Post by Dan Andrews on Apr 30, 2009 21:30:16 GMT -5
Yesterday while hunting turkey I was amazed by the sounds of hens clucking all around me. The forest was alive and so much commotion for such a little woodlot. I listened to at least 3 different gobblers trying their hardest to pull the hens in their direction while I helplessly added to the clucking of hens trying to trick a Tom into investigating. To think these birds were extirpated and before 1983 there were none in my life time. Now there are so many even a newby hunter like myself can still harvest one.
At the St Catharines game and fish there is a crowd that is a little older than me. A little older than my Father even. These people are sometimes referred to as the stubborn old guys that don't like change. I've always said they can only have their way as long as we young (I'm 40) guys let them. But as I sat listening to the chorus of this once extirpated bird I couldn't help but think, "Thank goodness these guys got their way". They insisted the ministry of NR restock these birds and they stipulated that hunting them must be allowed if the restoration was successful.
So although I have frequently disagreed with Percy and exchanged some unpleasant conversation, I thank him and dedicate my first turkey to him. He is perhaps the proudest member I know who was involved in the program that is still alive today. If it were not for these stubborn old men, my little man would not have had the chance to point outside the blind today to let me know that big Tom was right there within range. Tomorrow I will report my first wild turkey harvest and have my first taste for dinner. I learned so much from the wild turkey seminars as did my Son so the lack of conservation that rid our area of these birds will never happen again.
The cost of my first bird was definitely not near worth it's weight in meat but the entire experience is priceless. Thank you Percy. I hope I can contribute to something big like this before they start calling me the old guard.
23 pounds
10 inch beard
1 1/4 spur
At the St Catharines game and fish there is a crowd that is a little older than me. A little older than my Father even. These people are sometimes referred to as the stubborn old guys that don't like change. I've always said they can only have their way as long as we young (I'm 40) guys let them. But as I sat listening to the chorus of this once extirpated bird I couldn't help but think, "Thank goodness these guys got their way". They insisted the ministry of NR restock these birds and they stipulated that hunting them must be allowed if the restoration was successful.
So although I have frequently disagreed with Percy and exchanged some unpleasant conversation, I thank him and dedicate my first turkey to him. He is perhaps the proudest member I know who was involved in the program that is still alive today. If it were not for these stubborn old men, my little man would not have had the chance to point outside the blind today to let me know that big Tom was right there within range. Tomorrow I will report my first wild turkey harvest and have my first taste for dinner. I learned so much from the wild turkey seminars as did my Son so the lack of conservation that rid our area of these birds will never happen again.
The cost of my first bird was definitely not near worth it's weight in meat but the entire experience is priceless. Thank you Percy. I hope I can contribute to something big like this before they start calling me the old guard.
23 pounds
10 inch beard
1 1/4 spur
