Ol' Crooked Claw - North Georgia Mountains

[Buckman18]

I killed an interesting gobbler on Chattahoochee WMA near my home in the north Georgia mountains yesterday afternoon. We have a lot of wilderness up here, and my hunt started at 4:30am when I started hiking to where I wanted to be at sunrise.  Long story short, 11 miles, an elevation change of about 2,000 ft, and 11 hours later, I had not heard a gobble or seen a feather. I made it back to my truck at about 3:30 and was about to call it a day. However, when I called my wife she told me she wouldn't be home until after dark, so this freed me up to hunt the evening. I drove to another ridge that I bow hunted for bears last year, and had seen several long beards over the course of the fall.  About 30 minutes later, I found some fresh scratching, and was looking for a tree to set up to lightly purr and cluck and rake leaves, when I thought I heard one scratching for real. I clucked once, loudly because of the wind, and immediately he walked 4 or 5 steps toward me. When he stuck his big read head over the rise, BAM! I shot him in the face!

He had a 9 3/4 inch beard, 1 1/4 inch spurs, and really long 3 inch claws on his feet. One of his legs was somewhat deformed and turned about 90 degrees, which I suspect is what caused the strange claws.  Anyway, thought yall might be interested, ive never seen this before.

Untitled by joey youngblood, on Flickr

Untitled by joey youngblood, on Flickr

X by joey youngblood, on Flickr

[dublelung]

That's certainly unique. Congrats on a hard earned gobbler!

[MISSISSIPPI Double beard]

I've never seen that before! Congrats

[Waynesworld23]

That's wild congrats on a awesome bird

[zelmo1]

Interesting bird, Congrats

[land cruiser]

Congratulations on a cool unique bird.

I have only seen that at a local DMV office. Always wonder how those employees use keyboard, I guess that's why the lines are so long.

[idratherb]

WOW that poor guy needs a pedicure.

[Spitten and drummen]

Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.

[guesswho]

Congrats.  I've seen it on one toe but not matching opposites. 

[Buckman18]

Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.

I cured what ailed him with a 3 inch load of Longbesrd #5's!      

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

I've seen that at the NWTF museum in Edgefield SC.  Can't remember what causes it.  Very nice bird and I know those mountains aren't easy pickins!

[ElkTurkMan]

Way to hang in there and stay with it. Congrats on a hard earned bird.

[3bailey3]

WOW! I have never saw anything like that, congrats on the very unique bird!

[Spitten and drummen]

Bet he was a miserable fellow with those toe nails lol.

I cured what ailed him with a 3 inch load of Longbesrd #5's!      

Lol , yes you did. Congratulations on a fine hard earned bird.

[daddyduke]

Congrats