I have heard people talk about hunting specific birds and the advantages and disadvantages of doing that. My good friend and hunting partner Patrick and I, both seem to have a little bit of a problem with that. Patrick in particular, feels such a bond with the animals that he chooses to give them names so as to differentiate between them during hunting discussion.
We have put in countless hours of scouting and effort into trying to figure these birds out, including 4 am wake-ups on Saturdays and Sundays throughout March and April.
Since May 1st we have pursued these two particular birds relentlessly. They were chest deep in hens, and very difficult to dictate their behavior with calling. Although, they did not feel the hunting pressure, they seemed to have a 6th sense and tended to avoid our setups just out of range, usually between 60-75 yards.
Although these birds were difficult to get in front of, they had certain habits that we knew we could count on and could exploit.
At around 7:00 this morning, after about 10 different setups on "Tommy Tailfeather" in the last three weeks, he finally corralled all of his hens in the wrong direction, and we were formally introduced. RIP Tommy Tailfeather, you will be missed but never forgotten.
10" beard, 1" spurs, and I failed to weigh him as I had to get to work.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zpsbfe0c985.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zpsbfe0c985.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zpsd4d815f7.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zpsd4d815f7.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zps3ab08bdd.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zps3ab08bdd.jpg.html)
Well, Thursdays seem to be not working out so well for our bird friends, because it was LAST thursday when Patrick and I set up together, and after having a couple hens in the decoy for a litte bit, "Tommy Strutsalot" showed up to pay a visit, and got the hammer courtesy of Uncle Patrick. Sorry Thomas, Rest easy brother.
10" beard, 1" spurs, 19 lbs.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zpsb0562ec3.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zpsb0562ec3.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zps94deb8fc.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zps94deb8fc.jpg.html)
As it stands, Larry Longbeard lives on, and he will be quite the specimen by next year when Patrick gets ahold of him!
And lastly, I just thought I'd share that a close friend of mine, who I do a ridiculous amount of waterfowl hunting with, was able to take his first spring bird ever (who will remain nameless)this year on the opener during our annual trip to Sullivan County. He played Lacrosse in Middle School, High School, and College, and although he's been hunting since he was a kid, the amount of time that he has been able to put into spring turkey hunting during that time is probably equivalent to what many of us can put in during a season.
Congrats to Colin on the first of many to come. This bird was well earned, and I'm happy for you.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/WackEmStackEm/null_zpsf5a53d7d.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/WackEmStackEm/media/null_zpsf5a53d7d.jpg.html)
:icon_thumright:
Nice season for you and your buds
I, too, have a particular bird I'm after. He is missing his center tailfeather and always has hens going in the opposite direction. The property lines make it really tricky, but I've got three more days to make it happen.
Thanks and Good Luck! I hope to hear you get him.
congrats :icon_thumright:
"Tommy Tailfeather" I love the moniker. Got one named "Lightbulb" that still fills my dreams. He's still out there. Congrats.
:z-guntootsmiley:
Very nice going,congrats!!
Way to stick it out! :icon_thumright:
:you_rock: great season
Cousin TOMMY!!! :o :o :TooFunny:
Congrats on the birds! :icon_thumright:
Awesome. Congrats.......
Nice birds and good read!
Congrats!!
Good by Tommy.
Tommy had it coming. What a jerk!
Congrats!
Congrats, I love having specific birds always keeps you wondering.
:icon_thumright:
Congrats on your birds guys!! :icon_thumright:
Congrats to you guys. That's what makes turkey hunting so fun. :icon_thumright:
I picked out a particular bird this year in March while scouting a flock of 9 long beards, there was one bird that was clearly bigger bodied than the rest. He swaggered around the hens and ran a lot of other gobblers off. Second day scouting him he walked right infront of the truck and I could see he only had one all white spur and the other was snapped off. I decided from his spur and size he'd be the White Whale of my season and since I was registered in a cash prize heavy bird contest that the big bodies single spurred bird was the one I wanted to kill.
First week of the season the farm was locked up with another hunter, I waited my turn and second week I was able to get in there. Went out roosting to see if I could get a bead on where the birds were roosting after a week or so of hunting pressure, barely made it away from the truck when a bird rips from a small field 250yds away and flys up into a big pine tree. I slipped in closer for a look and sure enough out of all the turkeys its the white whale.
Next morning I was sitting 34yds from him well before light with a buddy and a video camera. He's on the limb alone gobbling his head off too a group of birds on another ridge and flew down almost imediately after my first flew clucks. he had his neck crained so hard looking for me as he came down he actually tripped and flopped over on the ground when he landed. Correcting himself he streched his neck out to look for a hen suiter and took some hevi #6's as his prize.
23lbs, 10.25beard, 1-1/16 white spur other snapped off at 1/2
I love it. May have to take a page from your book with naming birds. Few of ours were seen on regular basis and targeted.