By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — June 29, 2004 – Tim Kautz is the winner of the 2004 Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County’s Spring Turkey contest.
Kautz, a Jeffersonville resident, shot a turkey that tipped the scales at 26 lbs., 12 oz. to win the contest, which is co-sponsored by the Democrat.
Kautz took the winning bird while hunting on May 28 in the Town of Bethel. He said he called the tom in with a diaphragm and shot it from about 30 yards away.
The turkey had a 9-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs.
By bagging the biggest turkey, Kautz will receive a certificate from the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County and an invitation to the organization’s 2005 Fish and Game Awards Dinner. Kautz and the winners of the Federation’s other fish and game contests for 2004 will be included in a drawing for two $100 cash prizes and a $300 cash grand prize.
The turkey contest was open to all hunters who shot a turkey during the regular spring season here in Sullivan County or in Wayne County, Pa.
The winning turkey Kautz shot was actually the second he took this season. He shot his first tom on May 3 in the Town of Callicoon. That bird weighed 21 lbs., 12 oz. and sported a 9-inch beard. One of its spurs measured exactly 1 inch and the other was 3/4 of an inch.