Author Jim Casada
Outdoor author Jim Casada has released his latest book that
provides a close look at the lives and accomplishments of 27 of the legends of
turkey hunting. In order to avoid slighting any living experts, he has concentrated
on the deceased icons of this great sport. In the introduction, he said,
"Only the greats who are deceased have been profiled."
Later in the introduction, he said that when he realized that
he would be besieged by living turkey hunting personalities to be included in
the profiles, he solved the problem by saying, "You have to die to
qualify". That provided an instant solution to the problem.
Casada has done a masterful job of bringing together profiles
of these men that tells about their personal connection to the sport, their
expertise in calling, call-making and some of their idiosyncrasies. He pulls no
punches and "tells it like it was". It is a reflection of his
vocation as a retired professor of history that he records the details
"warts and all".
Casada had the pleasure of personally knowing 12 of the men
profiled and hunted with many of them. His mentor, Parker Whedon, is included
in the profiles. I remember well the story that Casada told of an early hunt
with Whedon. Upon concluding a hunt by killing a turkey that Whedon called to
the gun, Casada picked up the bird to depart. Whedon stopped him and said,
"Jim, if you like turkey hunting as much as I think you will, there will
come a time when you can't remember every turkey you ever killed. Let's go back
and pick up your spent shotshell. When you get home, write up a little story
about the hunt and put that information, along with the beard inside the shell.
That way you can always go back and relive a hunt." As of 2012, I believe
that Casada has saved 283 shells with the details of the hunt and a beard
tucked inside.
Casada's personal love of turkey hunting is evident in the
words of this book and it is a book to be treasured by any turkey hunter.
In addition to the profile of Parker Whedon, other
"greats" such as Tom Turpin, Henry Edwards Davis, Neil Cost, Dave
Harbour, Earl Mickel, M. L. Lynch, Ben Rodgers Lee and Dick Kirby are a few of
the men profiled.
The book is Remembering the Greats: Profiles of Turkey 1250
Yorkdale Drive , Rock Hill , SC
29730
For a great addition to your library, or for a gift for the
hunting friend, you couldn't make a better choice.
