Well, my Kansas trip was a success for all three of us. I smoked a nice double beard that had the biggest fan I have EVER seen. When he began strutting towards me, all I could think was, "Man, either he has the smallest body I've ever seen, or the biggest fan!" Well he was 22lbs, so it wasn't the body! We hunted at Hickory Creek Outfitters in Sedan, KS, and MAN does he have the birds! Winter Storm Achilles met us there, but we still heard a good bit of gobbling given the conditions. He had 1 3/16" and 1 1/4" spurs, 10 1/2" and 7 5/8" beards, and a shade under 22 lbs (Scored somewhere around 82). This has been my best year, taking 5 birds in Bama, 3 birds in Mississippi, and this double beard in Kansas. I watched several others die this year as well. Now I have a debate....... I have a double bearded merriams mounted, a 5 bearded eastern mounted, and my first eastern mounted (12" beard, 1 3/8" spurs). I would like to have this Rio mounted so I have three subspecies with multiple beards and good spurs mounted, but I also killed that bird this year with 2 10 1/2" beards and 1 1/2" and 1 3/8" spurs........ Would you mount both of them? And if so, how?
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/HoggleGobble/image-28.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/HoggleGobble/image-26.jpg)
Would you mount this one too? I need some help before I go broke!!
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/HoggleGobble/image-20.jpg)
dead mounts side by side
Do both. What the heck it's only money. That Rio looks like it has more than 18 tailfeathers. Did you count them? Congrats on a great year.
TRKYHTR
I believe it had 20 or 21 tail feathers. How uncommon is that?
I'd say that bird may be a hybrid or an Eastern ..Sedan is in eastern KS right? Tips of the feathers are too dark for a Rio in my opinion.
I just looked at a photo of a Rio jake my grandson shot around Wichita and an Eastern I shot in eastern Kansas...the fan coloration is not like either but more similar to the Eastern. The Rios have a very light colored tip on the fan...a light buff color.
Whatever he is he is a HOSS!
Congrats!
Curious so I went thru some of my photos of Rios shot in central Kansas and I have one or two that are colored similar to this bird also.
Quote from: TRKYHTR on May 08, 2013, 04:27:49 PM
Do both. What the heck it's only money. That Rio looks like it has more than 18 tailfeathers. Did you count them? Congrats on a great year.
TRKYHTR
:agreed:
Nice birds, I would definitely be tempted to mount both. Do you know how wide the fan was? I killed one Saturday that had 20 tail feathers and the fan measured 30" across.
Don't want to burst your bubble, but that aint a true rio. Its a hybrid, you can call it whatever you want.
congrats great pics
Quote from: nativeks on May 08, 2013, 08:46:30 PM
Don't want to burst your bubble, but that aint a true rio. Its a hybrid, you can call it whatever you want.
Your the second person that said that. Just curious, but why do you say that? I've never killed an eastern with cream tips before.. And I've killed my share. I googled rios and they all have creme tips. However, I have never killed one. Maybe someone can enlighten me?
Quote from: Mike Honcho on May 08, 2013, 05:19:27 PM
I'd say that bird may be a hybrid or an Eastern ..Sedan is in eastern KS right? Tips of the feathers are too dark for a Rio in my opinion.
I just looked at a photo of a Rio jake my grandson shot around Wichita and an Eastern I shot in eastern Kansas...the fan coloration is not like either but more similar to the Eastern. The Rios have a very light colored tip on the fan...a light buff color.
Whatever he is he is a HOSS!
Congrats!
It's northwest of Tulsa. Just a little east of Wichita.
Congrats on a Great year, on the decision, thats a fantastic one to have to make!!
1. If you want a true rio you have to go further west.
2. You can see both subspecies characteristics in that tail fan.
Sedan is in prime hybrid country. I've shot piles of birds with similar coloration to yours. I've got some with lighter cream tips, and some darker as well. Just depends on the parents.
Quote from: HoggleGobble on May 08, 2013, 04:55:58 PM
I believe it had 20 or 21 tail feathers. How uncommon is that?
Very uncommon.
TRKYHTR
Hybrid for sure, still an incredible bird. I actually like the hybrids more.
congrats!
Congrats!!
Get'n it done, Bama Style!! I like it. Congrats on an awesome season!
Congrats to you guys on a awesome hunt. I've got to try hunting in Kansas someday.
Nice birds man! Congrats
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Thanks guys
Very nice going,congrats!
Beautiful birds! We are going to try this style mount for my sons first bird - gotta admit, I'm kinda jealous, I really like the look, just hope I don't mess it up!
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=turkey+chest+mounts&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS473&biw=1280&bih=732&tbm=isch&tbnid=1gupW2LBt4-rHM:&imgrefurl=http://mountinmantaxidermy.zoomshare.com/album/Miscellaneous/images/be981d4384234dcdaf033d3eb8d7e78d_12863965310/:album&docid=2Ap6vbzjxlnZDM&imgurl=http://www.mountinmantaxidermy.zoomshare.com/album/Miscellaneous/images/be981d4384234dcdaf033d3eb8d7e78d_12863965310/midsize.jpg&w=535&h=480&ei=54aOUd2AAqiCyQGnroDQCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=93&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=155&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:89&tx=102&ty=76
Sent the head here and also ordered the chest mount body from them - real nice guy, talked to Mike Noon, can't wait to get it back and put this together. http://www.noonkesterfreezedryturkeyheads.com/
Congrats and BTW great pics.
Hybrid or not, he's still a great bird. And I'd mount both of them if I was you. Congrats on a hell of a season!! :you_rock: :icon_thumright:
Nice! I love smacking them down in KS!
Congats on a great season, Chad! Beautiful birds!
Quote from: Gold Spur on May 09, 2013, 10:18:40 AM
Congrats to you guys on a awesome hunt. I've got to try hunting in Kansas someday.
Better hurry cause it is getting full on rediculous with people. Folks that handle the public near my house said they saw more folks this year than they ever have. Talking like you may have to draw in to hunt it in the future because the resource simply can't take it. They hadn't seen a gobbler in over 2 weeks. I've seen 2 in the last month on there. Won't hunt public anymore on private.