I checked my game-cam on my property Sunday. I kind of wished I hadn't. I decided before the season I wasn't going to kill one on my place this year. Dude on the right is making me rethink that decision. He's at least a triple beard and probably more. Usually when they're stacked that high from the main beard there are several. I'm trying to convince myself to take the trophy deer hunting mentality and say he will be a good'un next year. I have no problem leaving deer alone. But I'll be honest, it's a struggle with turkeys.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7898/46650918955_2a176b6691_c.jpg)
Better man than me....
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Naw, he needs to die. Might not make it through another winter. Might get taken just off of your property by someone else. Whatever it is that you need to tell yourself to go kill him.
Quote from: tomstopper on April 08, 2019, 03:35:27 PM
Better man than me....
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^^^^^
This
It be hard not to hunt that Gobbler, hope he does make it till next year.
Ronnie, the Dude on the right is a heck of a double beard for sure but judging by his spurs only appears to be a 2 maybe 3 year old. He is a stud this year for sure but just think of what he could be next year or the year after. With another year or two he could really blow up into a real longbird the possibilities are endless. Or if you get a chance at him this season you could have him pecking you in the butt all the way back to the truck before a bobcat takes him out in his sleep or someone or a number of other things. I can see this decision may cause you several sleepless nights in the near future. Good luck my friend I am glad I am not in your possession.
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Whack him :funnyturkey:
Must be nice to have to decide not to take one on your own land. Good thing he's not on my land he'd be down.
I think you should wait until you can see the sun glistening off the razor sharp points of those hooks then he'll be ready for a truck ride! Give home two more years. Lol
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I'll come hunt him if you don't want to. Just trying to help a pal out.
Blow him away
Well if you're going to "lettum go so they can grow" you have to come up with a corny name for him, like all the TV "pros", and then add him to your "Hit List". Lol ;D
Given your sense of humor, I just want to see all of the creative names you can come up with!
I think there's a fourth decent beard up under the main...
Can't tell from the pics so you'll have to kill him to confirm.
Bust his beak. No garentee's that he will even be around next year. If he is a longbeard , he gets no pass from me unless I dont call him up.
That's a really nice bird and I understand where you are coming from....as I also hunt/manage my own land. We are pretty selective with the deer, but honestly the only criteria that I have for a gobbler is that it's a mature bird.
Tough to tell for sure, but I think that Ozarks Hillbilly is right on with age estimate, so who knows what another year might do.....if he makes it.
Unfortunately whichever way you go, you will probably second guess yourself. Good luck.
Nice
Deep fried tenders hard to resist..... LOL
Nice pic
I don't think I could resist if he came in lol.
There's no way I would be able to not hunt turkeys, but I definitely can respect your decision to leave the property alone.
Any Longbeard is a good'un. Some just a bit more then others. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.Turkey hunting can be personal at times. YOURE CALL :boon:
So why are you not wanting to kill any turkeys on your property? Low population? Unless you have quite a few acres, those things tend to roam around a bit, and there's a good chance he gets killed somewhere else.
Now if you've committed to not killing any turkeys, stick to your guns. Take the AR out instead and shoot a bobcat or a coyote, and then do some trapping of the other nest predators next year. If you really want to try and make a difference, have some discipline.
Asking guys on this forum if you really should kill a turkey is like asking an alcoholic if you should take a shot of whiskey.
You and these multi bearded birds....come on man!
Choot Em! :fud:
Great photo of two great Toms. Ya never know if ya don't go.
If he's got a full fan, he dies. Better man than me. I spend too much time every year obsessed over certain bucks to worry about certain gobblers.
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Quote from: G squared 23 on April 09, 2019, 09:51:49 AM
So why are you not wanting to kill any turkeys on your property? Low population? Unless you have quite a few acres, those things tend to roam around a bit, and there's a good chance he gets killed somewhere else.
Now if you've committed to not killing any turkeys, stick to your guns. Take the AR out instead and shoot a bobcat or a coyote, and then do some trapping of the other nest predators next year. If you really want to try and make a difference, have some discipline.
Asking guys on this forum if you really should kill a turkey is like asking an alcoholic if you should take a shot of whiskey.
Population was down last year. Was seeing plenty before the season. I have places closer to home that I can hunt and fill my tags. It's 72 miles from my house to my property. There is a really good chance that any animal I don't kill will make it unless Mother Nature decides they need to go, that's her call. I enjoy seeing a bobcat as much as a deer or turkey, so they get a pass from me and they and the turkeys can figure out the rest of it. I'm good with whatever the outcome is.
I have three large land owners that own all the way around my place. Close to 10,000 acres between the three of them. One is strickly no hunting, the other two has very limited pressure. i usually leave my place for my parents, some kids and first timers. I have some public land right down the road from the house that provides more of a challenge. And I wasn't asking if I really should kill this bird. Just making conversation and sharing a picture. I'm pretty good at making up my own mind on such matters.
I'd gladly come shoot the cull on the left if it would help you make up your mind. Just trying to help. :z-guntootsmiley:
Sounds like your population is more predictable based on your neighbors. I had a place like that with good neighbors all around it. I still can hunt the place, but now new neighbors feed year round and kill Tom's in the fall with a rifle (buddy of mine saw the pics on Facebook - ugh. Not as many birds use the farm now. Bummer. 2 nephews and son all took their first bird there. It was a great place to take new hunters. Either way, you will be happy with your decision. Great pic though.
Hard to compete with neighbors who feed. Luckily I don't think that's a problem there. But on a couple other places it's a huge problem. They usually bait them up, kill a couple then go fishing the rest of the season. I save those place for late season if I still need to go.
baby spurs... 1 more year.
Quote from: guesswho on April 09, 2019, 01:21:29 PM
Hard to compete with neighbors who feed. Luckily I don't think that's a problem there. But on a couple other places it's a huge problem. They usually bait them up, kill a couple then go fishing the rest of the season. I save those place for late season if I still need to go.
LOL I am going tomorrow. Have pretty much laid off it all season. Hoping they are bored.
Passing on birds beyond two years old can be foolish at times. Most conservation departments I'm aware of that even classify birds do so as birds of the year, two year olds and mature adults. Granted, if you don't kill them they may be around next year...maybe. It brings to mind an instance in Missouri I read a number of years ago when they were trapping and transfering. They trapped and banded a jake, transferred him to another county. He was shot and brought to a, at the time, mandatory check station. He had a 9 1/8" beard, weighed under 20# and had 1 1/8" spurs. He was seven years old. Moral of the story: once a bird is a mature adult, his vital statistics can be rather iffy and it can be anybody's guess regarding age. Now...if you can definitely identify a particular bird due to some physical trait or distinctive gobble that's a different story.
I'm pretty sure I'd recognize him, especially up close.
Jakes get a pass. Beyond that a Tom is a Tom.
He's a great bird, and thanks for sharing Ronnie!
Since you have other places to hunt I'd let him be. Maybe even for 2 years.
Hunt him while you can. You never know what will happen. He's a great bird!!!
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