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Hills Of Truxton

Stories & Travels of Turkey Hunter
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Book Details

Publisher: Joyner Outdoor Media

Date: April 12, 2005

PB ISBN-13: 978-1419604126

HC ISBN-13: 979-8373162098

LOCC# 2005902712

Dim (PB): 6 x 0.52 x 9 inches

Format B/W Interior Color cover.

Words: 57,114

langauge: English

Illustrated by: Amanda Morris

'Each morning that we awake is a blessing in of itself. . .I have found those early spring mornings, sitting in the forests as the sun rises, to be my better days.'Filed with colorful colloquialisms and enlightening anecdotes, Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter is as rare a as a triple spurred Gobbler. Author Mike Joyner, a veteran hunter and outdoorsman, recounts some of the many stories he has collected over his twelve years as a devoted turkey hunter. From tips and techniques to tall tales and turkey calls, Joyner has created an easily referenced text that will entertain as much as it educates.Filled with incredible photographs and informative maps and charts,

Hills of Truxton makes a great gift for intrepid hunters and nature-lovers alike.

There are many to thank for inspiration, shared experiences, hunts shared, and friendships I also wish to recognize the friendships & support from the great NWTF volunteers of New York State. Working with such a dedicated group of individuals has been an inspiration in many ways. There are many others who I will remember as I recount my experiences. Much of my enjoyment comes from those hunts shared with others more so than the hunt itself.

226
Pages
39
Chapters
13
Years Spanned in Writing it
13
Years Spanned in the Turkey Woods

Reader Review

Ready for Turkey Season!

When I read this book last winter, it made me want to relocate to Truxton.This was a very interesting book. If you're an avid turkey hunter or just love to be in the woods, you need a copy. So many stories that bring back memories of my own!
Cassey Heartwells

Editorial Review

One thing rings through as clear and true as the first gobble as a bird rattles the early-morning trees on a cool spring morning. Here is a book written by a man obviously in love with wild turkey hunting and life itself.

This is a fine collection of turkey-hunting stories from across the country, and for a first-time book author, this title is a wonderful effort, and would make me want to see a sequel. The book covers all the emotions that turkey hunters feel.

Here is a collection of tales from Joyner's vast experience. It deals with many turkey hunting topics, such as: ghost turkeys, the bear and the turkey, and the thrill of shooting a double-bearded bird.

There are emotional sides to this fine collection of stories, and one such piece of fine writing is when the author describes why he is a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation. There's no push for readers to join just because he did, but he explains why this fine organization is so important to him.

There is a little bit of how-to information about clothing and gear, and a bit on hunting techniques, but this collection of turkey-hunting stories comes from the heart and reading it tells you why hunters should hunt gobblers.

The author delves into his reasons and the high and low points of taking his Grand Slam of turkeys -- the Eastern, Merriam's, Osceola and Rio Grand subspecies. It seems to be the most current goal of many spring gobbler hunters, and for them that loves it, it's great. To me, hunting a gobbler can be an exercise in futility and humility, and some of that comes through in Joyner's book.

This is a very fine collection of short turkey-hunting stories, and there is a moral to each of them. That moral is that this book isn't written by a book writer looking to do a book that might sell; this title was written by a hunter with many huntskills, and the knowledge and respect to produce a finished product that not only will encourage hunters to read, but it will teach them something far more than a how-to book: it will teach people why turkey hunting is so much fun, so easy at times, and also why it can be exceptionally difficult.

This book was written by a dedicated turkey hunter, and his love and respect for the birds he hunts shows through. It rates a big "thumbs-up" from me.

May 2009 by Author Dave Richey www.daverichey.com

Available Formats/Offerings Our Shop

Chapters 1-13

May 1993, New Beginnings

Rest Of The First Season

Rotten Tom…… Aka: %@*# Bird

Hills Of Truxton & Other Exotic Locations

Cumberland County Road Trip

Corn Row Gobblers

Jeff’s Evening Gobbler

Church Boy

Best Longbeard I Never Called To!

Contests, Records, And Other Stuff

NWTF- Why I Am A Member

Long Pine, Nebraska

Calls, Gear, Guns, And Other Essentials

Chapters 14-26

Turkey And The Bear

Double The Beard, Double The Fun

Georgia Mountain Gobbler

Georgetown Hunts With Walt

Ghost Of ‘J’ Ranch

Son Of Ghost At ‘J’ Ranch

Rob - Pro Staffer!

Rainy Day And A Quarter To Spare

Adventures In Rodman

Lee Roosts A Gobbler

90 Second Longbeard

Bill’s First Bird

Hunting With Family

Chapters 27-39

South Carolina, 2nd Time A Charm

Snapper

The Gumbo Ranch

The Gumbo Ranch Part 2

My Pa Hunt - The Good, Bad, And Ugly!!

End Of A Great Season

Shorty

Mooky’s Turkey Woods Rules Of Thumb

Wisconsin Longbeard

Finally! Filled A Tag……

Grand Slam Finish - Florida

Perceptions & Conclusions

Spring Season Surprise

Media Kit

Sentence Description
From camouflage to campfire culture, down-to-earth author presents delightful accounts of the mysterious art of turkey hunting.
Short Desription

“Each morning that we awake is a blessing in of itself…I have found those early spring mornings, sitting in the forests as the sun rises, to be my better days.”

Filled with colorful colloquialisms and enlightening anecdotes, Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter is as rare as a triple spurred Gobbler. Author Mike Joyner, a veteran hunter and outdoorsman, recounts some of the many stories he has collected over his twelve years as a devoted turkey hunter. From tips and techniques to tall tales and turkey calls, Joyner has created an easily referenced text that will entertain as much as it educates.

Filled with incredible photographs and informative maps and charts, Hills of Truxton makes a great gift for intrepid hunters and nature-lovers alike.

Long Description

Gobble…. Gobble.… Gobble…..

To some, the turkey’s bizarre call is nothing more than a natural oddity. To Mike Joyner, it is one of nature’s purest melodies.

Joyner, a veteran hunter and outdoorsman, recounts some of the many stories he has collected over his twelve years as a devoted turkey hunter in Hills of Truxton: Stories & Travels of a Turkey Hunter, a book as rare as a triple spurred Gobbler. Filled with colorful colloquialisms and enlightening anecdotes, it contains a decade’s worth of turkey hunting wisdom. From tips and techniques to tall tales and turkey calls, Joyner has created an easily referenced text that will entertain as much as it educates.

Hills of Truxton makes a great gift for intrepid hunters and nature-lovers alike. Readers will love thumbing through its pages time and again, to re-read favorite stories and to explore the wealth of photographs and informative charts nestled like a wild hen within its pages.

“Each morning that we awake is a blessing in of itself…I have found those early spring mornings, sitting in the forests as the sun rises, to be my better days.” –Mike Joyner

Author Interview

Question:: What inspired you to write the book?

Author: There were number of things that inspired me to take that step of writing a book. One of my main motivations was the enjoyment of my time spent in the forests and fields in pursuit of spring & fall turkeys. I spend a lot of time in the woods for both spring and fall seasons. I enjoy many hunts with my wife, and many other fellow turkey hunters.

Question: From your preface & bio, I see you have been turkey hunting for a while. What made you decide that now was the time to publish a book?

Author: True, I have been at it for over 13 years now, and that may seem a lot to some. Many of whom I have hunted with have been at it for more than 25 & 30 years. Turkey hunters can tell tales as well as any good fisherman, and I might suggest even better and taller tales at that! Over the years I wrote stories for online forums and the New York State Chapter NWTF newsletter. The idea of writing a book had been in the back of my mind for some time, and it was when I got a copy of Tim Herald's book "Gobblers I have Known", I knew that it was time to do it.

Question: What makes your book different from other turkey hunting books?

Author: I wrote this book in a similar way that Tim Herald did, in that it was about experiences that I had and those shared with others over the many seasons. Many books are "how to" books, and there are plenty of those. My attempts were not only to recollect those experiences but to retell them as you would hear them in hunting camp, corner store coffee shop, or just running into a fellow hunter on a back road. There are some ramblings and opinions about things such as wild turkey records, National Wild Turkey Federation, and a little on equipment. These diversions are limited and the focus is on the hunts themselves and those I hunted with. Many of the chapters in the book are about hunts with friends, and gobblers that were never tagged, or still out smarting local hunters to this day.

Question: You mention the National Wild Turkey Federation, what is that?

Author: The National Wild Turkey Federation is a conservation organization that I've been very involved with over the years. I began as a volunteer in 1995, served as a director on the New York State Chapter from 1996 to 2005, and as State Chapter President from 2000 to 2004. They do a lot, and the volunteers are the best in the world. It has been and still is a privilege to work with such great conservation volunteers.

Question: The book features a lot of photos, and illustrations, who are the artist(s)?

Author: The photos are from those who were there during those great moments, and some I took. I use to freelance many years ago. There is a list of who took what photos in the back of the book. The illustrations are by Amanda Morris and they are a really great collection of impressions by Amanda. There will be prints and other art products coming soon from those illustrations.

Question: How long did it take to the write the book? You did the book design as well?

Author: Some of the stories I wrote a few years ago. Once I made the decision to actually write a book, it took a little over 5 months including the formatting and cover design. I was familiar with the software tools required to create the book. The cover photo is actually a view of our property, and where many of the hunts take place. Microsoft word was used for the inside copy, along with Adobe PageMaker for the cover design. Corel Photo-Paint & Microsoft Photo Editor was also used for most of the picture formatting.

Question: What can we expect next?

Author: I am finishing up marketing materials and setting up for book signings and shows to be at. Once supporting the book is underway, I will concentrate on another project I have in mind, actually there are three more possibilities, but I will concentrate on just the next one for now. My wife and I are planning to build a home, and that will take up much of our free time. We both have very busy careers, and that makes for a full day.

Question: What offerings will there be, and where can they be purchased?

Author: The book is now out in trade paperback, and will be available in laminated hardcover mid-June. I am also looking at a limited leather bound edition for collectors. The first printing for my personal order is 120 copies in paperback, and that will also be done with hardcover version. Each of those will be signed and numbered. The books are available online thru: booksurge.com, alibris.com, abebooks.com, and amazon.com.

Question: Anything for your readers?

Author: Yes, I hope that they find the book a pleasurable read. It was written to recall what I remember the most of those days in the woods. I think most of the readers will identify with one hunt or another as all of us as turkey hunters share a common humility when pursuing gobblers. To look back and put it all into perspective has been a great outcome of writing the book.