Turkey Dog Hall of Fame

Turkey hunting dog Hall of Fame

This page honors those deceased dogs, who because of their heart, drive and intelligence are most deserving of special recognition for their turkey hunting career.
Save pictures of your dogs and send them here.
Some times we don't recognize what we had until they're gone. Like Sergeant Stubby of the US Army in World War I. Or the famous Llewellin Setter Count Noble. Or Lord Byron's dog Boatswain.

Turkey hunting dogs we'll never forget:

Lucky September 2, 2011 - December 18, 2025 Jon Freis, Maribel, WI
Suki and Red are in shock. Be a big hole in our hearts for a long time, Lucky was a beautiful Randy Carter/Carroll Gathright dog. There's not a dog in the world that got to chase more turkeys in her lifetime than Lucky. We had a wonderful 14 years. Can still hear her barking.

Autumn 2011 to 2024 (Bunofsky's Sugar X Buck). Penny July 29, 2020 to August 29, 2025 (Gathright's Patti Joe X Beau Beau).
Penny was only 5 years old. She was the best dog I ever had. Tracy Breen, Ravenna, MI

Dogo Argentinas are usually catch & kill puma and hog dogs, but my Mbaku loved turkeys. He left us way too early.
Mbaku - March 31, 2020 to July, 24, 2023. Oscar & Jacquelyn McCullough, Triangle, VA

Dixie - December 1, 2014 to July 13, 2023. Randy & Tina Carter, Mechanicsville, VA

Jinger Lou - May 7, 2010 to May 16, 2023. Ron Meek, Norwich NY

Pixie - May 5, 2010 to October 14, 2022 Ed Watson, New Martinsville, WV

Pennsylvania Golden Retriever Turkey Dog

Cooper - April 2009 to December 2021. Nathan Beaston, Shermans Dale PA

Cutter: 2009 to 2022. "Cutter was a John Byrne turkey dog. Myra and I drove to Virginia and picked her out at about 6 weeks, then I drove back at 8 weeks and brought her home. She was the happiest, most pleasant puppy we ever had and maybe our most favorite dog ever. Every one loved Cutter. At 6 months she was breaking turkeys on her own and I think we harvested 6 birds off her breaks that first year, plus additional birds when Keekee was the lead dog on the hunt. This gave Cutter a kick start that not many puppies have. She was totally focused on turkey and if she barked in the woods, it was turkey and nothing else. She ranged perfectly and found and broke turkey daily. She was also the best pet you could have and loved people to no end. We we re so privileged to have had her in our lives." Marlin Watkins, Summitville, OH.

Gage - December 28, 2009 - June 6, 2022 Rob Mucinski, Limerick, PA

Meggie - December 5, 2008 to November 14, 2021. Randy & Tina Carter, Mechanicsville, VA

June - 2006 to August 4, 2018 Richard Rose, Fredericksburg, VA

Keena
likes the wind, the rain, the snow and the
cold.

Keena December 14, 2003 - July 15, 2018. Jon Freis, Maribel, WI

Gunner May 19, 2010 - April 19, 2018. Job & Tammy Seger, Coal Township, PA

Buster 2000 - March 16, 2016. Randy & Tina Carter, Mechanicsville, VA

Shiloh 2005 - January 2016. Randy & Tina Carter, Mechanicsville, VA

Gracie May 7, 2005 - February 14, 2016 Mike Morrell, Forest, VA

Bonnie, 3/3/2002 - March 2012 and then Buddha (w/sister Lucy), 3/5/2004 - June 2015 Hilary & Tom Nickerson, Alpharetta, GA

Pearl December 2014 - February 19, 2016 Frederick Payne, Charlottesville, VA

Just a Dog by Gene Hill
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds.
He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea.
He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care fore me.)
When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.
When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags.
Without him I am only another man. With him, I am all powerful.
He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.
He has promised to wait for me...whenever ...wherever--in case I need him. And I expect I will--as I always have.
He is just my dog.

Warrensburg MO honors Old Drum and Senator Vest with bronze statue.

From time to time, people tell me, 'lighten up, it's just a dog, or, 'that's a lot of money for just a dog.' They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved, for 'just a dog.'
Some of my proudest moments have come about with 'just a dog.'
Many hours have passed and my only company was 'just a dog,' but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by 'just a dog,' and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of 'just a dog' gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's 'just a dog,' then you will probably understand phases like 'just a friend,' 'just a sunrise,' or 'just a promise.' 'Just a dog' brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. 'Just a dog' brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of 'just a dog' I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not 'just a dog' but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. 'Just a dog' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not 'just a dog' but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'just a man.' So the next time you hear the phrase 'just a dog.' Just smile, because they 'just don't understand.' Author Unknown

Light is the task when many share the toil.

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