My friend and I have been after some gobblers at the hunt club for weeks now. They've consistantly given us the slip, until today. This was not the dominant bird. That one would gobble his brains out, but refuse to come to calls. This one came in after the dominant tom gobbled off into the distance. He came in silently ro a Jake fan, a Jake, and a hen decoy.

The Illinois season is still 2 weeks away and this was a great tune up.BTW it is legal since this was a hunt club and they release birds for members. Judging by the shape of his tail he is probably a holdover from last year or the year before, he was not put out for us this day. He may even be a truly wild bird as some are known to be in the area. 22lbs, 6 3/4" beard, 3/4"spurs, and he's my first gobbler.

Farm raised bird...

More than likely, however after a short time they do go wild. The birds the club releases have really beat up tails, after a year or two do they regrow new feathers? They do have some natural reproduction going on from all the released birds that have not been shot over the years.

Oh, its a kill, congrats.... the measurements are what give the farm raised part away.... no self respecting over 20 pound bird will have that spur, beard combo.
The tail feathers are an inbreeding trait.

Not sure I understand, you think it was recently released? Or could it have been a holdover from previous years? Could you explain about the inbreeding trait on the tail feathers?

Awesome bird. Congrats...

Thats hard to tell, I would just be proud of my bird and get the Bar B Q ready!!!!!!

Thanks, he was tough to get! In two weeks we begin the real deal!

If the farm bird was toughGood luck on the real deal

woohooooooooo, i know youre thrilled.....congrats!!!