1879 Lifter does the job

[Gary Cripps]

The last day of my season here in Wisconsin. Called in four birds this morning. Have a river flowing through the property. The challenge is to read the wind and set up on the right side. Have guessed wrong on two other trips. This morning was no different. Strong wind from the north so set up on the south side. About 5:20 the gobbling started on the north side. Damn wrong again. It sounded like three of them getting each other excited. I waited quiet this time. They kept coming closer and closer to the north bank of the river. They were right on the bank 45 yards out. Couldn’t see them but could clearly hear them. Then they turned and started to distance themselves. At this point I got the box all out and gave a triple hen chirp. It turned them around and steamed them up again. I saw three flap across the stream and another pitch in from a nearby hillside. They were about 30 to 40 yards out with some brush screening here and there. When I saw a head lift I unleashed a load of homemade #5’s over Alcan #5 from the left barrel of the old 1879 Parker Bros. Lifter. All the turkeys left but one. A great season finished the way it should. Not too easy and more satisfying.