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PAGE 2B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008 Outdoors With Skipper Lucky hunter gets two turkeys for price of one A friend at church asked me if I had seen a pic ture of the turkey a fellow had shot. I replied “no.” So that got my interest up, as I proceeded after the service to find him and the picture. Corey Bryson, of Mt. Airy, was hunting last Saturday on his Grandfather Bryson’s property near Helen. If you recall, Saturday was a real bad day, weather wise. Windy, cold and rainy. It was around the middle of the after noon as Corey hunted for turkey signs. He found a lot of areas where they had been scratching. Using his Primos mouth call, he made a few calls and quickly received an answer from the adjoining ridge. Setting out a decoy, he got ready. It wasn’t long before the gob bler headed his way. Shouldering his Remington 870 20-gauge, Corey watched as the turkey kept on coming. Closer and closer, until he could wait no lon ger. At 35 yards, Corey squeezed the trigger and down went the gobbler. This one had a nice 10-inch beard. I con gratulated him, and he replied, “that wasn’t the only tur key I got this week.” Then he told me about the other turkey. Hunting the first Wednesday of opening week, he was on public land. Walking along an old logging road, he saw a gobbler fly off the roost. Quickly, he sat down in the mid dle of the road bed. No time to set out a decoy. Calling with his mouth call, old Tom started head ing his way. Strutting, drumming, A GOOD START Corey Bryson shows off one of the two turkeys he has harvested at the start of turkey season. spitting, and fully blown out, Corey watched the show. Seems the turkey paid him no attention. After enjoying the performance, Corey shot him at 15 yards. This one had a 10.5-inch beard and one inch spurs. What an opening week. This leaves him with only one turkey left for the season. You want to meet a fellow excited about turkey hunting, come meet Corey. I too, got a chance to turkey hunt last week, but not with the results my friend at church had. I had a gobbler respond to my owl call on Friday evening. Up before daylight on Saturday morning, I headed to the woods. I put out my decoy and hunkered against a tree trunk. It wasn’t long before the hens cackled in the tree tops and the gobbler responded. So much noise, that I figured there might be another hunter calling from across the creek. As daylight approached, I could make out the outlines of a hen up in the branches. I talked back and forth to her with a putt or two. I figured the gobbler, as usual, would fly down to another piece of property across from mine. Two of the hens came to my side, and everyone else went in the opposite direction. I heard the gobbler getting further and further away, so around eight, I headed back home. Great to be in the woods, but nothing to put in the deep fat fryer. Let me know if you get a nice turkey, or a trout, with the seasonal streams now open and being stocked. Skipper Smith is an outdoors columnist for The Banks County News. His column appears weekly. Let him know about your hunting or fishing adventure at 706-677-1520. Lady Leopards honored BASKETBALL STANDOUTS Members of the 2007-08 Banks County High School Lady Leopards basketball team were hon ored during a ceremony Sunday afternoon. Receiving awards were, front row, from left, Allison White and Lacey Saxon; back row, from left, Randi Seabolt, Andrea Hunter and Lauren Kennedy. Not pictured is Brittany Cook. BCHS Class of 1995 establishing memorial scholarship The Banks County High School Class of 1995 is establishing a scholarship in memory of classmate Shawn Smith. Smith, who was a standout athlete for the BCHS Leopards, died fol lowing a car accident last summer while attending a basketball camp in Alabama with members of the North Oconee County High School team. The annual football game between BCHS and North Oconee has been named the Shawn Smith Bowl in his honor. Those wishing to make dona tions or obtain additional informa tion can contact Nicole Blalock at 706-658-7014 or Heather Cotton at 706-654-7683. A fund has been established at area Freedom Bank locations. NOTICE TO PUBLIC HAIL DAMAGE Due to Hail Damage on March 15, 2008 Wayne Neal Chevrolet is being forced to drop their prices by thousands of dollars off factory invoice price. One hundred fifty seven new and pre-owned cars, trucks and vans have been damaged and must be sold under sticker price. In addition Wayne Neal Chevrolet customers are still eligible for special financing and rebate offers. Shop 24/7 online at wayneneal.com. 123 S. Elm Street, Commerce, GA (706)335-3196