Six bearded turkey

[hardscrabble]

Spent last weekend hunting with good friend WSWAT. The birds were holding tight with hens but we were still able to have a great weekend and we put some nice birds on the ground.

Friday morning found us set up waiting for gobbling toms to fly off the roost. When they finally came down they did not want to leave their hens to check us out. After some More calling a hen started calling to our right. Brent kept calling back at her and that caught the attention of a Tom out in front of us. This bird was on his way in.

Soon we caught sight of a red head a coming around the butte in front of us. We had a few tense moments as we waited for him to catch sight of the Avian X decoys. As soon as he spotted the decoys he was on his way for a fight. After a little posturing with the decoys I ended it at 10 yards. Brent had the camera rolling and the footage turned out awesome.

This is by far my biggest turkey. His weight is ok at 19 1/2 pounds, spurs average at 3/4". Amazing thing is his 6 beards with the longest being 11 3/4". Adding the length of all six together is 32".

 

[hardscrabble]

Here is a shot of the beards. Beard 1 = 11 3/4", beard 2 = 5", beard 3 = 5 3/4", beard 4 = 4 1/2", beard 5 = 3 1/2", beard 6 = 1 1/2". Coming from a guy who loves to hunt turkeys I am amazed with the freakish nature of this bird.

 

[JCS]

Nice bird.

 

[ashersdad]

Very nice!!

 

[PFUNK]

That's an awesome bird! Congrats. The most I have ever seen is 7 beards and I thought that had to be pretty dang rare. That bird you got there is a heck of a trophy, too bad about the missing feather in the fan... should get that one mounted full body!

 

[fishing4sanity]

That's a really cool bird, congrats.

 

[hardscrabble]

Saturday found us set up just off the roost with archery tackle in hand. We could see four toms in the trees. These birds were dead silent. They did not gobble once in the tree nor when they flew down.

We landed an off day in the turkey world.

After picking up we headed to a new location. Right away I spotted what we thought was a lone Tom. We moved in and set up. Brent called to this Tom a few times and he answered. Soon his gobbles became distant which left us wondering what happened. We picked up and headed in the last direction of his calls only to find him and his five hens. The decision was made to leave them be and move on.

We relocated a mile to the south to check out another area. This spot turned up two toms and what we thought was one hen. There may be a chance.

After moving in and setting up Brent started calling. It did not take long to find out there were three hens not one. Again we could not drag these boys away from their girls. The decision was made to try a sneak when they moved over top a small rise. Off we go.

Some low crawling was involved, nothing to crazy. This found us cresting the hill guns ready. The turkeys were a touch farther than expected but still in range. A couple quick shots later we had a double.

Here is my Saturday bird. Only two beards on him.



Thanks to WSWAT for a great weekend. Topped off with Kokanee pounders.

 

[pseshooter300]

Way to go

 

[wswat]

Nice work killer!

 

[Wally Dog]

Stud birds indeed. My Partner whacked a 5 bearded monster several years ago. Never heard of or seen 6!
WD

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

More beards than I have ever seen in 50+ years of huning the bustards!
CONGRATS! Why were spurs so short?
Terrain? Genetics?
Rio?

 

[hardscrabble]

Tom,

I think he is a young bird, two year old possibly. In my mind he is a Rio even tho there are not supposed to be any in ND. Some Rio's were transplanted in this area a few years back. All the birds we get in this area have short spurs.

Thanks for the compliments.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Thanks for response----AWESOME burd!
Genetic or terrain caused "short" spurred birds are damn near impossible to age but with the longest beard going over 11" , I don't think 2-year old!
Could your monster bird be a hybrid?

 

[naturebob]

The bird I got was a 2 yearold with short spurs and the rancher there hunts too and said the ones around his place have never grown big spurs. Funny. Everyone says western ND. is merriams But the Merriams in AZ. the ban on the tail is much whiter.......BOB

 

[hardscrabble]

Thanks for response----AWESOME burd!
Genetic or terrain caused "short" spurred birds are damn near impossible to age but with the longest beard going over 11" , I don't think 2-year old!
Could your monster bird be a hybrid?

Could very well be a hybrid. Lots of merrium/eastern hybrids in ND. This is not one of those. There are no Merriums on this side of the lake. Possibly Rio/Eastern.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Colors make me think Rio or Rio/Eastern Hybrid.....don't matter! Still an awesome bird

BTW, my Gould has NO spurs, just nubs.....and based on bird weight and the number of ladies he was escorting, had to be more than two!

 

[OregonTK]

Awesome birds guys....nicely done!