6x6
PMA Member
Not really, just wondering what you guys that are holding out for a contest contender tom, look for? I have never put much thought to what it takes for a bird to score good. My guess is, long spurs are probably the most important.
I have always noticed when there are several different toms in an area, the groups of 3 and 4 toms are always 2-3 year old birds with nice beards, 3/4 -1 inch spurs, and almost always attack the stuffed strutter decoy. The old toms are never with other gobblers, usually get run off by the gangs of 2-3 year old birds, and never come to calls or decoys. Anyone have old toms that dont turn into loners? They always have hens but never run with other gobblers. Its funny how they bond. The toms that are together, are always together, untill killed, it seems.
I have been running some cameras to size up the birds, and figure out where to focus on, when my bowtag starts monday.
This is the bird I am after. Missed him twice with my bow 2010, and took some feathers off his back with an arrow last spring. He is real easy to identify, with his skinny scissor shaped, probably double beard and really bad gobble. He had nice hooks in 2010 and as of last may, he had spurs like a barnyard rooster. I can't tell from pics if he has damaged them since then. Even though his beard is thin, its still long enough, his body looks heavy and his legs look like fence posts. Around here, I have also noticed the young birds have darker legs and the older they get the lighter pink and pale they get.
It is tough to get a good picture of the spurs, but even though this bird has a real long beard, he sure does not look like he has much weight.
Corben's youth season bird last week, you could see the weight on him, even though his beard was 8" with 1- 9" hair. He weighed 26 lbs with both spurs 1 1/2"s. When I skinned him, he had 5 big green spots with shotgun pellet holes in his butt and thighs, from at least a year ago. Most old birds we shoot have old shot in them, anyone else see that?
The day before getting him.
This gobbler must have taken a frontal shot in the chest. His chest is deformed looking, but nice spurs. Sucks to be an old turkey.
These 3 are always together with great beards, but 1" or less spurs.
This is a big looking, loner bird, but can't get a look at his spurs.
These two are a good comparison. The bird in front looks alot heavier and the one that always is in the back looks tall and lean.
Just wondering how everyone else decides which bird to shoot. Anyone else getting any good turkey pics, post them here, love to see some big gobblers from other parts of the state.
Some bonus deer pics from the turkey cameras.
A group of bucks goofing around the clover and rub tree.
I have always noticed when there are several different toms in an area, the groups of 3 and 4 toms are always 2-3 year old birds with nice beards, 3/4 -1 inch spurs, and almost always attack the stuffed strutter decoy. The old toms are never with other gobblers, usually get run off by the gangs of 2-3 year old birds, and never come to calls or decoys. Anyone have old toms that dont turn into loners? They always have hens but never run with other gobblers. Its funny how they bond. The toms that are together, are always together, untill killed, it seems.
I have been running some cameras to size up the birds, and figure out where to focus on, when my bowtag starts monday.
This is the bird I am after. Missed him twice with my bow 2010, and took some feathers off his back with an arrow last spring. He is real easy to identify, with his skinny scissor shaped, probably double beard and really bad gobble. He had nice hooks in 2010 and as of last may, he had spurs like a barnyard rooster. I can't tell from pics if he has damaged them since then. Even though his beard is thin, its still long enough, his body looks heavy and his legs look like fence posts. Around here, I have also noticed the young birds have darker legs and the older they get the lighter pink and pale they get.
It is tough to get a good picture of the spurs, but even though this bird has a real long beard, he sure does not look like he has much weight.
Corben's youth season bird last week, you could see the weight on him, even though his beard was 8" with 1- 9" hair. He weighed 26 lbs with both spurs 1 1/2"s. When I skinned him, he had 5 big green spots with shotgun pellet holes in his butt and thighs, from at least a year ago. Most old birds we shoot have old shot in them, anyone else see that?
The day before getting him.
This gobbler must have taken a frontal shot in the chest. His chest is deformed looking, but nice spurs. Sucks to be an old turkey.
These 3 are always together with great beards, but 1" or less spurs.
This is a big looking, loner bird, but can't get a look at his spurs.
These two are a good comparison. The bird in front looks alot heavier and the one that always is in the back looks tall and lean.
Just wondering how everyone else decides which bird to shoot. Anyone else getting any good turkey pics, post them here, love to see some big gobblers from other parts of the state.
Some bonus deer pics from the turkey cameras.
A group of bucks goofing around the clover and rub tree.
There is something about that spitting ,drumming and thunderous gobbling that makes my trigger finger get all itchy. :grin: Great pics and discussion, hope you can outsmart one of those fatties! :way:
