A rare bird

[MandK]

My early years of hunting meant slim pickings for both deer and turkey. If I was lucky enough to see one I would shoot first and take pictures later of the bagged game. Because of conservation practices and support from public and private foundations, game in my area is plentiful now and I take pictures first and if the deer is still around I shoot later . The overpopulation of deer has our DEC begging us to get and fill antlerless permits. So every year I harvest a couple of doe, one for Feed More of Western NY, and one for us. We leave for Florida each late November with Monty’s freezer packed, and my wife’s venison chili and stew is world class. We find ourselves eating less as the winter goes on in order to make it last until we get home where the mother load is in the deep freezer.
But the real challenge now are the turkeys. Those birds are a challenge. We are traveling this spring, taking the “long way home” from Fl to NY through a Western swing.
This will be my first Spring turkey season in 50 + years that I will miss those mornings of just me, God, and the turkeys.

 

[RMcNeal]

We are a bit north of you in Southern WV. Seeing much more turkey than we used to. Several years ago, my FIL worked for the road department and he spoke with some WV DNR who were taking two elk to Tucker county to turn loose. They are trying to repopulate elk in the area near Elkins, WV.

 

[mlh]

I’ve always enjoyed Gobbler hunting but it only lasted a few weeks. Groundhog hunting is my favorite. It lasts all summer from Memorial Day till fall. It’s more of a social event than hunting. You go out in a field with a cooler full of drinks and something to eat or you can take a grill and fix dinner.
50 years ago 300 yards was a long shot. Rifles would only shoot an inch 3 shot group. There were no range finders. You had to guess at the wind. We shot laying down off of a shooting stick.
Today we have rifles that will shoot 1/4 insh 5 shot groups, wind meters, laser range finders and a portable shooting bench. We shoot groups a button off your shirt will cover know the exact range and 300 yards is easy through a 32 power scope.
When shooting over 500 yards we adjust the elevation on the scope for that distance. At 700+ yards you will probably miss because you don’t know what the wind is doing. I might be blowing one way where you are and the opposite direction at a hundred yards or coming up over a hill. That will make you shoot high. Your buddy well watch where the bullet lands or video the shot. The next shot you make the adjustments and touch the 2 ounce trigger. This time you probably made the farmer happy because he doesn’t like groundhogs.
The only trouble is the coyotes have done what we wouldn’t do kill all the groundhogs.
Lynwood