Friday, May

Walker County Press-Page 13

Lifestyle

Thursday May 5 , 2022

to speak to a hunting club. Murry arrived early to set up his program which included film of a full-size “stuffed” taxidermy Rio Grande turkey hen decoy. That was before commercial turkey hen decoys. He said he had set up the decoy in a likely place one morning and began calling. Shortly, a gobbler came to the call and was so enamored by Murry’s yelps and the sight of the decoy that it pounced on the make-believe hen, knocking it over. The gobbler then proceeded to attempt breeding, I couldn’t wait to see it. As members began arriving, he noticed a lady in attendance. He said he couldn’t show it if a lady was present. I assured him she was an outdoor lady and knew baby turkeys didn’t arrive here carried by a stork. Still uncomfortable, he reluctantly agreed to show it. The lady laughed as hard as any of the men as the frustrated gobbler vainly tried to procreate its race. After his program, which was highly applauded, the lady came up and thanked him for it. The Texas country gentleman was nevertheless embarrassed. Murry’s calls are world-famous. Burnham Bros. Calls, now owned by Gary Roberson, carries on the fine tradition founded by two brothers who shared their knowledge of wildlife with others.

Pictured here during the 1980s, the late Murry Burnham is demonstrating his “hand squeak” varmint call, imitating the sound of a wounded rabbit. He successfully called foxes, bobcats, and coyotes with it, but his mouth-blown and electronic calls are more popular with hunters due to their ease of use. Photo by John Jefferson

And Be Glad!

Mother was born in 1931 and now calls an assisted living facility home. I visited her unannounced recently. She entered the dining area just as I started down the long hallway toward her. Mom happened to look my way. Though her eyes and memory are not quite what they used to be, she looked again quickly and said, “Danny!”