The Feather

Turkey hunting is my number one passion in life for many reasons, and the beauty of these wild birds has a lot to do with that. When seen in sunlight from afar, they have a shine that can’t be matched by any other creature. Upon closer inspection, that shine you see is made up of hundreds of feathers carrying an iridescent color –one of the hallmarks of a spring gobbler. This is why, of the many feathers that make up these beautiful birds, the back feather is my favorite and is reflected in our logo.

With any Panola Brand® order, you will find one of these feathers included especially for you and directly from the body of a turkey I’ve killed. Rest assured, every one of these birds were taken with respect and admiration. When you hold this feather in your hand, you can twist it from side-to-side and watch as the colors change in the top band of the feather. I believe this can be used as a metaphor in life; when you are struggling to find beauty in any given situation, maybe you should look at it from a different angle.

My hope is that this feather can be used as an educational moment, or simply a conversation piece for someone who has never seen the beauty up close. Perhaps a non-hunter will hold this feather and see its true beauty, grasping a better understanding of why we turkey hunters are so obsessed with these animals. Perhaps a child who becomes fascinated with a feather like this will begin a lifelong love of chasing wild turkeys like so many of us.

- Jay Hembree