A Fathers day present of sorts.

My Golden retreivers started barking by the front door about 5:15 this morning. I then heard the gobbling. I looked out my bedroom reason only to see a pair of Long Beards taking a shower beneath the sprinkler system. They let loose with an occasional gobble, they were as happy as can be. As soon as the sprinkler shut down the pair walked off down the road. Perhaps I've discovered a new way to call in birds. Who needs a mouth call.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

snytrophyhunter:
 
I bet that was entertaining.  Too bad you didn't get a picture.  I can see the whole scene in my mind though. 
 
We had a big, old longbeard in the front yard a few years ago that would routinely feed on acorns that would drop from a huge oak.  He was a hoot to watch.  I should have gotten a picture of him as well, but never had my camera at hand. 
 
Thanks for sharing the story.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

I'll bet both of you had fun getting to watch longbeards like that!
 
 

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I didn't get any pictures this time but here's a little picture I took on my front lawn a couple of Springs ago.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

Man is he beautiful in full strut or what!!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

My buddy had a hen and her little ones feed in his back yard one spring. Then one day the hen never came back and the chicks roosted on the lawn chairs the rest of the summer. Then they finally left.

Attached Image(s)

snytrophyhunter:
 
COOL!  And, that scene looks familiar!  LOL!
 
weyyeager:
 
WOW!  That's cool too!
 
Thanks for sharing, guys!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Well the birds have finally stopped gobbling. I can't believe they went on for so long this season. I think most of the racket were from a pair of jakes that were hanging around the neighborhood. I still see them every day or two along with a hen that's escorting eight poults around. The other day the hen along with all the poults did a fly down from a tree across the road on my neighbors property. The poults were so small I was amazed that they had been able to fly up there to begin with. I learn something new from these critters all the time. I can only suppose that it's a tough life out there dealing with the elements and the preadators on a dialy basis and you had better get your program together early in life to make it.
 
 

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

snytrophyhunter:
 
You got that right!  Nature is unforgiving and most often downright cruel.  It takes a lot of resilience and instinctual fortitude for wild animals to survive more than one year of their life with all of the dangers that are faced every, single day that threaten their well-being.  I have the utmost respect for animals living in the wild.  That's why I suppose I am continuously losing a lot of respect for the majority of the hunting shows out there today.  I guess what I am getting at is that I am growing tired of all the fist-pumping, hyper-orgasmic reactions that many of the hunting "celebs" out there today display after shooting an animal.  They think that personally shooting the intended animal is a monumental accomplishment of unequalled comparison.  At least that is how they make it appear. 
 
The real feat is that the animal itself survived out in the wild long enough to become a mature specimen.  Now, that -- the life of the animal itself and it surviving 24/7, 365 days a year in an extremely harsh and unforgiving environment -- is what should be celebrated with unrestrained excitement, if you ask me.  I, know, no one asked me.  LOL! 
 
Just my $.02
 
Also, the person who thinks he knows it all and believes there is nothing left to learn is either too pompous and ignorant to know the difference or is just downright foolish.  You are right; there is always something new to learn about animals, hunting or life in general.  I am constantly learning things I never knew, even though in my mid-20s I "thought I knew everything." 
 
Good post!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve 

You knew it all too? Dang and I thought I was the only one.   LOL    Sure glad I grew up and found out that I did not know everything and am dam glad that I have a mind that still allows me to learn new things ea and everyday.  Cudo's to ea and everyone of y'all out there that feel the same way.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member