Signs of life

Despite the never ending torential downpours we've had here in New York this Spring the Turkey population has gotten a bit bigger. A hen with her brood of nine chicks fed their way across my lawn the other day. I haven't seen much of the birds over the last few weeks, I guess they've been nesting.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

My father said that there were about 4 hens setting on the farm.  Those are the ones he found anyway.  He has to bush hog around two of them.  He even built up some cover around them.  They seemed to appreciate it.  That was a week or two ago.  They may have hatched by now.

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

  I've seen one poult...in a foxes mouth!!  Someone had a good meal....
  You ain't lying about the rain, SNY, that's for sure!!!  More predicted for tomorrow!!

Saw that hen again today. She's down to five, large and healthy looking poults.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

If even half of her brood lives to be adults she will have done a good job!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Went into the back yard a few moments ago and heard the distictive clucking of feeding birds. I went back into the house and peered out the front door only to find three hens, five poults and a big jake feeding their way through my flower garden. They were throwing mulch everywhere. What the heck, I'll just put it all back later. I figure they were thinning the crop of insects anyway.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

sny:
 
That's awesome...  I'm itching to see any sort of game animal soon.  I've been anchored to this desk for too long!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Saw some birds yesterday, they were not curious to say the least. All i saw was a bunch of flashes through the brush. Pretty small and skittish birds. Might be a fun challenge in the spring.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

We still haven't seen much (any) turkeys, in our daily travels around the county (flood-wrecked prior habitat is part of that problem) ... but we've sure been busy tryin' to avoid runnin' over all the batches of little pheasant chicks ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

  I was out working in my garage earlier tonite and had stepped outside and Damn if I thougt I heard a hen calling.  I stopped and sure enough I heard a turkey calling from a tree along my drive ('bout 45 yards away).  I walked towards my porch & it flew off the roost & across the road!!
   My 5 year old daughter got all excited & went to get her turkey call for me!!  So I spent the next 30 minutes "arguing" with the boss hen trying to get 'em in closer.  Thought it was pretty cool, haven't seen any birds in my yard since winter..

Jeff

The same group of birds has really moved into the neighborhood. I see them just about everyday. They're safe here and they sure know it. It's a very quiet neighborhood except for all the clucking.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

My Golden Retreivers, Ronnie & Reagan, go nuts whenever the birds come up on our lawn. I was just watching a Turkey hunting program a few minutes ago and as soon as the dogs heard the first cluck they started watching the TV with me. Their tails are waging and they let out an ocassional ruff as the birds walk across the screen. I'm afraid they make take a jump at the tv if I don't change the channel.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

Good names for the dogs.

It's really amusing watching animals react to what is on TV. Both of your retrievers are beautiful dogs and are great representatives of the breed.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

  LMAO!!  My dogs do the same when they hear the calling on TV!! 

Jeff

Thank you. They are both really sweet dogs to boot. They will do whatever you ask of them. Unconditional love.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

  "Unconditional Love..." ain't that the truth....  When I was in the Air Force, the most popular jacket for the dog handlers had the phrase..."The more I'm around some people, the more I love my dog!" on the back!

Jeff