A Couple Good Nebraska Birds

[sbhooper]

I got these two birds this morning after working the bunch for five hours. One weighed 24 pounds and the other was 20. Both had 9-inch beards, which is pretty common here. They seem to drag them off pretty badly. Fun hunt.

 

[elk_hunter]

Congrats! Those will be tasty!

 

[sbhooper]

Thanks! They will be going into some turkey summer sausage. 17 pounds of turkey, 8 pounds of pork and a Cabelas summer sausage kit makes sausage to die for. It is a great way to clean out the freezer of excess turkey meat!

 

[MThuntr]

excess turkey meat!

Never knew there was such a thing

 

[JohnCushman]

Congrats!!

 

[Mudranger1]

Never knew there was such a thing

ditto!

congrats on the birds!

 

[sbhooper]

When your freezer is full of antelope, elk, deer and moose-yes there is such a thing as excess! You can only eat so much of it. I would make that sausage now, even if I only had a little bit of meat!

I can kill seven turkeys a year in Nebraska and it is easy to get a large quantity if you are not eating it all the time.

 

[BuzzH]

Nice looking birds...congrats!

 

[TheShootist.41]

SB,
Congrats on a job well done.

 

[roadhunter]

Nice work.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

very nice!!!

good luck to all
the dog

 

[sbhooper]

Thanks, all! It is always fun to chase those guys and we are blessed here with lots of opportunity. The best part is, I killed these about 1 1/2 miles from my house, so besides the permit, I have about $2.00 worth of gas in them!

 

[Mudranger1]

Thanks, all! It is always fun to chase those guys and we are blessed here with lots of opportunity. The best part is, I killed these about 1 1/2 miles from my house, so besides the permit, I have about $2.00 worth of gas in them!

you don't have to rub it in..besides my $120 in permits and $300 in gas so far you are looking at what I have to show for Nebraska turkeys!






But some great memories with my wife and son oh yeah I will be back!!

 

[Mica Man]

Looks like a good time for sure. Love getting out early in the morning this time of year chasing birds!

 

[sbhooper]

you don't have to rub it in..besides my $120 in permits and $300 in gas so far you are looking at what I have to show for Nebraska turkeys!


But some great memories with my wife and son oh yeah I will be back!!

LOL. Sorry about that. They are fickle birds. I get them because I can watch them and form a plan of attack.

 

[kansasdad]

A fine morning afield. Did you take them in separate occasions or double up?

 

[sbhooper]

A fine morning afield. Did you take them in separate occasions or double up?

I got them both from one group of hens and toms. A rare opportunity.

 

[ashersdad]

Very nicely done.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Good job man! Are those both Merriams or is one a hybrid cross, as one doesn't have near the whiteish tail colors that the other does.

 

[sbhooper]

Generally, most of the birds here are a Heinz 57. They are a mix of Merriams, Easterns, and Rios. I did not notice the color difference in my birds until I posted the pic, actually. I believe the one is a Merriams.

The northern part of the state is where the Merriams are most prevalent and spotty everywhere else. If you ask Game and Parks, they have no idea what the prevalent type is, as they have become so inter-mixed over the years. Most of the birds taken around here have the dusky-tipped tail feathers.