Just a few new pictures of home life, There were about 18 turkeys in the gang that came to the front yard. I thought that was great and then I heard some tussling going on at the side of the house, the twenty or more in the other gang that came to the back of the house tried to come around to the front and the toms had a little party. After that they stayed apart, and hung out eating acorns for about 30 minutes.





















I am not a great photographer so sorry the pics are not better.

I thought they were pretty good myself. I have a gang of about 50 birds that cross my property about twice a year.

12 gauge...Now where the hell did I put that shot gun?

Pretty neat neighbors to have around!

12 gauge?
airgun and shoot them one by one before they understand what's happening.

All depends on the size of your family and your freezer: when it's small, you only shoot what you can eat. When it's big you shoot what you can so that you've stock for times without opportunities and/or hungry relatives...

Still I wonder how it's possible that some of you have to try all they can to get 1 gobler and others get them in rows of ten...
must be something they did in their present or previous life?

They dont come anymore free range than that.
Looks like a nice part of the country.

mmm.. free tucker freshly delivered.
Yes air rifles is the correct medicine.

great stuff.

MMMMM....turkey.

When is the season for turkey Lester? Are the birds still likely to be around at that time mate? I can't see any real difference between any of those birds mate...how do you tell the Toms?

Wonder if Stovey, or his appetite, saw this post, could get a little noisy around the house if he has Lester.

The toms have beards that protrude just below the neck high on the chest (or brest).

The spring season runs from April 1 to May 1 and allows for five turkeys. I think there is a fall season too, but am not sure when. I don't think I want to harvest any animals near the house, I want them to feel safe so they keep coming back. I really get a kick out of seeing them every few days. The deer have been eating some fresh sprouted rye grass behind the house but they are coming in too late for my cheap-as-- camera to get a good enough picture to share.

There is plenty of other hunting areas out back and with all the fruit and nut trees, clover and oats we've planted it's just not that difficult. We have another twenty fruit and nuts trees coming this week, the tough part is keeping the deer away long enough for the trees to get branches out of their reach, and too keep the hogs from rooting them up after I've planted them.

The second pic from the top is the Tom and it does him no justice at all, he was much bigger than he looks in the pic, and I couldn't get a shot of him with his beard down.

I don't have an air gun, and law requires the use of a shotgun, but if I were so inclined to disregard the law, I would pop their heads off with my 22.

Also, I am not a trophy hunter, I only hunt for meat so I am less likely to kill a big buck or tom and would prefer to let them continue breeding. The hens, jakes, and does are great eating.

Lester, I do agree. The less teeth a man gets, the less need for trophees...

Aloysius wrote:

Lester, I do agree. The less teeth a man gets, the less need for trophees...

HEY! stop that right now!