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Young County Turkey?
#9039463
04/27/24 10:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463
Sniper John
OP
gumshoe
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OP
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463 |
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9040062
04/29/24 01:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 152
BrangusVA
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 152 |
Been decent. Lots of gobbling jakes this year
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9040102
04/29/24 02:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 158
Jesse Griffiths
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 158 |
I spoke with the TPWD biologist about this phenomena. We were seeing large jakes (calling them "megajakes") that were gobbling like mature birds, running in groups of 2-5 and also weigh in at around 16-18 lbs. Small spurs, 4-5" beards, fans not fully filled out. There are also gangly teenager-looking true jakes with stubby beards, so it was a little confusing. Jason at TPWD said there was an early hatch, so we are seeing a double year class of birds, the first hatch being substantially larger. I won't say a few haven't died this year. They cook up really nice.
author of The Turkey Book, The Hog Book and Afield @thewildbooks.com @daidue.com
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Jesse Griffiths]
#9040252
04/29/24 07:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 152
BrangusVA
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 152 |
I spoke with the TPWD biologist about this phenomena. We were seeing large jakes (calling them "megajakes") that were gobbling like mature birds, running in groups of 2-5 and also weigh in at around 16-18 lbs. Small spurs, 4-5" beards, fans not fully filled out. There are also gangly teenager-looking true jakes with stubby beards, so it was a little confusing. Jason at TPWD said there was an early hatch, so we are seeing a double year class of birds, the first hatch being substantially larger. I won't say a few haven't died this year. They cook up really nice. Thats what we've been seeing, and yes a few have talked like a man and were treated like a man.
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9040987
05/01/24 02:57 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463
Sniper John
OP
gumshoe
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OP
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463 |
I have not seen or heard a Turkey on our sw young county lease all season. No tracks seen. No pictures at feeders since Feb or March.. In over 20 years on this lease I have never seen it this way. I see they are killing them north of us. What sucks is I passed on them often during deer season to save tags for the spring.
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9041102
05/01/24 01:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 61
Alpine Hunter
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 61 |
We're having an anomaly at our ranch these past two years. When my wife and I bought our ranch ten years ago, we never saw or heard turkeys. The game biologist said I was about a mile too far off the river to hold them. Though each spring we would have two to three nesting hens, always in the same areas. Last year I was finally hearing gobblers and took my my first spring gobbler. We have never seen turkeys in the fall. This spring, we have hens and gobblers everywhere it seems. They are on all of my game cameras day in and day out. I have no idea what changed or why they're sticking around. Mind you, I'm not complaining. I'm hoping this is a sign of things to come. It is nice hearing them every morning.
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9048310
05/16/24 11:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463
Sniper John
OP
gumshoe
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OP
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463 |
Our Spring season ended without hearing or seeing a bird. Never saw a single Turkey track on our place. For 20 years we have always had great Spring seasons until this one. This is the first season we ever had them just vanish. We had lots of Turkeys during the Fall season as we always do, so this Spring was just bizarre.
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#9048580
05/17/24 03:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 61
Alpine Hunter
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 61 |
Our Spring season ended without hearing or seeing a bird. Never saw a single Turkey track on our place. For 20 years we have always had great Spring seasons until this one. This is the first season we ever had them just vanish. We had lots of Turkeys during the Fall season as we always do, so this Spring was just bizarre. Wow, sorry to hear. I was also able to hunt a friends place between Olney and New Castle. We had many many gobblers and jakes. This was the first time I've ever seen a full strut full tail fanned jake(s). I killed one by accident in the tall grass. I couldn't see his beard, he came out of strut and I let him have it. I was bummed when I got up to him and saw his 3"beard and nubs for spears. Still tasted great! Hopefully next year rebounds for you.
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Re: Young County Turkey?
[Re: Alpine Hunter]
#9048622
05/17/24 04:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463
Sniper John
OP
gumshoe
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OP
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,463 |
Our Spring season ended without hearing or seeing a bird. Never saw a single Turkey track on our place. For 20 years we have always had great Spring seasons until this one. This is the first season we ever had them just vanish. We had lots of Turkeys during the Fall season as we always do, so this Spring was just bizarre. Wow, sorry to hear. I was also able to hunt a friends place between Olney and New Castle. We had many many gobblers and jakes. This was the first time I've ever seen a full strut full tail fanned jake(s). I killed one by accident in the tall grass. I couldn't see his beard, he came out of strut and I let him have it. I was bummed when I got up to him and saw his 3"beard and nubs for spears. Still tasted great! Hopefully next year rebounds for you. And we are only 20 miles south of Newcastle.
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