Climbing To 49 - (Climbing to 49) by Darin Labree Potter (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The English dictionary defines "traveling" as "the action or activity of going from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length." What it fails to include are examples of travelers and hunters who have definitely been etched into the fabric of this classification. Traveling is in a hunter's blood. Our ancestors who settled in America relied heavily on hunting in order to survive the harsh climate and the conditions they encountered while exploring new territories. Unforeseen challenges and danger were all part of exploring the rugged wilderness.

Sure, time has changed and technology has advanced hunting, but the urge and inner desire to travel and pursue game is still etched in the foundation of hunters.This desire is especially evident in turkey hunters around the nation, where millions travel each spring in pursuit of the wild turkey.

Some hunters take it one step further and set their sights on completing a Slam.There are six types of turkey hunting Slams according the the NWTF: Grand, Royal, World, Canadian, Mexican, and the U.S. Super Slam. Although the first five Slams mentioned require the hunter to harvest certain subspecies in a particular region or country the U.S. Super Slam is arguably the most intense and time consuming. In order to reach Super Slam status the hunter is required to shoot a gobbler in each of the 49 states except for Alaska, where conditions are too harsh for turkeys to exist.

On March 1, 2021 at just 30 years old, Tanner Burns from Buckhannon, West Virginia shot an all white gobbler on a volcano in Hawaii, allowing him to complete the U.S. Turkey Super Slam. What makes this even more impressive is that he hunted all 49 states without going through any outfitters or hunting guides, with no decoys or blinds - all while working full-time as a teacher and running his business, "Full Draw Taxidermy," as a taxidermist. To top it off, the majority of these hunts took place on weekends and during spring break while teaching.

Review Quotes

"Tanner Burns has proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt that aggressive turkey hunting tactics work. Read just about any chapter in this book and you'll agree.While Tanner's low-crawl, sneak-up-on-em approach to the hunt works for him, many of us older hunters have dialed it back a little as we've aged, and now usually hunt more conservatively.It's apples to apples though-it's turkey hunting either way, and either way it's exciting. If you can read this book and not say "Wow!" a dozen times, there's something wrong with you."

Jim Spencer, author of numerous books including the Bad Birds series. He also has written over a thousand newspaper and magazine features about turkeys and turkey hunting.

"Turkey hunters love a good story, especially when it involves the chess matches and ups and downs of our passion. This book is full of those. In these pages, the author takes you along with Tanner Burns on his breakneck journey to attain the U.S. Super Slam, from his first turkey years ago to the incredible culmination of his goal. Along the way, you'll spend a lot more figurative time with Tanner and a host of other characters, seemingly sitting beside them in the timber and at the campfire as they pursue America's greatest game bird with an old-school flair. And you'll learn some great turkey tactics, too."

Brian Lovett, author of numerous turkey hunting books, former editor of Turkey and Turkey Hunting, and the current field editor for the "On the Hunt" section in the NWTF Turkey Country Magazine.

"Skillfully fashioned!" If you care about turkey hunting adventures and the unique places you get to visit, you must read this book. This is a turkey hunting book for turkey hunters. The stories allow you to go to places you've never visited but always wanted to explore for turkeys. If you decide to take an outing to one of the states, Tanner Burns has laid a path for you to follow as he ventures forward on his U.S. Super Slam.The author has captured Tanner's anecdotal stories and innovative strategies in a way that is helpful to newcomers or veteran turkey hunters. Each chapter ends with a "Lessons Learned" comment that is insightful and valuable. This is a wonderful mix of a turkey hunting quest, a travel odyssey and the excitement, frustration, and humor that makes turkey hunting so special."

Al Stewart, director of the Nimrod Education Center, former Michigan DNR Upland Game Bird Specialist, recipient of numerous awards, some of which include the NWTF Wayne Bailey Lifetime Achievement and NWTF Henry S. Mosby Awards.

"In climbing to 49, the reader travels along with Tanner Burns as he pursues the U.S. Super Slam. We get the opportunity to tag along on a ride that took the utmost in motivation, diligence, and determination. In the end, not only do we get to accompany Tanner on his quest, but we also obtain bits of knowledge learned through his experiences and tribulations. All turkey hunters will see value in how Tanner has documented his quest to reach such a difficult task in the turkey hunting world."

Michael J. Chamberlain, Ph.D. is the Terrell Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. He has conducted research on wild turkeys for the past 30 years and distributes content on the Wild Turkey Lab, a communication platform for science-driven information to benefit wild turkeys.

"The U.S. Turkey Super Slam is one of the peak achievements in turkey hunting. To accomplish this with a 9-5 job as a teacher, a side business, and all of life's other commitment's is monumental. These are the stories that inspire and keep strong turkey hunting traditions a