dean i was retired but went back to work....i will take a week off in a coupla more weeks....the turkeys aint gobbling like they should so far but hopefully when the bugs begin to be in the fields times will change.....charlie

i have no turkey storey to tell this weekend...thursday morning going to work a rear tire blowed out on my pickup went about a quater mile before i could pull safely off the rode no damage other than tire...i jacked the truck up took the lug nuts off aluminum rim was stuck to the axle...called several people for help but no body answered ....call the wife it was now 6.15 am told her to bring me a sledge hammer she says what is that....after explaing what it looked like and where it was she brought it to me about 20 minutes later....knocked the rim off but took several blows....got the spare and it was about flat so a short ride to a truck shop they aired up my tire....went back to truck put on the spare let the jack down...bow was i pooped...my daughter came by and stopped she grabbed up the blowed out tire and throwed it in the bed....thank goodness for that.....they said for me to rest a while when i got to work this i did i had a easy day so saturday morning i was setting at the tire shop at 7.00am to get new tires on the truck...plus now a sledge hammer rides with me....i went home got the tractor out and my grandson came over a help service the tractor...then at 3 oclock my brother came by to visit and there went my evening turkey hunt...oh well next time....charlie

Mills and I had one really close on Saturday but wouldn't come in, as usual.

This morning Dad and I heard one way in the distance and he went the other way

Is there any research on wild turkeys coming close to examine engraving on
graded shotguns- to comment on the quality of Gough workmanship?

If not, maybe I'll just take a M-12 Heavy Duck gun and use the Fox or Parker AAHE
like a decoy hen. The hens are around but the heavier birds must be 4 yr olds
that have gotten smart - quiet, and sneaky................

the model 12 duck gun is one fine turkey gun....in fact i need to get me a heavy duck gun... charlie

Went this evening to call for a friend, we were on a real small place, only 37 acres..but lots of sign etc. ... got all set up.....started calling, and immediatly got a pissed off Hen putting all arond us....kiss of death on a small place like this...thank god they make whiskey!!

Out Back
 

Yesterday evening late I had 23 in the back yard including 3 Toms and at least 3 Jakes I could see. Had to snap the pics through the back door glass. 21 days and counting before the opener.

That's a good sign to see those Jakes. We've had such bad hatches the past several years here that I don't see many Jakes and the gobbling birds are generally pretty old...and cagy.

The struggle continues this weekend. I might take the heavy duck

Incredible hunt in the Deep South for Savannah River swamp gobblers! I had birds all over me morning after morning before smoking this bottomland tom yesterday at 7:45AM. Heard six different toms and this twenty pound 2 year old snuck in without a peep to check the decoys. First spotted just his head periscoping over road bank at ten yards (couldn’t see his beard) then he angled out toward jake decoy revealing his 10” beard. He passed behind large oak giving me the chance to lift the Space Age Parker and draw a bead. Dear friend, hunting buddy, call maker and PGCA member Niles Oesterle provided the longbox which was magical talking softly to these Dixie devils. Truly a turkey hunt of a lifetime for this damn Yankee, southern birds are tough customers! Sorry these photos load sideways.