another spring success

[boscheefish]

yesterday statrted off like every other turkey hunt, early!
but today was not about me, to day we were searching for my hunting partners bird.
we arrived at 415 and as we were gearing up Tom let us know he was near!
we knew some of the area but not where this one was coming from so into the bush to get as close as we could, finally right where I wanted to be, my buddy thought we were too close but I was very happy about it, I snuck out to a clearing and placed the decoy,
we sat togother on the same tree as it was a very large tree and I began to reassure the Tom I was in the area, he responded well,about 10 mins later I was thinking about setting up my camera when he flew down way earlier than I expected and caught me off guard, he was close,
gave him some yelps and worked him closer, couple more excited yelps and in he came, we couldn't see him yet but he was gobbling and it was loud, we could hear his wings, than his foot steps, there he is 13 yards away! i can see his eyes now. hes focused on the decoy now, my buddy slowly lifts the shotty to try and intercept and bumps a twig, the Tom is alerted but I did a few soft yelps and I think I fooled him. I heard the safety to off and that was it!! :)
after three yrs countless hours and kms, so many close encounters my buddy finally drops his first Tom, I am very happy to have shared this moment with him, this has been the best season to date, 22 birds sighted, 5 fly downs, many chases to try and get close, 2 real close toms that got held up at about 60yrds, busted once, missed on a shot, and finally 2 harvested birds and 2 happy hunters
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zps33a32e3c.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zps33a32e3c.jpg.html)http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zps814281d2.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zps814281d2.jpg.html)http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zps29e87f87.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zps29e87f87.jpg.html)
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zpsaff9f69f.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zpsaff9f69f.jpg.html)

[bcbrez]

Nice bird and great story. Congrats guys.

[boscheefish]

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zps3542a3b0.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zps3542a3b0.jpg.html)
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/photo_zps01a66661.jpg (http://s414.photobucket.com/user/boscheefish/media/photo_zps01a66661.jpg.html)

[Vital Shock]

........love it!

[Brez]

Nice bird, great story, great pictures. Congrats.

[outdoorsk]

Great story and nice pictures. Congrats

[Wingman]

Nice looking Tom really white tips!
I see it has those molted center feathers does that mean it is an older bird?

Grant

[BiG Boar]

Cool story and bird. Good on ya!

[boscheefish]

[QUOTE=Wingman;1327615]Nice looking Tom really white tips!
I see it has those molted center feathers does that mean it is an older bird?

I was wondering the same thing as my bird had the same thing going on his fan too

[huntwriter]

Nice looking Tom really white tips!
I see it has those molted center feathers does that mean it is an older bird?

Grant

The bird just reached adulthood, changing from a jake to a gobbler. The bird changed the juvenile male feathers (the 3 in the center of the fan) that are longer then the rest of the fan feathers to adult feathers that are now the same size as the rest. The light colourd edge is a sign that these feathers are new. By the next molting the feathers would have looked the same as the others.

For those hunters looking for a mature tom the fan will tell you whether it is a juvenile or adult.

------

Great story and congratulations to a nice bird.

[Wingman]

Interesting does that mean the birds that are not as white (sorta of a buff brown) are older birds I have one fan that the first ring of white feathers is all brown.
Or is it a different breed?

Grant
Sorry for the side track......

[huntwriter]

Interesting does that mean the birds that are not as white (sorta of a buff brown) are older birds I have one fan that the first ring of white feathers is all brown.
Or is it a different breed?

Grant
Sorry for the side track......

Where two sub-species live together they often do interbred. All the sub-spices look different in colour and in size. The one you describe could a Eastern Wild Turkey, which is the most common of the all the sub-species. I would have to see a picture of the fan, or turkey, to be able to tell you exactly what it is.

[shelg]

Great story and pictures.

[300H&H]

Great job Boscheefish.
I wish I knew of a place like you are hunting ! hehehe

[boscheefish]

Great job Boscheefish.
I wish I knew of a place like you are hunting ! hehehe

I am hunting in this place called bc...........;)

[boscheefish]

let me know if this video link doesn't work

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/th_IMG_3055_zps49e54d32.jpg (http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/boscheefish/IMG_3055_zps49e54d32.mp4)

[kennyj]

Very nice! Sounds like a riot.
kenny