western NY bowhunter Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I shot this guy (turkey N2280) yesterday morning at 5:50. This particular bird was known through pre-season scouting as "short beard." There we several other big toms on this particular farm and short beard seemed to disappear a few days before season started. Honestly, I never really paid much attention to him because some of the other birds were big ole long-bearded suckers. The last time shortie was spotted he was strutting out in a hayfield at 2:00 in the afternoon during the opening day of the youth season. Sunday evening I took a drive around before dark and spotted him strutting with 5 hens. Tried him monday morning but he had roosted farther up in the woods than I'd anticipated. He hit the ground and shut up. Tuesday morning I snuck up closer to where he'd been and he, of course, was roosted down at the other end of the woods. After waiting a few minutes to make sure no gobblers were roosting closer, I got up and made my way closer to him. I managed to get within 70-80 yds. and set up. It was nearing 5:45 and I figured that he'd be pitching out any minute. I gave a few really soft yelps and clucks followed by a flydown with my wing and he shut-up. The crows and several distant gobblers got him fired up again. I did a little soft calling followed by another flydown and he double-gobbled in response. A minute later he sounded off again and he was on the ground. I gave a few little re-assurance clucks and got into position. A few seconds later I could hear him drumming and walking my way. His big ole white softball head came bobbing into view and I hammered him with some hevi-13 #6's at 25 yds. As I picked him up the first thing I felt were some really sharp spurs so I dropped him and let him flop around a little more before trying again...! That's when I noticed that it was short beard and he had some hardware on his leg! He ended up weighing 22 #'s with a 7 3/4" beard that curled up at the tip. One spur is 1 1/4" and the other is scuffed at the tip and measures a little less. To top it all off...the band is a $100 reward band!!! When I got home I called the phone number on the band and reached the inbox of some researchers at Penn State Univ. I left a message and they called me back yesterday afternoon. Turns out he was banded (on both legs) along with 17 other gobblers (8 longbeards/ 9 jakes) in Feb. '07 on another property that I hunt about a mile and a half down the road as part of their 4-yr. turkey study thats currently taking place in cooperaton with the state DNR's in NY, PA and OH. I knew about them trapping/banding birds here but I never thought that I'd tag one of them. So far, 9 of the 18 birds have been harvested and reported back. Maybe I can beat the odds and get a crack at another one this fall! Last night my dad roosted another big longbeard in the same corner of the woods where I killed this one. He and my little brother went up after him this morning. Unfortunately, the bird was coming in on a string and my brother (who is sick with a cold) had to cough really bad and ended up shooting too far and missed him. Looks like I'll have to hang my gun up for the year...but I've got several family members that I'll be trying to call birds in for. Hopefully, we can get a hunt or two on video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 that's pretty cool... congrats on ole shorty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 nice bird!!! He has some nice hooks!! Way to go congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2labs Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 That is cool, tagging a banded turkey and some $$ to boot nice job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 thats awesome man. First i had heard about them doing that here in ny. Congrats on the fine bird though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bachflock Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Fantastic bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 attaboy got a little "bling bling" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 ...Beautiful!!....Congradulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pcm Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 bling. I hope they let you keep the "bling" it's gonna be quite the conversation piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maytom Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 WTG!!! Now that's an unusual trophy for sure, with that banding!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Congrats! That's a nice blessing for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Thats awesome....nice way to end a season...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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