Turkey Report

[Mills Morrison]

I went this Saturday and had one gobbling. I think it is the same one that gobbled here last year and, like last year, he started moving away from me and back down the edge of the swamp. Then I hear three shots in his general direction. After about five minutes, he starts gobbling again. Then, 20 minutes later or so, another single gun shot, and he does not gobble after that.

Go back Sunday with my son and we don't hear a thing. The temperature dropped like a rock and it was raining a little. Hopefully, this coming weekend will be different.

I know some folks on here have had some luck, but how are the rest of you doing?

[Garry L Gordon]

Our season does not open until next Monday. I've been hearing birds gobbling around the house in the mornings when I let the dogs run. It's been so cold here reports are that birds are still flocked up and our Conservation Dept. is predicting a slow start for the season. I have opened the season sitting in snow once in my 38 years of hunting turkeys in Missouri. Not fun, but it keeps the ticks down some.

[Randy G Roberts]

Season does not open here until the 25th (Excepting youth season), of course I will be in Sanford. I had 4 Toms strutting behind the house last week and they are gobbling. I have seen them out in the fields most every time I go out.

[Mills Morrison]

My brother got one and then missed one a few days later. My Dad has had about the same luck I have.

One thing for sure. . . the season seems to take forever to get here and then flies by when it arrives

[Mark Ray]

One less in Texas!!

Last Monday.

[Garry L Gordon]

One less in Texas!!

Last Monday.

Mark,

Are you hunting in your neighbor's garden?:) It sure looks like a scenic place to call up a gobbler.

[Mark Ray]

Mark,

Are you hunting in your neighbor's garden?:) It sure looks like a scenic place to call up a gobbler.

Garry,

Timely rains in our little part of South Texas, has produced a really nice wildflower crop. Here on a friends place, the Indian Blanket flowers are partcularly beautiful, and abundant! This Gobbler met his maker about 5’ from the posed pic, because he and all his buddies trampled the blooms around the hen decoy they were “courting!”. It is truly a cathartic experience to hunt in such a stunning setting.

[CraigThompson]

Spring gobbler doesn’t start in the Old Dominion until 4/14 . Although I doubt if I go the war between myself and turkey died a few years ago . Although I wouldn’t be adverse to knocking one over with my grandfathers old W&C Scott 10 gauge for old times sake !

[CraigThompson]

Mills is there a fall turkey season in SC or GA ?

[Mills Morrison]

No, we have spring only

[Frank Childrey]

I got to the woods and set up at dawn. I had a open field to my left and a wooded creek bottom in front of me. Here I placed one hen decoy. For some reason, about 8:00, I looked to my left, and out of the corner of my eye there stood the gobbler. I froze. I waited for about 5 minutes, looked again, and he was, of course, gone. Oh well. I decided to give it another hour. About 8:45. I heard a bird behind me. He came in to my left making a beeline for the decoy. I raised the Trojan 12, shot, he took to the air. I gave him the left barrel. He folded in mid air and landed in the creek. 14 lb. jake.

[Frank Childrey]

By the way, this was Saturday, the 14th; I have never, ever, shot a turkey on Opening Day. The gun used is a Trojan 12 gauge, 28" barrels, bored improved cylinder and modified. I was using left over #4s, lead shot.

[Mills Morrison]

Dad and I went Saturday and had two calling on either side. Lots of hens, so no luck. Did have an armadillo running around us and should have shot him, but was holding out hope for the turkeys to come in. Beautiful time to be out in the woods, though.

[Mills Morrison]

Went Saturday and had at least two gobbling on either side. One got close but would not come over a clump of scrub palmetto. He was smart, I guess. Sunday, went with my son and heard some in the distance, but no luck. Story of my turkey career, but am not complaining. You can't beat the scenery or tranquility

[Garry L Gordon]

Looking at that youngster with his Parker, I'd say this qualifies as an extraordinarily successful hunt!

Thanks for sharing the photos.

[Mills Morrison]

It's not his yet. He is just holding mine.

Thanks for the kind words, Garry

[charlie cleveland]

that son of yours mills is being raised up the right way...great looking place you are hunting sometimes a turkey will hang up on creeks fence lines and plants like yours did...stay after them you ll win one day heck just beeing in the woods this time of year is a winner... charlie

[Mills Morrison]

That is right Charlie. Being in the woods this time of year is just beautiful. We'll get him one day.

[Gerald McPherson]

Well I got the monkey off my back this morning, killed two. Another five seconds and I may have gotten my season limit.I had one coming really talking when suddenly three walked in quiet. I've been busted several times this year by birds coming in behind, Good to see some come like they are supposed to.

[Garry L Gordon]

Excellent!! Congratulations.

[Craig Larter]

Did my work this morning, I sinned and took my Ithaca Grade 3 Super Ten.

[Garry L Gordon]

A pardonable sin — three h—l Mary’s and you are forgiven (and envied...but wait, isn’t envy a sin , too?!).

[Bob Hayes]

Besides the Southern SxS NC has a few other things to offer.A buddy and I decided to meet at a friends farm in eastern NC for a few days of turkey hunting before heading to the SxS.
Meeting at Rocky Mount and heading to the farm a week ago Sunday with beautiful weather our hopes were high.
Since private land is hunt able on Sunday now we went that afternoon for a few hours.Really slow with one hen that came in and put on a show.
Monday was different weather still beautiful but going to deteriorate that afternoon.Had a gobbler roosted about 150yds away this morning.He gobbled once.Hens flew down and landed with in 40yds.Gobbler enter our setup about 40yds straight in front in full strut.Brief thought entered my head(this will be easy).My buddy fired and pulled his shot hitting the ground jus right of the bird.
Rest of the day was slow but I suspect the birds were preparing for the coming rain.
Tuesday rain most of the day.It let up about 2pm and I knew we should be out hunting but something told me not to go.We had a cookout and some good company that afternoon.
Next morning(Wed.)we went right to a known roost and were greeted with one or two gobbles.Birds flew down and shut up.At 8am on gobbler enter our corner then another and another then another.Milled around for about an hour.We sat still and quite.As they started to leave I called very softly.One turned and came straight to us.One down one to go.
Made a stealthy exit and and went back to lodge and relaxed the rest of the day.
Thursday decided to go right back to same spot as before.This time with a single hen decoy.Got there very early as I had a another one of those feelings again.Went straight out and set up decoy.Started brushing us in next(530am)birds started gobbling.In fact about 6 birds were gobbling all with in 150yds.Well this concert lasted till about 620am.Three few down at about 55yds and made a beeline straight to us.Second bird down at 625am.
The way the birds were acting you'd have thought it was opening day.Hens cutting and yelping.All the gobblers were trying their best.
What a morning.
Then on to the SxS Show.

[Mills Morrison]

Good job! I am going to try again this weekend with my new back action lifter I bought from the Southern. The season is late and they have gotten pretty wise, so we'll see

[Phillip Carr]

Wow now that’s a heck of a bird. I’m headed to New Mexico in the morning again. Hope to fill my tags.

[Reggie Bishop]

Craig that's a good bird, but wow what an Ithaca!

[Todd Poer]

What a great story Bob Hayes. Holy smokes that bird looks like Freddy Krugar with those hooks. Hope that bird was stone cold dead before you picked him up, those daggers would do a number on you.

[Bob Hayes]

Good luck Mills there's a bird there waiting for you and that new gun.
Good luck to you Phil let us know how you make out.Those NC birds are kind of intimidating after 6 weeks of looking at those little 18lb osceola turkeys.
Hope everyone has a great rest of season and a safe one.

[John Marscher]

62395

Savannah river gobbler for you Mr. Morrison. Shame it goes out this Saturday

[Mills Morrison]

Excellent, John!

[Mike Koneski]

Got out yesterday for day 1 that actually started on Saturday here in PA. I usually miss the first 2 days due to being at the Southern, so, it began as usual. Smoked a slammer Tom at 8:15 AM. 24 lbs, 9 1/4" paintbrush beard, total spurs 2 5/16". Now for filling tag #2!!

[Todd Poer]

Whoa;

Nice bird. Anything that big and well fed must of had a name and been someones pet. Did you make sure there were no strings on that turkey?:)

Just kidding. Glad you got off to the right start. Hope your next ones even bigger.

[Gerald McPherson]

Very nice.

[Mike Koneski]

Todd, I have seen him for a year. Named him “El Ropo”.

[Bob Hayes]

Good going guys nice seeing somebody still enjoying the spring season.It will ease the withdrawals I am experiencing after two months of turkey season in Florida and NC..

[Randy G Roberts]

Way to go Mike. I don't see a gun in the pics. Did you shoot that with your buddy Dave's Elsie? I bet he made you use it after that thrashing you gave him.:rotf:

[Jerry Harlow]

Got out yesterday for day 1 that actually started on Saturday here in PA. I usually miss the first 2 days due to being at the Southern, so, it began as usual. Smoked a slammer Tom at 8:15 AM. 24 lbs, 9 1/4" paintbrush beard, total spurs 2 5/16". Now for filling tag #2!!

Well you told me you were going to do it on the first day. You're like Babe Ruth calling your shots. What a bird!

[Mike Koneski]

Well, bird #2 went down on my day 3 at 6:58 AM. The bearded hen has a 6 1/4" beard and came in with 3 gobblers and she was taken left handed at 15 yards. Nothin' to it!! Now it's time to move on to woodchucks.

[Todd Poer]

Who says turkey hunting is challenging. Congrats. Youssa Killa.

[Garry L Gordon]

Well, bird #2 went down on my day 3 at 6:58 AM. The bearded hen has a 6 1/4" beard and came in with 3 gobblers and she was taken left handed at 15 yards. Nothin' to it!! Now it's time to move on to woodchucks.

Looks like you had a great (albeit short) season. And what are you taking woodchucks with, if I may ask?

[Mike Koneski]

I use multiple chuck guns. .223, .22-250, .308 and the newest is 6.5 Creedmore. That one is scary accurate. All of them are dialed in at 200 yards. Shot 70 here 2 years ago. That never gets old. :)

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, we have very few whistle pigs here in Northern Missouri, but the squirrel season opens at the end of the month. It's a good time to break out the vintage .22s. I also like to shoot them with light loads out of an old hammer gun or two. I wish we had woodchucks here.

[James L. Martin]

Got one at 0900 today, a gobbler and a jake with a hen came in ,had to take the jake as the gobbled stayed 70 yards out. Now to try for # 2 ,in N.Y. you can only shoot one a day.

[Jerry Harlow]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, we have very few whistle pigs here in Northern Missouri, ... I wish we had woodchucks here.

Get your Missouri game department to bring some of the pests in just as we believe ours did with coyotes, which have taken over. Deer, turkey, rabbit, small dog, and cat populations are way down.

You'll like the holes under every building and extra holes in fields to break a leg in.

[Phillip Carr]

The Parker 20 gauge got the job done.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62479&stc=1&d=1525487432

[Jim DiSpagno]

Beautiful gobbler Phil, how big?

[Bob Hayes]

Awesome picture Phil that picture rivals your southern bird this year.
Congratulations

[charlie cleveland]

what a nice birdand with a 20 ga...them barrels on that 20 ga look to be a mile long in that picture...how far did you take this bird and what size shot and load....charlie

[Phillip Carr]

I called this bird out of a deep bottom in a burn area. I was traveling to my camp site and stopped for a break. Decided to use my box call to yelp a few times and got a response back straight down about 500 yards. Called again and had two gobblers go off, one a little further down the road.
I was parked in the middle of the winding dirt road so I relocated the truck about 100 yards down the road where I could pull off. When I called again the bird that called the first time was clearly making his way up out of the valley. I had brought my VH 20 with 32” barrels along so I grabbed two shells, a few calls and headed back up the road where I had called the first time.
The burn area had very little cover but there was a small current bush on the side of the road. I hid behind it and Yelped a few more times. This time 2 gobblers answered back at about 250 yards. I kept calling every few minutes to encourage them to make the steep climb. By now I had 5 birds going off.
Unfortunatley I had very limited visibility. Five minutes later birds gobbled at about 40 yards and I got a glimps of a bird. Shortly a hen appeared in front of me at about 8 yards, putting and looking around. Suddenly off to my left a gobbler stuck his head up from behind a rock. I quickly shot and he bounced high mutiple times down the hill finally coming to rest against a downd pine. With that two other gobblers took to the air. At about 15 yards. The bird I estimate is a 3 year old and is an average size bird. I think the picture makes the bird look much larger.
My 20 gauge is choked Full and Full and has factory 2 7/8” chambers. I was shooting 3” shells with 1 7/8 oz of a 5,6,7 blend.

[Phillip Carr]

Picture of area.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62480&stc=1&d=1525526843

[Mills Morrison]

Mills and I had one get close but still could not see him due to all the shrubbery. Mills sat pretty still the whole time. Tomorrow is probably going to be my last day. They are pretty wise by the end of the season

[Mike Koneski]

Nice bird Phil!! Beautiful 20 bore too!! BTW, nothing like a live decoy to help bring 'em in.

[Bob Hayes]

Thats capitalizing on an opportunity Phil.

[charlie cleveland]

mills this is some of the million dollar moments in your life....charlie

[Mills Morrison]

It sure is Charlie. Going for probably the last time of the season tomorrow. Habitat is beautiful. Now to decide which gun to take

I used the wing bone call today and they really responded.

[Garry L Gordon]

Get your Missouri game department to bring some of the pests in just as we believe ours did with coyotes, which have taken over. Deer, turkey, rabbit, small dog, and cat populations are way down.

You'll like the holes under every building and extra holes in fields to break a leg in.

Jerry,

Trust me, I had my share of whistle pigs when I lived in Ohio (and had a farmer who raised horses pay me to kill them and keep holes out of his pastures), but the few we have are pretty discrete and seldom seen (we do have occasional badgers also). As for coyotes: I think we bred them here and sent them east. We've lived with them for quite some time (forever?) and our game populations are OK. What is hurting us now is the fenced deer operations that brought CWD to us. That and the terrible nesting seasons we've had for too many years in a row. It's been really hard on our quail, pheasant and turkey populations.

I also see that West Nile Virus is hitting your grouse hard. We lost our grouse to not cutting trees.

Oh, well, enjoy what you have while you have it.

[Dean Romig]

The morning before leaving for my cousin's farm in Northeast Ohio this guy came cobbling down my street. His beard was about 10" long and he was pretty bold about proclaiming his masculinity for any hen turkey within earshot. These pictures were taken from my deck and he was less than thirty yards away.

But "Cousin Tim" promised me a turkey so I decided to make the 10-hour drive and give it a go.

It was still a bit early in that pert of Ohio, the Lake Eire winter had been gone only a couple of weeks and the turkeys had not spread back into his area. Nevertheless, we were able to call in three longbeards on three consecutive mornings but they all hung up at 50-60 yards and wouldn't come any closer, even with the hen decoys we had out. It was very frustrating...

.

[Dean Romig]

On our last morning at Cousin Tim's, just minutes prior to our departure, Tim, true to his word of a promised turkey, came through and produced the bird..... :biglaugh:


.

[Mills Morrison]

Frustrating is a good word to describe turkey hunting. We keep going back though

[charlie cleveland]

dean you needed some of them new tungston sst shells from what i can read and the info from the other fellows on hear say and from the pattern i seen on paper they will get a turkey at 70 yardsand 80 yards ...fellow have to watch close up shots a fellow could miss his bird...good hunting....charlie

[Dean Romig]

I'll be bringing my grandson Cam to Vermont for a weekend of turkey hunting next weekend. I have high hopes it will be as much fun for him as it was last season when I killed a big jake. Cam didn't have his hunters safety course yet or his hunting license but he has both this time.

Cam watched me shoot this one last year - I hope I am able to watch him do it this year.


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[Dean Romig]

Charlie, I wonder if at those kinds of yardages if a fellow would need some kind of scope...?

Cousin Tim uses a red dot scope on his 3.5" Mossberg pump...(:vconfused:)

He tells me he can't wait til all those 3.5" turkey loads are all used up - then he's going to switch to 2 3/4". Me, I'd get rid of them now! They beat him up so bad it's a wonder he hasn't developed a severe flinch (like dropping his gun just before he pulls the trigger!)





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[Phillip Carr]

Just a neat discovery on the Parker 20 . I looked up my letter today. It was ordered on May 2 1917. Exactly 101 years to the day I shot my turkey.

[Phillip Carr]

Thought I better reposition the picture before my Scotch spilled.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62520&stc=1&d=1525579880

[scott kittredge]

my turn for NH turkey report' shot one this am at 5;40 W[th my Ithaca NID 10 GA. came in strutting and gobbling all the way to 20 yds. with a roll your own 1 1/2 half oz of 6's did him in. 10 1/4 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs, 22 lbs

[Bob Hayes]

Phil well you know what that means?Now have to hunt every year on May 2nd from now on.That would be a shame to break that string of luck.

[Dean Romig]

I thought there was no hunting on Sunday in NH - guess I was wrong.





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[Todd Poer]

I know this may come across as fightin words, but I just don't think sxs's in general are designed nor meant for long distance shots on stationary targets. Things just get to wonky when trying to account for that horizontal element, especially for such a small target as turkey head and neck. I think 40 yards using lead loads is just fine for several reasons.

I am also not so sure about using tungsten in these old guns. I understand it is as hard or harder than steel. Don't think it a good combination of 50% more density than lead and harder than steel to force through these old guns. History is fraught with good thoughts, bad ideas and tungsten in old sxs's maybe one of them. Maybe you can use #9 tungsten to get really good patterns in the old sxs at 40 if the wad is designed to compress some on the sides since the pellets won't.

Now if your in a killing mood for turkey at distance and not to worried about being caught unfashionable in the woods without your old Parker, then get out that pump or autoloader with recoil reduction and load a 3.5 inch tungsten round in it. You won't feel a thing when that turkey drops dead as a hammer, at least not until the next day.

[Dean Romig]

As it was explained, these TSS loads have two protective shot cups so I wouldn't worry about scoring the bores. My only concern is that there would be enough thickness in the walls of the double shot cups to cushion the the effects of the non-compressible tungsten as it passes through the chokes.

Nevertheless, I might not hunt at all if I couldn't use a Parker - with apologies to all makers of modern shotguns...:corn:





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[Todd Poer]

[As it was explained, these TSS loads have two protective shot cups so I wouldn't worry about scoring the bores. My only concern is that there would be enough thickness in the walls of the double shot cups to cushion the the effects of the non-compressible tungsten as it passes through the chokes.

Nevertheless, I might not hunt at all if I couldn't use a Parker - with apologies to all makers of modern shotguns...:corn:
.[/QUOTE]

That's cool and to each there own. Its fun to get those birds in close if you can. Old SXS work well for up close and up to 40 yards depending on how gun is choked and which barrel you choose. These guns were obviously designed to shoot to a particular distance with a tried and true lead shot. No need to ask the gun and load to do more than what it can. Steel shot or anything harder was never imagined to be run these old SxS bores, then really no need to try, I know I won't under current circumstances. That's really my point. Actually our Mad Scientist Jerry demonstrated that when he was testing tungsten in patterns and also the carrying power of lead vs tungsten. Lead starts losing it penetration energy at 40 to 50 yards anyway, but its still lethal to small game.

I think the tungsten stuff will be great though and someone clever will find an application that can safely work through an old sxs if there is determined a need for it. I mean seriously if employed correctly it could be incredible. Think about it. You could really lighten up the load and charge possibly and shell size and get better performance and patterns with more shot or about same shot in the pattern as lead. I just think you need a different wad and shot cup or some type of buffer that won't harm the guns barrel and chokes.

Maybe a half ounce of #9 tungsten and high pellet count in say a 20 gauge load could be incredible in a 2.5 inch shell and might even eliminate a good bit of shot stringing. If there is a will and need, there is a way. How great it could be to get a true left barrel load for a grouse in cover or pheasant that gets out to 40 yards and you have a load that has more pellets and penetration to get to them. Interesting possibility.

[Mills Morrison]

I dropped Mills off at school and, as I was walking away, he was telling his teacher he went turkey hunting this weekend.

[Garry L Gordon]

I dropped Mills off at school and, as I was walking away, he was telling his teacher he went turkey hunting this weekend.

It's one of the most optimistic things I can imagine to hear of a young person who recounts a hunting trip as one of the most meaningful things in his life. I sure hope his teacher understood this and responded well.

Mills, I don't know you, but I hope you and your grandson have many wonderful hunts together in the future. Thanks for taking him, even if it is among (what I am sure is) the easiest and most natural things for you to do. I know it must be a blessing for you to pass on the tradition of hunting and guns to him, but it's still something the rest of us appreciate.

Good hunting!!

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks Gary! Fortunately both of my sons enjoy hunting with me.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks Gary! Fortunately both of my sons enjoy hunting with me.

Oops! I said grandson, thinking you were as old as most of the rest of us -- my apologies. I guess, then, I'm even more optimistic as there are parts of two more generations after mine that will value hunting with fine double guns. Thanks for your tolerance of an "older" hunter.

[Mills Morrison]

No problem.

[Jerry Harlow]

I went Saturday and was headed to another destination but decided to stop at my grandpa's farm which I own now. I said I'd listen for a minute and go on. As soon as I opened the door a gobbler was red hot. Sounded like he was behind my home place so I moved the truck and got out as soon as I could. He was right where I left. Got as close as I could and scared the hen out of the tree. He gobbled still for thirty minutes, and I knew I had him. But he flew down and gobbled going away, apparently to the hen. He finally shut up when he found her. I guessed he was going to a hay field. Went there but no luck. So I decided I would come back late morning after the hen(s) left him.

About 11 my phone rang with a number I did not know. A notorious turkey hunter told me the gobbler was in the bigger hay field with a hen, and wanted to know if he and his grandson, a distant relative could try to kill him. What bad luck. If I had not answered that call. If I had not left there. Anyway how do you turn down a fifteen year old turkey hunter. I made sure he was going to let his grandson shoot and gave permission. It was an easy sneak since the gobbler was next to the interstate highway and noise sneaking up close would not be a factor. Just what I had planned to do.

The phone rang after hunting time ended and the grandpa said the young hunter wanted to talk to me. He thanked me for letting him kill my ace in the hole gobbler I had been saving all spring season. The bird weighed twenty-one pounds! He'll never forget that one as it only took a few calls and the bird came right into him. That could have been me but better for a fifteen year old. I'm at the end of my hunting but he is just beginning and is a good kid and a die-hard hunter already. He said it was forty yards with his Benelli Black Eagle. His second bird for the year and his first one was reported to me to be a twenty-six pounder! :)

[Mike McKinney]

Mills sons love to follow him around. The one made every step Mills made at The Southern and as far as I know never said anything negative, he shook every bodies hand that stuck theirs out. I’m a big fan!

[Phillip Carr]

Jerry thats one heck of a sacrifice and kind thing to do. You helped to make a wonderful impression and memory for that young man not to mention Grandpa. Thank you.

[Todd Poer]

Jerry you got it right. To you it may be just another turkey. Albeit though taking that bird on the old home place would be something special for you as well. Either way I think you made a wise personal sacrifice that will hopefully pay forward with interest.

I hope you still get your bird but even if you don't this season that alone I would say still qualifies as having a successful season. If you weren't already I'd say you are now a favored nation status to a couple of fellow turkey hunters.

Btw next time you see that young man, tell him he has to take his next bird on the old home place with a SXS. That will make his head spin. You can call it the SXS hunt club.

[Garry L Gordon]

What bad luck. If I had not answered that call. If I had not left there.

Jerry,

Seems to me there was a great deal of good "luck" involved here. That young man and his father were lucky to know you(!)

You are laying treasures away...

[Daniel G Rainey]

How do you add photos.

[Mills Morrison]

Try this

http://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/DemoMovie/PlayUploadPictureVedio.html

[Mike Koneski]

So the Mrs. finally tagged her very first gobbler!! 7:00 on Monday AM at 15 yards. Big Tom, 22 lbs, 10 1/4" beard and total 2 6/16" spurs. He came in and whooped up on a jake decoy and as soon as he paused and stuck out his neck, BANG!!!! To say she's excited is an understatement!! :)

[Phillip Carr]

Daniel if you have problems posting a picture and would like me to help. Just send the picture to coues3pt@gmail.com and I will be happy to post for you.

[Jerry Harlow]

Jerry,

Seems to me there was a great deal of good "luck" involved here. That young man and his father were lucky to know you(!)

You are laying treasures away...

The only hesitation is they do a lot of scouting; mostly from the cab of a truck riding around which I don't do due to lack of time to my disadvantage. They probably know every turkey in my county that comes to a field; even tell me about birds around my house that I have never seen, so I'm sure they were checking their mailbox (a phrase truck hunters here use when riding around checking fields). But I could have said no I'm on my way back there after fooling with the turkey earlier. But I didn't. Here is the young man with his 21 pound prize and his grandpa. My granddaughter goes to school with him and he did tell her he killed my turkey on her gr. gr. grandpa's farm and sent her this photo.

[Jerry Harlow]

So the Mrs. finally tagged her very first gobbler!! 7:00 on Monday AM at 15 yards. Big Tom, 22 lbs, 10 1/4" beard and total 2 6/16" spurs. He came in and whooped up on a jake decoy and as soon as he paused and stuck out his neck, BANG!!!! To say she's excited is an understatement!! :)

Congratulations to the Mrs.! After an attack from that bird the decoy must be trashed.

[Todd Poer]

Mike your wife put a whoopin on that old Tom. Looks like she jelly headed it. I am sure that was just as exciting for you as it was for her. If she gets the bug now you might not get another shot. The real trick will to get her to learn to call so she can call one up for you.

[Mike Koneski]

She says she just may go out again next year. As for that decoy, yes sir, it did get it's butt kicked by her Tom and mine. Good thing AvianX makes a quality decoy!!

[Mills Morrison]

Guess that decoy is part of the metoo movement now

[Phillip Carr]

I was not drawn for an AZ turkey tag but a friend and my brother were. Thought I would share a nice picture. They were hunting just souh of the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62640&stc=1&d=1526068386

[charlie cleveland]

nice bird and what a view...i would hate to climb into that canyon to retrieve a big bird....charlie

[Bob Hayes]

Wow Phil what a view.Now thats a tag of a lifetime.

[Phillip Carr]

Definity a very neat place to hunt. Charlie the first climb back out with the turkeys is the worse. :whistle:

[Todd Poer]

I'll bet 20 plus pounds added as dead weight would add to complexity of the walk out. But that will just be part of the memory and that bird will taste that much better.

I am a self proclaimed connoisseur of barbecue and I have tried and proven fact about what it takes to make a great experience and call it The Declaration of BBQ. It is a precedent setting case law of the land that simply states "the quality of the BBQ experience is equal or proportionate to some degree of suffering." Whether it be in the making of it, the journey to get there, or the surroundings. I stumbled across my theory now proven fact by peer review when we were told about a BBQ joint that was in a very rough part of town, across from the street from Federal pen in Atlanta, in a building that would not let my dog stay at, had to wait in line to get served behind politicians and a flock of attorneys, it was hot and there was no air conditioning and it was some damn fine barbecue.

I think Turkey hunting has some similarities or features that go with my BBQ Law.

Oh by the way the First Axiom to my BBQ law is that they also must serve some sort of a banana flavored desert. Banana pudding is preferred, but did find some of the best road side barbecue I have ever had but obviously they did not have the pudding, but luckily the convenience store nearby that had bars in front of all things glass and even had signature buckshot pellet indention's in front of the cashiers plexi glass did have a banana flavored Moon Pie.:)

[Bob Hayes]

Hey Phil how far down the canyon can you hear a gobble.I guess if the gobbler is on top of the rim and your below you might not hear him.Or vice versa I'm sure the gobblers use the terrain to their advantage.

[Phillip Carr]

I was kind of joking about the climb out of the canyon. Its darn rough country. That said we hunt just off the boundary to the Grand Canyon. I know for sure you can hear a gobbler over a mile. ( if the wind is not blwing. ) we use a coyote howling call to get the turkeys to shock gobble. We regularly can hear gobblers responding over a mile +.

[Bob Hayes]

Now thats just great Phil another thing to do on bucket list.Hearing and gobbler on the rim of the Grand Canyon.Got to be one hell of hunt even if the birds don't cooperate.

[Dean Romig]

Phil, have you had any success calling a keyed up longbeard from that kind of distance?

A few years ago in Vt a big ol gobbler answered my lonesome hen yelps from over a half mile away. Closer and closer he came to my beckoning pleas and when he was about to cross through the last wooded fencerow into the field I was sitting at the far edge of from him BLAM!!

And that was the end of him. Another hunter was concealed in that fencerow...






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[Phillip Carr]

Dean about the furthest I have called a turkey was the one I shot this year out of the deep canyon which was 500 yards. We have located turkeys at about a mile and then closed the distance and then closed the deal.
Its big country out here so a typical morning if we havent roosted one the night before is to try to drive around and shock one into gobbling, park the truck, set the GPS so I can find my way back to the truck. Surprizing how well you can hear a gobble on a cold wind free morning.
Then using a headlamp try to hustle as fast as possible to get to the Gobbler. I like to try to get within 200 yards or closer with out spooking him. Then a few tree yelps and hopefully get him to fly down in our direction. It only works for me about 15% of the time if they are around hens. I sure wish I was more experienced but I keep learning.

[Dean Romig]

Same here Phil. I began turkey hunting when Vt opened the section I hunt in 2002 I believe. Every time I hunt them I learn more about their behavior.





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[Randy G Roberts]

Prior to the season I had mentioned that I had hopes of tagging a long bead with a Parker. Never pursued turkeys with a SxS before as I have stuck with archery equipment for the last several years. The beginning of turkey season here in IN and the Southern are the same weekends so that week was a no go.
I did get to go out a little the following weekend but the birds did not read the packaging on my decoys and reacted in a totally inappropriate manner, stupid birds ! Finally on the last morning of the season it all came together and I was able to call this long beard in. Appeared to be a 3 year old with an 11" beard. I was using RST ammo with 1 1/4 oz of #4 in my 34" VHE. In as much as I love those long barrels I have to admit they are not made for carrying through the woods. Not real handy in a blind either. No matter how far back I sat in that blind I still had a lot of barrel protruding which is not a real issue until you have to move from window A to Window B then it gets a little tricky. I'm gonna need a bigger blind or get that move perfected for next year.

[charlie cleveland]

great storey of the hunt and a nice bird indeed....i agree with you long barrels are not easy to carry around in the woods...charlie

[Todd Poer]

Awesome reports. Wish I could have gotten out this year to chase them but not able to for all kind of the wrong and indefensible reason. Glad to hear of some of the great successful harvests, the successful outings with family and ole Jerry giving up a bird in the hand for hopefully a greater good. Btw I'm certain Jerry felt he got whacked a little with a boat paddle to give up the bird.

Reminded of the story Jeff Foxworthy told about bass fishing with Jerry Reed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy7uDPSQyQU


BTw Phil that is awesome you hunting turkey's in Arizona by the Grand Canyon. I had no idea there was even hunt-able population of birds even in that region of the country.

[Gerald McPherson]

Well its over and I didn't tag out but I sure enjoyed trying.This was my fourth season hunting turkeys I don't know why I didn't start years earlier but I just sat around listening to them gobble. Finally about half way through the first season I decided to give it a try and found it was a lot of fun. The birds that I hunt rarely gobble but they will often come in quietly because of coyotes I believe as they will also come in quietly. Just yesterday thought about how many days until dove season. Sure hope I am able to do it again next year. One good turkey equals maybe a hundred doves and I like turkey better. My wife has begun to like it also. My daughter who is eating organic food only thought I had cooked some of her chicken ate some and thought it was the best chicken she had ever eaten. About two hours later I told her it was wild turkey and it was as organic as it gets. She had a fit. Go figure.

[Randy G Roberts]

Well its over and I didn't tag out but I sure enjoyed trying.This was my fourth season hunting turkeys I don't know why I didn't start years earlier but I just sat around listening to them gobble. Finally about half way through the first season I decided to give it a try and found it was a lot of fun. The birds that I hunt rarely gobble but they will often come in quietly because of coyotes I believe as they will also come in quietly. Just yesterday thought about how many days until dove season. Sure hope I am able to do it again next year. One good turkey equals maybe a hundred doves and I like turkey better. My wife has begun to like it also. My daughter who is eating organic food only thought I had cooked some of her chicken ate some and thought it was the best chicken she had ever eaten. About two hours later I told her it was wild turkey and it was as organic as it gets. She had a fit. Go figure.

Gerald I pulled a similar prank many years ago on my girls only I used beef tongue. Figured it would be good for a laugh and that would be the end of it.
They loved it and now they ask me to fix it on a regular basis, go figure. Hang in there with the turkeys, they are similar to Parkers in that they can both be addicting.

[Jim Pasman]

Northern New Hampshire is full of turkeys this season......often 5 toms in the field at once now, with other hens roosting, only one hen as a companion. Poor thing gets lots of attention. Two pictures; this year's tom (May 7) registered at 22lbs, 10" beard, 1 1/2" spurs (1903 VH 12ga, Polywad low brass #6, 2 3/4 dram shell) and the other picture is just three of the toms with the hens in April before they bedded down. To be honest, I sit on the edge of the field, do a little clucking and this year's tom came within 20yds in less than an hour. Don't be jealous, it's not always that way....

[Shawn Wayment]

Northern New Hampshire is full of turkeys this season......often 5 toms in the field at once now, with other hens roosting, only one hen as a companion. Poor thing gets lots of attention. Two pictures; this year's tom (May 7) registered at 22lbs, 10" beard, 1 1/2" spurs (1903 VH 12ga, Polywad low brass #6, 2 3/4 dram shell) and the other picture is just three of the toms with the hens in April before they bedded down. To be honest, I sit on the edge of the field, do a little clucking and this year's tom came within 20yds in less than an hour. Don't be jealous, it's not always that way....

I'm certainly jealous!! :whistle: Congrats

[charlie cleveland]

thats a great looking bird and gun....you called him in close....great.....charlie

[Jim Pasman]

thats a great looking bird and gun....you called him in close....great.....charlie

There's a little story behind the gun, Charlie. Got it for the price of taking it out of a good friend's attic in 2009. Been stored there over 20 yrs in a too tight Redhead case and covered in dusty rust with a broken wrist, bores not too bad. Took her home, used the RX instruction on the PGCA website, repaired the stock, cleaned her inside and out and had my first Parker. I call her "Ruthie" after the lady who gave it to me.

[Mike Franzen]

Great pics and story. Julia and I think of you often and the nights around the campfire sipping bourbon and burning cigars. Thanks for posting that.

[Jim Pasman]

Along with some good times romping in the woods.......thanks!