Thurston County Boss Tom Down!

[Jester052]

Yesterday 1730 Bird DOWN! "Eastern" subspecies! (Has white in the fan, but super black body and dark wings) 21lbs 11" Beard 1 " spurs L&R
Biggest Bird I've EVER Harvested. I wanna give a huge shout out and thank you to Elkpiss. He saw me in the parking lot and stopped in to BS and helped me take some pictures of the bird because my phone died. Great guy!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great bird and pic! Nice work!

[youngbull]

Nice bird
havent seen to many evening birds down

[lokidog]

Good job.  I shot one in Lewis County back in the mid 90's on DNR land.  My biggest ever at 23 pounds.

[RadSav]

Funny looking Eastern!

Congratulations!

[Jester052]

Funny looking Eastern!

Congratulations!

Thank goodness for County of kill! I'm off to the Blues as we speak.

[RadSav]

Funny looking Eastern!

Congratulations!

Thank goodness for County of kill! I'm off to the Blues as we speak.

    Good luck!

[Jester052]

So what's the deal with this birds coloring? From my research I was deep in Eastern territory. The birds I found were high up and miles behind the gates. The hens were colored the same.

[RadSav]

You might want to PM "Wacenturion" and ask him.  Anything I'd say would just be speculation.  I'm not sure if there was an early Merriam release there or maybe someone released on their own   He should know the real answer or at least give a guess based on better information.  I've never shot one east of I-5.

[RadSav]

Look at post/reply #24 on this thread   http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,150950.msg2018800.html#msg2018800

I know that one was east of I-5 south of you a good ways.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nice bird either way .. But that is not an Eastern Sub-species ..Yeah I know its all done by what area you killed it in but if this bird was shot in Western Washington then I would say someone released them ..A turkey is a turkey and that's a dang nice one   

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hey Jester ..now that I have been thinking they may have released some Merriams to see if they would make it ..not sure but I remember a lot of arguing going on back in the day when they were deciding what sub species to plant in Western Washington ..Maybe they decided to try it  I need to get digging deeper on this ...Was there any other Toms you seen and was there hens with the same coloring ?

[Birdguy]

I would not be a bit surprised to see any type of "wild" turkey in western Washington. There have been plenty of "well intentioned uninformed" people over the years helping the western Washington turkey population. The internet is an easy place to find birds or eggs to aid in this activity. I know I have spoken to a lot of people over the years we were raising birds that raised all kinds of birds illegally, when things get tough or the owner is ill prepared the birds get out, and while some hang around they are never penned up again. The next breeding season they may reproduce and the young while not wild are not domestic either. The survival rate is poor but a few make it.

Jester, good looking tom for sure no matter the look or the location  .

[RadSav]

I would not be a bit surprised to see any type of "wild" turkey in western Washington. There have been plenty of "well intentioned uninformed" people over the years helping the western Washington turkey population. The internet is an easy place to find birds or eggs to aid in this activity. I know I have spoken to a lot of people over the years we were raising birds that raised all kinds of birds illegally, when things get tough or the owner is ill prepared the birds get out, and while some hang around they are never penned up again. The next breeding season they may reproduce and the young while not wild are not domestic either. The survival rate is poor but a few make it.

Jester, good looking tom for sure no matter the look or the location  .

A few years ago I shot a golden pheasant way the heck and gone from any residence.  You just never know.  Odd thing about your bird was that all the hens looked the same.  That is really crazy for Thurston Co.  I'm hoping Wacenturion chimes in and adds some clarity.  If I were you I'd be feeling pretty darn good right about now!  A Merriam in Thurston Co might be tougher to get than an Eastern!  And the to get one with that kind of beard and spurs 

[bobcat]

I know of a landowner here in Thurston county not far from where I live who released about 40 turkeys several years ago. I don't know for sure what kind they were, but I know they were not Easterns. They definitely survived and are reproducing, as I've seen them a few times since then.