Ok, somebody has to submit stories about Mike, 'cause all I really got is how I found fingernail and toenail clippings behind the couch when I moved it to sweep behind. And like everybody wants to hear about that!

I want some hunting stories! Bring 'em on! Josh, weren't you there when Mike ambushed that one turkey in Kansas?

My one I can tell is about our first spring turkey hunting trip. We went to Bell Mountain area, I believe, around Ironton, MO. It was nice out. Trees just getting green. Only problem with whole trip was that Mike had a cold of all things. He was miserable, but we stuck it out. The first morning out we trekked on down a ravine and as soon as we started to even think about where we ought to go to setup we here the shuffle of leaves. Well, behind a tree I go and he sets up behind another tree that was to the right and behind of where I was sitting. Over the hill comes 7 jakes. All in a row. We didn't have to call or nothing. They were coming our way. Can't remember, but Mike may have used the slate a little bit. The only problem, for me, was that they were in a straight line. If I shot one, I would have knocked 'em all down, and they were getting close. Mike was whispering, pretty loud, "shoot 'em!", and I couldn't. From his viewpoint, they were spread out. I was finally able to shoot the first turkey when he turned to the right. He was about 10 feet from me when he saw me and I shot. Yes, I got him. It would have been a real sad day if I missed that shot. All in all the hunt actually lasted about 15 minutes.

The next day was rainy and we didn't hear any birds, so Mike decided to wait till the afternoon. I was fine with that. I can handle sleeping in on a rainy spring day. Well, we finally went out and were walking along a ridge and he was pointing out areas that he was wanting to go, when we heard the infamous shuffle again. We just squatted right where we were at. In the great wide open.
Mike's watch was shiny in the sunlight, no face masks. Totally unprepared and here come three jakes over the top. We figured they were left overs from the previous day. Mike just up and fired. So much for hunting. I think that hunt was like 10 minutes in the woods. Who says turkey hunting is hard?!

- Jennifer            
Finally, some stories:

Jen requested some storie about Mike and I thought I could contribute a couple that stick in my mind.

My name is Brad Shull and Mike and I began hunting in Kansas in 2002 & 2003. Now as far as turkey hunting goes I am a neophyte. I shot my first turkey about 8 years ago. So getting to go hunting with Mike was a REAL experience because it did not take long to realize that he was ‘The Master’. I learned more about turkey hunting with him than I ever could have on my own.

My parents live in Sedan, KS. And so Mike and I would load up and go stay with them. We would have a full weekend of hunting, fishing, and eatin’ good. Good ‘ol mom would cater to us for the weekend and of course Mike hated that. Ha Ha Ha! That left Jen and Karla to get into their own mischief. Such as gardening, landscaping and of course their favorite, SHOPPING!!




To The Stories:

In 2002 Mike and I went to my grandparents farm and got on this turkey. He gobbled but wouldn’t come. We were set up in this sumac patch and couldn’t see him but we could hear him. After about an hour Mike started to worry that the bird was leaving so he was going to make something happen. He said he needed to get around this bird & with me knowing the terrain I told him there was a ditch behind us. He got in that ditch and crawled probably 200 yards until he saw the bird getting ready to cross the road. Mike performed his magic on the slate call and the bird got fired up and started to come back. Mike finally got a shot and that was that. After I heard the shot I was waiting for him to come back. It had been an hour after he left me, then ‘the shot’ and still no Mike. I was beginning to get worried when over the hill comes Mike, turkey over his shoulder and a smile as big as kansas. He said it was the best Rio he’d ever gotten.

This next story took place in 2003. Mike had gotten a bird the day before. Now it was my turn. We heard a turkey across a big creek and up the other side, about a half of a mile. Only game in town if you know what I mean. So off we go. We set up and the bird is hot and coming fast. He’s gobbling at every call. I couldn’t see him but I knew he was close. All of a sudden I heard Mike ‘pass wind’ rather loudley. I couldn’t believe it but the turkey gobbled back. I could hear Mike snickering behind me. The happy story would be that I got the bird. The truth is that I hit him and he winged over the hill. We never found it. But it was a neat hunt and it showed me that Mike had many ‘turkey calling talents’.

The last story I’ll share takes place in Kansas also. We had been getting beat up by the birds. Turkey hunters will know what I mean. We had worked this bird but he was across the road so we got permission and went after him. It was 10 or so in the morning and Mike said he felt the call of nature, you know the kind that requires supplies, which I happen to have had. I actually had the urge to. So, there we both are, answering the call in the woods.  I know, I know to much information. Pretty soon Mike throws his vest on, pulls out the friction call & yelps a couple of times. We heard a gobble . Mike looks at me a says “GAME ON!!”. Off we go. We ended up bumping that bird but I’ll never forget the hunt.  




S. Lundstrum:

I was glad to know Mike. Did Lynn tell you about the photo? I used to spend the night at Mike's and he at my house when we were kids. At the time this photo was taken, Bob, Lynn and Mike were living at the trailer waiting for the completion of their new house. Mike and I decided to go messing around at the new homesite. It wasn't developed yet. The only thing that was there was a huge hole in the ground for the foundation. And of course one enormous pile of dirt. I think it had rained all that night and when we went up in the morning, it was nothing but mud. Mike and I played, mountain climbers and 'king of the hill' and I think we even tried to tunnel in. Glad it didn't collapse on us. When we were done and it was time to go home (probably to eat), we had quite a walk back to the trailer. It was a nice sunny day and we were covered head to toe with mud. By the time we got halfway back, the mud started to dry. We were like those cartoons where the character is covered in quick drying cement and they are running along and all of the sudden they can't move anymore. Not only was it difficult to move, it started to get a little painful. We just laughed and laughed, as did Lynn when she saw us and of course she needed a picture. As I remember it took a long time to get all of that mud off. Mike and I had a lot of fun together as kids. We spent many happy hours out in the woods 'hunting' with our pellet guns. We fished together. I even went on vacation with Bob, Lynn and Mike in Missouri. Mike and I went fly-fishing for trout. All we caught were a couple of little trout, but we still loved it. We also swam together on the swim team and always tried to beat the other. On the way home from one swim meet, I got sick (after we had went to Casa Gallardo). Anyway I asked Mrs. Wolff for a container so I could be sick in the car. Mike thought that was hilarious. Years later when we became reacquainted he would retell this story to whoever would listen, using his best sickly, whiny voice saying, "Mrs. Wolff, do you have a container?" I'm sure you get a lot of Mike stories. He was a great guy and a loyal friend.