Hunting Adventures

[Mike Franzen]

Greetings! As many of you know, several years ago I began an adventure of hunting with our members and writing stories about the people and the game for the Parker Pages. It was very well received and I had the honor of receiving the Charlie Price Literary Award. In 2020 the plague struck and things went sideways derailing my hunting plans. Flights were being cancelled and my business was forced to temporarily close. But now it’s 2022 and I want to get back in the saddle so to speak. I have missed these adventures and some of you have told me you miss reading about them. So I thought I would put this out there. If you would like to go hunting with me and having a story written about it please send a PM. I will go anywhere and hunt anything. I cover all my own expenses for travel, food, lodging, license, guns and ammo etc. if available I bring a great photographer (Julia) to get plenty of pictures. I have been hunting with Charlie Cleveland, Jim Pasman, Jim Wescot, John Davis, Charlie Herzog, Bruce Day, Richard Flanders, Tom Wooden, Dave Tatman, Dick Dow, Victor Wasylyna and Dr. Steve Parker. These stories make great momentos. Let’s go hunting!

[Dave Tatman]

You're always welcome to join me again on a Northern Michigan grouse hunt, Mike!

Dave

[John Knobelsdorf II]

Mike:

At least 19 of the Alamo defenders were from Kentucky.

Stephen F. Austin attended Transylvania college.

And if you are in Central Texas around Austin, I can host you as a guest out on acerage still surrounded by older ranch properties (that are rarely hunted). Turkeys and whitetails are more abundant than ever.

A friend called in these turkey in Spring on different years. The second pair (in the bluebonnets) is a true double, the 2 with one shot. I was there in the blind to get pictures. The birds just lined up at the same time right before the shot.

[Mike Franzen]

You're always welcome to join me again on a Northern Michigan grouse hunt, Mike!

Dave

Thanks Dave. That was an amazing time I’ll never forget. I would like to get back up there.

[Mike Franzen]

John I did not know that fact about the Kentuckians at the Alamo. I’ll send you a PM about hunting. Thanks!

[Brian Dudley]

How about “Urban Hunting”? On the search for craft IPAs to bag.

[Mike Franzen]

How about “Urban Hunting”? On the search for craft IPAs to bag.

What a great plan. I think that would a lot of fun. I’m sure our esteemed editors are chomping at the bit and holding up the presses til we put this baby to bed.

[Andrew Sacco]

Great ideas and great thread. I'm big on Bliss from Thin Man up kinda sorta near Brians way. Where exactly is the dark and bloody ground?

[Dave Tatman]

Count me in on the IPA Hunt!!

Dave

[Mike Franzen]

Where exactly is the dark and bloody ground?

It was a term the Indians used for Kentucky which was considered to be their sacred hunting grounds. The canopy was so full and covered nearly the entire area, that little sunlight penetrated to the forest floor. Many battles were fought between tribes over hunting territories and no tribes lived here permanently. I have a diary from an ancestor who was an early settler. She made the claim that the trees were their enemy because the Indians could use them for concealment when preparing for attack. One of the first things they did when moving in was cut them all down around the homestead. She wrote it was heartbreaking to see them felled but it was a matter of survival.

[CraigThompson]

How about “Urban Hunting”? On the search for craft IPAs to bag.

And there I thought you wanted to bag a limit of Hoodrats :rotf::rotf:

[Mike Koneski]

What a great plan. I think that would a lot of fun. I’m sure our esteemed editors are chomping at the bit and holding up the presses til we put this baby to bed.

At least one of your "esteemed editors" would be interested in participating in of one of the said hunts for critters and corroborate the details for the unbelieving public. He will pass on the IPA hunt though, no need to throw gasoline on this bonfre!!! :rotf::rotf:

[Stan Hillis]

Mike, Southern doves are a hit and miss proposition, meaning that they can be here today and gone tomorrow. I would love to host you on a shoot on my land someday, but it would be so hard to call and say "C'mon!", only for you to get here a few days later and the doves are gone. However, if you ever find yourself down South during the seasons for any other hunting, or any other reason, please contact me and we'll see what's what. During the seasons doves are a top priority for me.

[Mike Franzen]

Stan, thank you and I sent you a PM. Best, Mike

[Jim Pasman]

Mike is a great guest, fun to spend time in the woods and enjoy a whisky or two with cigars - even when you come up short on the hunt! Great to see so many positive responses.

[Mike Franzen]

Thank you Jim for the kind words and one of the best experiences of my life. It was like we traveled back in time but I was never more comfortable than with the accommodations you provided. You, my friend are a true woodsman.