Beard
New York Wild Turkey Records
The Empire State Limb Hangers book project is in the final phase of collecting the last few interviews, and getting the stories finalized. All current and known data and record listings per category is formatted and awaiting proofreading. It has grown past 400 pages in a 10×7 format This post will be reposted each pre season as there will be future editions as records are broken and those I attempted to include, catch up with the project. The more hunters that come on board that I originally sought to interview, the better. Records are made to be broken, eclipsed, and is expected.
If you tag a gobbler that meets the criteria listed below near the end of this post, I would love to interview you for inclusion in the project. Although your stories and photos will be captured for the book, you will retain rights to your photo’s and your story. Should you wish to have the story I write up used for other uses. Copyright permissions can be granted as needed.
The main issue with keeping it all legit for the project is typically weight as most of the small scales that are used to weigh fish can vary +/- 1 to 2 lbs or more. A weight coupon from a certified scale ensures accuracy and proof of measurement. Otherwise, it can be legitimately challenged. The scale should be suitable for products or goods for sale that are taxed in the state. I live in Cortland County and own several scales suitable for trade with a 25lb calibration weight with certification tracible to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly National Bureau of Standards,) and can also provide a video of calibration and the actual weighing of your gobbler. I will be glad to do so, and there is no fee.
Pics with tape measurement in the pics are required to show scale and accuracy for beards and spurs. There are several handy products to help measure spurs (including the curved outside edge) but as of this writing, none aside from a tape measure cover the spur measurements that have been described going back decades as published by the NWTF http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbpmeasure.html#spus As the decades long description covers the entire exposed spur that can occur below the outer edge of the leg, it is more often that the exposed spur is even with the leg edge. Anecdotal, as such, the differences observed have not exceeded 1/8″. As the calculation is x10 or x32 for each spur it is a detail to be aware of.
Anecdotal evidence unfortunately cannot be used to substantiate record book entries no matter how good the stories are.
Best bet if you think you have one for the books: weigh the gobbler on a certified scale and be sure to get a weight coupon. Take plenty of photos including those with a tape measure. NWTF requires witness signatures that also have to be an NWTF member if you wish to participate in their records program. Safari Club also has a program but is not viewable unless a member. I may include them if details can be worked out in the future.
Record entries not included in the NWTF system once verified can be accepted. You will note that the NWTF requires verifications that I have mentioned and I will accept their determinations for the project. I do support their system and would encourage you to enter your submission with the NWTF as well. NWTF submissions are now accepted online: www.nwtf.org/hunt/records.
Scoring tabulations for the project will include the NWTF system, and the SBP weighted system. for more info on SBP http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
For those that I have contacted or attempted to contact at the beginning of the project: Your stories will be available to review as I complete them.
If you have harvested a legally tagged wild turkey with one or more of the following attributes in NY during the 2023-2024 spring/fall seasons, or years prior, registered or not registered w/NWTF records, We would love to talk to you about being included in the book!
Please contact mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Note: Non registered birds- measurable attributes must be verified for consideration.
Typical score greater than 75.000 (weight x1 + beard x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Non-Typical score greater than 105.000 (weight x1 + beard(s) x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Weight greater than 26.5 lbs. (verifiable certified weight)
Beard Length greater than 12″ (verifiable length)
Spur Length greater than 1.625″ (verifiable length)
Color phase variations, Hens with spurs
http://empirestatelimbhangers.com/
© 2024 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
. #turkeyhunting #nywildturkeyrecords #wildturkey #nyturkeyrecords #recordbookgobblers
The Dilemma of Wild Turkey Records
Early on while conducting research for New York State Wild Turkey Records, it became evident that collecting the necessary data, tracking down possible records, and weeding out ghost stories of monster gobblers would not be a small task or an exact science. The abilities of turkey hunters to spin tall tales are as legendary as that of any fisherman.
The common issue in vetting any prospective entry; the weight of trophy gobblers is seldom accurate and is suspect in many unvetted circumstances. In most cases, spurs and beards can be retrieved, and a ruler applied. In pursuit of gathering an accurate as possible representation of trophy gobblers in the empire state, there are several hurdles to overcome, and I’ll have a request for your help in gathering additional data. The following describes some of the difficulties:
- Many hunters do not enter their birds into the NWTF system.
- Submission fee, not an NWTF member.Do not take the time to enter, or unless the gobbler is ranked high.
- Simply not interested in records
- NYSDEC does not maintain a database for recognizing trophy gobblers. They do log coarse data from required tag reporting. Unfortunately, the data is collected in broad increments, honor system only.
- Possible records are word of mouth and unverifiable.
- Overestimated and unverifiable body weights
- No definitive records are found prior to 1969.
- Prior to modern hunting seasons establish after the successes of conservation restoration efforts, post-market hunting era, very little distinction was given to the differences between jakes and gobblers with both referred to as gobblers.
Without a statewide system or database available that records trophy gobblers, one can only chase down reported stories, and contest results, and look to a national database for data. Currently, the NWTF record system for accessing trophy gobblers and merged data collated at turkey-talk.com are the only databases available.
During the exercise of parsing records by county, Cayuga, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Lewis, Niagara, Rockland, Warren, and Westchester have very few record entries or none thus far. In reviewing data that spans over three decades, the overall estimated harvest number in the state surpasses 1.4 million birds, with over twelve hundred records known, It is desired to have all the counties well represented and assume with good reason that many high-scoring gobblers can be found in all the huntable counties within the state. It is requested that if so inclined, register your gobbler with the NWTF or directly with the book project “Empire State Limb Hangers”. Although the NWTF database is duly recognized, it is not a requirement for inclusion in this records book project and future updated editions.
It is acknowledged that there are many gobblers taken in the great empire state that are not recorded which would easily ratchet the records upward. If it were possible to track down and verify a fraction of the stories, the rankings would be significantly affected. This essentially is the dilemma.
It is important to note that this project was initially started in 2008, and in all the delays, and life changes that occurred that delayed the books’ completion, active, periodic requests for inclusion, including both individual submissions and turkey contests that could be vetted were published and kept active through websites and social media. With over a decade of open invitations to participate, it is an inevitable aspect of human nature that will have some show up a day late for the party.
For future editions of this book, updates and additions will be based on available database queries from NWTF records database as well as verified gobblers from other sources. As many sportsmen’s clubs are coming online with their websites and publish historical data, it is thought to find additional record entries of notable distinction. I do encourage you to participate and would love to hear your stories.
Useful links
http://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/elh.html
https://www.nwtf.org/the-lifestyle/turkey-records-home
NYSDEC – Game Harvest Reporting http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html
https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyrec.html
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Big Updates – NY Wild Turkey Records
Big Updates – NY Wild Turkey Records
2023 is a big year for changes in wild turkey records in the Empire State. While doing the annual due diligence review of records and finishing prep work for the upcoming book “Empire Limb Hangers, New York Wild Turkey Records 1st Edition” It is full of changes in the top echelons of several categories. The Typical score category saw a shake-up of the top five with the new spring season in Suffolk County. A new #4 record lasted an entire week before a new #1 record came along, pushing it back to #5. The significance is the impact of unseating records that have been held for twenty-four years, past the glory days of the mid-1990s and early 2000s
A current database of 1287 records suggests that there are many opportunities yet to find, confirm, and capture more record book gobblers in the great Empire State. Please review the links and advise of any corrections, and or new entries you may want to submit.
https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyrec.html https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyntrec.html
https://www.turkey-talk.com/nyiilrec.html
I will take a break from this to review hunter interviews for the book and to finish writing and retaking some photos for the D.D. Adams book which is next in the que. The turkey talk website is slowly being populated with all but a few sections to finish, the records section is now up and published with current data. The records section features top records, and links to the NWTF to help with registering your birds with them as the longest and consistent record system out there. There is a full introduction to an alternated view of the data in SBP Records with a spur-centric emphasis.
We strongly encourage you to support the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and TFT (Turkeys For Tomorrow) and to record your gobblers with the NWTF records system. The SBP system is a fun exercise and good for some smack talk at hunting camp. You can also submit your record directly.
Submissions submitted directly are accepted and approved as long as measuring conditions are met, can be verified, the hunt conducted legally and in keeping with fair chase. See measuring instructions at SBP Measure For the latest SBP Submission form: SBP Submission Form email completed forms or if you have any questions at: sbprecords@wildturkeyrecords.com We do not charge a fee for any method of submission. There is no membership offered or required. We do recommend that you donate to and support the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) and or TFT (Turkeys For Tomorrow) as members or direct donations that benefit habitat work, research and legislative efforts concerning wildlife initiatives, conservation, and hunter issues.
Existing/New NWTF records are recognized as vetted and reviewed. When submitting your New York gobbler entry to the NWTF you may also email us at: sbprecords@wildturkeyrecords.com and let us know it has been submitted. It is important to note that the SBP Records is simply an alternate view of balanced data for those that wish to look at a spur centric view in evaluating older gobblers. The NWTF records formula has been providing a foundation for those balanced views for nearly fifty years.
For more information on the NWTF records system go to: NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) For the latest NWTF Submission Form: NWTF Record Submission Form
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Long Island Delivers a New Top Wild Turkey Record
With the inaugural fully open spring season this past May in Suffolk County, it was predicted by many of us in the turkey hunting community that gobblers tagged in Suffolk County would likely rachet the record books upward. It has not only moved the high water mark upward but delivered a new #1 Typical Score on May 10th. This follows another gobbler in the top five from this season- https://www.turkey-talk.com/tblog/?p=2694
A fall season had been in place in Suffolk since 2009, along with a spring youth hunt that began in 2011. After much deliberation and observations of plentiful and healthy flocks on Long Island, the go-ahead for an open spring season hunt was green-lighted this past May. With hunting fall gobblers a more difficult endeavor in the fall season, having an open season in the spring was expected to yield even more impressive gobblers. It is a shift of preferences from fall to spring from over a century ago when fall season was the traditional season.
Christopher Tellone, a resident of Long Island, took his first ever wild turkey gobbler this spring and without question, a wild turkey gobbler of a lifetime. It may be his first turkey, but Christopher is no spring chicken in the woods or new to hunting. As a lifelong deer hunter, he employed many of his woodsmanship skills to help him bag the new top typical score gobbler in the Empire State. Chris, now known to his friends as “Long Spur,” tells the story of getting onto a flock of birds that morning with several gobblers courting hens. Although he is new to calling turkeys, he knew that the hens were not swayed by his calling and the gobblers were not leaving the hens they courted. After giving it ample time for the flock to come his way, he backed out to head to his truck. He spotted the flock several hundred yards in a field. Surmising where they would end up, he patiently made his way to position himself to where they would eventually cross. As the hens left the gobblers an hour later to head back to the woods, they crossed in front, and the gobblers would follow. Choosing the largest gobbler that lead the bachelor group, Chris made good on his shot.
Chris’s bird scoring 84.0000 NWTF-Score surpasses the previous record held for 24 years for the number one typical category taken by Robert Miller Jr. in 1999, with an 82.1600 NWTF-Score. The gobbler was weighed on a certified commercial scale and properly measured in accordance with NWTF guidelines. The gobbler weighed in at 28lbs, sporting 1.75” spurs on each leg, and swung a 10.5” beard.
The gobbler, currently recorded by the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation,) also shows the bird to rank #3 in the state for spurs, and #4 for weight.
Using the SBP method of scoring, the gobbler scores 182.0000 taking over the #2 ranking in New York.
NWTF Typical calculation = (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beard x2)
SBP Typical calculation = (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beard x4)
Congratulations on an impressive first gobbler and a new record!
https://your.nwtf.org/members/records/
https://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Pending #4 Typical Record NY Gobbler
After a recent query on social media several days ago, a pending new record book gobbler has been identified and it’s been suggested by many, including myself that with the inaugural spring season on Long Island this past May, that record book gobblers would likely come from there. The gobbler was hunted by Butch Janke from Long Island, in Suffolk County on public grounds on May 6th.
Butch’s gobbler weighed in at 26lbs even, on a state-certified scale, sporting 1-11/16” and 1-1/2” spurs, and a 10-3/8” beard, making the gobbler a record book entry for the typical category. The bird preliminary scores are as follows:
NWTF Typical 81.2500 (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beard x2)
SBP Typical 177.7500 (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beard x4)
Butch’s gobbler will be entered into the NWTF records once witnesses confirm. Two member witnesses are required as weight is over 22 lbs, and spurs are longer than 1-1/2″.
Preliminary stats, once finalized, the gobbler will be the fourth highest-scoring typical gobbler in New York State. Spurs will also tie with ten others recorded in the third-longest spur length in the empire state. Additionally, the gobbler ranks fifth in the SBP system calculation.
For others looking to record their gobbler, it is a good opportunity to point out that he used a certified weight scale, and took plenty of pictures in keeping with NWTF guidelines and those republished and supported by turkey-talk.com, Joyner Outdoor Media, and the Empire State Limb Hangers book project. Butch has agreed to participate in the book project, and I look forward to the interview and learning his story of the hunt firsthand.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Pending #4 Record Beard in NY
Got the news today on a new pending record entry on an impressive gobbler taken yesterday morning by Dan Ladd of Fort Ann, NY. Dan is a well-known Adirondack deer hunter, book author, and current editor of New York Outdoor News. The gobbler was hunted in Warren County in the Adirondack Park and was actually one of two birds to come to Dan’s old Lynch World Champion box call. Dan often hunts mountain gobblers as his preferred hunting grounds and applies much of the same dedication to turkey hunting as he does for Adirondack whitetail deer.
photo credit- Dan Ladd
Dan’s mountain gobbler weighed in at 21lbs with 1” and 1-1/8” spurs. A double bearded gobbler with a 13.75” beard and a second beard coming in at 7-7/8” making it a non-typical record book entry. The bird scores as follows:
NWTF Non Typical 85.6250 (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beards total x2)
NWTF Typical 69.750 (weight x1) + (spurs total x10) + (beard x2)
SBP Non Typical 175.750 (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beards total x4)
SBP Typical 144.000 (weight x1) + (spurs total x32) + (beard total x4)
Longest beard of 13.7500″ ties at #4 in New York as published by NWTF.org and the current database maintained by Joyner Outdoor Media.
It is a current discussion as to protocol for measuring beards, what is considered an official entry. Those of you that have hunted for many years and taken plenty of birds will at some point come across a heavy bearded bird that has had some of the beard shot off or otherwise compromised from the outer pattern of the shot string. It is important to note that how something is stated or reported is how we get into some of these red-in-the-face discussions as often evident in scoring deer, and wild turkey records is never very far from that observation. As much as we here at Joyner Outdoor Media do deep dives into records, especially the book project, it’s fun stuff for us. Add $8 and our opinion and it will get you an almond milk pumpkin spice latte at your fav coffee shop. $2 for us regular folks at the local diner.
In my conversations with Dan, I got the rundown on the sequence of events, and is simple enough to not be a mutated and twisted story that sometimes attaches to record entries. In the case of this gobbler, Dan took pictures and measured the bird in keeping with NWTF guidelines and those republished and supported by turkey-talk.com, Joyner Outdoor Media, and the Empire State Limb Hangers book project.
As Dan ran his hand along the beard, the 14.5” bristle feather (yes, turkey beards are actually feathers, mesofiloplumes,) dislodged and appeared to be much shorter. With that bit of info, Dan checked the other strands of the beard with a firm grip to determine if solidly attached. This included the 13.75” length in question. What is of some controversy is that the 13.75” length bristle feather broke lose shy of an hour later. Given the handling breakage, it is not uncommon and a different and separate issue from slipped lengths within the beard itself. I have not heard any determination of the stated position on this from NWTF headquarters and surmise we will hear back if Dan sends in the entry form. In speaking with him, he wishes to convey that it is undetermined after firmly checking fully intact lengths and having it come out 45 minutes later and after all the handling off the bird. I had something similar happen in Ohio, and for several sweet minutes I had measured a beard stretching just shy of 17″. As I went to recheck the measurement in the field . The longest length came out and matched the 11.25″ beard. A prime example of a slipped bristle feather,
Without question, this is one hell of a record entry from New York, and a mountain bird to add to it. As Dan states he is fine with however it goes and is all about the experience. Although he goes on further to say that he likes the trophy aspects as many hunters do, even holding out depending on circumstance, it’s the hunt itself that matters most to him. If you follow his musings, you can keenly get a sense of that.
We do hope Dan submits his entry, and he has an open invitation to participate in the Empire State Limb Hangers book project.
Link to the New York Outdoor News Story-
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
NY Wild Turkey Records Book Project
The Empire State Limb Hangers book project is coming to a final close for inclusion for the first edition. It has been a long time coming. Since a significant life event this past late summer/fall, wrapping up large works and getting them to the finish line are a concentrated effort now, I have done what I can to gain interviews, including several state wide tours. I can entertain a third tour this summer.
Any new record entries are invited to interview. If you tag or have tagged a legally harvested gobbler that meets the criteria listed at the end of this, I would love to interview you for inclusion in the project. Although your stories and photos will be captured for the book, you will retain all rights to your photo’s and your story. Should you wish to have the story I write up to be used for other uses, Copyright permissions would be normal and expected for personal uses, commercial use can be reviewed for consideration.
The deadline for interviewing for the first edition will be November 21, 2022. If you should tag a fall bird for consideration during late season this fall, contact me- mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Book Release is slated for June 3rd, 2023.
The challenges with keeping it all legit for the project is typically weight as most of the common small scales that are used to weigh fish can vary +/- 1 lbs to 2 lbs or more. A weight coupon from a certified scale ensures accuracy and proof of measurement. Otherwise, it can be legitimately and reasonably challenged. The scale should be suitable for products or goods for sale that are taxed in the state.
Pictures with tape measurement in the pics are best to show scale for beards and spurs. There are several handy products to help measure spurs (including the curved outside edge) but as of this writing, none cover the spur measurements that have been described going back decades as published by the NWTF http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbpmeasure.html#spus
Anecdotal evidence cannot be used to substantiate record book entries. If you think you have one for the books: weigh the gobbler on a certified scale and be sure to get a weight coupon. Take plenty of photos. NWTF requires witness signatures that also have to be an NWTF member if you wish to participate in their records program. Safari Club also has a program but is not viewable unless a current member. I may include them if details can be worked out in the future. I am accepting record entries not included in the NWTF system. Please note that the NWTF requires verifications that I have mentioned and will accept their determinations for the project. I do support their system and would encourage you to enter your submission with the NWTF as well. NWTF submissions are now accepted online: www.nwtf.org/hunt/records.
Scoring tabulations for the project will include the NWTF system, and the SBP weighted system. for more info on SBP http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
For those that I have contacted or attempted to contact at the beginning of the project: Your stories will be available to review as I complete them. The book will not be published until each person reviews and provided feedback as to the accuracy and that no sensitive information that needs to be private remains so. Hunting location is often the consideration for discretion.
If you haven’t been interviewed and would like to be included, please contact me, I would love to include as many as possible that met the original score criteria.
There will be future editions as records are broken. For those I attempted to include in prior attempts, should you desire to catch up and be included in the project, that would be welcomed for future inclusion. Some hunters have passed on, and should their families or hunting partners have an interest, please contact me directly. The more turkey hunters that come on board that I originally sought to interview, the better. Records are made to be broken, eclipsed, and are expected.
If you have harvested a legally tagged wild turkey with one or more of the following attributes in NY during the 2021-2022 spring/fall seasons, or years prior, registered or not registered with NWTF records, I would love to talk to you about being included in the book!
Please contact mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Note: Non-registered birds- measurable attributes must be verified for consideration.
Typical score greater than 75.000 (weight x1 + beard x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Non-Typical score greater than 105.000 (weight x1 + beard(s) x 2 + L & R spur(s) x 10)
Weight greater than 26.5 lbs. (verifiable certified weight)
Beard Length greater than 12″ (verifiable length)
Spur Length greater than 1.625″ (verifiable length)
Color phase variations and Hens with beards or spurs are notable stories for inclusion.
-MJ
© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
2021 NY Wild Turkey Records
The Empire State Limb Hangers book project has been a long time coming and is still an ongoing/active project. I have done what I can to gain interviews. Should you desire to be included I am more than happy to do so. Any new record entries would be invited to jump in. It’s that time of year here in New York as the season concludes. If you tag a gobbler that meets the criteria listed below near the end of this posting, I would love to interview you for inclusion in the project. Although your stories and photos will be captured for the book, you will retain rights to your photo’s and your story. Should you wish to have the story I write up used for other uses. Copyright permissions can be granted as needed.
The main issue with keeping it all legit for the project is typically weight as most of the small scales that are used to weigh fish can vary +/- 1 to 2 lbs or more. A weight coupon from a certified scale ensures accuracy and proof of measurement. Otherwise, it can be legitimately challenged. The scale should be suitable for products or goods for sale that are taxed in the state.
Pics with tape measurement in the pics are best to show scale for beards and spurs. There are several handy products to help measure spurs (including the curved outside edge) but as of this writing, none cover the spur measurements that have been described going back decades as published by the NWTF http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbpmeasure.html#spus
Anecdotal evidence unfortunately cannot be used to substantiate record book entries no matter how good the stories are. Best bet if you think you have one for the books: weigh the gobbler on a certified scale and be sure to get a weight coupon. Take plenty of photos. NWTF requires witness signatures that also have to be an NWTF member if you wish to participate in their records program. Safari Club also has a program but is not viewable unless a member. I may include them if details can be worked out in the future. I am accepting record entries not included in the NWTF system. You will note that the NWTF requires verifications that I have mentioned and will accept their determinations for the project. I do support their system and would encourage you to enter your submission with the NWTF as well. NWTF submissions are now accepted online: www.nwtf.org/hunt/records.
Scoring tabulations for the project will include the NWTF system, and the SBP weighted system. for more info on SBP http://turkey-talk.com/scoresbp.html
The book project has been on hiatus for a long period. Some things are getting normalized and now getting back to original efforts. For those that I have contacted or attempted to contact at the beginning of the project: Your stories will be available to review as I complete them.
If you haven’t been interviewed and would like to be included, please contact me, I would love to include as many as possible that met the original score criteria.
There will be future editions as records are broken and those I attempted to include, catch up with the project. The more hunters that come on board that I originally sought to interview, the better. Records are made to be broken, eclipsed, and is expected.
If you have harvested a legally tagged wild turkey with one or more of the following attributes in NY during the 2020-2021 spring/fall seasons, or years prior, registered or not registered w/NWTF records, We would love to talk to you about being included in the book!
Please contact mjoyner@joyneroutdoormedia.com
Note: Non registered birds- measurable attributes must be verified for consideration.
Typical score greater than 75.000 (weight x1 + beard x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Non-Typical score greater than 105.000 (weight x1 + beard(s) x 2 + L & R spur x 10)
Weight greater than 26.5 lbs. (verifiable certified weight)
Beard Length greater than 12″ (verifiable length)
Spur Length greater than 1.625″ (verifiable length)
Color phase variations, Hens with spurs
http://empirestatelimbhangers.com/
© 2021 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
. #turkeyhunting #nywildturkeyrecords #wildturkey #nyturkeyrecords #recordbookgobblers
Identify Your Political Affiliation As A Turkey Hunter
- It’s the middle of the second week of the spring season in Upstate NY.
- You are hunting state land and hear six, possibly eight different gobblers early morning. After several volleys of nonstop gobbling, you determine they all are very close to each other. You make your moves to close the distance.
- Each call you make is drowned out by thunderous gobbles. As you close the distance you find they are just a hundred yards away on private land.
- With a grove of pine trees in front of you, you close to within fifty yards undetected. You also know the land drops down to the valley not much further out beyond the pines. You make the softest purr you can muster, eight strutting long beards gobble so hard your pants wave.
- In all the excitement you just now notice (except the dufus republican, and the conservative too focused on gobbling) to the far left of your setup there’s a 50-gallon drum painted in camo hung up against a big maple tree limb with a feeder motor. There is corn everywhere, there is also a 5′ high fenced enclosure just beyond the pines that leads to the farm below
- Eight strutting long beards appear. They drop strut into a dead run towards the feeder.
You:
Anarchist- You have in your hands, the fastest cycling semi auto 12 gauge ever made. You fire two custom made (on the black market) fragmentation rounds. All eight gobblers are flattened at the blast. You avoid the police, the conservation officers which are called as the blast is heard throughout the valley. You have a backup plan to kill them all, should events not go as planned. They’ll never take you alive. No tags are used or reported.
Democrat- Hunting? Firearms? It should be banned, after taxing it to death for twenty years. You back out, hatch a plan with the DNC, US AG, and the FBI. You pay for a full jacked up documentation package. Next day you sneak back using a silencer and poach them all as they show up at the first cluck. You destroy all evidence and lay out a two-year investigation blaming Trump Jr. as a hedonist animal killer. Despite the elaborate efforts you still lose out on 1st place at the local spring turkey contest scoring and weigh in.
Republican– Landowner at work? You shoot two, sneak back over to state land, report your tags. Post like mad on Facebook. You then spend the next two years defending Trump Jr. You take 1st for beard, spurs, and weight. Rumors take on appearances as facts. You pick up your trophies leaving in a hurry and go on the fishing trip you just won…
Libertarian- Do not give it a second thought, shoot two gobblers, get out. Nobody’s business, tags are not reported
Conservative- You see the posted signs, you swear a bit, back up, set up and proceed to call in a gobbler from your right flank, and shoot. The birds out in front would not budge, not even to your $200 box call. They gobbled nonstop while you walked back to the truck. You tag and report. You go back a few days later hoping to call one off the property or until all the ruckus stirs one up from further down the ridge like before. Not a clue about the feeder until you hear it go off at 7AM. A pile of jakes show up at the feeder on cue. Mad as hell about the feeder, you leave. As you walk out in the daylight you notice the scattering of blood and feathers around the feeder. You get out of there and never look back. You have no clue about the enclosure until somebody at the diner accuses you of shooting a farm bird. You didn’t but now you are mad as hell, and damn sure it’s a liberal democrat that set you up. You decide to lay low, not enter the contest…
Green Party- all hunters should be arrested for felony crimes against humanity. except you of course…
It is expected that turkey hunters have a sense of humor given the daily doses of humility in any given season. Little bit of eye poking at at our crazy politics.
-MJ
© 2019 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Maytom Wood Works Spur Display
At the conclusion of any successful turkey hunt there are many ways to memorialize a grand day in the turkey woods and create a fitting tribute in honor and respect of the monarchs we match wits with. If you happen to regard wild turkey spurs as I do and as one might as a deer hunter in awe of a massive rack of a trophy buck, then I have a product in front of me that you might be keenly interested in. As the fat lady has sung across the country for the 2018 spring turkey season, the current offerings of Maytom Woodworks display products for your trophy gobbler are a perfect solution for your man cave, office, or trophy room
A new updated version of the “Turkey Spur Display Board” is now being offered by Maytom Woodworks of Lake View, NY. The latest version features Red Oak with nicely figured grain, brass rods and colored beads as holders/separators between spurs. Also featured is a custom silk screen brass plate, a brass hanger embedded on the back side, and a shell brass with real turkey breast feathers adornment. There are many ways you can display this coveted trophy part of our favoured game bird, and this spur board is a fantastic way to display many successful hunts in the turkey woods.
Once you have your spurs prepared (typically with borax or other suitable substitute), cleaned, polished or clear coated, you can mount four pairs in each row easily assuming you trim the leg bone somewhat close to each spur. You have some leeway there not to fret about being exact as you can see in the original version spur board I have shown below. With four rows you can mount 16 pairs of spurs which should cover many of you for a season or two that hunt multiple states each spring.
Loading up the spur display board is super easy, you simply need to place your display board on a soft non scratching surface, and remove two screws holding one of the side pieces that the brass rods insert to. Place your first bead then each spur with another bead until you place the last spur followed with an end bead. Repeat for each row or until you have loaded all the ones you have. You can easily come back later each season to add more. You can substitute these beads with your own, those made of bone or exoctic woods for example. The ones included in the kit work nicely and look great.
The final verdict of this review is a two thumbs up and a must for every turkey hunters home. With father’s day just a few weeks away, it would make a perfect gift for your turkey hunting patriarch of the family. In full disclosure I’ve known Paul Klima, the owner of Maytom Wood Works far back to the mid 1990’s when he first started making these fine products. To know Paul is to like him and he applies a fine hand craftsmanship to everything he makes as you would expect from any well regarded call maker. I would encourage you to contact him and you’ll find my remarks to be spot on. Below, I have a slideshow of other products he also offers. The Turkey Spur display board sells for $85.00 plus S&H & NYS Tax.
Maytom Woodworks- Contact Info
© 2018 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
#turkeyhunting #maytomwoodworks #wildturkey #spurs #beards
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