And so it begins....
 

Another Grand Spring Hunt has started off with a bang! Son Tim and I weathered very warm Florida heat to kill a couple dandy Osceola longbeards. Light calling on our custom Oesterle box calls lured the quiet toms into range. Half strut jake decoys enflamed the gobblers into picking a fight, much to their demise. Had delicious wild turkey ala king over jasmine rice tonight.

Wow, it still seems very early here, but you got my juices flowing with those photos. Thanks...I needed it. Congratulations.:bowdown:

(I hope it's okay I righted one of your photos.)

That's just the post I needed to see tonight! Thanks, Jim.

Very nice, still a few weeks away here in MO.

Too cool! If y'all are ever driving up or down interstate 75 stop in and see me at Jack's Chophouse. Exit 22 in GA right before the FL line

Where does one find a leather strap like the one you have there? I have seen others on this site.

Levy's Leathers had offered the double gun sling in a couple different styles. It's been a while since I've bought one

I found one of those slings on Amazon.

went back to be sure I remembered correctly. "Triple K shotgun sling" $40

Nice Birds !!! What part of Florida did you hunt ?

We still have a month to wait here in PA.

We hunted Volusia County, just outside Daytona Beach.

Same in my VT stompin' grounds.





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Very nice bird!

I just purchased a 1902 Parker CHE 12 gauge with 2 3/4 chambers for spring turkey hunting only. The gun is in excellent condition. I was planning to use Winchester XR 1-1/4oz number 5 shot with 1300fps. Any thoughts on whether these rounds will be safe to use in this gun, assuming 2-4 rounds per season? Any suggestions on ammo for turkeys in an older Parker?

Standard 12 gauge loads with #5 or 6 shot is really all you will need. Remember, you’re not taking body shots so you have no feathers to punch through, just a layer of skin and soft tissue over the neck and head bones. Put your bead on the head or a couple of inches lower on the neck.
I’ve used 1 1/8 oz. Of #6 lead shot on every turkey I’ve killed and always with just one shot.





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Thank you Dean. I will try the lighter loads.

I see you are from Massachusetts. My wife and I go to the Berkshires every spring, usually the second full week of May, near Great Barrington. She hikes and I hunt turkeys. Good luck to you this season.

Mike R, the problem you might run into with those heavier loads with higher MV is the possibility of damage to the head or wrist of the stock. If your barrels are solid they should be fine. Those older stocks could have soft wood or it could be dried and already cracked. Doesn’t take much if the wood is compromised to turn it into a repair situation. I shoot TSS shot through my modern turkey gun, do not use it in your vintage guns. That could damage your chokes.

Thanks, Mike. That's good advice.

Hey Brother, glad to see you keeping the ole Space Age Parker in the hunt. That’s a couple nice looking Toms. Hope you and the family are doing well.

This one's for Charlie....New Hampshire mountain gobbler hunt had many of the things he loved....long Damascus barrels, brass shells, long beard, proper sighting-in target and the northern lights sent down from heaven.

Wow, Jim, what a nice sentiment and great photos. I'm imagining Charlie's response now as I read your post.

Thanks.