Here is my question........................
I got lucky last Sat. morning and bagged a gobbler with a 6" beard and 1-1/2" 2nd beard.
Shot him at 12 yards and almost missed him (pattern too tight). Caught him with about 1/2 dozen or so #6 pellets in head and neck. Direct hit should have "taken his head off". Head was "bobbing and weaving" when shot. I'd much prefer a 25-30 yard shot.
Anyways, gobbler went straight down....didn't move. When I approached him he started what I call " The death flop". He was obviously "dead", wasn't going anywhere, (I was ready in case he did). Normally the only other 2 birds I shot expired after about 15-30 seconds. However, this one continued to flap for about what seemed like 3-4 minutes. Didn't run, head down, just flapping. This really bothered me as I didn't want to shoot him again or "slit" his throat or "pound his head with a log", etc. I know this was probably just reflexes, but I didn't enjoy it. I prefer my animals (birds) to expire quickly. In many videos, I have seen people carrying flopping birds, etc., but that's just not my thing to do.
So, what I'm asking is, what would you have done and why? What is the ethical thing to do in this situation? I'm sure it won't keep me from pulling the trigger on another, but just wanted some options/opinions. If nothing else, to make me feel better.
Thanks.
You have to stomp a few heads every now and then ,thats just the way of it .
congrats on your double beard...
Quote from: hookedspur on May 29, 2015, 09:06:56 AM
You have to stomp a few heads every now and then ,thats just the way of it .
congrats on your double beard...
Yep, the old foot on the neck or head stomp normally takes those reflexes out.
I do the same thing I said in the last thread with this topic...
Yep, we talked about this before......get a boot on that head!
How come his longest beard grew a half inch and his short beard lost a half inch?
:newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
(My answer is still the same as last time you asked, too.....) :toothy12:
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 29, 2015, 12:00:56 PM
How come his longest beard grew a half inch and his short beard lost a half inch?
Cause he wasn't dead yet. I think I see the problem. :toothy12:
Didn't see the first discussion, but if you don't like flopping turkeys.......you better pick another past time. 99% of turkeys will flop, some longer than others. If his head isn't up.....he's dead, I don't care if he does flop for 3 minutes. There is no suffering going on here. Have you ever heard the saying "running like a chicken with its head cut off"?
If a flopping bird is not for you then this may not be your sport. It is part of the game. I have shot them where they fell with no movement and have had them flop all over the place. If the head is down then they are "expired" and it is just nervous and such. Just like when you cut of a chickens head. I have had more flopping out of birds shot up close than those at 30-40 yards with HTL, no idea why.
Quote from: hobbes on May 29, 2015, 01:22:28 PM
Didn't see the first discussion, but if you don't like flopping turkeys.......you better pick another past time. 99% of turkeys will flop, some longer than others. If his head isn't up.....he's dead, I don't care if he does flop for 3 minutes. There is no suffering going on here. Have you ever heard the saying "running like a chicken with its head cut off"?
Should always read all posts before I post. :agreed:
Quote from: davisd9 on May 29, 2015, 03:48:13 PM
Quote from: hobbes on May 29, 2015, 01:22:28 PM
Didn't see the first discussion, but if you don't like flopping turkeys.......you better pick another past time. 99% of turkeys will flop, some longer than others. If his head isn't up.....he's dead, I don't care if he does flop for 3 minutes. There is no suffering going on here. Have you ever heard the saying "running like a chicken with its head cut off"?
Should always read all posts before I post. :agreed:
Great minds think alike!
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 29, 2015, 12:00:56 PM
How come his longest beard grew a half inch and his short beard lost a half inch?
:newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
(My answer is still the same as last time you asked, too.....) :toothy12:
I was thinking the same thing. ??? Maybe the OP forgot he had posted this before.. My answer is still the same as before.
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 29, 2015, 12:00:56 PM
How come his longest beard grew a half inch and his short beard lost a half inch?
:newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
(My answer is still the same as last time you asked, too.....) :toothy12:
Huh!
Sorry, but I didn't ask this question before, nor give any info about my bird before. This is the 1st I've posted since I got it.
If it's some kind of joke, please let me in on it. Cause I'm missing it.
Thanks.
Ok,
I think i get it. Flopping birds, head down are dead. Part of the hunt. I'm ok with that, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. Always trying to learn the "right" way of doing things. It won't keep me up at night or keep me from pulling the trigger! Just asking. By the way, sorry if this was asked in another thread, as I don't remember posting it. Either that or I'm suffering from a severe lack of sleep.
5:30 am, been up since 5:00am. Must still be running on "Turkey Daylight Savings Time".
LOL!
Thanks for the input.
Harold, here is your other post. Lots of good responses there too. ;D
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,56479.msg558881.html#msg558881 (http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,56479.msg558881.html#msg558881)
It's ok Harold. I suffer from "Oldtimers" sometimes too.
If you're not an old stinker like me, cut back on the booze. :lol:
if you walk up to your tom and he is flopping around just step on his neck then put the shotgun barrel in his beak push in about 4 inches ,this is why I like the 20g fits in the mouth better ,once you have it in about 4 to 5 inches take your foot of his neck and pull the trigger ,the guts will exit the rear of the bird doing 100 miles per hour ,,clean bird with no more flopping ,,Dutch
Quote from: dutch@fx4 on May 30, 2015, 10:01:48 AM
if you walk up to your tom and he is flopping around just step on his neck then put the shotgun barrel in his beak push in about 4 inches ,this is why I like the 20g fits in the mouth better ,once you have it in about 4 to 5 inches take your foot of his neck and pull the trigger ,the guts will exit the rear of the bird doing 100 miles per hour ,,clean bird with no more flopping ,,Dutch
O.k., so this is a joke I presume? Just to be clear so a novice won't try it thinking that's the way it's done! If you are joking, which I assume you are, you should be clear about that...That kind of stuff, though innocently said, could get somebody killed...
Quote from: HFultzjr on May 30, 2015, 05:32:51 AM
Ok,
I think i get it. Flopping birds, head down are dead. Part of the hunt. I'm ok with that, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. Always trying to learn the "right" way of doing things. It won't keep me up at night or keep me from pulling the trigger! Just asking. By the way, sorry if this was asked in another thread, as I don't remember posting it. Either that or I'm suffering from a severe lack of sleep.
5:30 am, been up since 5:00am. Must still be running on "Turkey Daylight Savings Time".
LOL!
Thanks for the input.
:o :icon_thumright: It's okay. This only goes to show that you have reached the full height of this obsession. Our congratulations,...or sympathies,...whichever way you want to look at it. (Don't worry, your memory will get better in a couple more months) ;D :toothy12:
Damn,
This is getting scary. I really don't remember that post. I've been forgetting a lot of stuff lately and I'm starting to get concerned. I'm not joking! I talked to the doctor about it a few months ago, and they said if it keeps happening, I should get checked to see if I'm having mini strokes. As for the beard size....I would have sworn those were measurements I measured.
Anyways, now that I have everyone (including myself) thoroughly confused...disregard this thread.
I have had this happen numerous times recently. Some were really scary!
Now, if I didn't have the beard soaking in Borax, I would wonder whether or not I got one!
Now you all got me concerned. Guess I'll check back in with the doctor and let them know it's still happening.
Sorry for any inconvenience. I'll keep my posts to a minimum, until I get this sorted out.
Harold, I, and I'm sure everyone else here hopes it turns out to be nothing serious. Even relatively benign things like an underactive thyroid can cause memory issues. And no inconvenience really, you should go ahead and post all you want. You can always check your post history too.
I step on his head and tug on his legs in a vertical position to break his neck. It helps to speed up the process and ensure no escape. Congrats on a double beard.
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on May 30, 2015, 10:59:14 PM
Harold, I, and I'm sure everyone else here hopes it turns out to be nothing serious. Even relatively benign things like an underactive thyroid can cause memory issues. And no inconvenience really, you should go ahead and post all you want. You can always check your post history too.
X2! Post away.
Sent from the Strut Zone
About 25 years ago after shooting my 1st Tom I made the mistake of running to my downed tom and trying to grab his legs to get ahold of him, after having a 1 inch spur enter the palm of my hand, I have since that day stepped on the head until he is dead if he is flopping around. Watch out for those spurs if he is flopping!!