Traficant talks 'turkey' hunting in first post-prison interview

Former Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) waxed nostalgic about turkey hunting trips in his first post-prison release, lamenting that as a convicted felon, he can't carry a gun.

Traficant called into the NewsRadio 570 WKBN "Outdoor Icon" show on Saturday morning, where he reminiscent about his turkey hunting trips with the host, Denny Malloy.

"I want you to know, those were some of the best times in my life," Traficant told Malloy.

"I think the hunters provide a very valuable service to our environment," he added.

But Traficant said that he cannot hunt right now, though, because of restrictions on firearms for federal parolees.

"I can't hunt now, the ordeal that I've gone through," he said, curiously adding: "I've got something for those turkeys. I'm going to do some turkey hunting on my own without a gun.''

Traficant said that he was unsure whether or not he would attend a welcome home celebration today planned in his native Youngstown, Ohio, but did say he would be a guest on Greta van Susteren's Fox News program on Friday.

The colorful former congressman did make some vague political commentary, reminiscing on when he once did battle with then-Vice President Dick Cheney over a "buy American" amendment.

"Don't mention Cheney, you'll ruin my morning, I'll get all bent out of shape here," he joked.