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
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
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
A Grand Spring Turkey Season
With the final days of 2018 Spring Turkey season winding down, my season in NY in a quest to fill a tag concluded on the 18th. NY was a sleeper for me this year as my usual hot spots did not reveal gobbling toms at any of them. I had little hopes for prospects from all the scouting I did. With what scouting data I had, I decided not to hunt our place for the first time since we bought it in 2000. One bird gobbling on our place a week before season was as good as it got. There were years were 12-15 long beards would roost our property along with that many more jakes. Just as we deer hunt our place we would only fill a tag or two a season. It has steadily declined from a number of poor brooding seasons in succession. This spring looks to be favorable for a successful first nesting and hope we can string together a few more in a row in the coming years.
Both birds in NY were tagged on public game lands and excellent hunts. Great start in Texas and managed a double on three year old gobblers despite a massive cold front that shut things down. The season progressed to an eventful but no birds harvested the first full week in NY. Next stop was in Jackson, Ohio and had three days of hunting with David Christian. A dandy of a gobbler was taken on the last day. Super fun hunt and had a ball chasing birds there. Upon returning home, some very fun hunts in NY with a great bird tagged on mother’s day, and the second bird at the NYSOWA Safari in Oswego. Very different in NY for me this year as I parted ways with a longtime hunting partner and hunted all together differently than in past years. Far more patient style and it paid off handsomely as allowing the hunts to unfold rather than rush on to the next spot resulted in a far better outcome.
Last trip of the season was to Pittsfield, Maine with Dan Daman and we had a great time as we always do. Really enjoy returning there often. Great hunts that also took their time unfolding before us. Tagged out in one day with one bagged mid-morning and the second just about dinner time. The lay down breeding decoy did take some extreme sexual abuse, and have pics to prove it. Avian X decoys make one hell of a noise when the gobbler puts his back into it. Went out the second morning in the quest to get Dan’s wife Carrie a bird and we had a big show of gobbling first thing. Close, no cigar. We moved on and found a flock of big jakes that ended up minus one when all said and done.
My bride of nearly 18 years was not able to get out this season as she is convalescing from surgery in late April. Opening day couples date has been the norm for all these years. This fall we’ll get back out to hunt together on opening days as the seasons roll in, and as we have for so many years.
With the remaining days I have a few fellow hunters to put in front of a gobbler for their first ever birds. With a little luck and proper timing, hope to make it happen the final days before the fat lady sings Thursday at noon.
I wish all of you out in the last days of the season grand success and memorable hunts. It has been the best season for me for so many reasons, from great action packed days afield to peaceful times in the great turkey woods.
-MJ
© 2018 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
#turkeyhunting #oldturkeyhunter #wildturkey #turkeywoods #respect
2018 NY Wild Turkey Records
It’s that time of year here in New York, If you tag a gobbler that meets the criteria listed below, we would love to interview you for inclusion into the project. It has been a long time coming and in the works and still ongoing / active project.
The main issues with keeping it all legit is typically weight as most of the small scales are typically used to weigh fish can very +/- 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. Needs to be suitable for produce or goods for sale.
Pics with tape measurement in the pics are best to show scale for beards and spurs. 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, get a weight coupon, and take plenty of photos. NWTF requires witness signatures that also have to be a 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.
The book project has been on hiatus for a long period while I started a tech company. 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. I am cutting off interviews this fall as it needs to get on a schedule for completion
The placings have shifted some, as the D.D. Adams biography will come out first, possible end of summer 2018, more news to come by the first week in July as to release date.
I am working toward a Fall winter 2018 book release. 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 and 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 2017-2018 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
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