Porter Claims Eastern Gobbler on Hunt No. 2

by
posted on April 9, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
porter2015_fs.jpg (9)

As soon as his Florida Osceola hit the ground March 15, the call of the wild had NRA Porter with his VersamaxPresident Jim Porter jetting straight to Alabama for subspecies No. 2: the Eastern gobbler. As the largest of the four making up the grand slam, this bird would provide for quite the Thanksgiving in March if one strutted in range of Porter’s Remington Versamax. With NRA Publications photographer Forrest MacCormack at his side, Porter anticipated a slammin’ success until early spring’s unpredictable weather temporarily rolled into town. Hunting rainy-day gobblers is one thing. Hunting in high winds and downpours is another.

For Porter, the next best thing to hunting was to be in a hunting camp as he and MacCormack holed up at Palamar, the 2,500-acre “hunting club” home of Porter’s good friends and fellow conservationists Riley and Tammy Smith. A former commissioner of the Alabama Porter Takes AimDepartment of Conservation and Natural Resources, Smith now serves on the NRA Board’s Hunting, Wildlife and Conservation Committee. The group kept the fireplace stoked, shared hunting stories and waited out the rain.

Palamar is recognized as part of the state’s TREASURE (Timber, Recreation, Environment, Aesthetics, for a Sustained Usable Resource) Forest program, a voluntary Alabama Natural Resources Council program that encourages landowners to promote sustainable, multiple-use forest management. The TREASURE Forest Award is presented to private landowners who 

Porter and Chubby load the gobbler.demonstrate their land-management commitment with TREASURE Forest certification awarded to the Smiths in October 2002. These TREASURE Forest landowners are also treasured supporters of our NRA.

Of course, a treasured hunting story isn’t much of a story without the star of the show. On March 18, the weather finally broke and Porter’s guide, Albert “Chubby” Parnell, guided him to a, well, his treasured Eastern gobbler! The 4-year-old, 18-pound turkey sported 1.25-inch spurs and a 9-inch beard.

Latest

001 DTSD Cover 01
001 DTSD Cover 01

Range Review: DoubleTap Ammunition's SnakeShot Defense Loads

New for 2025, these hybrid rounds from DoubleTap Ammunition launch hollow point bullets with birdshot pellets.

First Look: LTT Impact Long-Range Tikka Rifle

Langdon Tactical Technology (LTT) has announced the launch of the LTT Impact Long-Range Rifle, in collaboration with Tikka.

Hardware Review: GPO Centuri 4-16x44i Super Compact

U.S.-based German Precision Optics (GPO) has introduced a Super Compact line of its signature Centuri riflescope, boasting a generous magnification range and the features it takes to be successful at any distance. Check out Frank Melloni's review of it here.

New for 2025: Gritr Caliber-Specific Gun Cleaning Kits

Gritr’s new Gun Cleaning Kits keep firearms operating at their best with expertly crafted components designed for specific calibers—everything needed to clean, lubricate, and protect in a compact, travel-ready case.

Why Triggers Matter

Any rifle is only as good as its trigger. Here's why.

New for 2025: Muddy Outdoors Carnage Die Cut Ground Blind

The Die Cut ground blind from Muddy Outdoors is designed to keep hunters completely undetected in the field. Crafted with textured die-cut fabric, the brand’s all-new blind blends seamlessly and naturally into its environment, breaking up its exterior outline while concealing movement inside

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.