Finally got out

[Harold Pickens]

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.