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I have spent the past few days trying to get my hands on the gobbler tally numbers from this spring.

The numbers are in the DGIF’s hands — they are instantly available now that spring checking is all electronic — but apparently they need to go through the chain of command before they can be released to an insignificant reporter such as myself. The DGIF’s bi-weekly Outdoor Report is due later this week, so maybe they plan to scoop me!

Anyway, Jason Warf did his part to contribute, killing this nice bird in early May in the Arcadia area of Botetourt County. Warf reported that the bird weighed 22 pounds, had an 11-inch beard and 1 1/8-inch spurs.

So, while we wait for the official tally, how about some predictions? I’ll get things started and go with 14,750. I’ll put together a little prize package of Pure Fishing lures and other stuff for the person who comes the closest.

I spent the end of last week in Buchanan County for the elk release. Photographer Sam Dean was with me.

In case you missed our package in Saturday’s Roanoke Times, you can find it on Roanoke.com. The online version includes a link to a nice photo gallery, too. Sam took this picture, of course.

We also spent one afternoon on the Pound River tailwater below John W. Flanagan Dam, trout fishing. A story on that adventure is forthcoming.

That part of Virginia is some wild country. The mountains are not too big, but man are they tight and steep. It takes forever to get around over there. And God help you if you are towing a camping trailer, as we were. It was just my little 14-foot-long vintage Play-Mor canned ham, but my mileage was just terrible. Ugh.

Anyway, what do you all think about elk in Virginia? Will this restoration effort work? Or not?

I was on an assignment yesterday at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area when our group came upon this big guy, doing his thing for a couple of hens at 3 p.m.  I was able to sneak to within 50 yards or so to get a few pictures before the hens spooked and took him into the woods.

Unless I can find a couple hours on Saturday my season is done. I didn’t get to hunt much, but at least had some fun out there.

While we’re talking turkeys here, the Roanoke Valley chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting its annual banquet Thursday (May 17) at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood. Tickets are still available. The banquet will help with funding for the chapter’s plans to revisit a project site on Potts Mountain, where previous banquet-raised money helped pay for preparation of wildlife openings and the construction of wheelchair-accessible hunting blinds. For more information on the banquet contact Billy Hall at 784-0046 or bhall@nwtf.net.

Donna Justus killed this great gobbler during a May 8 hunt with her grandson, Gary, who we have seen plenty of times here. Here’s Donna’s story of the hunt:

“Gary has been practicing calling for months now, morning and evening. He finally perfected his call and called in this gobbler for me Tuesday evening.

We sat through two rain showers before we could get him to come in close enough. He didn’t seem all that interested. He was with another gobbler and a hen feeding. He did gobble a few times and slowly worked his way to us. He had a 10 inch beard and 1 1/4-inch spurs.

Gary has been calling for me since he got his bird youth day but this is our best hunt. He sounds pretty good. I’m constantly washing up mouth calls in his pockets.”

It’s always so great to get stories like this! Congrats to Donna and Gary!

After reading my Sunday column in The Roanoke Times about some close calls I have had with gobblers this season, Eric Newtson shared one of his own.

If it was a story about a close call, what’s he doing with a gobbler? Well, he killed this one on opening day. That’s a good story, too, and I’ve posted it below his “Periscoped” story, which starts now:

“I hunt my in-law’s property on Bent Mountain, and tagged a 21-pound gobbler this year on opening day from a chair blind on a ridge-top and I was thrilled. But this past weekend I wanted to get out of the blind and really do it the right way (or hard way, depending who you talk to) and set up on a bird instead of in a good spot.

Friday night I roosted a gobbler beside the creek on the property, in a tree downhill from a small clearing. In the morning I set up on him right as he began to gobble on the limb and thought I had a perfect set up. “Thought” being the key word…
Read more »

This is not the greatest hero shot, and part of the blame is on the conditions. Jeff Matteson, who lives and was hunting in Rockbridge County, killed this bird o about as early as they can be killed (6:15 a.m.), so picture-taking light was not ideal. Here’s the story of the May 5 hunt:

“There were 2 gobblers and a hen. My cousin Mike called a couple of times and did his fly down sound with his hat. Saw this one fly down 25 yards in front of me. He circled around to my right and I shot him at 15 yards. 19 ½ pounds, 10 ¼ inch beard, and 1 ¼ inch spurs.”

Short and to the point! Congrats to Jeff and Mike on their quick, exciting hunt!

How is the hunting going for the rest of you?

On a recent Saturday, hunters in Bedford county headed afield for what is always among their most satisfying spring gobbler hunts of the season — whether or not they tag a bird.

It’s the annual Gene Parker Memorial Wheelin’ Sportsman hunt sponsored by the James River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Here’s Barry Arrington’s report on the hunt:

“The NWTF James River Chapter held its 7th annual NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt April 28th with 12  hunters participating. Despite some cool temps combined with a steady breeze, late morning rain and even some sleet, the hunt once again had success.

Two hunters, Lonnie Christian of Berryville  and Tim Richey of Christiansburg, took their first turkey ever, and Harold Ford of Huddleston took his third bird in five  hunts with us. We also had 2 other hunters that had turkeys within range but were unable to close the deal.

A big THANKS to all of the volunteers that gave a day of their time to help with this hunt and make it the success that is and to the many landowners that allow us access to their farms for this special one-day event.”

I have been fortunate enough to participate on a couple  of these hunts and they are fantastic. Congrats to the whole crew for what was a great day.

Those of you who fished the Optimist Club’s tournament this weekend, or who saw my story in today’s Roanoke Times on the tournament, know that Tom Gerakaris won the striped bass division with this 42.88-pounder.

Gerakaris (right) kindly forwarded this shot of him and fishing buddy David “Mr. Boo” Williamson last night. Robert Baker was also on the boat when the big fish hit on Friday morning.

Jason Dooley had trailcam shots of a gobbler that looked to have two beards. Dooley got a surprise when he killed the bird on May 1. Here’s the tale:

“I got to my hunting spot in Bedford County after the morning thunderstorm had passed. When I got out of my truck I could hear a gobbler midway up the mountain gobbling. I quickly got all my stuff together and started hiking.

As I got closer to the turkey I could tell that he was still in the tree. I set up in an area that the turkeys frequently travel. As I was settling in I thought I heard another gobble behind me in the distance. After a minute or two I could tell that it definitely was another turkey.

After waiting about 15 minutes the turkey in front me flew down about 60 yards up the ridge from me, in the meantime the other gobbler was getting closer. I could see the top of the fan of the turkey in front of me but he just never would come over the ridge. Suddenly the turkey behind me gobbled and he wasn’t alone, both toms were only about 50 yards behind me.

After just a minute or two I could make out the birds moving to my left towards the other gobbler. They were about to get into a thick area that I wouldn’t be able to shot through so I made a quick move and shot the rear turkey.

After getting to the bird I could tell that he was the multi-bearded turkey from my trailcam pictures. What I then realized was that he had 6 beards. The turkey ended up weighing 19.7 pounds with 1 1/8 inch spurs.”

This is certainly a unique bird, and congrats to D0oley for improvising and still pulling off what I’m sure was a tough shot.

Dave Simmons has appeared here before with deer, and it’s great to get him on the blog with a gobbler.  Here’s his story:

“I have always turkey hunted but have never hunted as hard as I have this season. This season, my best friend/ cousin has inspired me to hunt harder. My cousin, my oldest son Noah (10yrs old), and I had one of the best hunting experiences that I have ever had.

We located this bird first thing Saturday morning ( 4-28-12). Noah and I set up together and my cousin Travis set up behind us about 30 yards away. This bird came right up to us off of the roost. The most exciting part was when my son got to see his first gobbler in full strut! When he saw it, he whispered “Holy crap dad, there he is”. You cannot see it in the picture but, the tom actually had 2 beards. 1 was 10 1/2″ and the other was 4 1/2″ long with about 6 strands.

I told him not to move and he sat perfectly still. The tom would not come in any closer than 45yds but, that was close enough. The entire hunt lasted about 10mins but it felt like an eternity setting still that long for Noah. Hunts like this makes me hungry for more!

The little boy in the picture wearing the white T shirt  is my youngest son, William. He was a little ticked off at me because he wanted to go hunting with us. I would not let him go because sitting still is not in his vocabulary! Anyway, he was happy to be in the picture and he was just as excited about the bird as I was.

Weight: 20lbs
Beard:   10 1/2″
Spurs:    1 1/8″
Gun:       Remington 870 Express Super Mag 3 1/2″
Ammo:   Winchester Supreme #5 3 1/2″
Location: Ferrum, VA.”

That quote from Noah is just classic! How many of us have said the same thing to ourselves when we first saw that white head or big fan?