Post by: tlbradford on May 06, 2009, 12:58:09 PM
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on May 06, 2009, 01:00:12 PM
Post by: CP on May 06, 2009, 01:10:18 PM
Post by: deaddog on May 06, 2009, 01:20:48 PM
Post by: cabin308 on May 06, 2009, 01:25:00 PM
Post by: OneHorn on May 06, 2009, 01:27:19 PM
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 06, 2009, 01:30:16 PM
Post by: boneaddict on May 06, 2009, 01:33:47 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 06, 2009, 02:08:03 PM
what would make him too small for somebody? just curious. looks like a nice beard with a full fan.
Post by: tlbradford on May 06, 2009, 02:22:53 PM
Since a bird only equals one meal, I am not worried about filling my freezer. My belief is to let the jakes and two year old birds walk, so I have more of the big boys to chase around.
Onehorn, I have battled really old and wise birds that can't be patterned, or do something totally out of the ordinary, that will literally drive you crazy for half the season. Targeting those stringy-bearded, stinky old toms is very addicting and so very rewarding if you win. That is the fun part for me. So "crazy" is probably an appropriate term. :chuckle:
Jackelope - I am guessing that is about a 6" beard so I want something bigger to tack on the garage wall.
Post by: bearpaw on May 06, 2009, 02:23:56 PM
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on May 06, 2009, 02:28:13 PM
Post by: MuleySniper on May 06, 2009, 02:33:05 PM
MS
Post by: Intruder on May 06, 2009, 02:44:28 PM
If I could call him in... he'd likley get it. I wouldn't be trying to guage his trophy status based on his beard. I would always pass on a Jake but it's just too tough to know for sure what you're dealing with just looking at a beard. Without seeing him next to a bigger bird or seein his spurs ya just don't know.
Post by: jackelope on May 06, 2009, 02:50:32 PM
Quote
If I could call him in... he'd likley get it. I wouldn't be trying to guage is trophy status based on his beard. I would always pass on a Jake but it's just too tough to know for sure what you're dealing with just looking at a beard. Without seeing him next to a bigger bird or seein his spurs ya just don't know.
kinda what i was getting at.
Post by: tlbradford on May 06, 2009, 03:31:15 PM
I also think size is a poor way to measure the trophy status of a bird. I think weight should be pulled out of the NWTF equation.
Post by: OneHorn on May 06, 2009, 03:58:30 PM
Post by: tlbradford on May 06, 2009, 04:20:37 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 06, 2009, 04:44:55 PM
To me, elk are meat animals - I'd love to kill a big ol' stinky, but if it's not my dream shoulder mount bull, I've several times passed on branched bulls to take a spike or cow (WY, not WA).
Now, mule deer ... I can pass up 100 bucks on a rifle hunt (or enjoy a great kill shot on a doe with my bow).
Sorry to threadjack - daydreaming at my 'puter again.
Post by: OneHorn on May 06, 2009, 05:27:15 PM
I disagree on the spur wear. I have killed or seen dead birds taken from areas with rocky terrain that have long, sharp spurs. Again, I want to put the disclaimer on here that this may not apply to all areas it is just my experience.
Like i said there are birds out there that are in rocky terrian that do get long spurs. my dad has killed some birds with big ol spurs in rocky country but most birds that i have killed and seen killed dont have to good of spurs do to the rocky country washington has to offer us.
Post by: MuleySniper on May 06, 2009, 05:51:37 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi94.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl89%2FMuleySniper%2FP1020402.jpg&hash=f47777270ee9ef2ce5deec203480bb39f9328e8c)
Post by: tlbradford on May 06, 2009, 07:57:39 PM
Post by: wastickslinger on May 07, 2009, 08:20:00 AM
Post by: buck470 on May 07, 2009, 08:30:35 AM
Post by: Intruder on May 07, 2009, 08:33:29 AM
Luv that paint brush beard.... Bang! for me :chuckle:
Post by: Intruder on May 07, 2009, 08:36:50 AM
I disagree on the spur wear. I have killed or seen dead birds taken from areas with rocky terrain that have long, sharp spurs. Again, I want to put the disclaimer on here that this may not apply to all areas it is just my experience.
I agree. It can happen but wear on a beard is far more likely than wear on spurs. I also agree with you on the weight. Total BS in a lot of areas cuz the monster birds literally live in barn yards and get fat eatin chicken and cow feed.
Post by: MuleySniper on May 07, 2009, 12:06:07 PM
Sniper, the three of us looked at that bird for 10 minutes and none of us noticed he has a second beard!! I just noticed it in that picture you posted. Thats cool!! Too bad our tags were all notched.
Yeah, sticks out like a sore thumb now!
MS
Post by: Mookie on May 17, 2009, 10:20:11 AM
Post by: wastickslinger on May 17, 2009, 05:47:38 PM
I don't care about trophy's, I have no plans on ever putting an animal on my wall. So it is all about the meat. Old birds are not nearly as good tasting, or as easy to eat.
Dont get me wrong, I love wild game, but turkey just cant be all about the meat. For the average person it ends up being like $15-20 per lb. If it were all about the meat I would buy a big fat juicy butterball at Safeway. :twocents: It doesnt have to be a trophy for me, its all about the hunt/rush of a gobble back at your calls.
Post by: 270Shooter on May 17, 2009, 07:08:22 PM
Post by: Mookie on May 17, 2009, 11:15:23 PM
I totally get the point of the hunt, but I don't care at all about that, I want in and out.
Post by: EastWaViking on May 17, 2009, 11:20:03 PM
Post by: robb92 on May 18, 2009, 01:48:50 AM
Post by: tlbradford on May 18, 2009, 07:34:29 AM
Our discussion was that Washington is ideal habitat for turkeys. I truly believe Washington could be the destination state in the U.S. for turkey hunting if the WDFW tightened there rules a bit and promoted turkey hunting a little more. Three species in a single state is unheard of. I do worry about Rio's and Merriams crossbreeding though. With so many other animals in our state to hunt, the turkey is definitely an afterthought to most and certainly a nuisance to others. I respect everyone's opinion, and I am obviously in the minority here. It will be interesting to see what kind of industry turkey hunting grows into.
I truly believe it is the #1 animal to hunt for teaching kids and introducing new hunters to the sport. Good luck everyone for the rest of the season, and thanks for participating.
Post by: Mookie on May 18, 2009, 10:26:22 AM
It seems that you have the tourist mentality. Everything is great to outsiders, but the people who live with them want them gone. Kinda like the people who love to go watch the ground squirrels, meanwhile farmers and landowners want them dead.
I know plenty of people who quite often have turkey dinners because they get tired of them eating their gardens.
I have no issues with turning it into a great money making sport and for teaching young people to hunt. But for many, tightening the regs would create more problems.
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on May 18, 2009, 10:32:53 AM
Post by: tlbradford on May 18, 2009, 11:46:36 AM
Interesting view. In our area turkeys are a big pain it the butt. You want to tighten regulations? We want a buy one get four free tags. They get into barns, roost in cars, crap everywhere. I know plenty of people who have horrible problems with them. One couple I know basically has an open invite to kill them, she wakes up to about 300 in her yard. It is nearly impossible to get a depredation permit.
It seems that you have the tourist mentality. Everything is great to outsiders, but the people who live with them want them gone. Kinda like the people who love to go watch the ground squirrels, meanwhile farmers and landowners want them dead.
I know plenty of people who quite often have turkey dinners because they get tired of them eating their gardens.
I have no issues with turning it into a great money making sport and for teaching young people to hunt. But for many, tightening the regs would create more problems.
Or issuing the depredation permits more easily, or handing out landowner permits, etc. When I say tighten the regs, I mean don't allow a bunch of hens to be shot in the fall season.
Not a tourist, I live here and listen to landowner stories all the time.
Post by: Mookie on May 18, 2009, 03:06:30 PM
I agree. Landowner and dep permits should be given out a lot more freely. It seems the F&W Dep does not know what is going on with them.
But at the same time, they need to start issuing double or triple doe tags, or buy a buck get a doe free. Those things are getting bad. To many of them are dieing because of traffic and starvation and then we have to pull the tag. One landowner I know was saying the does on his property are going two or three heat cycles before reproducing.
I saw you were from Veredale, I grew up in Millwood.
Post by: tlbradford on May 18, 2009, 03:28:50 PM