Larry A. Smail's Blog

Fire Pink

Friendships usually exist between people who are together at various times. I have been involved in an unique friendship for around twenty five years.  What makes this friendship unique is that we have never seen each other in person. The story behind this friendship proves to be an interesting tale, as well.

I had a turkey painting as the cover on the National Wild Turkey Federation’s magazine called “Turkey Call.” Prints of this image were offered for sale. One person from West Virginia ordered one of the prints. The man would obtain my phone number and he called me. We hit it off very well through phone conversations. So, for these many years we would talk approximately every couple of months. Our joint interest in Wild Turkeys; hunting and turkey calls often were the topics. The man’s name is: Ken Crummett.

Ken lives on the top of a mountain in the mountain range that runs through the state of West Virginia. The mountain top property has been in his family since before the Civil War. It is actually called Crummett’s Mountain.

A couple of weeks ago, Ken called about the possibility of an arrival during Pennsylvania’s Spring Gobbler season. I thought ..WOW!  We are going to actually meet in person. Another acquaintance, Galen Braddy lives in North Carolina. We, too, have become friends through Ken and via the phone. Our interests are the same.

Another key person in all of this is my friend, Kip Feroce of Lower Burrell. Kip has a camp near Crooked Creek Park  here in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Kip makes great turkey calls. Do you see the continual trend…we are all interested in many ways through Wild Turkey hunting.

These two southern boys were to come to Kip’s camp to hunt! However, they almost didn’t make it. Galen was struck by a drunk driver. His vehicle rolled two times. He has glass in his body this day. He refused to miss this hunt. The vehicle was totaled.

The morning hunt wasn’t picture perfect in regards to turkeys. The sky was overcast; cool and windy conditions with rain doesn’t make for ideal turkey hunting.  We hunted anyway. I wasn’t really trying to hunt for myself. I wished my friends to have the opportunity over me, but I did take my shotgun. Kip and Galen heard three gobbles off in the distance and Ken and I didn’t hear any at all.

Later, Kip and Galen drove to a nearby property to try to entice a gobble. They left around eleven once the weather had a temporary change. Ken went to a blind and I circled the hill at the camp.

Ken and I after the season ended at noon sat on the porch when Kip’s truck returned. They had stirred up a gobbler around 11:30 and bagged the bird prior to noon. It was a good day!

Left to right: Me; Ken Crummett; Kip Feroce: Galen Braddy