Robertville Turkey Hunt

We know Robertville is a lovely destination in the Savannah River Preserve focus area that is very special, but most do not realize that is was named after the fellow that wrote 'Robert's Rules of Order.' Getting to hunt with 84-year old turkey guiding legend Charlie Hines was an exciting proposition, and trying to kill a really big gobbler seemed to be 'in order.' With not much gobbling in the early a.m. due to March winds blowing, he made a motion to break for breakfast (which I seconded) and then come back for a late morning hunt - a decision that proved wise for handling 'old gobbler business.' As soon as we slammed the car door a tom gobbled at us, and we trekked into the woods hoping to set up in an area where the gobbler might come to Charlie's home-made box call. Starting at noon we called for over an hour as we worked a big flock of birds into range, and at 1:17 my smoke stick bellowed and the longbeard at 24 paces fell over dead. The 6 others gobblers that were with him (2 longbeards and 4 jakes) eased off into the woods from whence they came. Hines, a man of a few words said, "You got him." Earlier he had said, "Either that bird will come to us, or he won't." Many thanks to all the contributers, including Salkehatchie River Outfitters, that worked to put this hunt together!

PhotosByDanKibler: Guide Charlie Hines congratulates me on the gobbler with a 9.5-inch beard and one-inch spurs; I weighed my big bird on the scale and it read... 21 pounds!