Climbing To 49: A Hunter's Completion of the U.S. Super Slam

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.