Drove in yesterday and while scouting spotted this guy strutting in a WIHA with 2 hens about 30 minutes before dark. Kinda figured he'd roost very close so I slipped in this morning and was within 100 yards of his roost. After flying down he followed his hens and 2 jakes just a little too close to my spot. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/8643fcc62a1693ddf977d2abbb216289.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/ac3509aeeeb652051ac2e38297645ace.jpg)
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Congrats
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Nice bird but that's the most eastern looking "rio" I've ever seen.
What area of the state were you in? I agree that it looks like an Eastern or very predominantly Eastern hybrid.
that is not a Rio.
Congrats on a nice gobbler
Congratulations! Kansas has Easterns in the east part of the state and Rios central and west. Here's a couple Kansas fans shot 3 counties apart.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/fca3db0c1c5dbb6eb432770f739a29eb.jpg)
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Congrats on a quick hunt!
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Did he say it was a Rio? I just read the post and missed it if he did.
Congrats to you on a great KS longbeard. It's not the easiest state to hunt and gets lots of pressure these days. Haven't been in 4 years and last time limited but had cover a lot of ground and got lucky. Seems to be that way for the past 6-8 years from what I've seen and what I continue to hear.
Nice bird!!
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Nice gobbler, cool pics
Quote from: FLGobstopper on May 13, 2021, 07:00:42 PM
Did he say it was a Rio? I just read the post and missed it if he did.
His first post said it was his second rio. It has since been edited after feedback.
A few years ago you would see alot of hybrids around here. I have several rio looking tail fans. However as of late it seems we have transitioned to mostly easterns. Ive sent feathers to get DNA tested from recent birds, and birds I killed 20 years ago. Waiting to hear the results.
Nice bird regardless of sub spp. Sure has a nice beard and at least one nice spur
Way to go!
This man goes to Kansas and kills a bird..And all everyone wants to do is pick feathers apart trying to determine sub species...I think we all need to step back and applaud the man for killing a bird in a state where everyone here says turkeys don't exist any more
Good for you !!!!
Quote from: WV Ridge Reaper on May 13, 2021, 10:08:48 PM
This man goes to Kansas and kills a bird..And all everyone wants to do is pick feathers apart trying to determine sub species...I think we all need to step back and applaud the man for killing a bird in a state where everyone here says turkeys don't exist any more
Good for you !!!!
Thanks. This is probably the last time I'll post a harvest on this forum. I used to really enjoy this site, everyone was always helpful and encouraging to each other, and I learned a lot from others sharing their experiences on here, but like many of the Facebook turkey pages it has been changing the last few years. Many members never seem to really turkey hunt (at least they never post any pics or talk about their actual hunts) but just prefer to offer opinions about guns, boots selection, ammo, turkey vests... When someone else posts about actual hunting they just want to pick those posts apart without acknowledging the accomplishment in any way. I'll continue to be a member as I still utilize the classified section quite a bit but I'm done with the rest. I've probably taken more birds the last 5 years than some of these "keyboard" turkey hunters have taken in their life but I don't think I've ever posted a critique of any other members post. I'm not mad about this, just sad that the forum has changed in this way and resigned to the reality of this being the way the world functions now. To those providing positive feedback and encouragement, again, I thank you. While you are becoming the minority you are the backbone of this site. To the rest, you just do you and I'll continue to do me, but I won't allow anyone else to lessen my love and passion for this sport regardless. Peace.
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I'll start off by saying congrats on the bird. I apologize if my comment came off rude, I was legitimately curious what part of the state you were in and was looking at it from an informative approach rather than a negatively critiquing one.
I do know Kansas are little sub-species defensive though because jokers come here and kill two hybrids off an outfitter and then post all over the place that they did half their single season slam on the same property in a state like Kansas or Nebraska, which is obviously not realistic.
Either way, Rio or Eastern, you killed a dandy and on public to boot. Congrats again sir.
No hard feelings. Lots of "dirty birds" even outside of what the map shows. I've shot some unit 1 birds that looked more eastern than rio. It seems like outside of Rio and Merriam native range you get a lot of mutts. Prairie "merriams" in SD are a great example as I've shot lighter tail fanned birds in KS than I have out there.
(https://gohunt-assets-us-west-2.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Kansas-turkey-subspecies-distribution-map.jpg)
These two came from NE within 5 miles of Unit 2 in KS. An area NE claims to be Rio/Merriam Hybrids
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/234HTXSuRAqY_XEYWhlwuE-XS_yiHzNsY_jXaKRIdydR1vsOftKPth2qLZiABlUJSiJDuzrFKtDE4JvC9c3dwpiH4wHKRRvGqpPjhekzErJTStIA52DkKOXAfg5r33Ot2vlotur47fdD0sLHkWTbjLRyUvGR9eC2NQFXg9LhpWF2_kxObEhzejju7HZDI8Lx3-I0XtOglnwSuc5nmjCDv61vjncpRfItjC_oE_KxGQzOSZuX1nN5k8oqVHetg5Z7mWvGBSLnt6y0OLGRFD6AV4iIlub8GBaH1_dQ0jp8iQqcdiMuNxObHEMlDDDIr7cSI56WdqtcQH4f5TTnPrbm7n5V_bOH-l3nSteAvprKZJ-Tfs9Gf5FcRTEfPbacsdKJ0YH0-YO7QB9ntkFRtzy6kMuotLlDAqXcS1wJ025SU4xsS23fZ7qYLjmm1Tr2ZKstKQkRNlJUFVcoefI_TbnTk28FyowOaDdJnKmk4RVC2GUv32EgFCNtF2baB4yeroZmjXDmIyVOT6xtmFWL0vlHvWml_w8Xsn-29wz3G46hA6lHUrvd7eQQyWyURcfbo6v2v3S8WwvBhgC9Wh7juXhsJY75Eb3eOBeLKrlddv1crekDXjieb6aaBDhbXKIWdUtjkiy0V8hGP7wJhvoOHf9duY3C0JaQI7FAd9PpxpoIPEHeCTuyvtsCwg3uELeSEYrkpEnM9F3RVPrMIE-JWtktZxBE=w882-h881-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TxiFaRB0WF1HC3euZM7IPcGFV4V17L9iHfj1GVXUUXjgptUJVzH0iAesZw2vlMVVW60iEU6J76z7k-uWlMOJcglr5GrMQlsF-AdJ0rbKF7LBq55yA4PxsDpNMX3WwQtkepIaTtlNjhytYHrORRKP3sB3fsOOCJUsgIkYsR50LJ9XZ6fLCUyOA8rT_yumb_ySVoqSTwsCOYJ1pFC4aF412D4XimjeNK0wOu8vRij6xdW1EGZ-dx2TcUwCyg6Xe60ZhtCaJSTP2rGHXjl_XsUkYitbZctKU1e_CFsenBAnjji0e5RQh6crcxhWbMq0S195tSCVfXB2aSxPliN3KSHU2lkQVQ416ZuoAwI_pXe3AAgSF1dzDFZyyrCAnoJ3HE_htdC5F0-ZJAUsevQLlwpx4sZXnLTvwJ7YGv74trlK8BEZSOm1FA64Co6wWQgNW1E694aE6FMXA03qK1a9rZUKRloN8rYdjj5BIkCq2MQBhg9W74zbe3Hi7ZKzO2a3F5oHvu_8ZFWrkihnkreGBmQGBS64RVcQ5kes5c4D6zMIHyrTwlFreKqdfLJOdzg30hHtNbgH82KNiA_uP1KxxhBMc_QFpL3kiTpMCIU6zunqvqBe8QzqBotL2QwDvuX_ZWk5MmRACMHMJGuGeKj56chL2YkgJXYKTfbOFKm14xOzvvfNlJ8lUIj7CmKj5aDNTCgLMKfvk8AMfT90wqjhbMhtCQRj=w824-h825-no?authuser=0)
Quote from: AndyN on May 14, 2021, 10:11:09 AM
No hard feelings. Lots of "dirty birds" even outside of what the map shows. I've shot some unit 1 birds that looked more eastern than rio. It seems like outside of Rio and Merriam native range you get a lot of mutts. Prairie "merriams" in SD are a great example as I've shot lighter tail fanned birds in KS than I have out there.
(https://gohunt-assets-us-west-2.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Kansas-turkey-subspecies-distribution-map.jpg)
These two came from NE within 5 miles of Unit 2 in KS. An area NE claims to be Rio/Merriam Hybrids
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/234HTXSuRAqY_XEYWhlwuE-XS_yiHzNsY_jXaKRIdydR1vsOftKPth2qLZiABlUJSiJDuzrFKtDE4JvC9c3dwpiH4wHKRRvGqpPjhekzErJTStIA52DkKOXAfg5r33Ot2vlotur47fdD0sLHkWTbjLRyUvGR9eC2NQFXg9LhpWF2_kxObEhzejju7HZDI8Lx3-I0XtOglnwSuc5nmjCDv61vjncpRfItjC_oE_KxGQzOSZuX1nN5k8oqVHetg5Z7mWvGBSLnt6y0OLGRFD6AV4iIlub8GBaH1_dQ0jp8iQqcdiMuNxObHEMlDDDIr7cSI56WdqtcQH4f5TTnPrbm7n5V_bOH-l3nSteAvprKZJ-Tfs9Gf5FcRTEfPbacsdKJ0YH0-YO7QB9ntkFRtzy6kMuotLlDAqXcS1wJ025SU4xsS23fZ7qYLjmm1Tr2ZKstKQkRNlJUFVcoefI_TbnTk28FyowOaDdJnKmk4RVC2GUv32EgFCNtF2baB4yeroZmjXDmIyVOT6xtmFWL0vlHvWml_w8Xsn-29wz3G46hA6lHUrvd7eQQyWyURcfbo6v2v3S8WwvBhgC9Wh7juXhsJY75Eb3eOBeLKrlddv1crekDXjieb6aaBDhbXKIWdUtjkiy0V8hGP7wJhvoOHf9duY3C0JaQI7FAd9PpxpoIPEHeCTuyvtsCwg3uELeSEYrkpEnM9F3RVPrMIE-JWtktZxBE=w882-h881-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TxiFaRB0WF1HC3euZM7IPcGFV4V17L9iHfj1GVXUUXjgptUJVzH0iAesZw2vlMVVW60iEU6J76z7k-uWlMOJcglr5GrMQlsF-AdJ0rbKF7LBq55yA4PxsDpNMX3WwQtkepIaTtlNjhytYHrORRKP3sB3fsOOCJUsgIkYsR50LJ9XZ6fLCUyOA8rT_yumb_ySVoqSTwsCOYJ1pFC4aF412D4XimjeNK0wOu8vRij6xdW1EGZ-dx2TcUwCyg6Xe60ZhtCaJSTP2rGHXjl_XsUkYitbZctKU1e_CFsenBAnjji0e5RQh6crcxhWbMq0S195tSCVfXB2aSxPliN3KSHU2lkQVQ416ZuoAwI_pXe3AAgSF1dzDFZyyrCAnoJ3HE_htdC5F0-ZJAUsevQLlwpx4sZXnLTvwJ7YGv74trlK8BEZSOm1FA64Co6wWQgNW1E694aE6FMXA03qK1a9rZUKRloN8rYdjj5BIkCq2MQBhg9W74zbe3Hi7ZKzO2a3F5oHvu_8ZFWrkihnkreGBmQGBS64RVcQ5kes5c4D6zMIHyrTwlFreKqdfLJOdzg30hHtNbgH82KNiA_uP1KxxhBMc_QFpL3kiTpMCIU6zunqvqBe8QzqBotL2QwDvuX_ZWk5MmRACMHMJGuGeKj56chL2YkgJXYKTfbOFKm14xOzvvfNlJ8lUIj7CmKj5aDNTCgLMKfvk8AMfT90wqjhbMhtCQRj=w824-h825-no?authuser=0)
Yeah, I don't put too much weight in that map, either. I've seen what appear to be pure Easterns, pure Rios, and the mutts in between all running in the same flocks in Kansas. Kansas is like a box a chocolates. I love it.
Awesome job!!
I really enjoy the pic above that old... mine shaft? Cave? Corn crib type thing? What is it!?
Quote from: POk3s on May 14, 2021, 04:47:17 PM
Awesome job!!
I really enjoy the pic above that old... mine shaft? Cave? Corn crib type thing? What is it!?
Thanks. It's an old storm shelter behind an abandoned farmhouse we hunted close to.
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Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 14, 2021, 05:31:48 AM
I'll start off by saying congrats on the bird. I apologize if my comment came off rude, I was legitimately curious what part of the state you were in and was looking at it from an informative approach rather than a negatively critiquing one.
I do know Kansas are little sub-species defensive though because jokers come here and kill two hybrids off an outfitter and then post all over the place that they did half their single season slam on the same property in a state like Kansas or Nebraska, which is obviously not realistic.
Either way, Rio or Eastern, you killed a dandy and on public to boot. Congrats again sir.
Thank you, no apologies necessary. I'll say he was in an area on the hybrid/Rios line but turkeys don't care about lines on a map, and those two tone 1 @ 1/4 inch spurs along with the 10 @ 1/4 inch beard and weighing over 21 lbs make him a trophy whatever his parentage.
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Quote from: AndyN on May 14, 2021, 10:11:09 AM
No hard feelings. Lots of "dirty birds" even outside of what the map shows. I've shot some unit 1 birds that looked more eastern than rio. It seems like outside of Rio and Merriam native range you get a lot of mutts. Prairie "merriams" in SD are a great example as I've shot lighter tail fanned birds in KS than I have out there.
(https://gohunt-assets-us-west-2.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Kansas-turkey-subspecies-distribution-map.jpg)
These two came from NE within 5 miles of Unit 2 in KS. An area NE claims to be Rio/Merriam Hybrids
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/234HTXSuRAqY_XEYWhlwuE-XS_yiHzNsY_jXaKRIdydR1vsOftKPth2qLZiABlUJSiJDuzrFKtDE4JvC9c3dwpiH4wHKRRvGqpPjhekzErJTStIA52DkKOXAfg5r33Ot2vlotur47fdD0sLHkWTbjLRyUvGR9eC2NQFXg9LhpWF2_kxObEhzejju7HZDI8Lx3-I0XtOglnwSuc5nmjCDv61vjncpRfItjC_oE_KxGQzOSZuX1nN5k8oqVHetg5Z7mWvGBSLnt6y0OLGRFD6AV4iIlub8GBaH1_dQ0jp8iQqcdiMuNxObHEMlDDDIr7cSI56WdqtcQH4f5TTnPrbm7n5V_bOH-l3nSteAvprKZJ-Tfs9Gf5FcRTEfPbacsdKJ0YH0-YO7QB9ntkFRtzy6kMuotLlDAqXcS1wJ025SU4xsS23fZ7qYLjmm1Tr2ZKstKQkRNlJUFVcoefI_TbnTk28FyowOaDdJnKmk4RVC2GUv32EgFCNtF2baB4yeroZmjXDmIyVOT6xtmFWL0vlHvWml_w8Xsn-29wz3G46hA6lHUrvd7eQQyWyURcfbo6v2v3S8WwvBhgC9Wh7juXhsJY75Eb3eOBeLKrlddv1crekDXjieb6aaBDhbXKIWdUtjkiy0V8hGP7wJhvoOHf9duY3C0JaQI7FAd9PpxpoIPEHeCTuyvtsCwg3uELeSEYrkpEnM9F3RVPrMIE-JWtktZxBE=w882-h881-no?authuser=0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TxiFaRB0WF1HC3euZM7IPcGFV4V17L9iHfj1GVXUUXjgptUJVzH0iAesZw2vlMVVW60iEU6J76z7k-uWlMOJcglr5GrMQlsF-AdJ0rbKF7LBq55yA4PxsDpNMX3WwQtkepIaTtlNjhytYHrORRKP3sB3fsOOCJUsgIkYsR50LJ9XZ6fLCUyOA8rT_yumb_ySVoqSTwsCOYJ1pFC4aF412D4XimjeNK0wOu8vRij6xdW1EGZ-dx2TcUwCyg6Xe60ZhtCaJSTP2rGHXjl_XsUkYitbZctKU1e_CFsenBAnjji0e5RQh6crcxhWbMq0S195tSCVfXB2aSxPliN3KSHU2lkQVQ416ZuoAwI_pXe3AAgSF1dzDFZyyrCAnoJ3HE_htdC5F0-ZJAUsevQLlwpx4sZXnLTvwJ7YGv74trlK8BEZSOm1FA64Co6wWQgNW1E694aE6FMXA03qK1a9rZUKRloN8rYdjj5BIkCq2MQBhg9W74zbe3Hi7ZKzO2a3F5oHvu_8ZFWrkihnkreGBmQGBS64RVcQ5kes5c4D6zMIHyrTwlFreKqdfLJOdzg30hHtNbgH82KNiA_uP1KxxhBMc_QFpL3kiTpMCIU6zunqvqBe8QzqBotL2QwDvuX_ZWk5MmRACMHMJGuGeKj56chL2YkgJXYKTfbOFKm14xOzvvfNlJ8lUIj7CmKj5aDNTCgLMKfvk8AMfT90wqjhbMhtCQRj=w824-h825-no?authuser=0)
Yeah, we are all mutts if we get down to it. He was on the western edge of zone 3, west of Marysville but he's gonna get honored with a full body mount. When the day comes I can no longer chase them I'll sit in my rocker and look at him and be reminded of him strutting into my setup in the early morning Kansas sun.
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