2023 Spring Turkey Pictures

[Rud Blumentritt]

I didn’t see where we had this for 2023 and I always enjoy seeing everyone’s turkey hunting pictures so starting this thread. A few of my own from Mississippi and Texas (with my Merkel 20).

[Rud Blumentritt]

Pictures:

[charlie cleveland]

wow....what part of Mississippi were you hunting....how long are those 20 ga barrels....charlie

[Dean Romig]

My 2023 Vermont turkey season begins May 1st but I won’t make the opener as I have done each year since 2002. I’ll get out there probably 2 weeks into the season.

This is my first turkey ever… opening morning of the ‘02 season.
Read about it in “A Parker-Perfect Morning” on page 26 of Parker Pages, Vol 11, Issue 3 (Autumn 2004).


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[Rud Blumentritt]

Hey Charlie - I hunt in southwest Mississippi north of Baton Rouge. Those barrels are 26 3/4" long.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Season open's 4/17.... Hoping to have a little luck with the little Parker again this year!

[Mills Morrison]

We have had one very promising hunt that did not turn out and a few more that were just plain frustrating for various reasons.

[Garry L Gordon]

We have had one very promising hunt that did not turn out and a few more that were just plain frustrating for various reasons.

Sounds like typical turkey hunting :)…at least it sounds like mine.

[Mills Morrison]

Harry invited some friends who did not understand the importance of being still. We got rained out this Saturday although I went back by myself later in the day and at least had a quiet time in the woods. We have some friends coming this weekend who know the drill and no rain in the forecast.

[Dean Romig]

That happened to me the first time I brought my grandson Cam. We were sitting in the dark probably 50-60 yards from the trees the turkeys were roosted in but Cam fidgeted so much that when the turkeys flew down at daybreak.... They flew the other way!! :rotf:





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[John Marscher]

All is well down here in the Lowcountry. Not sure I will go after a third.

115937

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[John Dallas]

If you think squirming in the turkey set is frustrating, try taking a rookie youngster fly fishing in a river boat, spending most of our time getting flies out of trees, tying on new flies, and trying to quiet stomping on the floorboards in the boat. The fishers in this picture are not rookies

[Mills Morrison]

In my case, the youngster was not the problem.

[charlie cleveland]

be glad when I can add a picture of a turkey to this forem....these are some great pictures and I would go after that 3 rd tom....charlie

[Jerry Harlow]

Third day out. Nothing gobbling at 6 a.m. sunrise. Too cold. At another location at 10 a.m. I made three calls. A one gobble answer. Got gun up. Only a blue and red head appeared from the bottom peeping at me. With enough gun in hand and Federal TSS, about forty-five to fifty yards. Otherwise he was going to be gone in a flash. Ten inch beard, 19.5 pounds, 3/4" spurs.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Third day out. Nothing gobbling at 6 a.m. sunrise. Too cold. At another location at 10 a.m. I made three calls. A one gobble answer. Got gun up. Only a blue and red head appeared from the bottom peeping at me. With enough gun in hand and Federal TSS, about forty-five to fifty yards. Otherwise he was going to be gone in a flash. Ten inch beard, 19.5 pounds, 3/4" spurs.

What is that thing laying below your bird there? :D

Nice bird, congrats!!!

[scott kittredge]

Harry invited some friends who did not understand the importance of being still. We got rained out this Saturday although I went back by myself later in the day and at least had a quiet time in the woods. We have some friends coming this weekend who know the drill and no rain in the forecast.
The speech i use before i take out a new to turkey hunting is, " when i say dont move i mean dont move" . turkey hunting is one of the best hunting season there is. I love to take new guys and kids out. Starts here in NH for youth weekend the 29 th and 30 th. :)

[Jerry Harlow]

What is that thing laying below your bird there? :D

Nice bird, congrats!!!

155 MM Howitzer

[Dean Romig]

The speech i use before i take out a new to turkey hunting is, " when i say dont move i mean dont move" . turkey hunting is one of the best hunting season there is. I love to take new guys and kids out. Starts here in NH for youth weekend the 29 th and 30 th. :)

Oh I told Cam all of that every time we went out for the first two years. On his third season, opening morning, he fell asleep. Soon after legal light I shot a tom... Cam came 9 1/2 inches off the ground without moving a single muscle…:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:





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[Mills Morrison]

On one of Harry's first turkey hunts, I told him we were going to call the turkeys. He yelled "HERE TURKEYS!!!"

[Garry L Gordon]

On one of Harry's first turkey hunts, I told him we were going to call the turkeys. He yelled "HERE TURKEYS!!!"

:rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

[Jerry Harlow]

Poacher was there when I arrived. No permission but the two gobblers had been seen by the community. Owl hooted and a gobbler responded every time, 200 yards away across highway. Got set up, placed decoy on gas line. Made a few calls. Finally he was strutting in the highway. Luckily no one came along. Using a different (Winchester SuperX2) howitzer today. I believe in "Carry enough gun" to make up for my mistakes. My right eyesight due to three surgeries isn't what it used to be. Took a second shot. Objects are closer than they appear in the video. Enjoy the video! I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-DZjFiqzDs

[Joseph Sheerin]

Poacher was there when I arrived. No permission but the two gobblers had been seen by the community. Owl hooted and a gobbler responded every time, 200 yards away across highway. Got set up, placed decoy on gas line. Made a few calls. Finally he was strutting in the highway. Luckily no one came along. Using a different (Winchester SuperX2) howitzer today. I believe in "Carry enough gun" to make up for my mistakes. My right eyesight due to three surgeries isn't what it used to be. Objects are closer than they appear. Took a second shot. Enjoy the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-DZjFiqzDs

Sometimes, you just need to give them a warning shot.... :D

I used to own that exact gun, sort of regret being talked into selling it. They are nice, reliable guns.

[Dean Romig]

Sometimes they just don't know they're dead...





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[Mike Koneski]

I’m taking our oldest grandson out for his first ever hunt on our PA youth day. Saturday 4/22 we’ll be sitting in a ground blind in our big food plot. He’s been asking for two years when he can hunt with Pappy! He turns 8 in August and he’s been shooting the little single-shot .410 topped with a red dot. 3” TSS will do the job nicely. Looking forward to many hunts with Rex.

[charlie cleveland]

nice one jerry..... I m like you I like a big gun to hunt with....I loaded up my 28 ga 32 inch barrel single shot with the tss no 9 shot and tried it on paper...35 yards would be a dead turkey but at 40 yards it might be a dead turkey or a cripple....so back in the closet till squirl season....hard to quit using the ole 8 ga....charlie

[Jerry Harlow]

nice one jerry..... I m like you I like a big gun to hunt with....I loaded up my 28 ga 32 inch barrel single shot with the tss no 9 shot and tried it on paper...35 yards would be a dead turkey but at 40 yards it might be a dead turkey or a cripple....so back in the closet till squirl season....hard to quit using the ole 8 ga....charlie

Charlie,

Here is something I had never done and will probably never do again. Three long-beards in three consecutive mornings! It is not that easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEZxOk-yoAI

[charlie cleveland]

jerry that's a feat you ll probably never do again...I hope you do though....this turkey hunting is risky....I had seferal years I killed my 3 birds and then have some years I ve hunted hard and never got to pull the trigger.....one year my dad hunted using 2 cruthes could not get around too good but he killed 3 big toms that year and the rest of our crew came up empty...go figure..charlie

[Fred Slyfield]

Not a Parker hunt but a SxS no less, 1901 William Evans ejector gun fitted with Teague chokes, I put in the full and X-full shooting a B and P 2-1/2 inch #6 load .

20 yard shot and the dirt nap was complete.

[charlie cleveland]

that's a nice fan on that turkey kinda wish one of my doubles had screw in chokes....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

Seen these guys today while out hog hunting.

[Phillip Carr]

Hunted hard for 7 days but my brother George and I finally connected. Gobblers were not in the mood for the first 6 days. We watched 21 Jakes feeding in a meadow Friday morning.
Did not use a Parker this trip. Rough country.

[Dean Romig]

Hey - Those aren't jakes... Great picture Phil - is that you or George? It sure looks like you!

Are those Rios?





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[Phillip Carr]

Good morning Dean. These are Merriam's. No that me. Just a little older.
Here is a picture with George.

[Dean Romig]

Those are prettier than our Easterns Phil.





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[Bob Hayes]

Nice birds Phil
Whats worse tagging out on the first day or the 6th??

[charlie cleveland]

nice birds and look to be very large....what gun did you take them with and what ammo was used...aby more hunts left or planned.....charlie

[Phillip Carr]

The Merriam's are certainly beautiful birds. We will hunt N Mexico next. Season opened yesterday and runs until May 15. Taking a break and catching up on the home front.
Much better to enjoy the hunt after the fact if you shoot a bird at the end of the season, but I always stress every morning trying to get our birds.
One taken with a Savage single barrel 20 shooting #9 TSS the other shot with a Benelli M1 12 gauge 7&9 TSS.

[charlie cleveland]

milt that would have been a good shot for the 8 ga or the rifle...I seen a hen today my luck may be changing....charlie

[Bob Hayes]

I'll keep you guys motivated.We are on our last week of turkey season here.Been a long hot one this year.
Here is a bird taken Friday.

[Bob Hayes]

A better look at the spurs and the bird

[Phillip Carr]

Dang those are some SPURS!

[Dean Romig]

Limb Hangers!!!





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[charlie cleveland]

sharp as a briar...nice big tom....charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

Ten minutes after sunrise this one came within range. It was very cold and windy this morning, and he had no hens with him. I don't know how much he weighs, but he gained 10 pounds on the trip back to the truck.:rotf:

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Almost didn't go, spitting sleet and 34 degrees this :)morning, didn't figure I'd see or hear much. No gobbling but at 730 saw 2 birds 400 yds away that had red heads.I hit the box call, and they came sprinting towards me, and I saw they were Jake's with 4-5 in beards. They never stopped, and at 15 yds I pulled the trigger, buthad forgotten to take the safety off, darn bird was almost in my lap when I shot. The gun is a Wingmaster 870 that I bought with money throwing hay bales when I was a junior in high school. I can still take another gobbler in WV, and Ohio season starts Saturday.

[Garry L Gordon]

Almost didn't go, spitting sleet and 34 degrees this :)morning, didn't figure I'd see or hear much. No gobbling but at 730 saw 2 birds 400 yds away that had red heads.I hit the box call, and they came sprinting towards me, and I saw they were Jake's with 4-5 in beards. They never stopped, and at 15 yds I pulled the trigger, buthad forgotten to take the safety off, darn bird was almost in my lap when I shot. The gun is a Wingmaster 870 that I bought with money throwing hay bales when I was a junior in high school. I can still take another gobbler in WV, and Ohio season starts Saturday.

Congratulations, Harold! That gives new meaning to notion of a well “earned” bird.

[charlie cleveland]

nice birdfor getting to take the safety off got me in trouble with a big tom one time...charlie

[Bob Hayes]

Keep'em coming
I'll be in withdrawals next week as our season ends here Sunday.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Finally got out yesterday, all the gobble I heard sounded like they were at least two farms over from my place...... Gonna try again in a week or so. Bird pops are way down around my place from 10 years ago. Back then, it was not unusual to have 5-10 birds gobbling within 500 yds of me in the morning, those days seem to be long gone..... :-(

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Well, got WV bird #2 this morning after an exciting hunt. 9.5 in bead and 1 1/8" spurs. Ohio season opens Saturday, but may be a rain out, taking son out Sunday..After turkey hunting shot sporting clays at a course a friend put in on his farm, then had a wild turkey dinner, followed by a great tennis match. Boy, this retirement sucks!

[Dean Romig]

.:rotf:





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[Garry L Gordon]

Well, got WV bird #2 this morning after an exciting hunt. 9.5 in bead and 1 1/8" spurs. Ohio season opens Saturday, but may be a rain out, taking son out Sunday..After turkey hunting shot sporting clays at a course a friend put in on his farm, then had a wild turkey dinner, followed by a great tennis match. Boy, this retirement sucks!

Pace yourself, Harold. :)

[charlie cleveland]

nice 2nd bird...I should have retired when I was young....charlie

[Fred Slyfield]

All great birds , congrats!!

[Austin Smith]

Took the Lifter out on its first walk and had some luck!

[Stan Hoover]

Beautiful gun there Austin,

Thanks for the excellent pictures,

Stan

[Austin Smith]

Beautiful gun there Austin,

Thanks for the excellent pictures,

Stan

Thank you so much, Stan. I really appreciate it!

[Garry L Gordon]

Took the Lifter out on its first walk and had some luck!

What a nice gun! A perfect way to take a Tom.

[charlie cleveland]

all great hunts....some fine guns used to take those birds....charlie

[Dean Weber]

Took the Lifter out on its first walk and had some luck!

Great pictures. Especially like the beak on the beautiful barrels. Nicely done, Austin.

[Austin Smith]

What a nice gun! A perfect way to take a Tom.

Thank you, Garry I really appreciate it!


Great pictures. Especially like the beak on the beautiful barrels. Nicely done, Austin.

I really appreciate the kind words, Dean. Thank you!

[Joseph Sheerin]

Well, came close Saturday morning, Tom hung up when he saw my jake, and went the other way.... It happens, I would say, close but no cigar, but that just wouldn't be true..... :D

[Reggie Bishop]

So far this Spring my Turkey hunting has been uneventful. Saw two hens thus far.

[Garry L Gordon]

But you’re out, and with a special gun.

[Jim Kremmel]

First morning gobbler here in PA, unfortunately not with a Parker.

[Phillip Carr]

Great picture, very nice bird.

[scott kittredge]

Here are Bill Janell's 2 NH birds. He had a ithaca mag ten he wanted to try out out this year, it worked

[Rud Blumentritt]

Had some luck In Montana.

[Joe Dreisch]

Hens like our yard so the fellows follow them ad-nauseum!! I get them with a Canon Powershot as I enjoy them coming back, except when I have outside work to do. These guys feed in the unharvested winter wheat field next to us and are a joy to watch.

[Mike Koneski]

24+ lbs, 10 1/2” beard, 2 1/4” hooks, 65 yards at 7:40. He wouldn’t come any closer. TSS did the trick again.

[JAMES HALL]

Edible Bling

[Stan Hoover]

That’s a trophy bird there Mike, you better make room for him in the Lodge.

Just to be clear, you mention the hooks being 2 1/4”, you’re referencing the spurs? That is some mighty long spurs:shock:

Stan

[Mike Koneski]

Yes Stan, total is 2 1/4". Each spur is 1 1/8", maybe a hair more, but that's as close as I can measure accurately. He goes to the taxidermist Tuesday. I'm thinking hanging dead with hooks (spurs) on top of a limb.

[Mike Koneski]

Up here it's unusual for spurs to be long and sharp. Not much soil, mostly rock and the spurs take a beating. His wingtips were also worn flat from all the strutting and dragging them on the rocky ground. Watched him from 6:30 until 7:40 and he wasn't coming any closer. Hens were 35-40 yards out, but he hung up.

[Stan Hoover]

Very nice bird, 50 minutes is a long time to watch a gobbler

[Dean Romig]

Now that's a limb-hanger!!





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[charlie cleveland]

mighty big bird must have been the boss in his territory....them tss shells can save the day...charlie

[Stan Hoover]

My first turkey taken with a rare 34” Ithaca

[Garry L Gordon]

My first turkey taken with a rare 34” Ithaca

Excellent! Nice Tom, nice gun.

[Reggie Bishop]

The season began in April 15th here in Tennessee. I have hunted a number of times with my Parker DH 12 and a GH 16. Both beautiful Damascus barreled guns. It’s been slow with few gobbles. Yesterday I told a good friend via email that I thought I would change it up today. It worked. Fox got the game!

[Garry L Gordon]

The season began in April 15th here in Tennessee. I have hunted a number of times with my Parker DH 12 and a GH 16. Both beautiful Damascus barreled guns. It’s been slow with few gobbles. Yesterday I told a good friend via email that I thought I would change it up today. It worked. Fox got the game!

Hey,Hey!! It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. A change of farm does the trick?

Congratulations.

[scott kittredge]

My first turkey taken with a rare 34” Ithaca

Looks like a nice gun !

[Mike Koneski]

My first turkey taken with a rare 34” Ithaca

NICE BIRD STAN!! :clap:

[Mike Koneski]

The season began in April 15th here in Tennessee. I have hunted a number of times with my Parker DH 12 and a GH 16. Both beautiful Damascus barreled guns. It’s been slow with few gobbles. Yesterday I told a good friend via email that I thought I would change it up today. It worked. Fox got the game!

Nice bird Reggie! Straight grip Fox. COOL!! :cool:

[charlie cleveland]

nice ......charlie

[Stan Hoover]

The Mighty 10 took another one down:)

2 ozs of #6 from the right barrel is all it took. We are blessed with turkey this year, 4 birds from the same field in as many hunts

[Garry L Gordon]

The Mighty 10 took another one down:)

2 ozs of #6 from the right barrel is all it took. We are blessed with turkey this year, 4 birds from the same field in as many hunts

Great job with that big gun! Now, how 'bout live trap a few Toms and send 'em west?:rotf:

[Stan Hoover]

Hey Gary,

Like I said, we seem to have turkeys everywhere this spring. Our farm has pretty consistently held a good number of turkey, but we’ve also had some lean years. Not sure what decides that, maybe mostly the hatch?

Stan

[Reggie Bishop]

They are not as plentiful here as they were. I am thankful for the one I harvested. Two toms came in to my calling yesterday morning. I was very selective with my shot as I did not want to injure or kill the second one. My season is over and I hope that 2nd bird survives for another season.

[henderson Marriott]

Good shooting Reggie. Bet that Parker will keep up with my Smith Long Range.
I rotate guns to bring some good fortune: Super Fox, Smith Long Range, 1916 XE.
The LC has been lucky the last few hunts. Parker will see next Spring.Turkeys come close to see the engraving, while looking for hens!

[Keith Sirmans]

https://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117109&stc=1&d=1685994681 https://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117109&stc=1&d=1685994681 https://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117109&stc=1&d=1685994681

[Garry L Gordon]

Nice bird. Even nicer gun. Does the cigar keep the mosquitoes away?:)

[Keith Sirmans]

Nice bird. Even nicer gun. Does the cigar keep the mosquitoes away?:)

It does! It also attracts curious deer

[Jim Wescott]

The hunts started in March in Florida and concluded early June here in Maine. Many were called, a few were chosen and the Parker hammers fell. We are truly blessed to enjoy great hunts with loyal friends in awesome turkey habitat! And now we angle away the summer months planning fall excursions to New Brunswick and northern Maine for moose and black bear. Oh yeah, we will journey in July to The Rock for Atlantic salmon and sea-run brookies.

[Mills Morrison]

Wonderful pictures Jim!

[Reggie Bishop]

Mighty fine calling to get those birds! Gotta love the adrenaline charge when you fool a gobbler, or even if they make a fool out of you!

[Dean Romig]

Great pictures!!

...but I need to know where this "rock" is...





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[Jim Wescott]

Newfoundland aka The Rock ��

[charlie cleveland]

really good pictures of gun and turkeys....what kind of shell is pictured here....charlie

[Jim Wescott]

12 gauge brass labeled “Winchester 12 GA”
Loaded with 3 1/4 drams FF black powder pushing 1 1/8 #5

[Jim Wescott]

I came across these recently, a gift from an old friend who learned of my use of brass shells. Trying to figure out what to do with them

[Keith Sirmans]

Deer hunt!

[charlie cleveland]

I second the deer hunt....nice original box and shells.......charlie

[Jim Wescott]

I like the idea of the deer hunt. All our Parkers are Damascus barrels……and these are smokeless shells ��

[Dean Romig]

I see no warning on the box stating "Do Not Use in Guns With Damascus or Twist Barrels"

Send one or two to Tom Armburst to get pressure and velocity specs first.






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[Jim Wescott]

With the Parkers cleaned and put up for the summer a journey north by northeast was in order. Great times with dear friends on The Rock!

[Dean Romig]

Awesome!

…but what is “The Rock”?






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[henderson Marriott]

Jim:
Anyone who regularly engages in pursuit of both the elusive Eastern wild turkey and fly- fished trout must be a gentleman of the highest order. RM

[Dean Romig]

Those fish look to me like Atlantic Salmon Grilse, if I'm not mistaken.





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[Jim Wescott]

Yes, Atlantic salmon grilse from the Main and Torrent Rivers on The Rock, aka Newfoundland. We also fished the Humber, Big East and River of Ponds. The run is late starting, some say high water, some say late ice conditions, some say late spawn of capelin and others say any combination of the above. It’s Atlantic salmon fishing so theories hatched match the number of casts made. Baked salmon, roasted black bear and bakeapple sauce over vanilla ice cream was our Newfoundland feast upon returning home.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Jim - I’ve always wanted to fish for the “silver leaper” in Maritime Cabada… looking at the possibility of the Restigouche in the next year or two.





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[Jim Wescott]

I’ve fished New Brunswick, Cape Breton and now western Newfoundland and I’d venture to Cape Breton in a heartbeat. I’ve Newfoundland clearly has the most salmon rivers and the trip logistics are the most challenging. New Brunswick and Newfoundland require guides for non-residents and Cape Breton does not. The Restigouche holds some really large fish and its tributaries are really good. Atlantic salmon fishing should come with a warning label as it can be so addictive….like hunting with Parkers!!

[Dean Romig]

My lady, Dorothy has fished the Restigouche twice and we hope to do it together before we get too old. (We’re both 75 and counting.)





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