Finally got out
 

Going to the Southern the past few years has cut into my turkey hunting, but I sure enjoy going and relaxing shooting at Drakes. Mike Franzen and I tried to work out a plan, but couldn't synchronize our schedules. It was pouring rain when I got up this morning, but it was the first chance I had to get out. Got to my farm a little late, and climbed the mtn. to my top field( I own 167 acres of steep and deep terrain). Nothing at all was heard until 9:00, when a gobbler sounded off 100 yds away. He was super hot but would come no closer, gobbling for well over an hour just out off sight. I suspected he was henned up. He finally moved off and was quiet. At 11:00 he fired up again, and I was able to set up about 70 yds away and could see 3 gobblers, and a hen. The birds went crazy every time I called, but would not come closer. when they moved out of sight a little, I crawled on my hands and knees to about 45 yards. I could just barely make them out thru all the foliage, but that was as good as it was going to get. It was now close to closing time(12:00), so I got super aggressive cutting sharply on both my box call, and my natural voice. The boss gobbler stood his ground, but one of the subordinates finally crossed into that 45 yd mark I had set as maximum range. He stuck his head up, I fired, and it was finally over. I was drenched from the humidity and perspiration.
No, I didn't use a Parker, but my old Rem 870 Wingmster that I bought in high school from money made baling hay for local farmers. Turkey hunting is the only thing I now use it for, I don't even have a SXS that is suitable for turkeys, except maybe my Lefever G 16 Damascus choked F/F.
The other exciting thing is that I have a smoke phase hen turkey on the property. A white hen with gray/brown feather tips. Asolutely beautiful--google smoke phase wild turkey to see what I mean.
Don't know when I will get out again, but at least I have 1 bird for the smoker.

Who said you could'nt shoot Harold? Nice going.:)

Takes a true turkey hunter to go in the rain and hunt for hours. Great hunt. I hunt everything with side by side but turkeys ! Then I use a Browning 2000 I purchased a week before i married in 1976 figured It would be my last gun. It is a super turkey gun, but now I think that I want a Parker to kill my 100th with. THIS is a want not a need.

Thanks Daniel, I havent shot near a hundred yet, but probably close to 40. I like a gun with a sling to keep hands free climbing up and down these slippery hillsides. The gun is 2 3/4" chambered, no 3" mags for me. Not a wimp , but never found the need for them.

When shooting at a target the size of a sparrow (turkey's head) why would anyone need 3" magnums?






.

Got out
 

Way to go Dean so glad you got out and you did it the hard way. I have had 3 successful turkey hunts this year with Vintage Fox and DH, one last try this week and I will have filled 4 tags first time ever. Hope all is getting better on home base.

I haven't been out yet David. Saturday morning with my grandson will be my first time this year.





.

Tuesday morning in western Maine. Twin hen escort led this 21 pound longbeard to a lethal load of nickel 5s. The Space Aged underlifter courtesy of Mike Franzen hunts again at 136 years old. I have the darnedest time correctly orienting posted photos.....

great job Jim, tell us about your Parker

Nice one!!

Here you go:) And nice bird!!!

Member and dear friend Mike Franzen sold me his Space Aged Parker featured in the Winter 2014 Parker Pages (page 44). I really shouldn't say "sold"....he made a deal I couldn't refuse. I'd be glad to repeat his story if you can't get a copy. It's called "Space Aged" because Mike had a barrel separation tig welded after much high tech testing. SN 19636 has 32" plain twist barrels. Mike had all the work done, I just hunt with it.....and love every minute. It's poison to wild turkeys

nice bird...charlie

well, finally got out again, but started to pour rain just as I got to the farm, stuck it out for an hour, but all I got was wet

keep after them birds in the rain its one of my favorite times to hunt turkeys while its raining..i get my heavy rain slicker and hat and wear hip boots and i m ready..i noticed in your first post harold that you mentioned somethinging about 12 oclock .is this when you have to quit hunting for the day...and congratulations to you other fellas on nice turkeys...hope you boys limit out but heh aint it fun just hunting...charlie

Very nice!