In the 1990's I used to go to the Pheasant Run Resort outside of Chicago to a very large Sporting Collectible Show. It was also the annual meeting of the Duck call group. It was always a good show to find old calls.In 1996 the year I started making turkey calls I went to the show as planned.While there one of the old call maker collectors was going from room to room ranting and raving about this new Turkey Box call he had just received from a new guy out in California named "Kanati". A name at the time we could not pronounce or new who it was or what it meant. The call was very unusually made and in a way no one had seen before. The "Trunk Call"! As soon as I got home I called Vic and ordered a call and spent an enjoyable time visiting with him over the phone. We talked off and on before and after I got the call.As the year went on he mentioned that he was thinking about going to the Turkey National and did I know anything about it. I did not! We agreed to check it out and share a table.That year 1997 started a friendship. We did the Nats.for 8 years in a row paying our dues in the business and had some wonderful times.There were many a night we would go out to dinner with Niles,Len Yule,Vic and myself, and a few others. Niles and I would just sit back and listen. There was no way for us to get a word in with a crow bar when Vic and Len got to talking.LOL!Two exceptionally gifted artists with amazingly active and creative minds. Those were the days!!!!!!.I just got back from a 3 week swing through 3 states calling turkeys. He wanted to hear a report when I got back.He just fought such a hard fight for more than 3 yrs. and when I would talk to him we would talk about it, but he never even sounded like he was sick or hurting! He was one of a kind!! This is Tough!! Herb.

Thanks for sharing how you two met.

That's really great because even Vic though it as funny that he was a California surfer guy making calls in Malibu. That is the last place on earth you find someone doing something like that. You even mention the word hunting in these parts and the local moms will be trying to run you over in their Prius hybrids.