I caught this dude and his ladies up on a ridge a couple miles in! I bumped them a little but a few soft calls and a lucky terrain break allowed me to close the gap!
He was probably a second year bird, sporting a beard of about 8.5".
My riverbottom bird: 22.6 lbs, 9 5/8" beard, 1 1/16" spur
He wasn't snow white like the bird I missed, but had a much bigger beard and I believe was a heavier bird.
The spur he's hanging from was a hair longer than the other and hooked just enough that he'd hang
From the truck. Note the eagles nest in the top of the cottonwood over my right shoulder. I didn't notice that the nest was occupied the previous day and the eagles thought 100 yards was too close. They circled above me making all kinds of racket until I was several hundred yards away. I steered clear of it the next two times I crossed the field.
18.9 lbs, 5/8" spurs, 8 1/2" beard
A jake that made the mistake of being in the lead of 5 others and a buddy that doesn't mind shooting a jake.
Here's my 9 year old grandsons first hunt.He just past hunters Ed. two weeks ago. First hour of light my son had 3 toms coming our way. Tanner sat patiently until the birds came right to the decoy. Dropped his at ten yards with his 20ga. I picked off one of the others as they ran by me. Both mature toms. Can't wait until fall to get him out deer hunting.