Inside the Tenth Legion: Colonel Tom Kelly's Legacy with Laura Bates | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 472

In this episode of the 100% WILD Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with Laura Bates, the daughter of the legendary Colonel Tom Kelly. As the turkey hunting community celebrates the Colonel's 99th birthday, we dive deep into the origin of his masterpiece, Tenth Legion, and the brand-new "Bootleg Revival" Limited Editionrelease. Laura shares fascinating stories about the original 1974 unauthorized Xerox copies that fueled the book's underground fame and why it has earned a status comparable to a "religion" among Southern turkey hunters.

The conversation explores the personal side of a pillar in the hunting world, detailing what it was like growing up in the Kelly household and the moment Laura realized her father was a cultural icon. We also get the Colonel's unfiltered take on modern turkey hunting trends, from his distaste for decoys to the "edgy" language that gave his writing its authentic flavor. Whether you are a long-time member of the "Tenth Legion" or a new hunter discovering the heritage of the turkey woods.

00:00:00 – Tim's Intro returns to the Bass Pro Shops studio

00:01:25 – Introducing Laura Bates, daughter of Colonel Tom Kelly

00:02:11 – The Bootleg Revival: The 1974 Xerox story

00:05:21 – Building the legacy through NWTF and The Colonel on the Fox

00:10:10 – Why Tenth Legion became the "Turkey Hunter's Bible"

00:15:52 – Growing up Kelly: When Laura realized her dad was a legend

00:19:48 – Celebrating Colonel Tom Kelly's 99th Birthday

00:23:36 – The "Flavor" of the 10th Legion: Edgy language and authenticity

00:28:36 – Fans and Fame: Being recognized in the most unlikely places

00:32:02 – The Origin Story: How the Colonel became obsessed with turkeys

00:37:32 – Laura's Perspective: Will she write her own book on the legacy?

00:42:08 – Colonel Kelly on Tactics: His honest thoughts on decoys and reaping