Contents
Story
Decoys
Credits
🟡 LIMITED RESEARCH VOLUME
OWNERS
Avon Mason
about 1956
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
Twelve fishing camps at one time–two remained in latter days
LOCATION
North Core Banks, just south of Morris Camps
Story
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Avon Mason
Avon Mason ran his fishing camps from the late 1950s till Park takeover.
Mason acquired 32 acres according to this Newspaper deed report. The Park service only credited him with ownership of 20 acres.
Mason felt mistreated over the process as outlined in his letter to the governor. (Mason had 32 acres according to the NPSS map–credited with 20 acres only)
Avon Mason camps were filled during fall fishing season— Avon had 4-5 camps on the Banks just North of Drum Inlet, according to Joe Fulcher. Women didn’t go over, except maybe for a day trip—it was rough. Billy Smith (just to the North) had a bathroom in his camp and that was an exception. Still further North were the camps of ira Morris (Morris Cabin Camps).
At 8, Joe got a BB gun for Christmas and was told he could go along for his first trip (he had been wanting to go for years) with the men–he also had a .410 shotgun but they wouldn’t “ let him loose with it “ yet–although, he did get his first duck that hunt with his .410.
At that time, the family hunted from uncle Avon Mason’s camp (Mason Kabin Camps). Joe’s first night, he “slept in the rafters” of the camp. During the night, a steer burst thru the door of the cabin and into the middle of the sleeping men. Joe had the best view of the humorous results as they frantically coaxed the steer back out the door.
Joe’s dad had the same birthday as Monty Nelson (Joe’s mothers brother)- and they were close friends, almost like brothers. Monty told little Joe he knew where there were some ducks and took him off to a marsh blind. He told Joe, “when I nudge you in the chest, shoot”—“yes , the area was baited”–three black ducks flew over, circled once–Joe didn’t shoot–Monty asked why?—“I was waiting for them to land so I could get all three”, said Joe. Monty told him that if they returned, he should shoot when told—the ducks returned and were coming in about head high…..on the nudge, he rose and got a bead on the first duck and shot at the first duck—but it was the third trailing duck that came down–not having led the first ducks in flight. Monty had told him to keep his face down till ready to shoot, since it would” shine like a light” in the twilight.
The next year, at 9, Joe shot his next duck…his first Redhead.
Avon Mason was related to Janice Smith (who was a Mason)who, with husband Billy, had a camp nearby. (per Clay Fulcher)
NPS document states that the NPS burned camp #1 S. DM/#229, #2 S.DM and #3 S. DM on 01/06/78 (the camps had earlier been numbered #1, #2, #3 N. Don Morris “old number” by NPS
Credits
- NPS Archives and files
- Joe Fulcher, Morehead City
- Clay Fulcher, III, Atlantic
- Other references within text