| Author | Message | ||
| sixshot |
Any thoughts on what you observed, learned, or just plain forgot and remembered on turkeys this year? I believe mine was having a little more patience and not overthinking the hunt. Sorta go with the flow. Also, turkeys may not have big brains but they use every square inch they've got! Gotta keep reminding myself of that one. | ||
| TScottW99
|
Patience, Patience, Patience (trying to beat it into my brain  ) Don't read stories about spring gobbler hunters getting attacked by bobcats, moutain lions and coyotes because when a squirrel decides to jump onto your hat which is on your head you kinda over react... heart finally calmed down earlier today Even though you park at the road leading into a certain area of the national forest if no one else is parked there don't expect someone else to play by those rules... (learn that every year) Even though your decoy is sitting perfectley still in the middle of a small field and your yelling hunter quite loudly don't expect every one to get the hint. Thank God every day you get the chance to chase his beautiful wild turkey. Put the call down and wait thirty minutes on those stuborn ol' birds. Enjoy every second you spend in the woods and watch mother nature at work... one heck of a season even though my gun never went boom... | ||
| Ryan Tucker
|
I learned I could hunt turkeys without feeling like I had to kill one to proof my worth. This has been a slow change in me over the years, but it really got tested this year. After hunting and getting tons of opportunities but nothing working out I never really got to negative. Probably down a bit, but I really focused on just enjoying the sport. It was a nice change I think I have a deeper appreciation of our sport now, and in the end I still managed a couple of birds. I also relearned that without a doubt my favorite part of turkey hunting is meeting new people and also helping others to get a bird. | ||
| GN |
Very well said Ryan. If one glances at the other message boards of the turkey world, it does not take long to see that many apparently believe re-proving their self-worth and stature in the turkey killing world is a very important item in their lives. I like out laid back approach here ...where discussions on mistakes made and opportunities screwed up are as readily discussed and enjoyed as "slams".... | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
Great input guys! I think Amy and I both learned something that seems to hold true in almost everything... As the great Jimmy V said "Don't give up, don't ever give up!" | ||
| HODY |
I agree with about everything said so far. One thing that Max and I discussed is that hunting as we know it is changing. I have learned to be more patient this year, and wait it out, I do not like to hunt the birds that gobble a few times and come in silent, but it seems like that is the way things are going with all the hens lately. But if this is the way it will beI will have to adapt. So..Patience, patience, and more patience is what I learned. I also learned that it is a whole lot of fun to take a new person and yougsters. I had more fun on a few no kill hunts where we had some action because the folks I took were so excited, it is awesome to hear a 12 year olddescribe a hunt to others!!!!!! | ||
| Gobbler Getter
|
I had an opportunity to take my 16 year old son on several hunts this year and got him close to a bird twice. Just couldn't close the deal. I found I get more nervous and excited with him than I do by myself. If you get a chance, take someone who has never killed a bird hunting. It's awesome to watch and feel how excited they and you get. Knees shakin, voice quiverin, heart about to jump out of your chest. What a rush. Kevin | ||
| NCLimbhanger |
Hello Guys, I hate that I didnt find this site earlier in the year so I could have jumped in and fit into the mix a little better. I am so thrilled and moved when I encounter or meet Guys/Gals on the "Same Page" or of the same "Thread" so to speak with similar veiws on the wonderful, special sport we know as Turkey Hunting. Ryan Tucker....tons of wisdom in your post. Hody, Gobbler Getter same to you as well. Yes , kills are great, but when a person learns that the "EXPERIENCE" in essence is what drives us to pursue this Grand Bird in the first place, he will be a much happier, contented person and truly come to understand what makes the sport so special. Is funny how two guys can hardly tell you what they talked about 2 days ago can tell you in detail about every Longbeard they chased together the last 10 years !!! Its truly a special sport. What are some things I learned this year ? I mainly re-learned things that I already knew but am too hard-headed to stick to !! Also , that soft subtle calling mixed with the number one "Turkey Killer" of all ...PATIENCE, is signing the death certificate to call shy Gobblers. The greatest memory I have this year and probably forever was watching my 71 year old Father belly crawl over 250 yards in the pouring rain to kill a Gobbler that was feeding in a field ! (only his third bird ever...first one solo). The most important lesson is the one I learned years ago but seemed to have more meaning this year... The most important things in Life are free and mean alot more when shared with someone else. It should be a SIN not to share with someone else the experience of Turkey Hunting. Take someone hunting, you wont regret it ... GOD BLESS to all, Chris | ||
| Dale
|
Well, I learned a ton, but then again, I always seem to walk away for each season with something new. That's why I turkey hunt. This year, the most important thing that I learned is that time spent in the woods scouting will pay off. A spot that held turkeys the last day of grouse season produced the only bird I killed this year, yet I was on birds every day that I hunted. I've learned to carry a notebook in my truck year round. I log everything now. Everytime I find a likely spot, good sign or actual game sightings, I write it down. It's amazing just how much I forget and how much I relearn by reading my notes. Like others, I really enjoyed spending time in the woods with fellow turkey hunters and enjoying the spring woods. I know I carried too much junk this year. Hunting light has become a thing of the past, but something I think I'm going to try to get back to next year. I really liked my portable low stool with folding legs. Don't know how I ever survived without it. One final thing, this board has become an integral tool for my hunting. Thanks Freddy and all those that post regularly. | ||
| mtnbuk |
This year I was forced to be less mobile due to a bad hip. It forced me to concentrate on finding a location that birds frequent daily. I was fortunate to have access to land that offered the perfect spot 5 minutes stroll from the property owners house. I realized on the LAST DAY last year that this spot might be THE PLACE. I was lucky to remember it this year and fixed up an old ground blind that was already there. I had birds around me there every time I hunted it. It is the perfect feeding and strutting area. I learned that there are other ways to successfully hunt spring birds besides running and gunning as I used to do. If you find such a place, don't mind looking at the same piece of real estate each time out, exercise extreme patience such as when you're stand hunting for deer - the birds will come to you. I encountered a little bit of everything and witnessed it all because I was still, quiet & hidden and let the game do all of the moving around. And, it worked extremely well without dekes. (Though I will probably carry a deke or two next year occasionally.) Jim | ||
| Turk_Magic |
All: Like the many of the others I want to pass on my Thanks to all the regular posters for the info I gleaned from this website over this past season. Special Thanks to Freddy for making the flow of information possible. It is a fantastic website with great people that are willing to share their success stories, as well as, near misses. Many sounded very familar even though I have only hunted Turkey's for 5 seasons. I was fortunate to get two birds this season and had a great time. I believe the biggest key to success is patience! Scouting also helped by starting me in the right area. I worked a particular bird I found during early scouting for 5 days in a row and learned a little bit more about his habits each time. On day 5 I was fortunate enough to harvest him. Reading all your posts certainly helped me make some good decisions with set-up locations and calling frequency. Thanks for all your help! I look forward to reading more of your posts and sharing information. Mike | ||
| Kinzua Beards |
What I've learned this year is how messy a pick up can get, inside and out after more than a month chasing turkeys. How good an apple and a smashed sandwich, washed down with some warm water that's been in your vest for 2 days, can taste while sitting under a tree watching warblers catch bugs. I've learned the beauty of a May snowfall on purple Trillium and most of all how lucky we are to have the freedoms we have in the USA to do as we desire and spend our spring time turkey hunting. |