
Reid Bryant poses with his young daughters and his first-day trophy gobbler.
Photo by Kim Bryant
Yesterday, we introduced our 2014 Orvis Turkey Pool Contest, in which you get to vote for the hunter you believe will take top prize this year. Well, today was Opening Day, and one hunter, Reid Bryant, scored on his first morning in the woods. Since Reid is new to the area, he expected to struggle a bit, and his quick success even inspired his poetic muse:
by Reid Bryant
There once was a guy named Reid,
In the turkey pool he took low seed.
But on opening morning,
He shot out a warning,
For all doubters to know he’d succeed.
It was as if painted in oils,
The result of a wet morning’s toils,
A lone bird on high,
Silhouetted by sky,
Ol’ Reid dumped him in moistening soils.
So now he’s the talk of the town.
And this is how things will go down.
You’ll vote for yours truly,
And win in the pool-y,
Cuz I’m the baddest lil’ shooter aroun’.
Don’t expect to hear Garrison Kiellor reading that on NPR any morning soon.
So here are the current standings. You’ll see that both Steve Hemkens and Jim Lepage, hunting in other states, have already bagged good birds. But the competition is still wide open. So go vote!
2014 Orvis Turkey Pool Standings as of 5/1

Nicely done Reid! The Ode makes it sound like you shot it off roost….but that can’t be! Congrats! Will be in Vermont next week for turkey hunting, I look forward to wandering the hills for birds. You got a tough one to beat, but a bird with inch and a quarter spurs will be take the winning position!!
You are so Awesome!