Banded birds

[Will]

I killed a banded gobbler on this property last year and another hunter killed a banded Jake. Going through some photos of recent birds I've captured on camera and it looks like there are 2 in the area. The DNR biologist did tell me they banded multiple birds near our farm. Trophy birds. Hopefully you can see the bands.




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[JeffC]

That's awesome, congrats, did you get a history of when and where tag was put on? Top photo looks like a double beard also, double trophy.

[Will]

Actually, I did get the information on the tagged birds that were killed. Mine was a 2-year-old tagged about a half mile from where he was killed. The bird was tagged with 12 other birds and at the time of tagging they were all jakes. The jake killed on the same property was tagged a few months prior to being killed. He was tagged with other jakes, but I can't remember how many were with him at the time of tagging. The biologist was tracking two hens on the property, one by my stand where these birds were captured on camera. They have radio collars on these hens. Unfortunately, the one lost a nest last year early into the breeding season and appeared to have laid another nest the last time I had contact with the biologist. I never did find out if the second nest hatched. One of the birds they had collared has been tracked for almost three, going on four years now. I will contact him soon to see if she is still being tracked.             

[Brs2427]

That's really awesome!

[Tail Feathers]

Bands are a fun bonus, be it waterfowl or turkey.  I killed a banded bird several years ago.  I spoke to the biologist who banded it and he asked it was double bearded.  I said no.
He had only banded two male birds, one was double bearded.  The bird I killed was with another Tom, I'll always wonder if I shot the right bird. 

[Zfhunter1]

Killed a banded Jake a few years ago here at our place. Don't leave for the turkey woods without the band in my vest as a hopefully good luck charm.


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[Tom007]

Awesome

[3bailey3]

Yep. Good Stuff!

[Treerooster]

Bands are way cool in my world. Any banded bird is way way cool. Bands can tell some neat stories.

Congrats on getting a banded turkey, a rare bird indeed.

Now the question...you know there are other banded gobblers in your area. Will you hold off killing a gobbler if you see he isn't banded?

[Number17]

I called one in for my dad on his birthday with my Ezolt cane yelper 2 years ago. It had a $100 leg band on it.
I have a video this year of 3 longbeards together that all have bands. They were tagged as jakes last year. God bless 2 year olds!

[Tail Feathers]

Bands are way cool in my world. Any banded bird is way way cool. Bands can tell some neat stories.

Congrats on getting a banded turkey, a rare bird indeed.

Now the question...you know there are other banded gobblers in your area. Will you hold off killing a gobbler if you see he isn't banded?

Nope.  With tall grass and such I rarely see spurs or lower legs.  I suppose if time and circumstance allows, I would scan the legs of a group of gobblers for a band. 

[Will]

Holding off is a tough question that I can probable only answer as my season progresses. If I am having a great season so far, then maybe, but if my season hasn't been blockbuster then it's a dead bird regardless if he's in range.   

[Treerooster]

Bands are way cool in my world. Any banded bird is way way cool. Bands can tell some neat stories.

Congrats on getting a banded turkey, a rare bird indeed.

Now the question...you know there are other banded gobblers in your area. Will you hold off killing a gobbler if you see he isn't banded?

Nope.  With tall grass and such I rarely see spurs or lower legs.  I suppose if time and circumstance allows, I would scan the legs of a group of gobblers for a band. 

Yeah I hear ya on the grass and not seeing a band. I hunted one area where they did a study (2008-2010) and was really hoping for a band. I helped several guys fill their tag in that area over the years and 4 of them shot banded birds...but not me. Mostly I just shot whatever tom I called in. A couple of times tho, I had toms in range in a sandy area and could clearly see their legs. I held off on those.

By 2015 I figured I was SOL for getting a banded tom. The youngest banded tom would have been 6 years old since they quit banding in 2010. Had 2 tags for the area that year and got 6 year old and 7 year old banded toms. I was beside myself!!!

[Will]

Bands are way cool in my world. Any banded bird is way way cool. Bands can tell some neat stories.

Congrats on getting a banded turkey, a rare bird indeed.

Now the question...you know there are other banded gobblers in your area. Will you hold off killing a gobbler if you see he isn't banded?

Nope.  With tall grass and such I rarely see spurs or lower legs.  I suppose if time and circumstance allows, I would scan the legs of a group of gobblers for a band. 

Yeah I hear ya on the grass and not seeing a band. I hunted one area where they did a study (2008-2010) and was really hoping for a band. I helped several guys fill their tag in that area over the years and 4 of them shot banded birds...but not me. Mostly I just shot whatever tom I called in. A couple of times tho, I had toms in range in a sandy area and could clearly see their legs. I held off on those.

By 2015 I figured I was SOL for getting a banded tom. The youngest banded tom would have been 6 years old since they quit banding in 2010. Had 2 tags for the area that year and got 6 year old and 7 year old banded toms. I was beside myself!!!





That's wild! I'll bet that made your season and then some. Those were battle tested toms I'm sure.