Not sure if this a big NO NO, or more like not giving up the location of that favorite fishing hole, but I saw a post a while ago about someone offering to help another fellow forum member out and take them hunting if he/she lived close. I have wondered how some of the veteran turkey guru's would feel about mentoring by taking less experience turkey hunters out in the woods? Are there are any veteran turkey guys that would want to unload some knowledge and give some in the field training. I am not a new hunter by any means and have been at it since I was able to, but am being sort of reborn to the area of turkey. I've been out of the game for over a decade and a half and last year picked it up again. Almost had a successful first hunt on public land but made the mistake of setting up in a poor location where the underbrush got in my way and I couldn't take the shot even though he was only about 20 yards away. Didn't hear another gobble after that weekend. I'm sure there are quite a few people who would jump at the opportunity to get some real time experience from some of the guys on here.
Just a thought and was curious to see.
I'm usually willing to go with someone new at least once, if time permits. A second hunt depends on how the first hunt went. It doesn't depend on a kill or anything like that. It's more of a safety first, then compatibility and how serious the person is about learning. I'm all for goofing off and having a good time, but I'm also wanting to see a gobbler up close.
The one requirement I have is for the newer hunter is we hunt his land and his birds. And once they have killed a bird I get a chance to carry a gun if I decide I'd like to shoot one on their place.
"All things in the beginning are difficult." That's one of my beliefs that keep me involved when the newness of an experience becomes challenging. As a turkey hunter for the past 30 years, I've left more birds in the woods because of inexperience than I've taken home, especially in the early years when I was a strict run-and-gun hunter, doing a lot of running and extremely limited gunning.
I hope you find someone close to you who will share their experience which will greatly reduce the learning curve in turkey hunting; however, you'll never learn it all and that's what keeps many of us returning to the woods season after season. Best of luck in your turkey hunting endeavors!
Great advice. Safety would def be of the utmost importance. Absolutely the best teacher is failing and having to give it another go. I myself enjoy a great challenge as well and get quite competitive with myself. I do have a couple of decades of hunting experience under by belt, which helps me out a lot, but there was def a fire that got lit when I heard that gobble last year after not hearing one for so long. I more so wanted to get some peoples take on whether assisting other hunters by taking them out in the woods mentoring would be more taboo so to speak or acceptable. Now if the opportunity to go hunt with some fellow veteran conservationist presents itself that would be great and I would absolutely jump on it. I also thought this could possibly help some others who may need a little help and see that people are willing to invest their time in the sport in many ways. I hunt mostly public land in MO within 100 miles of St Charles area. I do have 88 acres of private land I have access too but I know that isn't much. Being originally from NW PA, that is where I have the most land at my disposal with up near 1k+ acres to roam that gets very little pressure from turkey hunters.
I often take newbies be it kids or adults. I kinda prefer it. The satisfaction of teaching someone a great sport is enough reward. That being said I'm careful. Sometimes folks screw ya.
Give you a for instance. I hunted a farm a bit from my house. Killed a bird there 15 years opening morning. Normally within the first 45 mins. Place was great.
Now this fellow wanted to come n check it out. I believe in teaching so I explained the wheres n whys. Just in talking I mentioned where they roosted. I was younger than.
Told him too bout my success at this area.
So after I called a few birds for him I was told the following year him n his friend were gonna hunt that exact spot opening morning. He felt he owed me a courtesy call!!!
They built a blind there n my ex wife n I showed up., they weren't there so to the area we went.
Birds started gobbling n I saw lights behind me. Here they come. Saw us set up n now we're having a call contest. Each time birds started my way they called. After a bit I backed off, my ex wife stayed n the birds came to my walking away yelping.
They came up the hill n spooked the birds.
Long story short I heard other birds n grabbed her n drug her up mtn. She wound up killing a nice bird at 8 yards but I never again showed those guys a thing.
Moral of story, no one has to give you anything. They're doing it willingly. Respect them
I've taken a less experienced friend out the past 2 years AFTER I got my bird.
I'm taking on a total new turkey hunter this year. He's been duck, deer, & quail hunting for years, so there's a lot that he already knows about safety and courtesy in the field. I made it clear to him that my ace up the sleeve private spots are going to stay that way. The only way somebody is going to find out where they are is if they stumble upon me as they trespass where they're not supposed to be. I will take him to some public land that anybody with a gamelands permit can use, but the only private land we will be hunting is land he gets us access to. I did not get drawn for any permit hunts this year, but I would have brought him if he wanted to come along as an observer.
Jim
I have taken a lot of (mentored) kids, newbies and friends and such out over the years, did the guide thing for a while got bit a few times and quit that game... So I have some rules I go by in this, Kids I will take out to any of my private ground and work to get them a bird and the experience if we don't. I have met some pretty good hunters men and women and by good I'm talking good personality over the years. I will start with an adult on their ground, I tote a gun while I'm with them and if I am able to score on a bird after theirs that's part of the deal, I don't ask to come back and hunt the farm unless invited too. If I don't get one that day so be it... Just a bonus bird if I do :) The rest of the family & friends have access to any farm I can hunt but I must be along.
MK M GOBL
I would go to the hunters spot or public land that they have scouted. I don't take people to my public land spots.
Like many of you guys, I eat sleep and breath turkey hunting year round, but the actual season is just too dang short. Way to short to be wasted on people that dont care enough about it to put forth the effort to learn on their own. To many just want to tag along and kill a bird so they can brag about it to their buddies. I am a VERY nice and generous fella but when it comes to my turkey season I am down right selfish (except with my kids) . I have buddies ask me all the time if I will go with them on their Quota hunts because they dont have a clue what to do, I just tell them its a busy time of year and we'll have to see how the season goes "or if I have a better spot to go that weekend ;D" . I had no one to teach me and have never had a bird called in for me. I read and studied every thing I could and was taught by the woods, so if they want it BAD enough they can do the same.
I have no problem giving a hand and helping someone learn the ropes. Some of my most memorable hunts involved some pretty young hunters taking their first. But it will be on my terms and they had better have a good attitude and be willing to work. I am very picky on who I hunt with these days and there had better be a healthy respect for the game and game laws as well as a sense of humor. I don't waste my time dealing with stupidity anymore. I want to enjoy hunting not be angry at childish/lazy behavior. My boys are getting to learn the ropes now so i am concentrating on teaching them what it means to be a hunter instead of an imbecile with a gun just itching to shoot something.
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Quote from: born2hunt on March 20, 2017, 10:09:58 PM
Like many of you guys, I eat sleep and breath turkey hunting year round, but the actual season is just too dang short. Way to short to be wasted on people that dont care enough about it to put forth the effort to learn on their own. To many just want to tag along and kill a bird so they can brag about it to their buddies. I am a VERY nice and generous fella but when it comes to my turkey season I am down right selfish (except with my kids) . I have buddies ask me all the time if I will go with them on their Quota hunts because they dont have a clue what to do, I just tell them its a busy time of year and we'll have to see how the season goes "or if I have a better spot to go that weekend ;D" . I had no one to teach me and have never had a bird called in for me. I read and studied every thing I could and was taught by the woods, so if they want it BAD enough they can do the same.
The new hunter who I'm helping to learn the ropes this year is actually a client of my company, who has brought business our way. He has read a lot about turkey hunting and watched every video he could get his eyes on, he just hasn't done it yet. Most of my clients don't hunt and business is all we have in common. To have a client who I like as a person, and who shares one of my passions is worth taking the time to help shorten his learning curve.
I came up through the school of hard knocks myself and it was years & a lot of mistakes before I started figuring the turkey hunting game out better. I also had a little help along the way from reading, then my best friend, who always had access to quality places & who got to travel to take guided hunts at some premier locations (it helps that his father is a wealthy big game hunter). His experience helped refine some of my tactics and we began hunting together regularly over the past 25 years. When we get together, turkeys die. Due to work schedules, we don't get to hunt together as often as we'd like. My other hunting & fishing buddy moved to Arkansas. We have only managed to hunt together once in the past decade.
So, along with helping beak in a new turkey hunter, I'm also hoping to cultivate a friendship. I'm not about to give up any of my best spots, but if I can help this guy along his turkey hunting journey, it could be a good for both of us. I want to see him kill his first and I want to be there when he calls in & kills his first on his own.
Nobody was born knowing how to hunt turkeys and we all had to learn some of it from other members of the tribe, either through books, videos, websites, or mentors. I'm choosing to help guide this guy along the path to get him started out right by sharing my experience in hopes of increasing his skill set. His success will be repayment enough for me.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I guess I just want to share the experience and test my instruction abilities on a willing student who will likely become a hunting buddy. I hope this makes sense.
Jim
It is a very special person that gets to hunt with me and there ain't many very special people out there.
I use to help a few friends try to shorten the learning curve that seemed eager to learn. Preferred taking them on their ground,but would tell them first and foremost if we hunted mine I'm showing you how to hunt not showing you a spot to hunt. Anymore with a young son wanting to go and a busy work schedule I haven't taken anyone else for years. A good friend of mine bought a farm and I'll probably help him if I get the chance on one of the 4 seasons my son and i arent hunting,but that's probably about it.
Quote from: guesswho on March 20, 2017, 10:40:40 AM
The one requirement I have is for the newer hunter is we hunt his land and his birds. And once they have killed a bird I get a chance to carry a gun if I decide I'd like to shoot one on their place.
Excellent rule.
Good to see that even though some have gotten burned in the past they are still willing to help out others that are passionate about the sport as they are and still have some compassion and willingness to help. We all have our "reservations" and I wouldn't fault anyone for being a certain selfish this time of year either. It's hard to fit "me time" into that busy schedule as it is. Seems pretty unanimous the private lands are held in a special reserve for only those select few closest to us, anyone with any understanding would understand and respect that. These places are becoming more of a rarity each year. All good points, although I think personally nothing could come close to first hand experience and learning from the real thing. Reading and watching videos are great but only take someone so far.
Quote from: Blairj on March 21, 2017, 02:48:10 PM
Good to see that even though some have gotten burned in the past they are still willing to help out others that are passionate about the sport as they are and still have some compassion and willingness to help. We all have our "reservations" and I wouldn't fault anyone for being a certain selfish this time of year either. It's hard to fit "me time" into that busy schedule as it is. Seems pretty unanimous the private lands are held in a special reserve for only those select few closest to us, anyone with any understanding would understand and respect that. These places are becoming more of a rarity each year. All good points, although I think personally nothing could come close to first hand experience and learning from the real thing. Reading and watching videos are great but only take someone so far.
You are correct... Tough to find time enough for myself to get out, much less someone else. I generally try to get a good friend or relative in the field every so often though.
I was completely self-taught as far as turkey hunting. However, I was hunting a couple of ranches that were absolutely loaded with birds, and still struggled for a year or so.
Learning from my own mistakes, and having a lot of birds to make mistakes on, did increase that learning curve though.
I do think you can get a solid foundation of skills and tactics from books and videos (especially today)... But you cannot read about NOT whipping that head around as you hear an unexpected gobble on your left, only to have that head movement make the bird book. No book or video is going to yell at you in the field to put the call away while the bird is on the roost excitedly gobbling at you from the limb...
Finding a place to turkey hunt and getting access takes a tremendous amount of work and effort. Personally, I would be more likely to take someone on private land than on public... Currently, it is only close friends or family that come to any of my spots... Taking someone to public spots is a great way to get burned.
Best way to get someone else to show you the ropes is to get some access on some decent places to hunt. It takes time and effort to do so, but it can be done. Big difference between inviting a mentor to hunt on your spot, and inviting yourself to hunt on someone else's spot.
Quote from: Marc on March 21, 2017, 04:32:26 PM
Quote from: Blairj on March 21, 2017, 02:48:10 PM
Good to see that even though some have gotten burned in the past they are still willing to help out others that are passionate about the sport as they are and still have some compassion and willingness to help. We all have our "reservations" and I wouldn't fault anyone for being a certain selfish this time of year either. It's hard to fit "me time" into that busy schedule as it is. Seems pretty unanimous the private lands are held in a special reserve for only those select few closest to us, anyone with any understanding would understand and respect that. These places are becoming more of a rarity each year. All good points, although I think personally nothing could come close to first hand experience and learning from the real thing. Reading and watching videos are great but only take someone so far.
You are correct... Tough to find time enough for myself to get out, much less someone else. I generally try to get a good friend or relative in the field every so often though.
I was completely self-taught as far as turkey hunting. However, I was hunting a couple of ranches that were absolutely loaded with birds, and still struggled for a year or so.
Learning from my own mistakes, and having a lot of birds to make mistakes on, did increase that learning curve though.
I do think you can get a solid foundation of skills and tactics from books and videos (especially today)... But you cannot read about NOT whipping that head around as you hear an unexpected gobble on your left, only to have that head movement make the bird book. No book or video is going to yell at you in the field to put the call away while the bird is on the roost excitedly gobbling at you from the limb...
Finding a place to turkey hunt and getting access takes a tremendous amount of work and effort. Personally, I would be more likely to take someone on private land than on public... Currently, it is only close friends or family that come to any of my spots... Taking someone to public spots is a great way to get burned.
Best way to get someone else to show you the ropes is to get some access on some decent places to hunt. It takes time and effort to do so, but it can be done. Big difference between inviting a mentor to hunt on your spot, and inviting yourself to hunt on someone else's spot.
Good points Marc.
I have been turkey hunting "technically" on and off for about 7 years now. However, the extent of my experience has been on very limited trips to a few places. I really have not had enough experiences to make me a decent hunter and still consider myself as a beginner. I have put in the time and money to get good calls and get good enough to be able to hunt with them. However, the extent of my hunting is a once a year guided trip with some coworkers and hunting turkeys on my deer lease which is hit and miss with regards to having birds on our place. On a positive note, the two times that I did hear a gobbling bird, I was the primary reason that I did not come home with a bird and I was able to learn from both mistakes. I have tried "hooking up" with a mentor but the few times that I was able to, we didn't hear any birds and no lessons were learned. I don't live in an area that's known for turkey hunting so most of the people I know don't really turkey hunt.
Each year, I get a little more serious and learn a little more but I am still a beginner. I know no one is going to knock on my door and grab my hand, and I wouldn't expect them to, but this thread has my motivation pumped about getting more serious and putting the effort to find some public land no matter how pressured and just get out there and do it. Thanks guys.
Quote from: guesswho on March 20, 2017, 10:40:40 AM
I'm usually willing to go with someone new at least once, if time permits. A second hunt depends on how the first hunt went. It doesn't depend on a kill or anything like that. It's more of a safety first, then compatibility and how serious the person is about learning. I'm all for goofing off and having a good time, but I'm also wanting to see a gobbler up close.
The one requirement I have is for the newer hunter is we hunt his land and his birds. And once they have killed a bird I get a chance to carry a gun if I decide I'd like to shoot one on their place.
Any interest in teaching me on ms public land I hunt? I do alright as it is but would love to learn more from the master! Haha
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I do enjoy taking a new guy. I try and take one new person at least once a year. I would prefer to take them to their spot and I hardly ever carry a gun in that situation, if we run across another one Ill just use his gun. Ill take a guy to a few of my public spots,but not all of them unless I really like him. MOST of the people I take are guys that duck or deer hunt , so they know the program. I really get a thrill seeing a first timer get close to one,and even better if he pulls the trigger.
Quote from: sasquatch1 on March 21, 2017, 10:23:23 PMAny interest in teaching me on ms public land I hunt? I do alright as it is but would love to learn more from the master! Haha
Master? Not sure I'm up to that standard. I'd have to pass on those MS public land birds. I'm sure they are far tougher than any public land birds I've ever encountered in FL, GA, and AL.
Quote from: guesswho on March 22, 2017, 07:06:22 PM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on March 21, 2017, 10:23:23 PMAny interest in teaching me on ms public land I hunt? I do alright as it is but would love to learn more from the master! Haha
Master? Not sure I'm up to that standard. I'd have to pass on those MS public land birds. I'm sure they are far tougher than any public land birds I've ever encountered in FL, GA, and AL.
I'm quite sure u could be dangerous to them!
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Quote from: Cut N Run on March 21, 2017, 12:31:40 AM
Quote from: born2hunt on March 20, 2017, 10:09:58 PM
Like many of you guys, I eat sleep and breath turkey hunting year round, but the actual season is just too dang short. Way to short to be wasted on people that dont care enough about it to put forth the effort to learn on their own. To many just want to tag along and kill a bird so they can brag about it to their buddies. I am a VERY nice and generous fella but when it comes to my turkey season I am down right selfish (except with my kids) . I have buddies ask me all the time if I will go with them on their Quota hunts because they dont have a clue what to do, I just tell them its a busy time of year and we'll have to see how the season goes "or if I have a better spot to go that weekend ;D" . I had no one to teach me and have never had a bird called in for me. I read and studied every thing I could and was taught by the woods, so if they want it BAD enough they can do the same.
The new hunter who I'm helping to learn the ropes this year is actually a client of my company, who has brought business our way. He has read a lot about turkey hunting and watched every video he could get his eyes on, he just hasn't done it yet. Most of my clients don't hunt and business is all we have in common. To have a client who I like as a person, and who shares one of my passions is worth taking the time to help shorten his learning curve.
I came up through the school of hard knocks myself and it was years & a lot of mistakes before I started figuring the turkey hunting game out better. I also had a little help along the way from reading, then my best friend, who always had access to quality places & who got to travel to take guided hunts at some premier locations (it helps that his father is a wealthy big game hunter). His experience helped refine some of my tactics and we began hunting together regularly over the past 25 years. When we get together, turkeys die. Due to work schedules, we don't get to hunt together as often as we'd like. My other hunting & fishing buddy moved to Arkansas. We have only managed to hunt together once in the past decade.
So, along with helping beak in a new turkey hunter, I'm also hoping to cultivate a friendship. I'm not about to give up any of my best spots, but if I can help this guy along his turkey hunting journey, it could be a good for both of us. I want to see him kill his first and I want to be there when he calls in & kills his first on his own.
Nobody was born knowing how to hunt turkeys and we all had to learn some of it from other members of the tribe, either through books, videos, websites, or mentors. I'm choosing to help guide this guy along the path to get him started out right by sharing my experience in hopes of increasing his skill set. His success will be repayment enough for me.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I guess I just want to share the experience and test my instruction abilities on a willing student who will likely become a hunting buddy. I hope this makes sense.
Jim
I totally understand where you are coming from. I really enjoy taking new hunter's but only if they truly show the passion.Everyone knows the ones that really could care less but will go just to go. That's what I don't have time for. And I have a lot of good friends that fall in that category. They get the fever 2 weeks before season and want to be a turkey hunter.
I take friends, and family once in a while. Got my nephew a huge gobbler, in a deep cut, when he was 15, on his first hunt.That was awesome. The bird, was bigger than he was.The main thing is, they have to respect the bird, be legal, and ethical, and have the right attitude.No hicks, no rednecks bragging about poaching.I won't take them to my best places, or even my second best places.I will take them to a place where I know there are birds. Compatibility is very important, and I won't take people who don't pass my ethics test.