FJRiders.com

An early start.

Serendipity revealed that turkey central and the ramp patch are one and the same! I had to hide in downed tree tops to avoid bumping a flock of hens singularly making their way from nest to gobbler. Can't hunt until Monday.



Beautiful environs.





Albeit a bit damp.

Imitating the Cheshire Cat.
Worth every intercepted drop.

Office offered a broader view this morning. Looking west.

And some good company too.

This girl tracked me and was LOTS of help hunting.

Former Civil War hospital for both sides depending on who was in control at a given time. Now owned by a foundation that has nicely renovated it in period style.

Back home. Spring has sprung over Shadow Girl's favorite tree that now marks her resting place.

Not so much as a peep from turkeys.

Sailors, batten the hatches and roll up the sails tonight!

Tracker hunted me up again. Never have I had such a good turkey huntin' helper!





Redneck Stonehenge?


I'm starting to think I may be aging out of turkey huntin'. I'd like to blame my dry spell on this...
https://www.eenews.net/articles/wild-tu ... r-decline/
But mebbe I am just plain too old. It is for certain that back in the 1990s-early 2000s when I was outright fanatical, I did not realize how well off we had it.

Wth, it's still a great way to start a day with fresh air and exercise and make a new friend

Thanks Mr. Buk. Hope all is well with your garden and property this spring.
I was entertained by many turkeys trotting in rural NC, TN, and VA this past Sunday. More than ever seen before by me.

(That doesn't included the turkey in the white SUV road raging on my bumper)

Sidetrack over.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Thu Apr 27, 2023 12:22 pm Thanks Mr. Buk. Hope all is well with your garden and property this spring.
I was entertained by many turkeys trotting in rural NC, TN, and VA this past Sunday. More than ever seen before by me.

(That doesn't included the turkey in the white SUV road raging on my bumper)

Sidetrack over.

Thank you Mr. Wheaton. All good considering two back to back hard freezes this week and a repeat performance forecasted next.

Try not to see a turkey too close up mmkay

spklbuk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2023 9:57 am Office offered a broader view this morning. Looking west.

And some good company too.

This girl tracked me and was LOTS of help hunting.

Former Civil War hospital for both sides depending on who was in control at a given time. Now owned by a foundation that has nicely renovated it in period style.

Back home. Spring has sprung over Shadow Girl's favorite tree that now marks her resting place.

Not so much as a peep from turkeys.

I have a few questions if I may....
What breed of bovine?
Is she a new dog?
Blooming crabapple tree?

BTW Turkeys are making noise all over various parts of the our county. Come on out a harvest a few if you wish.

Bugnatr wrote: ↑Thu Apr 27, 2023 11:16 pm I have a few questions if I may....
What breed of bovine?
Is she a new dog?
Blooming crabapple tree?

Swag on the moo moo is Charolais-Angus hybrid. Her unique appearance got her photographed. Sturdy confirmation whatever she is.

Tracker (not her real name) adopted me of her own accord to make sure I don't get lost turkey hunting the farm where the cattle live. She resides on a neighboring homestead. It's far enough out that a dog can roam safely. I've only just met her and have become her entertainment if hunting the cattle farm. I'd have to devise a more stealthy approach if the birds were cooperating.

Yep, the flowering crabapple was my Dad's housewarming gift to Spkldoe many years ago. The two of them set it out. Shadow laid under it when awaiting our arrival when we were out and about. It was her command central when she was left in charge. And it still is.

Not sure how much fun hunting "wild" genetically hybrid turkeys found in most areas would be. State agencies purposely restored turkey populations in the '30s and '40s post-market hunting with much easier to rear crosses between domesticated birds (originally a strain from Mexico) with whatever the native wild strain from a region was. Not the same wildness resulted.
Many eastern states sought to trade for WV turkeys because they remained the most genetically pure strain of Eastern Wild Turkey anywhere in the world (and still are); e.g. New Hampshire swapped Fishers for WV turkeys. All of the birds restocked into WV counties were wild captured from WV stock. WV turkey hunters are privileged to have such a resource and are lucky that DNR turkey biologists guard them with jealous care. It's one of the few programs with any state agency that has my respect. I'm not hunting the same strain you gents generally see when out riding.
None of that is bullshit. All true.
https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1251
https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/ ... m-fishers/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... YMQK-NkBPc
The Nature of Heritable Wildness in Turkeys (pdf)

Not that anyone cares but here is a writeup about WVs famous turkey biologist. Trapped and relocated more wild turkeys than anyone.
https://appvoices.org/2007/03/01/2995/

R. Wayne was Pap's roommate in college. My maternal grandfather, in his capacity as game warden, worked many times with Wayne helping trap wild turkeys for restoration in areas where numbers had declined.

Local turkey hunters were thoroughly pissed about trapping efforts. So much so that trapping crews had to take lessons from moonshiners by going in at night to set up their blinds and nets and to string corn bait out like wagon wheel spokes just to avoid having equipment sabotaged. Areas to be trapped were well guarded secrets among the tech crews. They put in countless hours prepping for and trapping birds but were regarded with great distain by many hunters. R. Wayne Bailey, as project coordinator was one of the most hated.

Mr. Bailey is now highly regarded as one of America's premier wild turkey biologists and something of a hero for his restoration efforts across several states. He also ranks among the most successful of turkey hunters.

https://appvoices.org/2007/03/01/2995/

Bloomin' nice stroll.

Pretty in pink @ sunrise.

Day 1 - Canada

Or maybe it's Dolly Sods & Bear Rocks


























Day 2 - Cathedral State Park, Preston Co.










Day 3 - Piddling in Laurel Fork North Wilderness and 4 nights camping












Day 4 - Truck scouting misty and rainy back roads on Shavers Mountain…


And heading home

A lotta beautiful photos, but c'mon...that last one!? Too much!

CraigRegs wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 7:50 pm A lotta beautiful photos, but c'mon...that last one!? Too much!

Tuckered from lotsa fun in Tucker (Co.) et al

Pop!

Lotsa pop there!!

Thanks for reminding me why I don't like you.

0face wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:30 am Thanks for reminding me why I don't like you.

I just checked. All the gates to Almost Heaven are open, including here at the homestead.

spklbuk wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 7:33 am

0face wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:30 am Thanks for reminding me why I don't like you.

I just checked. All the gates to Almost Heaven are open, including here at the homestead.

You WILL, however, have to pass muster with the herds of deer guarding the gate though. They can be particular.

I can't help myself. Morning light!



And the show stopper.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 8:20 am

spklbuk wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 7:33 am

0face wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:30 am Thanks for reminding me why I don't like you.

I just checked. All the gates to Almost Heaven are open, including here at the homestead.

You WILL, however, have to pass muster with the herds of deer guarding the gate though. They can be particular.

That thicket is indeed one of their favorite crossings. I'll ask if Marty can have the password.