John hale, Southern Indiana Bow Hunter

[2fletch]

I lived in Evansville, In from 1957 to 1962. Spent a lot of time as a kid exploring the strip mines of Kentucky and Indiana. Anyone know where in Indiana he lives? 

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Dugger.  Right in the state forest.

R

[varmint101]

Thanks for the information Mr. Rothhaar , I read an article about Mr. Hale , Dean Torges and I believe Bob Hall on a Squirrel hunt and became very interested in learning more about Him . I also heard You mention him on a Podcast and how highly You spoke of Him. Again thanks for the response.

I feel like I've ran into him before but didn't know who he was apparently.  I recognize him at least!

That was a great article in PBS!  I found it on the website.
https://www.professionalbowhunters.org/uploads/1/0/3/6/103684698/pbs-2016-2nd_qtr_proof.pdf

On a different note I wonder if this is what he used?
https://www.haydels.com/products/sw-92-mr-squirrel-whistle

[longbow1956.]

It's very possible, description in the  article fits the picture of the whistle.

[Kelly]

Anybody got a picture of this squirrel whistle?

[Ryan Rothhaar]

The squirrel call is the Mr Squirrel whistle, looks like that one in the link above. I got John and his brother Art started on them after I learned about it from a friend in northern Indiana, late 1990s.  This is the silver disk with the hole thru it.  The best way is to call crazy, blowing a broken pattern thru the whistle while shaking a small sapling to make a ruckus. It's a distress call and fox squirrels will come on the run to check it out. John's brother Art had a rat terrier that was a treeing squirrel dog. We got to hunting them where Art would hold the dog, I'd call, and we would shoot the squirrels with judo points then turn the dog loose to chase them down if not killed immediately. Quite a circus. I gave John and Art several of those calls. They told the local guys it was a squeaker from a toy elephant and Art would laugh, saying grown men were going into Walmart trying to buy squeaking toy elephants.

Kelly, Dad had one hanging from his bow rack in his little room in the building in Iowa, if you remember seeing it there. Silver disk the size of a quarter on a piece of shoestring cord.

R

[Kelly]

Duh, never saw the link above, got so involved in reading the article.

Ryan, don't remember seeing one on his rack but then would've known that it was anything special. Darn, disappointed now to have never discussed that with him. Good thing you are still around😎

Is there a certain time of the year to use that call?

[longbow1956.]

Thanks guys for the history and information .

[Wudstix]

Enjoyed all the info about John and his friends.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Call works anytime,  better when leaves still on , they'll come right in. Downside if using the call early in the season you'll call in lactating females.

We should do a squirrel hunt, KP, at my place in IL next fall. Covered up in squirrels there.

R

[Justin Falon]

Why do we never hear more about Bill Meyer and John Kolometz? Do they avoid the public eye?  I will have to go back and read the chapter on John Hale. Thanks for sharing.

Justin

[Dsturgisjr]

I talked to John earlier this week. He's still  hunting big deer and hanging in there with his health. I learn something new every time I talk to him, just like I did with Ryan's dad, Roger Rothhaar.

[Wudstix]

It is great to be able to talk with the Elders, and learn from them.

[longbow1956.]

  I think it would be great if one of the Traditional Archery Podcast groups would try to do an interview with Mr. Hale if possible .   What do you think ?

[varmint101]

  I think it would be great if one of the Traditional Archery Podcast groups would try to do an interview with Mr. Hale if possible .   What do you think ?

That sounds like fantastic idea.   

[Wudstix]

Excellent!!! ^^^

[Ryan Rothhaar]

 

I gave Alan Altizer John's number Monday. Maybe he will do Stickboys podcast.



R

[longbow1956.]

Thank you Mr. Rothhaar hope they can make it happen .

[Terry Green]

John is on the trad DVD with his squirrel call. It's pretty cool.
It also features Dean Torges.

[kopfjaeger]

Would be nice to see some more pictures of the bucks John Hale killed.