The Shaman Returns

[shaman]

I don't know about you guys, but by Mid-May every year, I've lost the feeling.  In the good years, it's because I've filled all my tags, and I've got to start thinking about practical things like mowing the lawn.  In the bad years,  I reach a point where the season ends, and I have to finally admit that a bird with a pea brain has bested me.  Either way, I put the turkeys aside and walk away.

Last season was the season that wasn't.   Andy Beshear (may his soul rot in hell) shut down non-resident tag sales  the morning I was due to buy mine.  This was after some of the most intense pre-season turkey action I've ever had.  KYHillChick called me up to tell me the news just after I had a gobbler come up my back side and spit and drum in front of the umbrella mike.   That was two weekends in a row where mature gobblers tried to make love to my mike at flydown.   I had to cancel my vacation, and come back over the bridge.

So here I am, trying to use up that last week of vacation before I lose it, and  it just so happens that the weather is right, there's a slight dusting of snow on the ground.  The sunrise is going to hit me square in the face in a few minutes and the switch inside my head  goes from  the "DEER" position over to "TURKEY."  Some time this morning, I'll go down the basement and grab the old suitcase with my calls.  I'll start watching turkey porn on Youtube.  I'll start readying my first weblog posts on Turkey.

I've been checking out the long-range forecasts.  Kentucky is due for a warm/wet spring.  We're in a La Nina event.  My farm usually produces the best in La Nina years.  I'd love to see the Trans-Bluegrass have a hot-steamy  Opening Week with thunderstorms  every couple of days.  The lack of hunting last year means all those 2-yr-olds I saw are now 3.  The mature birds are still out there.  In fact I saw a group of 10 beard-draggers out in the pasture at Halloween. 

Dang!  Now I'm really started. 

Anyhow.  I'm back.  It feels good to be back.

[Tom007]

Welcome back, I myself am also ready for spring. Be safe....

[dayna105]

Waiting on early spring here myself. Missed deer season this year. So hoping the governor don't mess this coming turkey season up, and the Lord is willing to allow me to hunt it.

[Greg Massey]

First now is the time to buy new turkey calls and start the build up to opening day this spring...

[Sir-diealot]

I have been ready since the season ended last year, it was a VERY quiet year last year and it just left me wanting. I was getting picked on for reading turkey hunting books in the deer blind this season. I do enjoy deer hunting but turkey hunting is just so much more interactive that I enjoy it much more.

[paboxcall]

I get it Steve, deer hunting doesn't excite me like it used to. Rather hunt the turkeys spring and fall.

[Crghss]

I'm finally getting the feeling.....

Last season I got one weekend of hunting before my local options got shutdown. Then my 2 out-of-state hunts where cancelled. Majorly bummed, was going to be first out-of state hunt with my brother. Little did I know it'd only get worse being locked up at home.

But I'm ready to book my Black Hill's hunt and I'll start my local scouting in a week or two for Florida.

So starting to shake those COVID blues.....just writing this is getting me fired up!!!!

[Cut N Run]

I got abused last Spring by too many people hunting turkeys all around the small farms I hunt.  Every day was Saturday and birds got slaughtered.  My best friend bought a new piece of land up in Virginia, so I look forward to making a weekend road trip on some mountain birds.

I get that feeling whenever I see or hear a gobbler on a cold morning.  No matter where I am, I always stop and wait for the gobble behind a crow's caws, even if I'm pretty sure it won't happen.  Sometimes it does, and I'm ready to drop everything and start figuring out the best way to approach that gpbbler.  I could be packed up and ready to go in under 10 minutes flat.  I watched some of Dave Owens videos yesterday before bed and it fired me up even more.  I'm not counting the days to Opening Day yet, but I'm considering it. It's not a disease or affliction, I'm possessed & pretty proud to own it.

Jim

Jim

[shaman]

If y'all are looking for a way to get in the groove, might I recommend this:

Wake-up Call

I think I've posted it before.  I'm using it now as my morning alarm.

[husker]

I have been ready since the season ended last year, it was a VERY quiet year last year and it just left me wanting. I was getting picked on for reading turkey hunting books in the deer blind this season. I do enjoy deer hunting but turkey hunting is just so much more interactive that I enjoy it much more.

I'm with you.  I was just saying this past weekend, that I enjoy Deer hunting, but if you were to pin me down and force me to pick either Deer or Turkey to hunt for the rest of my days, it would always be Turkey.   Much more interactive and exciting to me.   Plus, the Turkeys don't care if you have showered in scent-free soap and kept your clothes in airtight containers!!  :-)

[paboxcall]

I have been ready since the season ended last year, it was a VERY quiet year last year and it just left me wanting. I was getting picked on for reading turkey hunting books in the deer blind this season. I do enjoy deer hunting but turkey hunting is just so much more interactive that I enjoy it much more.

I'm with you.  I was just saying this past weekend, that I enjoy Deer hunting, but if you were to pin me down and force me to pick either Deer or Turkey to hunt for the rest of my days, it would always be Turkey.   Much more interactive and exciting to me.   Plus, the Turkeys don't care if you have showered in scent-free soap and kept your clothes in airtight containers!!  :-)

And warmer temps and better weather too.

[reflexl]

I am tagged out on bucks and have been thinking about turkeys for at least two weeks.
I am glad you got it back. I can't imaging loosing it.

[Sir-diealot]

I have been ready since the season ended last year, it was a VERY quiet year last year and it just left me wanting. I was getting picked on for reading turkey hunting books in the deer blind this season. I do enjoy deer hunting but turkey hunting is just so much more interactive that I enjoy it much more.

I'm with you.  I was just saying this past weekend, that I enjoy Deer hunting, but if you were to pin me down and force me to pick either Deer or Turkey to hunt for the rest of my days, it would always be Turkey.   Much more interactive and exciting to me.   Plus, the Turkeys don't care if you have showered in scent-free soap and kept your clothes in airtight containers!!  :-)

And warmer temps and better weather too.

People tend to be surprised by this but if it is a good snowy Winter I am in much less pain. Unfortunately it has been a very rainy Winter here so far so my body has not been doing the best. You're supposed to bathe before you hunt deer? Hmmm

[NCL]

Used to hunt deer every year and have hunter deer in several different states but then I found turkey hunting and not hunter deer for probably 20 years. Still enjoy watching deer just not interesting in killing them. As had been stated turkey hunting just seems more interactive and the excitement level is higher for a longer time

[Bagg-it Tag-it]

I've got duck season for another month and I'm equally passionate about it. Duck hunting is a totally different thing. Much more social and interaction with your hunting partners. Working ducks with the call is a close approximation to the communication with turkeys. I love deer hunting and matching wits with the animals and the geography and figuring out where he is going to show up next. But chasing the spring and going toe to toe with God's most spooky creation in a grand chess match has no peer to me. I haven't gone elk hunting so can't speak to that. But to get out in the dark of morning in the spring woods and hear them wake up and the Thunder King announce his reign and shake the leaves off the spring trees as he sounds off.....man I'm getting tingles just thinking about it. Picturing him in your mind's eye and what he is going to do next and racking your brain on what you must do next and then getting the set up just right (or not) and then beginning the conversation with him and the constant small incremental adjustments that all add up to a successful hunt.....Can it ever get old? I hope it never does.