That's One.....

[Mr VJP]

I believe this is the same bird I've tried to call from his roost since the opener.  This morning the ground was wet and it was cloudy.  I didn't know where he was roosted, but I suspected he was in the same area of my woods he had been lately.

 

After working my way uphill I started setting up next to a big tree by moving leaves out of the way and froze when I heard a gobble really close.  I thought it was in a tree I passed on my way uphill but wasn't sure.  He gobbled again and ruffled his feathers.  I looked around and spotted him.  He was just ahead high up in a tall oak about 20 yards away.  I was so close I feared he'd see me if it got lighter or if I moved at all.  

 

One branch on his tree was between his head and me, blocking his view of me on the ground. I never even got my call out or had a chance to use it.  He gobbled a lot for at least 15 minutes.  There wasn't another turkey anywhere around as I didn't hear any other birds close by.  At 6 AM it was still pretty dark with the cloud cover as he fluttered down to my left 40 yards out and turned towards me.

 

When he got within 30 yards, my 30 year old camo Mossberg 835 in 3.5 inch 12 gauge sent a 2 1/4 oz load of Federal copper plated #5's at his head.  He went down like a candle flame blows out.  He never even twitched once down.

 

He's only a Jake, probably in his 2nd year, weighing 17 pounds with 3/4 inch spurs but the beard is 9 inches long.  Not bad for a Jake.  Not the biggest bird I've taken, but I'll never forget this one.

 

[Lawdwaz]

I'd call that a two year old bird, not a jake.  A jake has nubs, not 3/4" spurs and they (as far as all the jakes I've killed) sure don't sport a 9" beard. 

 

How about the fan, full I bet.

 

Regardless of age, it is a great bird.

 

 

[Mr VJP]

Yes, it did have a full fan.  You're probably right about it being a two year old bird.  It seems small to me though, as it's the lightest one, with the shortest spurs and beard I ever shot.  But it was a fun hunt.

 

[Lawdwaz]

You must have killed some big birds if a 9" beard and 3/4" spurs are the shortest you've ever killed!

 

Damn..........................

[Skillet]

Gotta love that 835! You can't kill 'em. I've got the same one I've had for 15 years & it's never let me down. We just got my son one, too. Just an awesome gun.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Skillet

[greg54]

Nice and Congrats!!

[alloutdoors]

As has been said, that's a two year old. Most of the weights seem to be down this year from the hard winter. My second bird this year was at least three and maybe older, only weighed 19.5 lbs. Usually on that farm they are 22-25 lbs at that age.

[Mr VJP]

You must have killed some big birds if a 9" beard and 3/4" spurs are the shortest you've ever killed!

 

Damn..........................

 

LOL!  I guess so.  I've only taken 10 so far.  Most have been 20 lbs or more with at least 1 inch spurs and beards 10 inch or longer.  Never planned it that way, just sort of happened.

 

I thought that was average.  

[ATbuckhunter]

Nice bird! Must have been a shot of adrenaline knowing you were that close when he gobbled. 

[grampy]

Nice bird and great hunt! Congrats!

[Pygmy]

Congrats on your gobbler, VJP !

He's a 2 year old, with 3/4" spurs a a 9 inch beard..

Weight is not a great indicator of age.

I have personally weighed 2 year old spring gobblers as light as 12 pounds and as heavy as 23 pounds. I have also weighed jakes as heavy as 19 pounds.

[WNY Bowhunter]

Looks like he has the "wing patch/speculum feathers" of an adult gobbler, not the juvenile feathers of a jake...

[Mr VJP]

I never realized a Jake was a bird only 1 year old or less.  I've always called any young bird a Jake.  Unless it was a big bird that had a long beard and a drawn out deep gobble, to me it was a Jake.  Even at my age you can learn something new once in awhile.

 

[Mr VJP]

Nice bird! Must have been a shot of adrenaline knowing you were that close when he gobbled. 

 

When he gobbled the first time, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.  

[adkbuck]

Congratulations, Job well done!

[turkeyfeathers]

When he gobbled the first time, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.  

That's what it's all about and a good game of chess

[Mr VJP]

I tagged a 2nd one today, so the rest of the month I'll be trout fishing.  Unless my buddy comes up to hunt.  Then I'll help him call them in.

 

[Grizz1219]

2 year old bird... congrats!!!

 

[Wrangler95]

Very nice going,congrats big time!

[jjb4900]

definitely not a Jake.....nice bird.

[Mr VJP]

Thanks Guys.  Good Luck To You all!