From my family and I here at Tails and Trails we wish everyone a happy and safe July 4th. Fire up the BBQ grills and light up some sparklers and enjoy family and friends.

Remember: Please support our troops and pray that they all come home after the job is done.

This is one fine looking specimen of a wild turkey. I’m still fairly new at judging and scoring turkeys but an eight bearded turkey from what I have read is kinda rare and actually something to look at too.

By: Rick Kratzke

photo’s and intro are from the NWTF Newsletter

When NWTF member Joe Fuller took a friend hunting near Pine Tops, N.C., he had no idea that he would break a record that had stood for 19 years by taking an eight-bearded bird that scored 195.5 through the NWTF’s scoring system.

Use the NWTF’s Wild Turkey Records calculator and registration page to see how your trophy tom measures up. By using the Wild Turkey Records search function, you can compare toms by size, beard length, spur length, state, subspecies or by the hunter’s name. Since the NWTF started keeping records in 1982, more than 12,000 birds have been registered. To get your name on the list just click the logo link below.

I happen to stumble across this and Mr. Orville “Orv” Robertson has quite the past time or hobby if you want to call it that. He makes wishbone turkey calls.

By: Rick Kratzke

River Falls resident Orv Robertson shows off his custom-made turkey call, which he crafts from the three bones found in a turkey’s wings. Look for his video demonstration online at www.riverfallsjournal.com. Debbie Griffin photo

Resident and local sportsman Orville “Orv” Robertson likes to hunt turkey. He uses every bit of the bird, right down to its wing bones. He even uses them to make custom turkey calls.

“It’s a total of three (wing) bones,” said Robertson.

He learned the practice from friend and fellow sportsman Wayne Bailey, author of “Wayne’s Turkey World.”

He met Bailey at a gun show. The two found they had much in common, including a love of turkey hunting.

“It’s his calls I’m trying to imitate,” Robertson said.

He scrapes, boils and disinfects the three wing bones, cuts off the knuckles and hollows out the insides a bit. He sands the bones until they’re smooth then connects them with epoxy, fitting one bone just inside the other.

Robertson uses a copper band to attach a lanyard.

He said hunters, especially those using bow and arrow, like being able to hang the call around their necks because it leaves their hands free. And in turkey hunting, Robertson said it’s important to remain still.

He says the birds have excellent vision. Hunters must camouflage themselves all over, including their face, and usually line themselves up with a tree.

“You want to hide your silhouette,” Robertson explained.

He started making the calls about a year and a half ago and says he’s made about 15 of them since then. Always on the lookout for turkey bones, friends often give him ones from the birds they’ve killed.

Robertson smiles, saying, “Sometimes I reward them with a call.”

He said the custom call makes a different sound than the ones people buy in stores.

Read more of Talkin Turkey:

View demo video:

Story By: River Falls Journal

Last year I attended my very first Northeast Big Buck Club annual banquet and let me just say that I had a great time and this year looks to be no different. Even though I can not attend this years banquet I still feel the need to mention to you all that there is still time to get your tickets. They go fast so don’t delay.

ALL Photo’s were taken by me at the 2007 Banquet:

By: Rick Kratzke

NBBC 2008 Awards Ceremony

At the banquet, awards will be given to the largest typical and non-typical bucks harvested in the previous year with a bow, gun and muzzleloader, from MA, CT, VT, RI, ME, NH, NY and PA.

These are the best of the best! With over 100 of the northeast’s best heads on display, many scoring over 170″.

When: Saturday, July 19, 2008
Time: 1:00 pm TO 8:00 pm

• Mulit-course sit-down dinner
• State-of-the-art computer generated and
  full narrated awards ceremony
• Many incredible hunts auctioned and raffled
• Wildlife art auctions
• Door prizes
• Awards for ladies, teens and seniors

$35.00 per person. No tickets sold at the door.

Please note that any deer that is entered into the NBBC record book from May 1, 2007, until May 1, 2008 is eligible to receive a beautiful 7 x 9 inch laser-engraved plaque recognizing your trophy. These are not the laser-engraved plaques that we give to award winners, but one that will still give all the details of your buck and will be an eye-catching memento to hang on the wall next to your trophy. These solid-wood plaques, a $35 value, will be handed out, FREE OF CHARGE, at the Awards Ceremony*. Please contact Paul Chapdelaine at deerrunacres@comcast.net for more information.

Click Here To Download Ticket Order Form

Click Here To Download Plaque Order Form

Here are a few more pictures from last year, just a taste of what you might see if you are able to go this year. I know I wish I was going.

Now this is really a rare thing. I don’t think I have ever heard of this before. I do know that deer can swim and will when they have to. I don’t know what made the deer run into the ocean but the end result was unfortunate.

By: Rick Kratzke

PACIFIC PALISADES — A young male deer who was rescued by lifeguards after running into the Pacific Ocean at Will Rogers State Beach was euthanized because of “severe injuries” suffered before the rescue.

Los Angeles County lifeguards were called to the ocean about 3 p.m. Wednesday to help rescue the deer, which ran out of the Santa Monica Mountains across Pacific Coast Highway to the ocean.

Capt. Robert Torres, a lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said that when he arrived, the animal was about 300 yards off shore.

The deer had tried to come ashore near some rocks, but lifeguards and personnel from Los Angeles Animal Services “did our best to chase it back toward the sandy beach,” Torres said.

The deer was taken to an Animal Services facility. He was later euthanized due to severe injuries sustained prior to the ocean rescue, Cindy Wood of the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter said.

A deer going into the ocean was “a first” as far as the Animal Services official knew.

One woman who jogs along the ocean said that she thought the deer was “a strange looking whale.”

story and photo from KTLA.com:

This is the time of year that we all need to be careful as we drive around, especially on the back roads. The whitetails doe’s that were bred this past autumn will be and are giving birth to their fawns. You never know when you will come across one of these little tikes that have no clue yet of what is out there in the world and even more what a vehicle is. Just the other day I had one dart out in front of my truck with momma deer standing on the side of the road waiting for me to go by. Fortuneately I was paying attention.

I found a very interesting article about the Whitetail Fawn, so I wanted to share some of it with you and invite you to read the rest of it by visiting the Buckmasters website afterwards.

By: Rick Kratzke

Text & Photos by Tommy Kirkland

Each year throughout North America from late May and on into July, deer fawns are springing up. If undisturbed, a fawn or fawns’ birth site is instinctively chosen by its mother. At times, these birthing areas are utilized by parenting females year after year. Generally, the doe, particularly older females, seek out the best habitat available for the birthing process. The area is usually some 20 to 30 acres with water, concealment and quality nutrition.

Just prior to giving birth, the impregnated female separates herself from the other deer, including her own if she isn’t a first-time mother. If no complications arise during birth, then her maternal nature is in full swing by now.

With the condition that the female doesn’t abandon the newborn infant, then she is quick to consume the afterbirth. She will also intensely groom the little deer - removing all blood and remains from giving birth. This activity minimizes odors that can attract predators as well as insects.

Newborn whitetails rely on their instinct to remain motionless and quiet for survival. However, fawns born in food plots and working agricultural fields are more vulnerable to roaming predators in comparison to fawns born in underbrush or forested areas simply because they are easier to spot where the land is maintained for nutrition.

Read the complete article:

I just received this in one of my Google Alerts and it sure is news to me. I have heard before that when a new man comes into an organization to take over there will always be some bad blood so to speak amongst the ranks. Well, I guess for the “National Wild Turkey Federation” they are no different.

It is sad though in a way because this could damage the organization in the long run if they don’t get things ironed out. I would hate to see that happen, especially when I really just started getting involved with turkey hunting. I will try to keep an eye on this story and see how it plays out.

By: Rick Kratzke

When George Thornton was named CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation in early June, he told one of the first media people to interview him that reaching out to young hunters and facing off with the anti-hunters would be key challenges for the organization.

As his first month in charge nears completion, Thornton, who spent most of his career in agribusiness, has discovered that his biggest challenge isn’t new recruits or old enemies; rather, it is dealing with some of the people inside the organization.

What has erupted is a tug of war over who is going to control the 35-year-old federation that claims 500,000 members. Will it be Thornton and his backers? Or will it be a half-dozen former board members and officers led by Michael Tull? Tull recently resigned from the board in protest.

What is certain is that the once premier conservation/hunting organization of North America is in for a rough ride, and there is a good chance it will lose credibility and funding, which are traits it has excelled in for years.

Read the complete story:

By: Bill Cochran - The Roanoke Times

This was just sent to me in an email and I just had to share it with you all. If this does not show a person’s love and care for this country than I don’t know what will. On top of it all it came from a teenager. I don’t have all the info about this young man but I do have a name and that name is Ray “bubba” Sorensen and here are his pictures of “The Painted Rock”.

On a personal note the war we are in right now is as usual a controversial one but let me say as a proud AMERICAN that I support our troops 100% and even though I wish them all to come home safely I do realize that they have a job to do. If you think of it we are a powerful nation and we are always being tested because of that fact so if we back down in the past or now and even in the future what will that show to everyone else. I for one enjoy the freedoms that I have and do not wish to give that up for no one.

Freedom is not free! Freedom is not given at will! Freedom has to be earned!

By: Rick Kratzke

photo’s courtesy of the Sorensen family:

I know lately I have been a little pre-occupied and it is for good reason. With summer here and work at the University being quiet because of school being out I have been busy else where. I have taken on a few side jobs that I can do in my spare time because I can not pull long shifts at work because of my health issues. These side jobs do help fill in the gaps and I can do them at my own speed.

I recently did a big job for the neighbor and that was to build a play scape that she had ordered for her little girl. It took a total of 27 hours to build this huge thing and was actually good for me to be active. Here is the finished picture of what the neighbors little girl will be enjoying as well as my son Tyler who has permission to play on at anytime.

That little side job help pay for my little side job which is a 110′ foot picket fence that I am building by hand, piece by piece. My whole yard except for one side is chain linked fence which is in good condition. The side that is not was a mixture of stockade and wire which really looked like junk. I could not keep piecing it together anymore and was worried that our dog Sampson would get out. So here is why I have been a little pre-occupied lately.

I am not quite finished yet. I want to build a railroad tie wall at least a foot and a half high where the grass meets the dirt (like a terrace) which is where I will plant flowers and/or bushes. See if I do this now then I can concentrate on preparing for deer season as it get’s closer, LOL.

I like to keep busy and actually my doctor said it would help if I tried to keep active, it would help with the arthritis.

By: Rick Kratzke

I am a familiar with this blog but the contest is new news to me. The “Whitetail365″ blog from Field and Stream website started this contest in February and some of the pictures that were sent in are well let me say something that I certainly would dream about finding myself. Here are just a couple pictures of what you can see.

By: Rick Kratzke

Andy Bautz says finding these sheds was too easy. They were right near his backyard bird feeder in Waukesha, WI.

Jeffrey Cameron watched a buck drop these antlers outside his house and ran out in his pajamas to pick them up.

Pictures are from Field & Stream’s “Whitetail 365″ blog: