Rain, rain go away! Lake Chuck measured plus-10 inches of rain recently, with more rain in the forecast. It was wave after wave of thunderstorms, with intermittent violent lightning strikes. You might have just parked it at the house and stayed off the streets as much as possible. If you absolutely have to drive after there’s been a heavy rain, please slow down. Wakes from speeding fools can be the difference in a home going under or not. Those worried home owners, standing in knee-deep water, aren’t waving because they’re glad to see you. Be courteous and cautious and throttle down. While at home, we were about to wash away, and Gus Stacy was enjoying a beautiful west Texas sunset. He was high and dry and hankering to score a Texas tom turkey. He had warmed up with a Jake so he wouldn’t go hungry. But, now it was time to get selective and wait out a mature Rio Grande. Gus was up early and ready to go when the birds descended from their roosts. He pulled his truck in and stepped out into a new hunting adventure. Before he could slam the door, a turkey let loose with a piercing gobble. Picture here Curly of the three stooges executing tight 360 circles and slapping his head. At first, he figured someone had set him up, and this was some sort of sick joke. When the turkey gobbled again, Gus realized he had parked directly under the bird. What are the odds? Then Curly, not Gus, devised a plan and shifted into gear. He melted into the trees and went into lockdown. The nervous bird bailed off his perch and headed away from the truck. A few sexy yelps on a scratch call was all it took. The gobbler did an about-face and zeroed in on the “hen in distress” call. Gus had his gun shouldered as this magnificent Tom glided in. The big bird puffed out his chest and went into a full strut as he closed the distance. Gus was palpitating, but held off as the bird approached his kill zone. At 40 yards, Gus flipped the safety, and it was show time! He closed his eyes tightly and jerked off a hurried shot that amazingly found its mark. The big bird crumpled. And chalk up another mature Texas turkey to Gus’s portfolio. But, not so fast! As Gus approached his downed bird, the big Tom was suddenly back on his feet and fighting mad. The giant feathered beast attacked in a flurry of beating wings, as Gus morphed into a self-defense karate stance. The huge bird literally pummeled him, as both combatants went to the ground. Fighting back like a whirling dervish, Stacy held his own. This was “mano y turkey” at its best, with neither giving in an inch. Gus finally executed a vicious body slam, temporarily immobilizing his worthy foe. The knock-out was delivered with a size 11 boot administered by a visibly shaken turkey hunter. Exhausted and covered in blood and feathers, Gus overcame big odds against the mighty Texas Rio Grande. Cajun country boys will survive.
Gus Stacy after going 10 rounds — notice the bite marks on turkey — at Millersview in west central Texas
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