2.5 weeks in and finally got a tag filled. I have seen a good number of birds... all in the middle of the road. I have heard a LOT of birds, but until yesterday not a single one of them would actually appear in front of me. Well, not since opening day when I called in birds and they were literally right over the property line and wouldn't come any closer. I digress. I saw Tuesday, and didn't hear a single gobble on the roost, or at all. Yesterday morning however, they were feeling chipper and I was happy to hear lots of gobbles and close. I played cat and mouse with the hens and gobblers. And I knew there was a lovesick tom who reallllllly wanted me to head to him. He would try every 45 minutes to entice me... until he finally ended up behind me and came in from behind and to my right. Didn't realize he wasn't alone at the time and thankfully got on him fast, because he brought half a flock with him.

I'm doubly excited for delicious meals, this boy was BIG, and will provide, but also because I get to submit his DNA to the wildturkeydna.com project. This spring hunters could request a kit with super easy to follow instructions, and submit a slice of the tongue. I'll send that in today, along with a sample from the bird my husband shot last weekend. They are checking genectics, specifically looking in hybridization, genectic diversity, inbreeding potential and more.

Well done, Christina. Congratulations on a great bird!

Great bird, and way to stick with it.

I’m happy for you, girl!!!

Congrats on your gobbler!

Congrats

That DNA thing is interesting!!

I'm gonna look into that.

Great job! Great bird too!

Nice work Cristina!

Congratulations

Wow! Nice turkey Cristina!!!!!

Good deal. Looks like some good spurs.

A fine gobbler congratulations

Congratulations! I’m about to head out and chase turkeys myself. I hunted them four out of five days this week so far. I’ve called in a black bear and a bobcat, but no long beard yet. LOL

Nice bird, ive never heard of the DNA kit before.

Congrats

Real nice bird. Congrats. DNA kit? do they make public there findings?