December is a joyous time for many here in Virginia. Why? Turkeys are in season!

Just this past weekend, I spotted a flock of turkeys about 350 yards away, parading confidently in a cornfield. Virginia’s fall turkey season was in full swing, and I had my trusty Smith & Wesson 629 Stealth .44 Magnum in hand. The scene was set, but I was racing against two clocks: the setting sun and the infamous “legal wife light.”

For those unfamiliar, “legal wife light” is that unspoken yet inviolable deadline negotiated—or sometimes outright mandated—by one’s spouse to leave the woods in time for non-hunting obligations. It may coincide with legal shooting light, but, as many hunters know, it rarely works out that way.

With about 30 minutes left, I had to close the 275-yard gap between myself and the flock. The turkeys were enjoying an open field, with a hardwood tree line providing cover for the last 150 yards. Confident in my handgun skills up to 75 yards, I began my slow and calculated stalk, equipped with superb Kryptek camo and the obligatory blaze-orange hat for firearms deer season.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Wait. Crunch, crunch. Wait.

Patience and discipline are critical when stalking any wild game, and step by step, I crept closer. Every step on the dry leaves seemed to echo in the still woods, but I pressed on. Meanwhile, I kept a close eye on the turkeys which seemed to be celebrating in the field, complete with a live DJ and disco lights.

Just as I neared 100 yards, my phone buzzed—a dreaded five-minute warning I had set to honor my legal wife light. Slowly, I lowered my foot, silenced the vibration, and glanced at the clock. Time was up.

I muttered a few colorful phrases, which, loosely translated, meant the turkeys were lucky I had to leave. I stood there, watching the flock, as they strutted confidently, seemingly unfazed by my presence. Wild turkeys, in my opinion, are the cockiest critters in the woods—hence the strut.

Unloading my handgun, I retreated to my truck, carrying with me the bittersweet taste of an “almost” hunt. But deep down, I knew I had made the right choice. Family always comes first, and that evening, Wendy and I were honored to participate in a local Christmas parade as part of the American Legion and Wreaths Across America float.

December truly is a joyous time around these parts, and not just because of turkey season. It’s a time for family, community, and reflecting on what matters most.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Jay Pinsky
jay@theoutdoorwire.com