Rio in the bag

[Intruder]

Shot a nice mature Rio on Sunday.  1 1/16" & 1 1/8" spurs; 9 1/4" paint brush beard.  (Will post photos).  An interesting note.  There was a big wound under the wing of the bird.  At first I thought maybe it had been shot before.  However, when I cleaned it it didn't look like any kind of shotgun wound... no pellet holes, no feathers embedded in the flesh, etc.  I'm wondering if it might be a spur wound from a gobbler fight.  It was just a large puncture wound right in what essentially would be his armpit.

Bird seemed to be much more active on Sat/Sun.  Called in 3 Jakes Sat morning.  Called in a long beard Sat afternoon.... my hunting partner wasn't ready when he came slinkin in.  Overall decent gobbling activity and saw some lone hens wondering about.  Seems like things are finally heatin up a lil.

[Machias]

Congrats!  Looking forward to the photos!

[wastickslinger]

Man sounds like the sucker I missed with my bow last year. It is probably a muzzy slash on his wing. 

[jackelope]

sweet man....where were you at?

[Michelle_Nelson]

Sounds like a real nice bird, Congrats!   

[MuleySniper]

Great job on the bird! My bird this year had a gnarly scar-scab like thing on its back about the size of a quarter. I figured it was from fighting too.
MS

[Intruder]

sweet man....where were you at?

North of Davenport out near 7-Bays.  Need to get the beard & spurs photo-ed and on here....  been too busy trying to get #2 bird.

[Intruder]

Got my 2nd bird on Sat.  Super hot out... got him late in the day.  It was classic.  He came in gobbling and strutting.   

[Intruder]

Here's the photo of my 1st bird's beard & spurs.....

[Machias]

  Sweet congrats!!!

[Snowman]

Great bird congrats

[tlbradford]

Great work.

[jimkirk]

beautiful bird and great photo