I killed an interesting gobbler on Chattahoochee WMA near my home in the north Georgia mountains yesterday afternoon. We have a lot of wilderness up here, and my hunt started at 4:30am when I started hiking to where I wanted to be at sunrise. Long story short, 11 miles, an elevation change of about 2,000 ft, and 11 hours later, I had not heard a gobble or seen a feather. I made it back to my truck at about 3:30 and was about to call it a day. However, when I called my wife she told me she wouldn't be home until after dark, so this freed me up to hunt the evening. I drove to another ridge that I bow hunted for bears last year, and had seen several long beards over the course of the fall. About 30 minutes later, I found some fresh scratching, and was looking for a tree to set up to lightly purr and cluck and rake leaves, when I thought I heard one scratching for real. I clucked once, loudly because of the wind, and immediately he walked 4 or 5 steps toward me. When he stuck his big read head over the rise, BAM! I shot him in the face!
He had a 9 3/4 inch beard, 1 1/4 inch spurs, and really long 3 inch claws on his feet. One of his legs was somewhat deformed and turned about 90 degrees, which I suspect is what caused the strange claws. Anyway, thought yall might be interested, ive never seen this before.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/819/40723261715_b91c6e9472_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/253zmVZ)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/253zmVZ) by joey youngblood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150802181@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/41614710991_64c6a9edc8_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26pmgK6)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/26pmgK6) by joey youngblood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150802181@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/817/41574681062_66bcc61403_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26kP7eU)X (https://flic.kr/p/26kP7eU) by joey youngblood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150802181@N05/), on Flickr
That's certainly unique. Congrats on a hard earned gobbler!
I've never seen that before! Congrats
That's wild congrats on a awesome bird
Interesting bird, Congrats
Congratulations on a cool unique bird.
I have only seen that at a local DMV office. Always wonder how those employees use keyboard, I guess that's why the lines are so long.
WOW that poor guy needs a pedicure.
Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.
Congrats. I've seen it on one toe but not matching opposites.
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 22, 2018, 01:09:35 PM
Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.
I cured what ailed him with a 3 inch load of Longbesrd #5's! :fud: :OGturkeyhead:
I've seen that at the NWTF museum in Edgefield SC. Can't remember what causes it. Very nice bird and I know those mountains aren't easy pickins!
Way to hang in there and stay with it. Congrats on a hard earned bird.
WOW! I have never saw anything like that, congrats on the very unique bird!
Quote from: Buckman18 on April 22, 2018, 03:42:49 PM
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 22, 2018, 01:09:35 PM
Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.
I cured what ailed him with a 3 inch load of Longbesrd #5's! :fud: :OGturkeyhead:
Lol , yes you did. Congratulations on a fine hard earned bird.
Congrats
I killed one a few years ago that had one toenail twisted like that but not as long. Pretty neat. Congrats.
crazy looking bird
Congrats, sounds like you earned that one....
congrats on an odd bird