Post by: turkey slayer on April 07, 2009, 08:34:11 AM
So the Question is will birds get out of the roost and go back to sleep on the ground or do you guys think he was dieing of old age? The weight seems a little light to me what do you think?Was he sick or was he alright :dunno:
Yelp I will PM you and tell you were this is. You will want to no.
Post by: fishunt247 on April 07, 2009, 09:20:16 AM
Post by: shoot-em-dead on April 07, 2009, 09:25:43 AM
Post by: turkey slayer on April 07, 2009, 12:08:20 PM
Post by: boneaddict on April 07, 2009, 12:13:43 PM
Post by: runamuk on April 07, 2009, 12:27:36 PM
Post by: turkeydancer on April 07, 2009, 03:37:32 PM
Post by: yelp on April 07, 2009, 04:35:28 PM
The sick or not maybe explained by the late winter, maybe the old warrior got his ass kicked during a fight, It could be an injury from hitting a limb or hitting the ground...There could be all kinds of reasons..I wasn't there to see bird. If there were signs of illness the breast may have some atrophy or no fat on the back..This time of year turkeys are probably their thinnest. Was there anything weird when they cleaned it or field dressed it? They just came through a very long winter. They will start putting weight on in the next several months. I shot a tom one year which wa sa mature bird has a 10 inch beard and weighed 12 lbs had 3/4 and 1 inch spurs...I couldn't believe the size..it looked like a jake..you never know.
Post by: Tom Tamer on April 07, 2009, 04:42:12 PM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 07, 2009, 10:26:57 PM
Beings as this was a Rio, most of us have the common sense to only hunt for Merriam's, which would never try to pull such a stunt as hiding behind a log for 2 hours! :P :P
I know, I know its getting late and we still have 8 days to go. ;) :yike:
Post by: yelp on April 08, 2009, 06:56:28 AM
These durn turkeys are so unpredictable! Hard to know what this Tom was up to, but luckily his tricks are finally over. :chuckle: Unfortunately (or fortunately) his genes have now been passed on to many other birds in the local area.
Beings as this was a Rio, most of us have the common sense to only hunt for Merriam's, which would never try to pull such a stunt as hiding behind a log for 2 hours! :P :P
I know, I know its getting late and we still have 8 days to go. ;) :yike:
So from your statement above it is easy to assume those of us that hunt RIO's we are more skilled, patient and dedicated than a Merriam hunter? :chuckle: :chuckle: Of course I hunt both..so I must be just plain old crazy (no comment Wacenturian).. Hey I have played peekaboo with several Merriam Gobblers..they like to play "echo" its one of there favorite games..kinda like "Marco Polo" instead its "Yelp Yelp....Gobble" :hunter: These damn birds will drive you crazy...I remember several years ago up in Ferry county we were trying to locate a tom..and heard a few but they were unresponsive...this happened for 3 days...Last hour of our hunt we go up a trail we hadn't hunted yet...get up the hill to a bench..caught our breath...made a series of yelps...the damn woods erupted...all we could do is sit down and here come 5 toms running.....They came with in range I said to my buddy ...first two...boom...the hunt lasted two minutes..yet we were up there three days with little to no luck..that is how it happens..Damn birds! It one turkey calling another! LOL :chuckle:
Post by: turkey slayer on April 08, 2009, 07:54:55 AM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 08, 2009, 11:21:22 AM
Like you, I have gone from outings of not being able to buy a bird sighting or hear even one gobble ........ to being nearly run over by a fired up Gobbler in full charge mode! Go Figure!! :yike:
The debate will continue to rage on which subspecies is the most difficult to hunt. The answer of course is ....... the subspecies you happen to be hunting at the moment!!
One of these years I will try my luck in Lincoln County for the elusive RIO, but as you well know access is somewhat limited in this area.
Post by: Wacenturion on April 08, 2009, 11:30:16 AM
"The debate will continue to rage on which subspecies is the most difficult to hunt. The answer of course is ....... the subspecies you happen to be hunting at the moment!!"
No debate here.....western Washington Easterns are the most difficult bird in the country, not just our state...fact. Those eastern Washington Rio's and Merriam's are a blessings to get our sanity back after hunting the "Ghost" ..lol. :hunt2:
Post by: Intruder on April 08, 2009, 11:48:45 AM
Phantom...........you said...
"The debate will continue to rage on which subspecies is the most difficult to hunt. The answer of course is ....... the subspecies you happen to be hunting at the moment!!"
No debate here.....western Washington Easterns are the most difficult bird in the country, not just our state...fact. Those eastern Washington Rio's and Merriam's are a blessings to get our sanity back after hunting the "Ghost" ..lol. :hunt2:
I really wonder sometimes how much of it is truly genetic and attributable to the subspecies as opposed to general adaptation to the environment. Granted certain species have habitat/climate preferences. But if a Rios or Merriams happened to end up in the thick woods of the South or in W. WA and were able to survive and breed I'm guessing they'd in short order begin to take on they survivability traits that make Easterns harder to hunt. Total speculation on my part but I wouldn't be surprised at all if their nature and habits are as much adaptation to their environment as it is something ingrained in their genes :dunno:
Post by: Wacenturion on April 08, 2009, 12:57:43 PM
If we think about it...Rio's are open county turkeys especially in native states like Texas and Kansas....more eyesight dependent than the other senses. Merriams...open timber country..New Mexico, Arizona...and our N.E.....eyesight dependent and somewhat hearing dependent. Easterns...the "forest turkey"....dependent on all survival senses, especially hearing more than the other two subspecies. You know, something around every bush that wants to eat you and I can't see them.
So I would sum it up this way....Rios are soft cause they generally only rely on eyesight. Merriams are somewhat soft only relying on eyesight and their hearing every so often according to cover. Easterns....tuff, can't afford to be lazy with any situation....therefore the winner in the tuff turkey to kill contest. This study is heavily based on scientific findings.....lol.... :DOH:
Post by: tlbradford on April 08, 2009, 01:30:56 PM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 09, 2009, 09:43:51 AM
Don't know if I will ever get a Multi-Season Washington Slam??
P.G.
Post by: yelp on April 09, 2009, 11:50:25 AM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 09, 2009, 12:08:10 PM
I guess it comes down to money and time for me..I don't have a lot of either. Lincoln county birds can be tough..I have had them give me hard times every year..nothing is a gimme!
Yelp, :yeah: I think a lot of it boils down to T&M and also getting to know an area well. One property that we have hunted for several years in Colville, we have yet to harvest a bird from. We have had some close encounters......but nada so far. This doesn't stop us from trying it every season.................... and one of these years it will produce! :rolleyes:
Post by: Turkeyman on April 09, 2009, 06:56:11 PM
Post by: JBar on April 09, 2009, 07:09:47 PM
The hunters were along ways from the roost, If the bird new they were there he would of ran or flew. The Tom was behind the log for more then 2 hours.
I don't know, but when I'm in the woods and get up in the morning there's only one reason I would go sit behind a log for 2 hours and I usually come out a couple of pounds lighter :chuckle:
Post by: Wacenturion on April 09, 2009, 08:34:50 PM
Now we know why some of you start on the Dryside with the Rios (Easiest to Hunt) in Lincoln County, Head North/Northeast for your Merriam's (Second Easiest to Hunt) and then spend the rest of the season searching for the Ghostly Easterns (Mythical Status like a Native Steelhead) on the Wetside? Or did I get this order wrong? :dunno:
Don't know if I will ever get a Multi-Season Washington Slam??
P.G.
Actually no...If I'm trying for a single season slam, I'll do whatever to get that Eastern out of the way first. It's tough either way you approach it and whatever bird you start or finish with....but for me getting the eastern first makes it seem somewhat more obtainable......at least I make myself believe that..........lol. :DOH:
So with that being said, we'll see how it goes with the Rios and Merriams in that order. Not even thinking about attempting the slam this year, but if for some reason the turkey gods bless me this spring I might be spending the last part of the season chasin after an Eastern. That would not be ideal as they don't like to come out and play.................... in mid to late may. :bdid:
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 12, 2009, 12:03:25 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 12, 2009, 07:45:02 AM