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May 2nd, 2024, 08:22 AM
#1
Target bird turns into Roadkill
I've been watching a particular field for TurkeyWes and I to get after a couple of particular birds. Get out last night and get them going from the field into the treeline where they tend to roost inside about 100 yards....
I get out this morning on my own as TurkeyWes is out of town but still says to go get them if they're huntable...
So I'm in along another narrow treeline perpendicular to the treeline they're back from at 445, full dark, set my decoys, find my spot and wait.....
I'm in position and waiting and I see a shadow moving towards my set up....Coyote?? Lots of them around...No, it's a doe, and while cautious, not spooky, no snorting or stamping....She wanders around a bit, nuzzles the decoys and at one point is between me and the decoys.....She hangs around for 10-15 minutes and then moves off without ever acknowledging that I'm there....I figure I'm golden, no deer spooking to alert anything, we're good...
As dawn creeps closer, I hear the first gobble....nuts, he's right along the field edge...I'm just hoping he didn't see me come, but so far so good, he just keeps gobbling every couple of minutes...Not long after he starts another starts going off a bit further up the same line and he's on the edge too... They never do that...But again, he just keeps gobbling and I settle in, not calling, not even moving or shifting, they're both within 100 yards and clear sight to me and the decoys...
This goes on for 20-30 minutes, the two of them yelling in the woods and I'm thinking, I'm still in the game....I jinxed myself...
No sooner as I was getting optimistic about my options, but one of them takes flight, but not towards me, towards and across the road....Nuts again....
Not long after the one remaining birds sets wing and flies out along the same treeline but over a ridge and out of sight....
I'm bummed, the only thing I can think is that they watched the non-moving decoys for long enough and smelled a rat so bailed out....
So I pack up the jeep and figure, I'll head down the road, see if they're in field down there....
Get over a rise in the road and see a bunch of feathers blowing around, and there's one of the birds on the shoulder....Now I hadn't heard a car go down the road, the only thing I can think of is that buddy hit a power/phone line and went down....
So I'm definitely not going to waste him, so I throw him in the back of the Jeep and take him home....Everything I can find online and even in an article from OOD says that roadkill isn't required to be reported unless it's large game or a falcon type bird, things like turkeys are good to go....and I don't have to use my tag on him to possess either per the same article...
I get home and he's still warm even, 10 inch beard, 1 inch spurs, 21 1/2 lbs....a beauty bird, but not how I wanted to take him home....
TurkeyJohn
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May 2nd, 2024 08:22 AM
# ADS
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May 2nd, 2024, 09:03 AM
#2
Are power lines an acceptable means of taking a turkey in our contest?
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May 2nd, 2024, 09:04 AM
#3
P,s, i think the server time is an hour off.
This forum seems to be having its fair share of tech issues lately.
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May 2nd, 2024, 10:24 AM
#4
Originally Posted by
Markster
Are power lines an acceptable means of taking a turkey in our contest?
Wasn't even going to go there, didn't even use a shell, would have rathered though....
TJ
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May 2nd, 2024, 03:33 PM
#5
Has too much time on their hands
That’s too bad John, at least it’s not wasted. To witness that must of been electrifying lol pun intended
"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he eats for the rest of his life"
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May 2nd, 2024, 06:33 PM
#6
Good story. I would have taken the bird home also. Nature's gift, not wasted.
28 days left still, to hunt a good bird and use up your tag.
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May 5th, 2024, 07:20 AM
#7
After your hard work the gods took pity and gave you a freebie ? LoL ! Nothing wrong with fresh roadkill and now you can go get his buddy.
Good Luck & Good Hunting !