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: