2009.04.27
Andrew East scores on a public land gobbler
Andrew East of Roanoke sent in this shot of the nice bird he killed on national forest land in Botetourt County on April 22. The bird had a 9-inch beard and 1-inch spurs.
East set up on the bird at daylight and got it to gobble plenty, but couldn't get the bird to come in once it hit the ground.
So East pulled a veteran move and shut up, and here the gobbler came. The thing was, East isn't a veteran. This was his first turkey. How cool is that?
According to phone check-in numbers I got from biologist Gary Norman last week, this year's turkey kill phone-in numbers are actually outpacing last year's by about 13 percent. But you have to be careful about reading too much into that number.
For one thing, part of the increase could be from an increase in the percentage of hunters checking their birds by phone.
It could also be that some counties are way up while others are down. I continue to get reports from hunters who are not hearing much. But, clearly, the hunting is good some places.
Actually, some of the hunters from the Roanoke region who were complaining about a lack of action early on have said things are picking up for them. This last week of April can often be really good as hens start spending more time on their nests.
I may even have to try to get out for my first hunt of the season this week.
Congratulations Andrew on your first Bird!
That is a beautiful, mature gobbler !
Comment by Ralph Barton — April 28, 2009 @ 5:50 am
Congrats Andrew, nice Tom!
Comment by Jason — April 29, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Mark,
I know this is off subject but the Explore park thing has got me worried, deeply worried. Let me preface this comment in that I am all for growing business and creating jobs and I am far from a NIMBY case in point we just had the westlake power line extention come through here in Franklin Co. and that was a good thing it cleaned out alot of scrub trees and provided a ton of cover for many animals. It has INCREASED the game in the area. Plus thet used blended poles etc to make it blend in with the area. My concern is the gorge on the roanoke river from the parkway bridge down to back creek. This area is so diverse with animals. I grew up on this area and have hunted and fished it all my life. The explore park mess is going to ruin all of this. This place is beautiful, I have been fishing the "rocks" since I was a child, the river is full of hugh small mouth( please everybody not read this comment) there is even a pair of eagles that I have been fishing with for the last 5 years. It is a wonderful experience to see this diversity. This will all change when the park is built. With the cabins on the river etc. Could you do a piece on this untouched part of the river which is one of the most beautiful places on the Roanoke river that I know about. Where else can you go in the spring and catch 70 white bass as fast as you can. Or see 4lb smallies on beds. Turkeys hollering in the woods and river otters sliding down the bank???
This place needs some help!
--John. I did a story last year on paddling the gorge, but it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to something along the lines of what you're suggesting. Thanks for the note. mt
Comment by John — April 29, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Great turkey Andrew! If you read some of Tom Kelly's stuff he writes about literally throwing his slate call or whatever he was using at the time away from him so he would quit calling to a turkey. Sometimes shutting up is the deadliest move you can make on a gobbler, drives'em nuts. Have a great rest of the season.
Comment by Jim Basham — April 29, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Great job Andy !!! Looks like you are quite the hunter my man. You need to come on down to South Carolina and try for a black bear and wild boar now.
Comment by Bryant Williams — April 29, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
people should not be allowed to kill baby birds way to go east
Comment by bobby — April 30, 2009 @ 10:07 pm