Paralyzed Veterans of America
by Shawn Tracy, Vice President
Turkey Signals at the Oasis
By Hodge Wood
As Mid-America Chapter representatives, Wayne Wells and I turkey hunted Hamm’s Sportsman Oasis on the 16th of April, and had a wonderful time. As seen on ESPN and The Outdoor Channel, Edgar Hamm’s 12,000 acres in Frederick offers a variety of ideal hunts, motel-type lodging, and camping. The sportsman can hunt a variety of birds, including quail and pheasant, chase a white tail, and tailor the plan to include bird dogs or whatever else is needed. Cowboy breakfasts and other meals can be provided. But Retired Master Sergeant Wayne and I went just to hunt turkeys and here’s our story.
With a 35 MPH wind expected, we sat in the dark outside the lodge, expecting we might get "winded – out." Edgar showed a few minutes late, and we joined him and his dog Rufus in their 4-wheel drive pickup for a ride to the double-bull blind at a perfect setting to use our thumpin’ sticks on a couple of spring Toms. The bearded ones were already gobbling away from the roost at daybreak as we exited the truck. Hurrying, I immediately tripped and almost busted my badonkidonk, rebalanced, and shoved Wayne to get into the blind fast. Signaling our arrival to the strutters and their ladies wouldn’t help. Wayne and I aren’t known for mental or physical speed … but fellowship in the outdoors doesn’t require these attributes to have a fabulous time.
Wayne hadn’t been hunting since ’83, and my turkey trips were rusting away in fond memories over three years old; I had bought tags each year, but had no time. But, it was turkey time again, and we anxiously situated our guns and gear into place and donned our camo masks, expecting a Tom at any minute. Fooled by herring nests at 180 yards in the direction of the roost after daybreak, I wondered why nine of the turkeys slept in, until we laughed and figured it out. Our kill zones over my Jake and Hen decoys were perfect, and the lay of the land along our creek row was absolutely promising. I wished I had not lost the leg on my Hen, as she seemed to sit low in the field. But the signal from our decoy presentation would still give good direction to a sexually possessive Tom, I figured. Watching the sun come up in God’s woods is worth a million bucks, and we paid nothing. Biggest problem was my turkey mouth calls wouldn’t work well. In my last ancient-history outing, I could call turkeys with the best of them. But before leaving the house, my favorite old raspy hen call’s latex reeds were history, and I canned it. I had bought new mouth calls on sale after yester-year’s season, and I’d finally opened them before this hunt. Funny though, while spending the night at Wayne’s, I chee-yucked and yee-oped until I was blue in the face and could manage only a weak cluck that had distance limits. In the wind, I was afraid I’d be in trouble with this limited turkey signal, and curious why I’d lost my tongue touch on the deceptive weapon of invitation I’d become so good at using in the past. But, after hours of practice at Wayne’s, that weak cluck was all I could regain. Deer began to feed and run the field, and they never left, so we were still.
Wayne whispered, "Turkeys!"
Marching in formation to our right was a large flock of hens followed by three full blown Rio Grande strutters, ready to jump in our cooking pan. Wayne and I knew the time was near and shouldered our shotguns early. At the pecan trees 125 yards away in mid-field, the deer and birds danced around in play. My weak cluck turned the first five hens, and they began walking our direction. I told Wayne to be ready, as they’d all surely follow. I guess the traffic signal changed at the far pecan tree, as the rest of the birds meandered the other way down a tree row. Our Tom’s continued to parade for the lady’s – for as far away as we could see. Our five turned hens grazed by at about 80 yards, and we watched them all morning, coming and going. The deer later circled and winded us, high-tailed it across the field and stopped to munch around. We even watched turkeys crawl back up in trees, and I’d never seen that. The whole tasty bunch made it back to the pecan tree twice, where the turkey traffic light continued to signal to go the other way. Our dinner was hung up. As the wind became unbearable, Wayne and I called it a day at 10:30 AM – with our five hens still on the field wondering how two humans sprouted out of the earth at a distance.
Before we said our goodbyes and thanked Edgar for such a great opportunity, Wayne and I checked out the accessibility of the lodge, café, and surrounding area for wheelchair access. Hamm’s has a congregate, accessible bathroom/laundry, but the single rooms don’t have accessible bathrooms. The ramp into the café is pretty steep, and wheelchair users will need help to enter. The café is accommodating otherwise, and Edgar’s description of the bacon, eggs, steak, and other delicacies typically served made my mouth water. Suggest your trip to Hamm’s Sportsman Oasis be closely planned, and Edgar is very willing to help accommodate clients. Please visit The Oasis website, www.hammsoasis.com, or call 580-335-2892. Wayne and I would be glad to provide further information.
Being out with Wayne was an inspiration, and he and his wife Juanita are "salt of the earth." Wayne said that being out in God’s creation to hunt again was a pleasure, and I seconded the motion. We plan to hunt more together now that we took the time.
The next day, I pulled out my turkey mouth call … I looked at it after sleeping better, and it dawned on me then that I had the danged thing in my mouth backwards the whole time! Placed properly, I had all the turkey signals I needed to cluck em’ and pluck em! Oh well, now I want to go again - worse than ever.