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Post by larryhagmansliver on Apr 30, 2008 13:09:54 GMT -5
I know I put up a similar post last year and got some interesting answers. To me the whole beard, spurs, weight thing have very liitle meaning excepts for mild bragging rights. To me the trophy is the story and the hunt itself. The whole chess match against an opponent that usually wins. A first time turkey hunting friend of mine who almost got a bird (He moved and got busted) was my major trophy this year, not the bird I shot. What part of turkey hunting is your trophy?
Larry
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Apr 30, 2008 13:22:25 GMT -5
Just the entire thrill of the hunt is what makes it all for me. We chased birds for two days in a row last week in the Wabash river bottoms and them suckers beat us every single time. They were close a few times, but things just would never come together completely. Spending time with friends and family and the stories that are told are what it is all about for me. Filling the tag is just an extra bonus.
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Post by strutnrut64 on Apr 30, 2008 16:28:48 GMT -5
Any turkey is a trophy, they are very tough animals to harvest. After harvesting 14 birds I can tell you they all have memories and every hunt differs. No matter how big or small they are all an accomplishment.
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Post by stevein on Apr 30, 2008 17:22:59 GMT -5
If I can post a picture of my son with a bird next weekend that would be a trophy. Right now I am still thrilled with my Jake. I hope I never become so jaded that unless a gobbler has a minimum size I am bored. It is tough to find private ground that will allow you to hunt up here. Turkey hunting on public ground up in this part of the state reminds me of deer hunting in the 60's & 70's. If you see one you had a good season.
Steve
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Post by turk2di on Apr 30, 2008 18:16:07 GMT -5
All birds are trophys. All of them  |
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Post by beehunter on Apr 30, 2008 18:19:11 GMT -5
Any mature Gobbler in the spring and any Turkey with my bow in the Fall.
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Post by Sleazy E on Apr 30, 2008 18:25:39 GMT -5
While I have nothing to really compare too..... (only having killed one turkey) I think that I would have been just as pleased with a Jake as I was with my Tom. Turkey have been the craftiest animal I have ever hunted, they out smarted me for a couple of years... and good turkey hunters i know have gone a few years with out scoring a bird.... they are smart... they have excellent eyesight and hearing.... and they will catch you more often than you catch them.... so for me any bird I take will be a trophy... and I will be proud of each and every kill.
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Post by huxbux on Apr 30, 2008 18:53:46 GMT -5
The difficulty level in taking any animal determines how I view the trophy status of it, regardless of any physical measurement it may have.
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Post by lonniephillips on Apr 30, 2008 18:54:46 GMT -5
I agree with all the comments
a trophy is in the eye of the beholder
who cares what others think
I give the weight , beard lenghth and spur size just for all those who care to know
I'm not a trophy hunter , I hunt for the challenge
I love the gobbling , it is 2nd to none in my book
that is the reason I hate hunting when I can't hear a bird
it just doesn't seem the same to kill a bird that came in silent
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 30, 2008 19:01:29 GMT -5
This statement was about deer, but I think it applies to any game we pursue.....the “quality” of the animal you kill is defined by what you put into the hunt, not by what you took out of it.
I've killed jakes and a couple petty nice long beards. One jake had special meaning as it was my first wild turkey.
I do hunt long beards with the shotgun, but I was ready to arrow a jake down in KY yesterday..... if one had so chosen to pay me a visit.
Yep, a "trophy" is a personal thing. It IS all about the hunt, not the size of the game bagged.
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Post by dearbornx on Apr 30, 2008 20:13:47 GMT -5
I'm pretty happy with whatever I get, but it is exciting to get a big one. The only turkeys I've ever passed on are jakes I saw on an opening day.
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Post by quackingtim on Apr 30, 2008 22:19:07 GMT -5
A full fan and the story that goes with the hunt is my trophy.
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Post by Ahawkeye on May 1, 2008 5:29:18 GMT -5
I'd like to say I'd pass on a jake but if he comes in I'd shoot him and be proud of it the only reason I think of passing on jakes is to let them mature and to hunt a 2 yo bird next year. Beard size and spur leingth really mean nothing to me hearing the gobble and taking my nephew or my son in a few years is what REALLY gets the blood going. watching my nephew bag one a couple of years ago was something I'll never forget, it beat any bird or any deer I have ever shot.
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Post by mullis56 on May 1, 2008 15:28:50 GMT -5
Any long beard and full fan is a trophy to me! Plus the memories and stories of how they are taken....they aren't the easiest animal to harvest that is for sure!
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Post by reowen51 on May 5, 2008 13:28:16 GMT -5
I don't know that any of you will agree with me or not but each successful hunt results in an animal down. If that bird for example is heavier, longer spured or bearded than any I've taken previously it's a trophy. If it is a lesser bird although proud of it I don't tend to give it trophy status in my mind. The same is true if I'm calling for others. If it's their biggest in any of those three categories it's a trophy, if not it's just another bird. But goodness is this fun or what?
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Post by fftce67 on May 5, 2008 18:34:44 GMT -5
To me anything will be a trophy to me. Plus more meat in the freezer.
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Post by Greenedog on May 7, 2008 20:47:12 GMT -5
For me the "trophy" is getting to spend time with my 2 sons. I killed a good bird opening day by myself, but it didn't mean near as much as the one I called in for my oldest boy last year or even the "close calls" we've had together this year.
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