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 And if your in my 1% with me, I am sorry for you. Here is how it goes.

Yesterday I get out of the truck at 541 start walking up the hill and here an owl, its still pretty dark. The third time he gives a hoooo a turkey gobbles right where they have been for the last 12 years. I just keep walking. I know where to go.

Turkey gobbles good at the owl, chickens, dogs, whatever, he is proud of himself. "He did sound good." I slide up behind him and get seated and wait.

It finally gets to a point I feel safe to let out a couple soft calls and shut up. I see him fly down right below the crest in the ridge between us, as they have many times.

My gun is trained to the right beyond where I anticipate his presence to be made and wait. I am ready. I am studying for any movement on the crest above where he pitched out and just can't make him out. 5 minutes-10 minutes maybe, tic, 90 degrees to my right. I very slower turn my head with my eyes looking at the side of my skull and my nose and see him standing there, 13yards, strutting.

I am pinned down tight and don't move, he made a great decision and went to his left, my right, behind me. I let him go turning my head as he went. When he strutted I turned but didn't do the best of jobs. He came out of strut and I flat out missed him.

I am going to fast forwarded from the miss to this morning.

So, I arrive 5 minutes earlier this morning and start walking. I get right to the bottom of the ridge they like and he gobbles, same spot as yesterday. It's dark.

I slide up there and set on the crest today. I am ready before I set down, waiting. I am going to guess on this but would say at 620 he flew down. I seen him come down off the limb. I hadn't made a peep yet. When he hit the ground I ran off a yelp and seen him blow up. Kind of like a glob, a glob of black 75 yards away.

He strutted his way right on up to me, I would say at 35 yards a hen yelped behind me to my left. The Tom started heading that way and I clucked softly a couple times and he honored that.

At 30 yards he was perfect. I started applying pressure to the point that I snap the trigger. Somewhere right in that moment he moved just a tad and I flat out missed, AGAIN! Two days in a row I missed the same turkey, he and I will have another date together. He is one lucky dude.

I did learn one lesson but am not sure how to resolve. FFF3 on lowest setting puts a heck of a blur on a gobbler when it's not a natural time for them to be on the ground!

After the swing and miss yesterday I went to the other end of the property and called up two long beards. No excuse from the gun, it was sighted in on Friday and hadn't moved in the 12 hours before season. I didn't miss on the one I picked out.

That other one, he has a golden horseshoe tucked up something.
You know your getting old when you laugh at this if it happens to you. There was a time not long ago, I would not have laughed.

Sorry bout your run of bad luck. I prefer to laugh about others' misfortunes. When it comes to turkeys, it takes a few days until I can laugh at myself.

I've never missed so I can't comment on that aspect.  But I once fired two warning shots in less than an hour, but that was at different turkeys.   I do laugh at myself when warning shots are fired, but I laugh louder when someone else is on the trigger.   His days are numbered.   Good luck.

I've gotten to where I fire more and more warning shots!!

I should take that advice, "Warning shots". He needs educated or someone is going to kill him. He is overly eager for sure, and lucky.

I think no more warning shots are warranted from me. 

Yes, sir!!! I am so glad you said something about the FF3. Two days ago, I had a similar story about the same thing,  A MISS!!!
I live in Louisiana, and it's always humid, but 2 days ago, I couldn't hardly breathe. I ran my air conditioner in the truck,  got to the spot, and he played the game exactly what I wanted him to do. 40 yards, wide open, and I see him great, but for some reason, when I looked through the FF3, BLURRY. I have MS, so I thought at 1st my eyes were playing tricks on me.  The dot also seemed bright to me as well.
After the miss, I came home to check on my gun. Again, I ran the air conditioner in the truck on the way home. I got out and I put a target on the backer, and I got my gun out, walking to the bench, I looked down at the FF3, so much moisture on the lens I absolutely couldn't see through it!¡! 1st time using the red dot, it's not good so far!!!
Shot my gun, and it's on, no doubt about it, a clean miss. At the shot, he just slicked off and just walked out of my life.  FOR NOW ANYWAY!¡
WHEN HUMIDITY TURNS TO HUMILITY!!!
Also 1st time shooting a 20 gauge, turkey hunting.

Have a good one and May God bless y'all, Bo
Tomorrow is going to be a better day!!

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I'm not so sure about that 99 percent number. Thinking you might be giving us way to much credit!

NO shame in missing, we have all did it with pride... I love the story ....

Great story an I believe his days are numbered! We need pics when his luck runs out .


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I know that stinks but at least you know where there's a gobbler that likes you. WV season opens the 17th and I can't wait. I hope I just get to hear and see what you have so far. You'll get him next time and we'll be complimenting your picture of that ol bird in a day or so.

Quote from: Paulmyr on April 09, 2023, 07:32:37 PM
I'm not so sure about that 99 percent number. Thinking you might be giving us way to much credit!

Amen! When you've hunted turkeys long enough you've either had your share of misses or you're a liar about them, haha

One of favorite quotes on this subject....it'll be alright, you'll forget about it in about 25 or 30 years

I missed hell out of a bird I've chased for three years a week ago tomorrow. First shot opportunity I've ever had on him. I just flat blew it. A few days later I got on him again but he wouldn't slip up. He seldom slips up. That to say, if you've hunted any length of time at all, it happens. And with regards to yours, third time's the charm!


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That`s turkey hunting! I feel your pain. I withhold any advise because I have fired warning shots also. But in reality I think turkey dinner will be served soon.  :newmascot:

I guess that's one way to savor the hunt and keep it going.

Sounds like he's a creature of habit. That should work in your favor...... as long as you aren't a creature of habit and miss again. Best of luck to you!!

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I have a feeling he won't be so lucky next time........ :fud:

I have done it... About an hour after the first time. (Facepalm). This was before I learned much about poi/POA and how different chokes impact differently. I was shooting a foot to the right and a foot over him both times.

With turkeys...  I no longer remember all the times I have connected...  But...  I sure remember those MISSES! :character0029:

Don't worry...  Ten years from now, you'll be able to laugh at this. :toothy12:

I've missed the same bird twice in the same morning four hours apart. I wasn't laughing to much but got over it and yes, the gun was on. All I can say is it happens and field birds are hard to judge distance. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Great story.  More hunters miss than you think.

Great story! I can't wait for the next story when you get him.

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True Confessions Time, I see...
Circa 1981...High in the mountains of New Mexico. Early morning.  Set up with back to a stump with several roosted gobblers spread out over a mountainside above me.  Soon have a gobbler march down to me, stopping at around twenty yards in the wide open.  I shoot.  Gobbler flies off untouched.  Sit back down and mope for a few minutes.

Another gobbler sounds off.  I call.  He struts down the hill to the same spot the first bird stood.  I shoot, gobbler flies off untouched.  I mope again.

The End....

...Oh wait,...Not The End...    I've had similar incidents a couple more times over the years.  Thanks for bringing this topic up and reminding me! ....NOT!  ::) ;D :angel9:

Somehow I think you're percentage figure is way on the high side!

You been hanging out on Old Gobbler too much....missitis is contagous and some here have it. I know for a fact I caught it from a certain poster here last spring! Drove 1600 miles and hunted hard for three days only to miss a perfectly good shot on a nice merriams. The only thing I could think of was I got too close to a certain forum member that had missitis the day before I got there.....not mentioning any names, that would be nuts

Quote from: eggshell on April 10, 2023, 10:48:48 AM
You been hanging out on Old Gobbler too much....missitis is contagous and some here have it. I know for a fact I caught it from a certain poster here last spring! Drove 1600 miles and hunted hard for three days only to miss a perfectly good shot on a nice merriams. The only thing I could think of was I got too close to a certain forum member that had missitis the day before I got there.....not mentioning any names, that would be nuts

You really gotta watch who you hang out with around here....   ;D :angel9:

Couple years ago I missed presumably the same bird twice.  First time was after playing cat and mouse for 2 days.  Third morning I tried to get ahead of him but couldn't get to where he wanted to be in time so I listened to him gobble his head off 75 yards away for nearly an hour.  Then he went silent.  Figured he was moving, and he was.  Caught movement out of the corner of my eye, he circled wide to my left.  Let him work behind some obstructions and turned toward his last seen location, let out some light calling.    He circled back around to my now right side, coming on a string right down a path behind me.  I had a hell of a hide in a blown down tree top, so good that there was no way to make a good turn on him.  He got to about 15 yards when I decided I had to take my swing.  Spun around, stood up to a knee, took a running shot and missed.

Fast forward to the following weekend, got in early and set up on the route that i thought he had been taking all last weekend.  Gobble time comes, and he's roosted in the same spot.  15-20 minutes after fly down his hen comes walking past at 20 yards.  I picked an open spot down an old grown-in logging road and trained my gun on it, waiting for him to follow.  Here he comes a couple minutes later full strut on the same route as the hen.  He gets to about 35 yards right on the edge of the old logging road and comes out of strut picks his head up and tucks his wings.  What the--  I hadn't moved an inch!  What did he see?  6th sense maybe?  Took the shot through a little bit of junk at that moment and again, missed!  Three more steps and I'm confident that hunt has a different outcome. 

 I am proud of your guys honestly. "But very disappointed" in you guys, you suck! Running around and missing turkeys lick that!

There is no reason to miss a turkey, twice, that's just plain out unexceptionable.... For the same turkey anyway.

I have had my share of craziness that's for sure, I hope it stops before I can't hunt anymore. I have missed twice one day, two different set ups, different turkeys, funny...same property as this weekend.

I am thinking the guy in the office may have made me sick today, he coughed and hacked and just plain out made noise all day long. I sware he was grunting while breathing. "I did ask if he were ok". Seriously, dude sets right in front of me with plexiglass between us.

So, with his junk I am thinking it will hit me Wednesday morning. Now, I was raised if you were sick you were sick and you may as well be at work making money while your sick. " Your sick regardless." I have lived by this for 30+ years with exception to one time when I had puked till my ribs were sore and my butt was raw.

But, maybe I will bend this one time, in the era of COVID, and self monitor in the woods on Wednesday... MAYBE.

Thanks for all the great stories guys!

 If things have a turn in luck I will post a picture, at least this bird kicking my butt ain't a Jake. Probably a two year old, but hoping he doesn't make to three by my hand!

Well look on the bright side. At least you got to shoot at one. I know some guys who go a full season and never gets a shot at one. I have whiffed a few over the years. Use to make me sick at my stomach and had a hard time getting over it. Fast forward in my turkey hunting career and I have let good birds I could kill walk off. I still kill them but I get a sick feeling when it's over because I know I will never hear that bird gobble or play the game with him ever again.

Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 12, 2023, 04:51:30 PM
Well look on the bright side. At least you got to shoot at one. I know some guys who go a full season and never gets a shot at one. I have whiffed a few over the years. Use to make me sick at my stomach and had a hard time getting over it. Fast forward in my turkey hunting career and I have let good birds I could kill walk off. I still kill them but I get a sick feeling when it's over because I know I will never hear that bird gobble or play the game with him ever again.

True, True I feel the same way, agree 100%

 My Mother would be proud of me! I did not let my desire allow me to miss work. I just couldn't do it, I cant be not sick and call in!!! I don't miss work.

So, I got up good this morning and felt great, odd for me. Arrived 25 minutes early and packed up and started the walk, this is a small property and this guy is as his ancestors, like to roost on a ridge close to where I park. Its maybe a 600 yard walk at best.

I slide in there quite, face mask and gloves on before the final approach, I know where I am setting up. "I have thought about it all week". I set up in exactly the same spot as the second miss as I felt this would allow the most forgiveness. I set for quit a while before a bird even made a chirp!

The turkey had been gobbling really early to my standards. Today was different. I heard two turkeys a couple hundred yards to the west and thought maybe they had moved but something didn't sound the same. I stayed put for a while longer, finally I could see the Tom setting on the same limb as last week. He started gobbling and strutting on the limb, his buddy sounded off twice as well.

I didn't call, as soon as he got on his wings I yelped. Before he hit the ground I had a nice soft series of yelps in the air. But, today was different, he was not as eager as the two days before. "Maybe all the warning shots!!!" His buddy flew down and I could make them out in front of me, strutting, circling, probably 100 yards out.

A hen sneaks in right beside me and crosses in front of me at 15 yards. She makes an S pattern, starts on my right, crosses to my left and then hooks back into the two Toms. Now, I am enjoying this. I get to call, and, I am calling! She is ripping the clucks and I am shutting her down. Slowing they start coming out the ridge line.

They did take their time, seemed like forever but was probably only 4-5 minutes and I knew I was getting another shot at this gobbler. He stayed in strut the whole way, his buddy never did strut and the hen was quit. When he hit the 40 yard line and came from behind a tree I ended this beasts reign over me. Very nice hunt and a nice young gobbler. He was heavy, probably 22#, and sported a nice thick 11" beard. The spurs, well, they were as good as a two year old spur gets, he could even be 3 years old for the stories sake. Nice fat spurs, 7/8" long and blunt.

Vengeance is mine!

Pic to follow shortly from Tapatalk.

Here he is.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230414/25c65a9a2038ecda4793a6433bbdd321.jpg)

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Congratulations. Glad to see you redeemed yourself