Eastern Gobblers Calling Porter's Name

by
posted on March 16, 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 (5)

undefinedTalk about a full-speed-ahead lifestyle! As soon as NRA President Jim Porter dropped his Osceola yesterday, he and NRA Publications photographer Forrest MacCormack literally flew to Mobile, Ala.,  and drove to McIntosh to start chasing Eastern gobblers. Porter was eager to reach Palamar, the weekend home of friends Riley and Tammy Smith. Thanks to mechanical problems on the plane, they didn’t land until 1 a.m. Even worse, the weather forced them to sit out the morning hunt.

A bit of history: the 2,500-acre Palamar property was acquired in the 1920s by Riley Smith's grandfather who lost it the Great Depression. Riley and Tammy Smith reacquired it about 10 years ago and today use it for growing and harvesting timber. As for Smith himself, he is quite the local conservation star, serving as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources from Jan. 1999 to Jan. 2003 and currently serving on the NRA Board’s Hunting, Wildlife and Conservation Committee.

By late afternoon, the rain stopped in time for a quick hunt so Porter, Chubby and MacCormack ran out with nothing more than a gun, one call and MacCormack’s camera—no blind, no chairs, no decoys. Within minutes, a tom was answering their box calls! Too bad he wasn't quite ready to strut into shotgun range, but as they say in the south, "Tomorrow is another day." In the meantime, we've got a few nice photos to share from Porter's first outing in Alabama.

Latest

Lead Photo 02
Lead Photo 02

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.