Bird is the word for Dick (Walkin' Eagle) Alford

Dick Alford has a bad case of turkey-hunting fever.

The 69-year-old from Mound started hunting gobblers on a whim in Wyoming in the 1970s -- before there was a turkey hunting season in Minnesota.

"I shot my first one in Minnesota [in 1980] on the first morning, and that seemed to kindle the whole thing," he said. "I really got the bug."

Since then, he's been scratchin' that itch. And it's been lights out for turkeys.

Alford -- nicknamed "Walkin' Eagle" by a Native American friend for being in the right spot at the right time -- has bagged more than 200 gobblers in 20 states, including Hawaii. He's written six turkey-hunting books, produced a turkey-hunting video and makes and sells turkey calls and strikers. And he's a well-known face at seminars and sports shows, where he shares his 30 years of turkey hunting experience.

Alford grew up in Brooklyn Center and played baseball on the 1960 University of Minnesota national championship team. He was a physical education teacher, then longtime dean of students and baseball coach at Hopkins High School. He retired in 1995, which gave him even more time to pursue his passion.

Much to the chagrin of wild turkeys.

Near the eve of another Minnesota spring turkey season (the season opens today), the affable Alford talked turkey:

What hooked him?

"It's the fact that you're talking to 'em -- that's what makes a difference," he said. "You learn their language. And try to duplicate some of the things they're saying. Toms will come if they think you're the real thing. I just like the challenge of trying to match wits with 'em."

Are turkeys smart or wary?

"They're not the sharpest stick in the woodpile in terms of intelligence. They can't reason and think like we do. But their senses and awareness are so keen. If you can get into their zone without them seeing or hearing you, you have a fighting chance to talk one in."

Judging distances: hit or miss

"Most of us, including myself, are not very good judges of distances. I talked to 300 turkey hunters [at a seminar] and asked them to judge the distance to a turkey decoy I put out at 57 yards. Eighty-four percent underestimated the distance."

Most guessed it was 43 yards away and said they could kill the bird at that distance.

"They probably would have wounded it or missed it," he said.

The 20-40 rule

"My rule of thumb is the 20-40 rule. That is, I try not to let them get in closer than 20 yards, because you have a good chance of missing 'em. And 40 yards is what I consider the maximum distance I can shoot. I can kill 'em out farther, but I try to get them in closer."

To remove the guesswork, he paces off 40 yards, then puts sticks in the ground to mark the distance.

"When they come down the edge of the field, I know when they pass that stick they're in range and I'm going to get a good shot," he said.

Why hunters miss

Hunters tell Alford that movement usually foils most shots.

"They say the birds saw me move or heard my safety click off," he said.

When a hunter shoots and misses, Alford said, it usually means they haven't shouldered the gun properly, cheek to stock.

"You have to shoot it like a rifle. Aim it. And you should shoot about 4 inches below the head," he said.

Has he ever missed? Yup. Six times.

Tricks of the trade

"I've had a number of deer foul up a potential shot because they scented me and spooked the turkeys," he said.

So now he fills a water bottle with his urine, then sprays it around his decoys and blind to keep deer away.

"I use dove decoys as confidence decoys. I put two out, on a fence or on branches above me. I can't say I shot a turkey because I had them there. But when he sees the dove decoys, it may be just the thing [to bring him closer]."

Calling -- always critical

"When I start calling, I call real soft, just in case there's a bird 50 or 60 yards away, and I don't want to spook him. I will call a lot, but I don't do a lot of calling at one time. I may give out two series of yelps. Then wait 10 minutes. Then give a couple of clucks. If I get response, I will do a lot of cutting [a series of loud, fast, erratic single notes]. Because that seems to drive the toms nuts."

Thrill of the hunt

So after shooting more than 200 turkeys, does Alford's heart still pound when he hears a gobbler or sees one coming his way?

"Yeah, it does. I'm not the guy who jumps up and screams or gives high-fives [after bagging a bird], but we always shake hands. It's still a big deal. Any turkey is a trophy."