WildSpur is on the board!

[WildSpur]

Hey guys--I know its been awhile.  To make a long story short I have been Acting Chief since September which did a 180 with my free time.  As a result my Tapatalk time is pretty much non-existent.

So today was the PA opener which found me with a day off but my oldest sons soccer game at 1050.  Living in the suburbs but being a die hard big woods run-n-gunner I had to drive 50 miles to get to one of my spots.  I have tried many times but I cannot hunt the local woods lots--its just not my thing.

So once in the area of a known roosting site I hear what I believe to be a real owl hooting.  Nothing is responding.  I do end up hearing a single gobble probably 3/4 mile away with 2 shots seconds later in the same area.  I do continue on and manage to find a bird at the top of a saddle as I was in the middle of it.  Due to no foliage yet in my area I sit down--I guesstimate the bird at 300 yards.  No dice--the bird only answers to aggressive yelping and ignores my clucks.  In time I have a bird pass by out of sight but close enough to hear walking and yelping/clucking.  The gobbler is now on the other side of the saddle and is defiantly further away.

I make the decision to get up and go to where I feel the bird last was--a tactic that has worked numerous time for me and my buds.  With my luck I was able to hike on a lot of moss covered ground to the top of the hill.  Once at the top the bird gobbled from about 150 yards away--no doubt he heard me once I got to the top.  I quickly sat down.  After about a minute I called to check his whereabouts and found out that he was on his way!  Minutes later my bird is sneaking between the trees and gives me a shot at 36 yards.  1 shot and down he goes.

I was met with a thicker than usual beard, thick pointy spurs but of 2 year old length, and a weight which felt heftier than usual.  I was guessing 18-19#.  Most birds in the area are 16-17# because of the lack of agriculture.

When I got home I found the bird was 21.36#, 9.25" beard, and spurs of 3/4" and 11/16".  I am guessing our falls bumper acorn crop helped keep his weight high.  There were still nuts on the ground today.

Pics to follow soon.

[Twowithone]

Congrats to you Wildspur.

[Mountainburd]

About time you found your pass word wildspur.  Congrats.

[TrackeySauresRex]

Right on! We're moving up.

[Thebody]

Awesome!  Congrats

[RutnNStrutn]

Good job Chief!!!

[TrackeySauresRex]

^^^^ Chiefs? Captains? Lieutenants? Lots of brass around here! How did this regular run of the mill,little Ol fireman get on this team?     

[Hayudog]

Needed someone to do the work. Hell, you forgot retired guys. I've got no bugles or brass anymore!

[Mountainburd]

Hayudog- I remember reading that you were in California.  Is the drought situation any better? Have you guys been getting rain? I haven't seen anything in the news lately.

And sorry Wildspur, not trying to hijack your thread.  I'll buy you a beer next week.

[TrackeySauresRex]

Needed someone to do the work. Hell, you forgot retired guys. I've got no bugles or brass anymore!

Congrats on your retirement.    It's a wonderful thing when you can get out of the job with good health. Now you can enjoy the things you like to do. Its a dangerous,young mans job. When it's time to go,ya gotta go. There's nothing like climbing an icy ladder in February at 3am. Getting to icy slippery roof,in a zero visibility condition,to pop the skuttle can be quite a task!    
That just maybe the only part of the job I won't miss. Lol!
Good Luck
B-Well
Johnny

[Twowithone]

Hey Tracky there seems to be quite a few retirees on this team.Long live the I.A.F.F. I retired on April 2nd after 35 yrs on the job and Im enjoying every minute so far. Sorry Wildspur your Unc got carried away here.

[RutnNStrutn]

2 years, 6 shifts to go for me. That will give me 30 years at my current dep't, and 34 years in the fire service.
I cannot wait to retire!! Those turkeys are gonna be scared!!

[WildSpur]

I am down to 18 years!