I had an earlier post that I wasn't sure if the mature toms I seen had been harvested or not because I haven't seen them around. I went out the other day and I had this 5 inch bearded jake come in following a hen so I took a picture then I decided to take this one. He was a very nice looking bird.

Beautiful critter...Congrats!

A 5-inch beard on a jake is pretty good, but are you saying that strutter in the first picture is the dead jake in the second picture?

Steve

Yes the strutting bird is the bird I shot in the second picture. The fan feathers in the center of the fan are laying on the fence which make them look a little longer then they really are. In the picture of the live bird you can tell the center fan feathers are a touch longer. it was a younger bird not sure if you would call it a jake but not a mature tom either. I did see 4 mature toms yesterday so I know there are a few mature birds around but they aren't with the hens. It has been a strange thing that these mature birds aren't doing there thing but early on they where with the hens. Not sure all that made sense. Lol

Two thumbs up!

Steve.

Ziiiing!

Die Dino die.

Nice pics.

Congrats.

Those Mirs are incredibly beautiful !

Nice bird.

Awesome bird! I want to hunt SD turkeys in the worst way!

I hope someday you can hunt Merriam's ad yes they are a beautiful bird.

When ever it dries up I will go get one more. Good luck to all of you.