S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,374
Posts544,019
Members14,391
|
Most Online1,258 Mar 29th, 2024
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99 |
They are so different in different parts of the country. I've shot 17# jakes here and 27# toms. But it doesn't matter. I just love the birds strutting into range. There's some scientistic term for animals from colder climes carrying more weight. But you're the professor, why am I telling you that?...Geo
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,670 Likes: 372
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,670 Likes: 372 |
yes there are such trends. Bergman's rule is what you are thinking of here. (body size increases as one goes north in the Northern Hemisphere), but I doubt this applies here. Harrd to say why though. Allen's rule is another (the proportional size of appendages declines as one goes north).
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,076 Likes: 442
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,076 Likes: 442 |
In this part of the state, large birds are an anomaly unless they have access to row crops. The 280,000 acre tract (military base) where I often hunt has never had restocking as the birds have been there since the beginning of time and supplied birds for release in other parts of the state during the resurgence of stocking in the 1970's. A mature bird here will weigh between 15-18 lbs. with a few topping out at 20. Farm land is a different story. An old species map had this area shaded as having an intergrade between Eastern and Osceola. Gil
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129 |
There have been some big birds killed on my place. My buddy who comes from Arkansas and hunts it each year has killed several over 25#, one going 28# several years ago. Must be the abundance of row crops here.
SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129 |
One of the last ones he took here, though not as big as some of the others. SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 272 Likes: 64
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 272 Likes: 64 |
This one weighed 21-1, and that's a heavy bird for one that lives in a loblolly pine plantation in central AL.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 821 Likes: 34
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 821 Likes: 34 |
Took an old hunter and we got busted by a monster gobbler when my friends rear end went numb in combination with a mosquito on the face. Too much dancing for an old old bird at 60 yards.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99 |
I hunted all day yesterday and finally hemmed up a nice one just before dark. Three year old bird with 10.5" paintbrush style beard and spurs sharp enough to cut me up while carrying him out of the Alapaha River swamp to the truck. Sleeping in this morning, turkey hunting is hard work for old guys...Geo The pic is blurry, but the gun is a 12ga FEG: I'm a little concerned about this picture. That's back at the camp with my son posing my bird and me standing behind. The sun was setting just back of us and seems to create a sort of halo around my head. Man I hope that ain't some kind of omen!: Brent, I weighed him for you; 18 pounds just like all the rest of them!
Last edited by Geo. Newbern; 03/25/18 12:55 PM. Reason: added pix
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,670 Likes: 372
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,670 Likes: 372 |
Congratulations!
You are giving me the itch. But I've got 3 weeks before my turn comes. I guess I can agonize over which gun, what load, etc. But really there is not much to think about. Just waiting to do it. With 5" of soggy snow yesterday, it seems like turkey season will never get here.
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15 |
This morning my wife and I watched 7 gobblers for about an hour scratching around in our totally open back yard. One was the boss gobbler with a beard I'd estimate at about 10"; and the 6 others were jakes.
|
|
|
|
|