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Taylor kills a big gobbler on camera. Sort of.

Here's the video from my turkey hunt with Freddy McGuire on May 1 in Bedford County.

Based on this video I am not expecting Will Primos to call and ask me to join his video team any time soon. I also fully expect my brother to tell me the video (particularly my ultracheesy voice over), is "more than I can bear."

But I hadn't killed a turkey in two years so that was my priority on this day. Given that and the general challenges of this hunt, I think this turned out as well as we could have hoped for under the circumstances.

Two details about the video. At one point in the voice over I say "I decided to belly crawl..." That's not true. As we were trying to figure out how to get this bird, Freddy -- who is an expert at this stuff -- suggested that I belly crawl over to try to peak into the hollow. I was going to give him a signal if it was clear for him to get over there with the camera. But it was clear the turkey was only 50 yards away and there was no way we could risk it.

Also, this video is quick, but at least 15 minutes elapsed between when I started crawling and when I finally shot.

I think the average viewer of outdoors videos would be surprised to know how many hunts those pro video teams go on to get the great footage that makes the cuts for their shows and DVDs. The more I lug cameras along on hunts, the more appreciation I have for the teams that get great footage out there under fair chase conditions.

Comments

# 1

[May 19, 2008 4:07 PM]

Backlash

Mark did you receive a 16 page Virginia Hunter Survey in the mail today?

I was wondering is this survey done annually or semi-annually

# 2

[May 19, 2008 5:05 PM]

Mark Taylor

Backlash, I haven't been home to check my mail so can't say for sure.

That survey is mailed out annually to a randomly selected (and fairly small) group of licensed hunters.

I've never gotten one, so maybe I'm due. Make sure you fill it out and return it. The DGIF folks really do pay attention to the results.

Thanks for reading.

mt

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About this blog

Mark Taylor holding a fish.

While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures.

Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism.

After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters.

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