I am planning to get a new camera this year, but the turkeys are already strutting, so I have been snappping pictures like mad. Here is one photo that came out to my liking! I have been working real hard on getting a series of "head shots." In a little more than two weeks, the camera goes in the case, and the longbow comes out!
How about sharing some pictures of the turkeys in YOUR neighborhood?
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/sharpindakota/fortradgang.jpg)
Thats a nice pic,
Wow fine pic Lon. I've taken probably 500 pics in the last few weeks. Here's one from this morning
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03270022.jpg)
and 2 from yesterday
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03260070.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03260069.jpg)
Very nice shots guys!
Dang it. If you guys keep this up my hard drive is going to be full. So far I have thousands of pictures of arrows that I need to try to make and hundreds of pictures of Turkeys and other wildlife. The color in some of these photos is just unreal.
How about posting some more, please?
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j111/johnwilliamtaylor/lotsofdeer02.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j111/johnwilliamtaylor/Turkey78.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j111/johnwilliamtaylor/Turkey51.jpg)
These were taken a couple weeks ago,the turkey's are here all winter but when season opens they usually go to a neighbors property where we dont have permission(yeah we asked)
Do you think I could blow up those pictures and use them for decoys? :smileystooges:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03270016.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03270021.jpg)
check out this double bearded jake
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03270043.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03260072.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03260071.jpg)
I need more lens if I'm gonna compete with Lon LOL
Hey Lon you're out there with the Merriams right? How about posting some tail fanned pics. I love the white tips on those western birds. So different from ours.
Some awesome pics guys. Givin me the fever!!
Lon that is one ugly head close up, bet Hollywood used that for a model for some alien movies.Great picture though and the rest are also great.Thanks Kip
I'm hunting on Saturday, can't wait.
Sweet, keep'm coming!
OK Mickey, here are some shots showing the white tails of these birds. Merriams' tail edges tend to vary a bit from a light buff to pure white, but the majority of them will be a very light buff with a pure white edge.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/sharpindakota/3forTG.jpg)
These three guys are pretty typical.
Those unfamiliar with Merriams will also notice their beards are somewhat shorter and thinner...never the real heavy broomstick type on some Easterns. Apparently the Merriams have shorter legs to body ratio, normal wear keeping mature beards around 7-9 inches, with 7 1/2 being very typical.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/sharpindakota/strutTG.jpg)
The shot below is of a bird running while still in partial fan mode. He is a good example of one on the white side of the spectrum. He was chasing a couple other gobblers. They are right at the stage where they still carry on more for each other than for the hens.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/sharpindakota/runningTG-1.jpg)
I added the last picture to show an example of how dramatically their head color can differ, often within seconds...here is one with pure white and powder blue!
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/sharpindakota/whitewithblueTG.jpg)
Does anybody have any sample to share of Florida turkeys or Rio Grandes? I would love to see the comparisons!
Lon
Beautiful Lon. Gosh those birds are pretty. Gonna have to chase them someday.
Here's a couple jakes walking in the partial puffed up position
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03270030.jpg)
Wanna guess what the tom on the left in this picture is doing? It's a wonder he didn't go blind! LOL
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2006_0324pixtest0007.jpg)
Mickey, he is having fun...who needs a hen! :)
Great pictures guys, I love seeing these......thanks,
David
Great pictures guys. Really good shots there Lon. So you have two more weeks before switching to the bow? Rumor has it that two days before Mickey gets to switch all of his birds move to the neighbors place. We are all on the edge of our seats hoping he gets a chance this year. Hope you do to.
Actually two weeks and some days...April 14. By then my local birds, which spend the winter in the caynon near the house, will be disersing up onto higher country for the warmer months. Up there they will be wild and hard to get close. It is a personal rule to not hunt the ones too close to where they are human habituated!
Wow great photos guys, love to see the close ups, i broke my telephoto while in the woods and havent gotten a chance at pics like those in a while. someday i hope i get the chance to chase those meriams, they are gorgeous, but first things first i gota get one of these easterns
thanks for sharing guys
Great pics everyone......Lon, those are fantastic. Wish my camera took pics like that.
So yours run off before season to huh Lon? Mine take off about 2 weeks before season opens. Actually I think they just head for more open fields and the hens are heading to nest. Happens every year.
It's 7:14 here now and they should be here in the yard in about 8:30, although it's raining so pics won't be very good if they do show up.
Very,very nice pictures......
Really like the Merriams pics.
Planning a trip to Ne. for next Spring,never hunted the Merriams before.
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/huntit/TexasSweatGang071.jpg)
This is from last spring. Birds just getting active here now. I will head out this weekend with the camera for some fun.
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/huntit/TexasSweatGang068.jpg)
Another shot from last year.
Beautiful pictures guys! :thumbsup:
Dennis
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w297/mrehnelt2/Millie-TurksEmail.jpg)
I was concerned my dog Millie was going to run off the turkeys that were wintering with us, boy was I wrong! They were best buds. I have chickens, so Millie is used to birds around. Wouldn't you know it in Mn we have to apply Nov the year before we hunt and I fogot! It sure is great having them around.
-Mike
halfrack, It looks like the birds in my yard with my dog. As long as she doesn't chase them, they have no fear of her. I watched 3 hens feed in my yard for about a half hour, with my dog sitting on the steps less then 20 yards away. I was surprised the first time I say it because she usually chases everything that moves. I guess she figures that a bird that stands taller then her will put up more of a fight then she's interested in.LOL
Took this one about 5 mins ago. Had 5 toms and some hens in the yard. Course the toms had to put on a show. Not a neat pic as far as the pose goes, but look at the colors in the birds feathers...awesome
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03280032.jpg)
here's another full strut pose for you purists ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03280029.jpg)
Happy tails tooo youuuuu....until we meet again
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_03280035.jpg)
The talent of tradgangers never ceases to amaze me.
That's what I'm talk'n about!
Awesome pics guys!!! Lon hope to see you at the SDBI convention in Pierre this weekend. Dan
QuoteOriginally posted by the Ferret:
Happy tails tooo youuuuu....until we meet again
:clapper: Happy trails and turkey tails, Ferret, and all, this year.
Good pictures, all.
hey ferret or mickey,you have some sweet photos of turkeys.i have a favor to ask.i get a little confused on shotplacement and was wondering if there is away you could repost some photos with a dot on the bird for where you would shoot them.the strutting gets me really bad at picking a spot.thanks john
blacktailchaser I'd probably try and hit him right around here
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/turkeyshot-1.jpg)