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Turkey research trapping
Turkey trapping for this years has reached an end, at least it has in Elk County. We ended on a relatively high and successful note though. After a couple of weeks of baiting the birds at this sight, and while trapping other locations, we had between 30-40 birds hitting the bait with close to twenty of them were gobblers when they were all there at once. Friday was the day we selected to catch birds in that flock and to band the gobblers. We weren’t moving any birds and only banding gobblers for research designed to help determine gobbler mortality, primarily for hunter harvests. We set the net box and blind up on the day before. See the corn out in front of the net and rocket box? http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping002.jpg Fridaymorning a college student Jake Stanisch, who is an active member of the NWTF, and I climbed into the blind shortly after 6:00 am, hooked the detonator to the rockets and settled in to wait for the birds. At 6:15 there were gobbles and hen talk from the trees all over the hill directly above us. The tree talk and gobbling when on for a little over a half hour then we heard birds flying down. But, nothing was coming into the bait. About 7:00 WCO Doty McDowell and the college student’s dad, who were positioned a short ways away in the vehicle called to let us know they could see a lot of birds going up the hollow instead of coming our way. At about 8:30 they took a drive up the road and found the birds feeding a quarter mile away so we called it quits for the morning and made plans to set up again at 3:00 pm to see if they hit the bait before going to roost. At 3:00 pm the Student’s dad, Steve Stanisch, and I climbed into the blind and once again hooked up the detonator while Doty waited with the vehicles up the road a ways. About 4:45 another NWTF member showed up and waited with Doty. At about 5:15 Doty called, on the radio, to let me know that a large flock of birds was coming our way. Within just a few minutes I could see birds coming toward the bait. It only took about five minutes to have six gobblers and about another twenty two or so hens and possibly some mixed in jakes in front of the net and rocket box. I waited until all six of those that I knew were gobbler were directly in front of the net and touched the charges off. The net went out just fine but soon was being carried down the hill further then expected. I could see a lot of birds going up the hill but also a lot of birds under the net. We quickly got to the entangled birds and started covering them with blankets to help settle them down until we could start evaluating the birds and releasing the hens. A quick count revealed that we had 14 birds under the net. Doty and NWTF member Tim Geitner were there in short order with the bands and paper work for recording the data. Soon the land owner and one of the neighbors, who had been doing some of the baiting and monitoring of times for us, showed up and we got to work. First we had to sort out the hens and release them. It turned out that 11 of the 14 we captured were hens so it was just a matter of untangling them from the net and setting them free. Once we had the hens out of the net we started banding the gobblers. Each one got one leg band, it beard and spur measured and about three breast feathers plucked( the feathers are used for DNA). All data was recorded, a few pictures taken and the gobblers released. Steve and Tim working a bird out of the tangled netting for processing. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping007.jpg Steve and the neighboring land owner, Tony Straneva, pose for a picture with a long beard with a new leg band. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping005.jpg During the clean up we also discovered that the rocket rail on the up hill side had come loose and slid down to the center position when it was fired, which would be the reason the net didn’t spread evenly and the reason we didn’t have even more of the birds under the net. Perhaps that was a good thing though since we already had more birds under the net then we normally get. If the net had worked perfectly we might have had the rest of the gobblers in that flock under the net though, and that would have nice, but it also might have pushed us too close to dark working through the processing stage. I guess, all in all, it worked out to about a perfect end to the trapping season. The only thing that would have been better would be if the college student had been there see the net launched and then to get his hands on a bird under the net. R.S. Bodenhorn |
RE: Turkey research trapping
ORIGINAL: R.S.B. Turkey trapping for this years has reached an end, at least it has in Elk County. We ended on a relatively high and successful note though. After a couple of weeks of baiting the birds at this sight, and while trapping other locations, we had between 30-40 birds hitting the bait with close to twenty of them were gobblers when they were all there at once. Friday was the day we selected to catch birds in that flock and to band the gobblers. We weren’t moving any birds and only banding gobblers for research designed to help determine gobbler mortality, primarily for hunter harvests. We set the net box and blind up on the day before. See the corn out in front of the net and rocket box? http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping002.jpg Fridaymorning a college student Jake Stanisch, who is an active member of the NWTF, and I climbed into the blind shortly after 6:00 am, hooked the detonator to the rockets and settled in to wait for the birds. At 6:15 there were gobbles and hen talk from the trees all over the hill directly above us. The tree talk and gobbling when on for a little over a half hour then we heard birds flying down. But, nothing was coming into the bait. About 7:00 WCO Doty McDowell and the college student’s dad, who were positioned a short ways away in the vehicle called to let us know they could see a lot of birds going up the hollow instead of coming our way. At about 8:30 they took a drive up the road and found the birds feeding a quarter mile away so we called it quits for the morning and made plans to set up again at 3:00 pm to see if they hit the bait before going to roost. At 3:00 pm the Student’s dad, Steve Stanisch, and I climbed into the blind and once again hooked up the detonator while Doty waited with the vehicles up the road a ways. About 4:45 another NWTF member showed up and waited with Doty. At about 5:15 Doty called, on the radio, to let me know that a large flock of birds was coming our way. Within just a few minutes I could see birds coming toward the bait. It only took about five minutes to have six gobblers and about another twenty two or so hens and possibly some mixed in jakes in front of the net and rocket box. I waited until all six of those that I knew were gobbler were directly in front of the net and touched the charges off. The net went out just fine but soon was being carried down the hill further then expected. I could see a lot of birds going up the hill but also a lot of birds under the net. We quickly got to the entangled birds and started covering them with blankets to help settle them down until we could start evaluating the birds and releasing the hens. A quick count revealed that we had 14 birds under the net. Doty and NWTF member Tim Geitner were there in short order with the bands and paper work for recording the data. Soon the land owner and one of the neighbors, who had been doing some of the baiting and monitoring of times for us, showed up and we got to work. First we had to sort out the hens and release them. It turned out that 11 of the 14 we captured were hens so it was just a matter of untangling them from the net and setting them free. Once we had the hens out of the net we started banding the gobblers. Each one got one leg band, it beard and spur measured and about three breast feathers plucked( the feathers are used for DNA). All data was recorded, a few pictures taken and the gobblers released. Steve and Tim working a bird out of the tangled netting for processing. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping007.jpg Steve and the neighboring land owner, Tony Straneva, pose for a picture with a long beard with a new leg band. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping005.jpg During the clean up we also discovered that the rocket rail on the up hill side had come loose and slid down to the center position when it was fired, which would be the reason the net didn’t spread evenly and the reason we didn’t have even more of the birds under the net. Perhaps that was a good thing though since we already had more birds under the net then we normally get. If the net had worked perfectly we might have had the rest of the gobblers in that flock under the net though, and that would have nice, but it also might have pushed us too close to dark working through the processing stage. I guess, all in all, it worked out to about a perfect end to the trapping season. The only thing that would have been better would be if the college student had been there see the net launched and then to get his hands on a bird under the net. R.S. Bodenhorn |
RE: Turkey research trapping
Good job RSB. You are without a doubt a dedicated WCO,who does his very best to protect the wildlife and enforce the laws. But you should leave deer management to the professionals and stop contradicting what they are reporting.
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RE: Turkey research trapping
ORIGINAL: blkpowder ORIGINAL: R.S.B. Turkey trapping for this years has reached an end, at least it has in Elk County. We ended on a relatively high and successful note though. After a couple of weeks of baiting the birds at this sight, and while trapping other locations, we had between 30-40 birds hitting the bait with close to twenty of them were gobblers when they were all there at once. Friday was the day we selected to catch birds in that flock and to band the gobblers. We weren’t moving any birds and only banding gobblers for research designed to help determine gobbler mortality, primarily for hunter harvests. We set the net box and blind up on the day before. See the corn out in front of the net and rocket box? http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping002.jpg Fridaymorning a college student Jake Stanisch, who is an active member of the NWTF, and I climbed into the blind shortly after 6:00 am, hooked the detonator to the rockets and settled in to wait for the birds. At 6:15 there were gobbles and hen talk from the trees all over the hill directly above us. The tree talk and gobbling when on for a little over a half hour then we heard birds flying down. But, nothing was coming into the bait. About 7:00 WCO Doty McDowell and the college student’s dad, who were positioned a short ways away in the vehicle called to let us know they could see a lot of birds going up the hollow instead of coming our way. At about 8:30 they took a drive up the road and found the birds feeding a quarter mile away so we called it quits for the morning and made plans to set up again at 3:00 pm to see if they hit the bait before going to roost. At 3:00 pm the Student’s dad, Steve Stanisch, and I climbed into the blind and once again hooked up the detonator while Doty waited with the vehicles up the road a ways. About 4:45 another NWTF member showed up and waited with Doty. At about 5:15 Doty called, on the radio, to let me know that a large flock of birds was coming our way. Within just a few minutes I could see birds coming toward the bait. It only took about five minutes to have six gobblers and about another twenty two or so hens and possibly some mixed in jakes in front of the net and rocket box. I waited until all six of those that I knew were gobbler were directly in front of the net and touched the charges off. The net went out just fine but soon was being carried down the hill further then expected. I could see a lot of birds going up the hill but also a lot of birds under the net. We quickly got to the entangled birds and started covering them with blankets to help settle them down until we could start evaluating the birds and releasing the hens. A quick count revealed that we had 14 birds under the net. Doty and NWTF member Tim Geitner were there in short order with the bands and paper work for recording the data. Soon the land owner and one of the neighbors, who had been doing some of the baiting and monitoring of times for us, showed up and we got to work. First we had to sort out the hens and release them. It turned out that 11 of the 14 we captured were hens so it was just a matter of untangling them from the net and setting them free. Once we had the hens out of the net we started banding the gobblers. Each one got one leg band, it beard and spur measured and about three breast feathers plucked( the feathers are used for DNA). All data was recorded, a few pictures taken and the gobblers released. Steve and Tim working a bird out of the tangled netting for processing. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping007.jpg Steve and the neighboring land owner, Tony Straneva, pose for a picture with a long beard with a new leg band. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s141/RBODENHORN/Turkeytrapping005.jpg During the clean up we also discovered that the rocket rail on the up hill side had come loose and slid down to the center position when it was fired, which would be the reason the net didn’t spread evenly and the reason we didn’t have even more of the birds under the net. Perhaps that was a good thing though since we already had more birds under the net then we normally get. If the net had worked perfectly we might have had the rest of the gobblers in that flock under the net though, and that would have nice, but it also might have pushed us too close to dark working through the processing stage. I guess, all in all, it worked out to about a perfect end to the trapping season. The only thing that would have been better would be if the college student had been there see the net launched and then to get his hands on a bird under the net. R.S. Bodenhorn Yea I think I did catch Tim off guard since he had no idea I was about to take his picture when I said his name to get him to look up. We usually only get one net discharge per location. Typically those birds will not come back to that site again after we shoot the net out over them. They are so fast though that generally about half of them are out of there and gone before the net is over them. R.S. Bodenhorn |
RE: Turkey research trapping
ORIGINAL: bluebird2 Good job RSB. You are without a doubt a dedicated WCO,who does his very best to protect the wildlife and enforce the laws. But you should leave deer management to the professionals and stop contradicting what they are reporting. Thanks Bluebird for the complement, even as off handed as it was. A lot of people would disagree with you about my educating people on deer management issues too. In fact over the years I have received awards for my deer data and wildlife/habitat educational programs. Those are all part of the normal duties and responsibilities of a Wildlife Conservation Officer. Some of us just develop and present it in different ways where we believe it does the most good. Most of our people will not come to the boards with the message though because they don’t have the patience to deal with the back and forth of the misguided naysayer’s. I on the other hand, besides being very stubborn, have an uncommon amount of patience (though it too can be pretty short at time) will use you misguided naysayer’s as a method to get the correct information out to those readers with an open mind and enough commonsense to accept the real facts about the deer/habitat relationships. R.S. Bodenhorn |
RE: Turkey research trapping
I on the other hand, besides being very stubborn, have an uncommon amount of patience (though it too can be pretty short at time) will use you misguided naysayer’s as a method to get the correct information out to those readers with an open mind and enough commonsense to accept the real facts about the deer/habitat relationships. BTW, my compliment was quite sincere since I have read about your enforcement work and your dedication to your profession. |
RE: Turkey research trapping
"A lot of people would disagree with you about my educating people on deer management issues too."
Hardly. And I would hardly call it "educating". More like deceptive damage control. Just like you telling people there is a chance for smallerwmus if they push for funding for pgc when you know its a complete lie, that Rosenberry is 100% against it. Not meaning to change the topic here, but I posted the same on the "what changes you would like to see" thread, where you ignored it. "Those are all part of the normal duties and responsibilities of a Wildlife Conservation Officer. Some of us just develop and present it in different ways where we believe it does the most good." You mean some inpart their own little spin and personal opinions. "I on the other hand, besides being very stubborn, have an uncommon amount of patience (though it too can be pretty short at time) will use you misguided naysayer’s as a method to get the correct information out to those readers with an open mind and enough commonsense to accept the real facts about the deer/habitat relationships. " So when do you intend to start?? -------- On the original subject...Any word of any studies being conducted in the southwest? Turkey numbers here in Greene are about 1/10 what they were in the late 90's. In the 90's the turkey pop absolutely exploded!!Flocks could be seen every few miles in fields early in am this time of year, and I wouldnt doubt we had more birds in Greene than anywhere in the state then. Last several years during highly visible period of early spring early amyou drive the entire length of the county and may see a handful. Flock seems to have stabilized last several years at the MUCH lower density. Most properties I hunt had multiple roost sites and tons of birds. Now most of them have 1 group or no birds at all roosting. Still kill a gobbler EVERY year,... Not complaining about that.. Just one helluva difference and really cant understand what happened. Pgc noticed somewhat I guess, having cut a week off the fall season. I dont see it as having made any difference though. |
RE: Turkey research trapping
ORIGINAL: bluebird2 I on the other hand, besides being very stubborn, have an uncommon amount of patience (though it too can be pretty short at time) will use you misguided naysayer’s as a method to get the correct information out to those readers with an open mind and enough commonsense to accept the real facts about the deer/habitat relationships. BTW, my compliment was quite sincere since I have read about your enforcement work and your dedication to your profession. |
RE: Turkey research trapping
ORIGINAL: Cornelius08 "A lot of people would disagree with you about my educating people on deer management issues too." Hardly. And I would hardly call it "educating". More like deceptive damage control. Just like you telling people there is a chance for smallerwmus if they push for funding for pgc when you know its a complete lie, that Rosenberry is 100% against it. Not meaning to change the topic here, but I posted the same on the "what changes you would like to see" thread, where you ignored it. "Those are all part of the normal duties and responsibilities of a Wildlife Conservation Officer. Some of us just develop and present it in different ways where we believe it does the most good." You mean some inpart their own little spin and personal opinions. "I on the other hand, besides being very stubborn, have an uncommon amount of patience (though it too can be pretty short at time) will use you misguided naysayer’s as a method to get the correct information out to those readers with an open mind and enough commonsense to accept the real facts about the deer/habitat relationships. " So when do you intend to start?? -------- On the original subject...Any word of any studies being conducted in the southwest? Turkey numbers here in Greene are about 1/10 what they were in the late 90's. In the 90's the turkey pop absolutely exploded!!Flocks could be seen every few miles in fields early in am this time of year, and I wouldnt doubt we had more birds in Greene than anywhere in the state then. Last several years during highly visible period of early spring early amyou drive the entire length of the county and may see a handful. Flock seems to have stabilized last several years at the MUCH lower density. Most properties I hunt had multiple roost sites and tons of birds. Now most of them have 1 group or no birds at all roosting. Still kill a gobbler EVERY year,... Not complaining about that.. Just one helluva difference and really cant understand what happened. Pgc noticed somewhat I guess, having cut a week off the fall season. I dont see it as having made any difference though. |
RE: Turkey research trapping
Just curious, what wmu blackpowder? Im talking 2A, though specifically greene county.
I travel and hunt just about all corners ofGreene county pretty good bit, its unreal the difference. Not just talking a year or two though, as that would easily be explained by a year or two of wet springs or a harsh winter... The density had gone down a good bit by the 2000's. Then a bit more recently, but seems to have leveled out. but man, the diffence between the last several and the mid and late 90s is ungodly! (LOL) Some here have speculated that around that same time the bobcat and coyote numbers increased, which there numbers had increased over previously by leaps and bounds around here. Never saw a b'cat here prior to 10 years ago. Now I see them fairly regularly. Coyotes numbers are much higher than a decade ago, as my hunting success, random sitings and reports of others random sitings and signhave allgreatly multiplied since then. Could be some weird diseases limiting numbers...Something like west nile etc?? Maybe banner years of oppossum and coon destroying nests.. |
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