If an old gobbler is off by himself, a half mile from other birds, is he a herd bull, or is he by himself because he's wanting to get away from the other birds?
Sounds more like a young bird ran off by the boss. Either that or he is old and wore down and another bird took his spot as the boss
There's a good possibility that he is an old bird, the last survivor of an old bachelor group. Could be a really good bird, I would bet that he will be hard to kill.
It's really hard to tell in the spring though... just based on a bird being by himself. The fall would be a better time to make that assumption.
Without being able to judge his age,...which would require getting a close evaluation of his spurs,...it is hard to tell what kind of bird you are dealing with there. If he is indeed an old gobbler, then he is likely, as C.Brumfiel states, an old hermit gobbler that is the last of his lot,...and would be very difficult to kill using "standard" tactics. From what I have seen over the years, those hermit birds are just living out the last years of their lives trying to survive, and with little interest in interacting with other turkeys.
...Then, on the other hand, he may just be a younger gobbler that, for whatever reason, is just off by himself....
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 18, 2017, 09:01:05 AM
Without being able to judge his age,...which would require getting a close evaluation of his spurs,...it is hard to tell what kind of bird you are dealing with there. If he is indeed an old gobbler, then he is likely, as C.Brumfiel states, an old hermit gobbler that is the last of his lot,...and would be very difficult to kill using "standard" tactics. From what I have seen over the years, those hermit birds are just living out the last years of their lives trying to survive, and with little interest in interacting with other turkeys.
...Then, on the other hand, he may just be a younger gobbler that, for whatever reason, is just off by himself....
Yep, what he said!
I've seen both inferior subordinate bird not allowed around the rest and the ol grouchy bird that tends to just walk away and do his own thing often past his prime fighting years and maybe lighter in weight.
Only way to do things right is tip them all over cut em open and count the rings :z-guntootsmiley:
Hunt him. If you kill him he'll be old as he's gonna get. Lone bird is the ones I hunt in late season
The old bird that my wife shot this year was always by himself and I would say it was by choice so he wouldn't get whooped. He weighed the same as a Jake I shot.
Hard to tell
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Better put him on your "hit list".
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He probably just spent 3 months with a bunch of yapping women and just needs a break.
Quote from: guesswho on May 18, 2017, 01:49:19 PM
He probably just spent 3 months with a bunch of yapping women and just needs a break.
:TooFunny:
Either old and grumpy or a total wimp. Either one needs shot.
I do like Guesswho's theory.
Quote from: C. Brumfiel on May 18, 2017, 08:30:06 AM
There's a good possibility that he is an old bird, the last survivor of an old bachelor group. Could be a really good bird, I would bet that he will be hard to kill.
I did get him, but I felt bad about it.i guess that's hunting. I could have let him go.
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 18, 2017, 09:01:05 AM
Without being able to judge his age,...which would require getting a close evaluation of his spurs,...it is hard to tell what kind of bird you are dealing with there. If he is indeed an old gobbler, then he is likely, as C.Brumfiel states, an old hermit gobbler that is the last of his lot,...and would be very difficult to kill using "standard" tactics. From what I have seen over the years, those hermit birds are just living out the last years of their lives trying to survive, and with little interest in interacting with other turkeys.
...Then, on the other hand, he may just be a younger gobbler that, for whatever reason, is just off by himself....
he was off by himself, strutting in a field.
He weighed North of 20 lbs, 9 inch beard, 3/4 inch spurs. He was a really nice bird, I think he saw me when I first tried to get close. And went up a mountain.Then I called him back, which really surprised me.I forgot my camera.
Way to go man! :smiley-char092:
hard to say saw this happen this season 3 jakes ran a big tom off so who knows
Quote from: oleman59 on May 21, 2017, 08:32:04 AM
hard to say saw this happen this season 3 jakes ran a big tom off so who knows
Agreed, you'll never know unless you try!