It wasn’t hard, but I talked Spencer and his pal into hunting that last Saturday with me. It was a damp and cool morning and late in the year, but my crow call at first light made the bird sound off like it was mid-season. The old bird had been with hens on the two prior times that I’d tried him. There was no way this late in the season he was still going to be henned up.

The three of us headed for the edge of the woods along the field the bird had been using as a strut zone and about 100 yards from his last gobble. Less than 30 minutes later, he broke from the tree line and headed toward the decoy, and in doing so cantering toward Spencer’s calling as he strutted and half ran into the open. He was still walking sideways when Spencer’s 12-gauge sounded off. It was the perfect end to a great season and helped Greene County in becoming last year’s season leader. The best part is that Tennessee won’t be left out of Spencer’s newest book on pursuing the wild turkey.