Hunting Adventures

[Mike Franzen]

Greetings! As many of you know, several years ago I began an adventure of hunting with our members and writing stories about the people and the game for the Parker Pages. It was very well received and I had the honor of receiving the Charlie Price Literary Award. In 2020 the plague struck and things went sideways derailing my hunting plans. Flights were being cancelled and my business was forced to temporarily close. But now it’s 2022 and I want to get back in the saddle so to speak. I have missed these adventures and some of you have told me you miss reading about them. So I thought I would put this out there. If you would like to go hunting with me and having a story written about it please send a PM. I will go anywhere and hunt anything. I cover all my own expenses for travel, food, lodging, license, guns and ammo etc. if available I bring a great photographer (Julia) to get plenty of pictures. I have been hunting with Charlie Cleveland, Jim Pasman, Jim Wescot, John Davis, Charlie Herzog, Bruce Day, Richard Flanders, Tom Wooden, Dave Tatman, Dick Dow, Victor Wasylyna and Dr. Steve Parker. These stories make great momentos. Let’s go hunting!

[Kentucky Bird Hunter]

You're always welcome to join me again on a Northern Michigan grouse hunt, Mike!

Dave

[John Knobelsdorf II]

Mike:

At least 19 of the Alamo defenders were from Kentucky.

Stephen F. Austin attended Transylvania college.

And if you are in Central Texas around Austin, I can host you as a guest out on acerage still surrounded by older ranch properties (that are rarely hunted). Turkeys and whitetails are more abundant than ever.

A friend called in these turkey in Spring on different years. The second pair (in the bluebonnets) is a true double, the 2 with one shot. I was there in the blind to get pictures. The birds just lined up at the same time right before the shot.

[Mike Franzen]

Originally Posted by Dave Tatman

You're always welcome to join me again on a Northern Michigan grouse hunt, Mike!

Dave

Thanks Dave. That was an amazing time I’ll never forget. I would like to get back up there.

[Mike Franzen]

John I did not know that fact about the Kentuckians at the Alamo. I’ll send you a PM about hunting. Thanks!

[B. Dudley]

How about “Urban Hunting”? On the search for craft IPAs to bag.

[Mike Franzen]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

How about “Urban Hunting”? On the search for craft IPAs to bag.

What a great plan. I think that would a lot of fun. I’m sure our esteemed editors are chomping at the bit and holding up the presses til we put this baby to bed.

[Andy]

Great ideas and great thread. I'm big on Bliss from Thin Man up kinda sorta near Brians way. Where exactly is the dark and bloody ground?

[Kentucky Bird Hunter]

Count me in on the IPA Hunt!!

Dave

[Mike Franzen]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

Where exactly is the dark and bloody ground?

It was a term the Indians used for Kentucky which was considered to be their sacred hunting grounds. The canopy was so full and covered nearly the entire area, that little sunlight penetrated to the forest floor. Many battles were fought between tribes over hunting territories and no tribes lived here permanently. I have a diary from an ancestor who was an early settler. She made the claim that the trees were their enemy because the Indians could use them for concealment when preparing for attack. One of the first things they did when moving in was cut them all down around the homestead. She wrote it was heartbreaking to see them felled but it was a matter of survival.