Tagged out and an interesting find

[alloutdoors]

Finally tagged out in NY after what has been an unusually difficult season. I've been out 12 mornings and only heard gobbling on 5 of those, and other than a group of jakes that I called in earlier this week I haven't heard a single bird gobble more than an hour past fly down time. I had a chance to end my season back on the 5th but the bird snuck in off to my right and busted me as I was trying to get on him. This morning though I got set up between a roost site and a field where I figured they might head after last nights rain. There was at least one bird gobbling on the limb so I tree yelped at him a few times and then did a flydown as it was starting to get light. Half a dozen hens pitched right over me and straight into the field, but two gobblers decided they would walk instead, which turned out to be a very poor choice for one of them. 20lbs 4oz, 9 1/2" beard, 1 1/8" spurs

While taking pictures of the bird I stumbled over a nice 8-point skull in the creek.

It was hung up in a log jam when I found it.

This is the 2nd year in a row where I've found lead shot in a bird coming off this property. Not too surprising, these birds come out to a large corn field pretty regularly and two years ago I watched someone take a 90 yard shot at one from the field edge. Some people should really invest in a range finder. The little ones are my Heavyweight 7's, the other two look like lead 5's. I pulled four or five of them out of his back.

[Pygmy]

4 minutes ago, alloutdoors said:

Finally tagged out in NY after what has been an unusually difficult season. I've been out 12 mornings and only heard gobbling on 5 of those, and other than a group of jakes that I called in earlier this week I haven't heard a single bird gobble more than an hour past fly down time. I had a chance to end my season back on the 5th but the bird snuck in off to my right and busted me as I was trying to get on him. This morning though I got set up between a roost site and a field where I figured they might head after last nights rain. There was at least one bird gobbling on the limb so I tree yelped at him a few times and then did a flydown as it was starting to get light. Half a dozen hens pitched right over me and straight into the field, but two gobblers decided they would walk instead, which turned out to be a very poor choice for one of them. 20lbs 4oz, 9 1/2" beard, 1 1/8" spurs

While taking pictures of the bird I stumbled over a nice 8-point skull in the creek.

It was hung up in a log jam when I found it.

This is the 2nd year in a row where I've found lead shot in a bird coming off this property. Not too surprising, these birds come out to a large corn field pretty regularly and two years ago I watched someone take a 90 yard shot at one from the field edge. Some people should really invest in a range finder. The little ones are my Heavyweight 7's, the other two look like lead 5's. I pulled four or five of them out of his back.

Pretty bird, and nice photography...Congrats...

[Lawdwaz]

12 mornings, that’s commendable.   You must be single and laid off?!?!?!?

Congratulations on the birds too!!

Edited May 15, 2020 by Lawdwaz

[Cabin Fever]

Beauty of a tom and congrats on the cool find!

[turkeyfeathers]

All around great post 

[alloutdoors]

12 mornings, that’s commendable.   You must be single and laid off?!?!?!?
Congratulations on the birds too!!

I’ve been hunting like it this year, but no, married and currently working from home. The way the birds have been suffering from lockjaw I wasn’t out terribly late most mornings.

[jpastor1759]

Awesome post, and think some people just shouldn't hunt. I bet a range finder wouldn't change their decision to pull the trigger.

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[Lomax]

That’s a great morning that you won’t forget.  Congrats and great pics.  Thanks for sharing. 

[grampy]

Congratulations! Great bird and great story too!

Nice added bonus with the dead head!

Shame when someone shoots at something, when they shouldn't.

[alloutdoors]

Awesome post, and think some people just shouldn't hunt. I bet a range finder wouldn't change their decision to pull the trigger.

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Definitely true of some people. The guy that I saw shoot a couple years ago was probably 80+ and I think his eyesight wasn’t the best. I talked to him afterward and he couldn’t figure out how he missed, he thought the bird had been “right there”.

[Salmon_Run]

Congrats on both trophies !!!

Beautiful bird and photographs.....

[Dr Juice]

Congrats ... nice trophies!

[The_Real_TCIII]

The riverbed pic is sweet!


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