Blog Archives
9/11, Do You Long For 9/12?
Twenty two trips around the sun, since that fateful day… In my simplistic observation of surroundings, the actions and words of others, I might boldly claim that we have forgotten much about our country, and especially so, about each other. Before I detail this thought further, I must state that I long for who we became as a country on 9/12. To take it one step further I would rather take an eraser to 9/11/2001, engage the grand experiment of “ripples in life” from each and every person lost that day, and those lost well before their time, stemming from injuries and grave illnesses that came from it. Their families and loved ones would most certainly agree. It is immeasurable as to what was lost in their contributions, what each would have gave of themselves to those they loved, their families, their professions, and to our society as a whole.
There was a 9/12 that I vividly remember long ago, that our favored political party did not matter, struggles of the races did not matter, income equality did not matter, who we slept with did not matter, what set of sex organs we sported in our underwear did not matter, and what each other believed or said in thought did not matter at all.
We did not need diversity training, reparations, talking heads, cults of personality, or well paid pundits to tell us, to guide us in understanding what was in our hearts and what we felt in our guts -that we are Americans.
Since then we have become complacent in the import things, in what matters first and foremost. Far too many engaged in turning everything upside down in the quest to seize control over our daily lives, down to the smallest and most trivial items. It is something I never expected to see in my lifetime from elected officials, even from each other in our daily lives. In all irony of an unbecoming display of hyperbolic partisan politics, the use of any pro American term is somehow un-American. I submit that those from this ideological camp have lost their way and for the most dishonorable intentions.
Twenty Two years ago, and one day later with great cause, we rallied for each other, and had each other’s backs. We demonstrated what is awesome about us, our country.
Twenty Two years later, demonstrated daily, we are easily be pitted against each other, with little effort to shore up perverse narratives.
We have a solemn obligation to honor those innocent victims of 9/11 and those fallen who have served us. They deserve better, we deserve better from each other. What we, you and I fail to do enough of, is to seize the smaller opportunities of moments of kindness, to forgive more easily as we did on 9/12/2001, and the days and months that followed.
For those of you that disagree, I can still envision our mutual betterment in life with us being of the same great America that we love, warts and all.
I have not forgotten:
The memories and the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect bluebird day in September.
The near-perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror-filled minutes, hours yet for others.
In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments of all those lost.
That we came together as Americans. We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.
Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.
Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.
Those who survived only succumbed to it days, months, and years later.
That we are all equal by way of our maker
This is republished each year as I find it so important to include:
On each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm
As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels, I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.
Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on random acts of kindness.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Fanning & Reaping, Banned In Eight States
If you engage the fanning/reaping technique, here’s an up-to-date change of state regulations for this fall season. You’ll find that I repeat prior musings in part or in whole from past reports on the method.
A new book due out in 2024 will cover safety issues and current bans ReaperCide, Fatalism Defined https://www.joyneroutdoormedia.com/rfd.html
New Hampshire has now adopted a ban against Fanning and Reaping within the state https://nhfishgame.com/2023/08/25/fall-turkey-season-opens-september-15/
Eight states now have an outright ban on the practice. Nearly half of all US states either ban or strongly warn against stalking which encompasses fanning and reaping methods. The states are listed below. The NWTF and hunter safety education curriculums promote hunter safety in their published materials in all states which cautions specifically against the practice of stalking (fanning/reaping.) The list is based on what is officially published. It is a valid criticism of foreseeable risks.
There are recorded incidents that specifically report fanning/reaping/stalking, and I’m fine with it remaining only a few. The reporting is sparse and critical details are left out as an observed and learned opinion. Hunting incident reports site use of decoys, but not the manner used. No assumption is asserted here as I know of incidents where staked decoys were shot at, decoys shot at while sticking out the back of a turkey vest. Several seasons ago, a hen decoy sticking out of a turkey vest was shot with a crossbow at 8 yards. Trust me, it is a horrific wound. Having interviewed the victim directly, I can tell you the medical team miraculously reassembled his forearm, and he regained use of it. It is a credit to the advancements in modern surgical techniques and the capable hands of well trained surgeons.
Our hunting communities are polarized in keeping with national politics, with that in mind, this topic is a hot button for more than a few hunters. I’ll not apologize for opposing the method, nor more than I would for common sense, nor put respect and courtesy on the back burner in order to kill a gobbler that is giving me fits. Turkey hunting is life to a point… Unacceptable safety concerns associated with this method is the objection, no more, no less.
As a fraternity of turkey hunters, we abide by the ideal that all turkey hunting incidents are 100% preventable, and that one is far too many. 2023 was not a spotless record. To my knowledge, none that have been reported directly involve this method this past season. There are two, that remain unclear, no further details given, I’ll repeat, I am more than fine with that idea. Zero incidents are the acceptable number in any season.
List of States, Provinces
In a review on the various DNR’s, DEC’s, DWR’s etc, the following States enacted a ban on the practice of stalking, fanning, reaping, and specifically stated in their turkey hunting regulations:
Alabama, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
South Carolina (WMA’s only), Rhode Island, Tennessee (WMA’s only)
The following States, and one Canadian Province issue a statement of caution specifically in their hunting regs and or species-specific guides against the practice of stalking as a matter of safety:
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idahong
Kentucky (specifically fanning/reaping), Maine, Maryland, Missouri.
New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon.
Ontario, Canada. Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
There may be more that publish separately as safe hunting tips, and hunting education courses. For my research, I used the published hunting regulations for each state or province. I will edit the list as others become known.
-MJ
© 2023
Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
Turkey Hunter Privacy Primer
While working through hunter stories and interviews in both book projects (D.D. Adams, Empire Limb Hangers,) I comb through the details, mindful of what is useful in telling the stories, story of the hunt vs what might be a privacy issue or reveal too much information. What I hope to convey is some useful tips that you may find helpful.
Privacy issues arise from those looking to move in on our honey holes, either to thwart future hunting efforts or those underway in current season. It may be of those wanting in on great hunting or a big gobbler on your hunting grounds they found out about, the lesser human traits of jealousy, or just a rotten SOB. Over the years I’ve learned of or experienced more than a few instances of it. Other issues come by way of hunter harassment by non hunters or anti-hunters and being deluged with aggressive online marketing that looks at every detail you might disclose or mouse click you make.
Just as we track movements and location of deer and turkey for example, we are also tracked by others in our movements and locations where suspected trophy pursuits take place. There are several tactics we can employ to mitigate this.
Total data blackout- No Disclosure, No Online Postings, Only what is legally required for tagging. Cell Phone only powered on during an emergency.
Diversionary Actions, as executed by astute fishermen- GPS coordinates freely published as decoy coordinates with no discernable displacement or pattern. Post pictures with replaced backgrounds or pics taken on vacation where you never fish or hunt. Take lots of suitable pics in parks, public lands. Ever take a hero pic on your buddies hunting spot to mess with them? Yep, the concept works. I know of hunters that leave at all different times in the morning or get picked up at different times to throw off those following or trying to pin point their hunting spots. Far too competitive in my opinion. Social media is ideal for setting out your logistical decoys.
One thing that many of us do is share their pics of the hunt. It is immediate and is all kinds of fun for story telling and smack talk. However, what some may not know is that a bulk of shared pics are taken with modern smart phones and very convenient. Unless you are diligent in your settings or understand metadata, EXIF exchange data, you are literally providing time , date, GPS coordinates, and all photo exposure settings. Game wardens know this, law enforcement, and your jealous followers may also know this. You can turn off location data on your phone for each photo app you may have, photo files can be stripped of the data on your laptop or desktop computer. Some social media platforms also strip the data. I routinely strip/delete the EXIF GPS data in my projects as I assume that nobody wants that disclosed without an intended purpose. Personally, disclosing a county or plus and minus a thousand acres on state game lands is accurate enough, although I might mix the names up 🙂
Although this reveal can be alarming if you hadn’t given any thought to it, it is an admission that for all the conveniences of modern communication that are beneficial there is some privacy that is directly given up for it, or eventually in the form of big data that is used to decern patterns and activities. It has been in recent years a useful tool in catching poachers, as law enforcement can use cell tower data to triangulate a particular cell phone, and it is even easier to narrow the investigation when in remote areas, during evening hours, and less activity.
What I have found common in the stories that I have captured in the Empire Limb Hangers project, is most successful hunters are careful in their movements and their disclosure of them. I hope this gives each of you pause to think of what you intend to share and what you hadn’t realized that you do.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
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
14 hours ETA for the last 2023 NY Turkey hunt
With one morning left, the fat lady is suiting up for the final curtain call. Whatever you have in your back pocket for the end of the 31-day wars may be, It’s go time for any last efforts.
What you have observed during the past 30 days comes down to any clues you have from the past week. In any late season advice, and one that I have adopted; I will generally play it old school. We do want to send the fat lady packing before show time. With exceptions noted, late season is about conservative tactics, having very recent sightings, and locations of birds willing to talk or at least show themselves.
It’s been a hard season in many areas, and the ocassional stories of hot action are what give us turkey chasers hope when the local action is non esixtent. Seeing far too many hens out at 6-7 a.m. and that would mean a second nesting is starting to take place or they haven’t been bred yet. Opinions will vary. As learned over many seasons, if you get within a gobbler’s comfort zone, his “bubble” you can get a welcomed response.
It has been a quiet season here in Cortland, and many hunters get antsy and move often, when a little patience would make for less wary birds. If you follow my musings you know I like my gobblers without an advanced education. If I can locate the dumbest gobbler in the county, I am all over it. The blessings of a kamikaze bird is a stroke of luck we seldom get to enjoy. With the reduced populations such encounters remain even more rare.
I’ll repeat most of this advice from prior posts- Confidence calling, feeding purrs, whips and whistles, light clucks, and very soft yelping if any. If you get a gobble in response to your calling, get ready as they may not gobble again and come in silent. It is good advice to assume a silent approach. Late season encounters often conclude in minutes not hours.
Woodsmanship also and assumed, plays a big roll in late season success, the scouting you did last June may yield the clue that puts you in close to where bachelor groups hang. When chasing hens no longer overrides their need to eat and replenish their fat reserves you’ll find them at likely food sources. All the scouting you did in March and April gives you a database of choice roosting trees, dusting bowls, and strutting areas. Most of the seasoned hunters I know actively scout as they hunt through May. Weeks old Intel has limited use as they are either moving to find receptive hens or hanging with other gobblers. If you can sight a gobbler going to roost you have a crucial clue for the morning. I normally would say listen for gobbling on the evening roost. Although others report some roosting success, I have experienced none of that in far too many seasons. I learned to roost birds decades ago,and still do.
Turkeys have been chased for four weeks and any mistake you make tomorrow will in most cases result in an unfilled tag. Attention to anything you wear or carry that makes an unnatural sound, the way you walk through the woods, calling too loudly, snapping twigs underfoot, are all under the scrutiny of a very wary birds.
Should you get a bird to gobble it should be noted that what you thought was two hundred yards in the woods three weeks ago is well under a hundred yards and closing. They often won’t gobble until very close, nearly in range the last week of the season, and if you aren’t focused and ready. You can add some BBQ sauce to your tag.
Hunt all the way to your spot, and all the way back to the truck, the entire hunt can turn around in seconds and the action can be fast and furious. Stay sharp, safe, and alert.
I may get out for a few hours before work, but I can’t say I’m pushing for more than watching another sunrise in the turkeywoods and with any luck have a conversation with my favorite game bird.
Best of luck the final morning of the season.
-MJ
© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
I am starkly reminded
Today, I am starkly reminded of my blessings in this life once again while roaming in the great forest of the turkey woods.
Lee, my wife of nearly 23 years, had spotted a large spring flock of two dozen+ turkeys in a field just off our property an hour before roosting time last evening. The flock would head up into our place to fly up for the night. This was particularly good news as it has been some time seeing what used to be an expected scouting event each season not so long ago. I was working late, and it is our practice to always be looking for helpful clues for each other as we do hunt separately as well as a team, especially on opening days.
Lee would not be able to head out in the morning, and I could give it a few hours before heading into my office. Although I knew I would be within 150-200 yards of the known roosting trees on our place, I would not gain the slightest clue from the flock. No gobbling, no tree talk, no wing beats from fly-downs. For my efforts to get in long before daylight, I saw one hen glide out over a field and sail a half a mile down the hill. I was amazed at all this as it was a beautiful morning, the air was still, and as the turkeys were, the smaller creatures were also silent in their presence. Could not buy a gobble and had no idea where they went. Just the same, I was far more grateful for being there to witness the morning unfold in all its splendor.
Given this generous serving of solitude in the turkey woods, I had a lion’s share of these few hours before work to ponder and take it all in. 19 months earlier I had been in a coma, intubated, clinging to life by a thread, and given far less than Vegas odds to ever pull through. I had not forgotten being reduced to the bodily functions of a toddler which is an instant shot of humility. 61 years old at the time, it is a shock to the system and one’s psyche.
The weeks it took in recovery to even stand, much less walk, all the while tethered to an oxygen tank. There was no fall turkey season for me that year. I progressed enough to sit in a blind for deer season, eighty yards from our home the woods. Near the end of deer season, I could manage an ATV ride. Long walks were still far too much to ask for at the time. As one who espouses hunt all the way in and all the way back, it was a bit of a mental test to be limited this way. There were shot opportunities, but each one presented difficulty in long walks to retrieve. Not disappointed, as I was thrilled to be there. Each milestone in walking distance came with much effort, and I recall each in stark detail. Our place is in the hills of one of the seven valleys of Cortland, the northeastern leg. It is picturesque, one might claim breathtaking, and I do make that distinction. Point A to point B anywhere on our place involves a hill.
This morning in the cool, still air, of my own accord, I descended to a creek below our home and worked up the other side in the direction of my roosted quarry. Over the next three hours of the hunt, I covered a bit over a mile in hilly terrain, with no oxygen tank, in full confidence in going wherever I wanted to roam. Being given another chance at life, these moments are poignant, to be recognized how good it is to spend time in the turkey woods whether the gobblers participate in the chess match that day, or not.
In recent years and with the decline of the turkey population in our town and especially on our ranch consisting of 138 acres, I literally haven’t spring hunted our place in four seasons for a lack of sightings or any gobbling. I would check it in the fall, only to decline filling a tag on a minimal-sized flock. I recently checked my notes and surprised myself by realizing that I haven’t taken a bird off our place since 2013. Since that time, the hunts there have been an exercise of melancholy, and to see how the flocks were doing. With a large flock spotted and thought to be in play, it is exciting to hunt our own place as it was twenty-some years ago.
Forever grateful…
-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
RSS - Posts