here's the announcement. Now. I'm known for

0:22:06.280 --> 0:22:11.040
<v Speaker 1>telling stories, mostly true ones, and through the feedback from

0:22:11.080 --> 0:22:14.639
<v Speaker 1>my podcast listeners and meeting some wonderful people since this

0:22:14.840 --> 0:22:18.080
<v Speaker 1>endeavor started, I've heard some great stories from them too.

0:22:19.240 --> 0:22:22.240
<v Speaker 1>Some are too good not to tell, and I think

0:22:22.280 --> 0:22:24.239
<v Speaker 1>y'all will agree. So here's what I want you to do.

0:22:25.160 --> 0:22:27.560
<v Speaker 1>If you have a story that you'd like me to share,

0:22:28.440 --> 0:22:32.840
<v Speaker 1>send it to my tcl story at the meat eater

0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:35.879
<v Speaker 1>dot com. We're going to give them a good once

0:22:35.920 --> 0:22:38.320
<v Speaker 1>over and select a few occasionally for me to read.

0:22:38.400 --> 0:22:40.800
<v Speaker 1>Not all of them, I can't do them all, but

0:22:40.920 --> 0:22:43.280
<v Speaker 1>the good ones we absolutely gonna put out there. I

0:22:43.280 --> 0:22:46.000
<v Speaker 1>think it's a great way for us to interact, for

0:22:46.080 --> 0:22:48.359
<v Speaker 1>me to get to know y'all while we're at it.

0:22:49.560 --> 0:22:52.320
<v Speaker 1>Write out your stories as clearly as possible. There's no

0:22:52.400 --> 0:22:55.199
<v Speaker 1>such thing as too much detail. Y'all just have to

0:22:55.200 --> 0:22:57.880
<v Speaker 1>trust me to wheedle them down to fit and I'll

0:22:57.880 --> 0:23:00.960
<v Speaker 1>tell them. Send your story. I don't forget that picture

0:23:00.960 --> 0:23:02.920
<v Speaker 1>of me and Tim. If you want that case pocket

0:23:03.000 --> 0:23:08.160
<v Speaker 1>knife to my TCL story at the meat eater dot

0:23:08.200 --> 0:23:12.160
<v Speaker 1>com until next week. This is Brent Reeves signing off.

0:23:13.080 --> 0:23:13.840
<v Speaker 1>Y'all we careful