western NY bowhunter Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 (edited) I was finally able to put a tag on an old warrior of a bird on saturday: 22 lb, 6 oz 9" beard (3/4 of it was "froze off") 1 1/4" spur (other was broken off @ 3/4") He's the second banded bird of my hunting career. Unbelievably, I killed a gobbler with band #N2280 back in 2008 less than 100 yds. away on the same farm. These turkeys were banded on a neighboring farm during february of 2007 as part of a 4 year study conducted by Penn State University in NY, PA and OH. They captured/banded nearly 4,000 tom and jakes from 2006-2009 in these three states. When I called the band in on monday the lady in charge at Penn State told me that my bird had 1 3/16" spurs when banded in 2007, making him most likely a 3 year old at the time. Now, five years later he was likely 8 years old. This makes him the oldest tom recorded in the study!!! Both were $100 reward bands. I collected the money on the '08 bird, but am out of luck with #2 as it expired in July 2009. It doesn't really matter to me anyways... My banded bird from 2008. These two were probably brothers or close cousins... Back in 2007 his beard was 10.5" long. Here's what it looked like 5 years later... I feel truely fortunate to have tagged such an old veteran gobbler...a true legend of the turkey woods. He survived for nearly a decade in an area that doesn't exactly lack for hunting pressure. He'll probably be the oldest bird that I ever kill. I look forward to hunting all of his decendants for years to come!!! Edited May 16, 2012 by western NY bowhunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Now that is one heck of a gobbler! congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Very cool! Congrats on an awesome bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailfreak55 Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 That's awesome! Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 One heck of an old rooster! Who says they are pea brained? Congrats on doing it twice with the tags on a great bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 Having history on an old bird like that has to make him extra special. Especially with band numbers in order like that. Unbelievable that he lived that long. Congrats on a great trophy gobbler. That's one you'll never forget!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 that's definitely awesome. haven't heard of banded birds but i'm a ways away still. congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSeb53 Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 Very cool! I live about 15 minutes from PSU main campus. I am, and always will be Penn State proud. Thanks for the cool story and congrats on a great bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 nice bird! congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western NY bowhunter Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) Thanks guys!!! Edited May 18, 2012 by western NY bowhunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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