Went over to Wakulla Springs State Park, ( about 1 mile from my house), yesterday to see about setting up my game camera and as I was driving through I saw 3 gobblers standing in an open area just off the road. I stopped my truck and reached for my camera in my remote cam. When I looked back up a 4th gobbler had joined them and they headed into the woods. This fourth bird was HUGE. I have never seen a gobbler that big before.
I killed a 28 lb er last year and this bird looked twice as big.[] He was taller than the other birds by at least 6 inches and had the biggest beard i have ever seen. By the time I fumbled with the camera they were already in the woods. All these birds had very long beards and a couple looked well over 12 inches. I was just about getting out of turkey hunting mode but now Im pumped up again. Only 10 more months to go.[:' (]
I talked with the Park Manager and he was kind enough to give me a permission to setup my game camera in an area of the park called the Sanctuary where no one could mess with my camera. This is also the area the birds were headed.
Hopefully in the next few weeks i can post Big Bird' s picture.
There is also a gigantic buck that crosses the hwy out of the park at night. Ive seen him three times. Hope to get a picture of him when he comes into velvet.