2023 Spring Turkey Pictures
 

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).

Pictures:

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Attachment 115937

Attachment 115938

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

In my case, the youngster was not the problem.

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

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!!!

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. :)

155 MM Howitzer

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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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:

#2
 

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

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.

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





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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.

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

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

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.

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

Seen these guys today while out hog hunting.

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.

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

Those are prettier than our Easterns Phil.





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

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

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.

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

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.