After The Hunt

9 x 12

Oil on Wood Panel

Alla Prima Still Life

If you've ever been turkey hunting and got one or not, this painting needs no explanation.  For those who haven't, a stiff bourbon after the hunt can either echo the old saying "to the victor belong the spoils" or it can lesson the sting of the agony of defeat. 

Today was the opening day of Youth Week and it was cloudy and rainy - not the ideal morning to fire up a gobbler for a spring fling.  My son and I did get the treat though of watching two brave Jakes fly out of the roost right on top of us and team up on our decoy. The two bullies spurred and feather slapped their inferior opponent and then circled it for almost two hours. With no resistance, their confidence grew and grew by the minute and by mid-morn they were two King Kongs pounding through the wheat field.  This will be shortly lived, however, as they will undoubtedly get their hind-parts handed to them by the end of the day by a gobbler when he sees them acting like that.