Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Old Gobbler used to be nothing but fun. Sharing info, telling turkey tales, looking at pictures and learning to be a better turkey hunter.
Now it's become a bash fest.
Ban YouTube videos, ban non-residents from hunting in YOUR state, ban decoys, ban blinds, ban reaping.... ban EVERYTHING you don't personally care for.
Sad to see the state of this forum these days. SMH.

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Folks here are sleep deprived and not killing enough turkeys. :TooFunny:

There's a certain contingency to people who don't allow room for people to do things differently than they themselves do things.  My view is there are bag limits and there are many ways to get them filled.  Hunt however you like and have a good time.

I don't see it as arguing. I see it as making people aware... Lots of great discussions.  See it gave you a reason to post ...  It's all about having a voice, opinions and just sharing information and our thoughts... IMO ...  At least Shannon isn't having to delete people for trying to sell with less than 50 posts ... LOL...

That's what this site has become anymore. More of a place for disgruntled turkey hunters than a place for any good conversation.

Somehow non residents are coming into a state and killing all the turkeys, yet the residents can't find any. An odd conundrum.

Let's not forget all the bashing that has been going on i know for a couple of years on the forum bashing the YouTube guys ... If we are going to start pointing fingers ... 

Growing pains.

What was once a small group of dedicated woodsman has been turned upside down by social media goons. We saw this same thing in arkansas duck hunting when the crowding became smothering. Now turkey hunting has been pimped out just as duck hunting was years earlier. This cycle is just beginning. Loose lips sink ships.

I don't see it as arguing and I personally enjoy seeing topics discussed and problems others are having. I used to look at the guys way down south getting over ran with hunters trying to get an early start and all the fist fights at the gates, tires getting cut, trucks shot at, etc and think "man that's crazy, I wouldn't hunt like that" and now 5 or 6 years later,  it's happening in my state of residence full tilt. I enjoy other's opinions and like to have discussions wether their opinions align with mine or not. We can all learn something from them. I don't hate out of state hunters. My problem this season is we're seeing 10+ out of state plates to every one resident plate at these places. And unless you're willing to sit in someone's lap and compete with 6 others guys on 140 acres then you're not going to be able to hunt. I'm afraid that our turkey populations on some of these areas can't withstand the amount of pressure they're seeing. And I'm all for a solution to limit OOS and Resident pressure, wether that be a draw or increased license prices if it means that we continue to have turkeys to hunt down the road. I've limited myself to filling one of my two tags each season and if I want to continue to hunt, I have just as much fun and the same rush calling up the turkeys and watching them without a gun. But everyone is at a different "stage" as a hunter. Without opinions and the ability to discuss our differences in thoughts then what can we learn?. I've learned several things from you guys with differing opinions as mine on several issues and have came away with a different point of view. There's only so much "what's the best gun, what's the best choke, who makes the best call, why ain't the turkeys gobbling?" Threads you can have. We have to have different topics to discuss or this place will be stale. I have a very different opinion on nest predators and trapping them than many of you have and that's from coming from a trapping background and doing it as a kid throughout most of my life and understanding the biology of these "nest predators". If you really want to see the biggest predators of these birds look in the mirror and I'll leave it at that. It doesn't mean that I don't like you guys or that we can't have a conversation on different topics.


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Its always been like this... its why i come here for a question, or to search past posts.
TONS of whining. 

As long as what you are doing is within the law I see now problems with folks doing as they choose.  Decoy vs. no decoy, rifle vs. shotgun and ir can go on and on.  If it is legal you should be up to you.  Then again I am old and don't seek to influence anyone.

 I disagree with everything yall say.  :OGani:

Quote from: strum on April 28, 2023, 01:19:51 PM
I disagree with everything yall say.  :OGani:

:TooFunny: 

It's definitely a little different JimBo! But definitely not like the FB public land page.

We see the same thing every year IMO.  The guys up north are eagerly awaiting their openers and chomping at the bit to get in the woods and the guys down south have been at it for several weeks posting pics and celebrating, so this is normal behavior.  It will All calm down in a couple of weeks when everyone gets their time in the woods.  If you have a Problem with your States way of handling tags or quotas, then go to the DNR and lobby for change.  Hashing it out with Fellow Hunters, that are passionate about this Bird, won't do any of us any Good except Venting.  Let's All band together as a Group and let our voices be heard in our State Capitols.  I wish everyone a Great season!

I live in N.W. Ga while I do recognize a decline in the flock size and poults, the State kill numbers by hunters don't add up for the decline we are seeing. We don't have quails here anymore and had lots when I was teenager. There also something going on in the environment that's not being pointed out.


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Quote from: worth612000 on April 28, 2023, 02:14:25 PM
I live in N.W. Ga while I do recognize a decline in the flock size and poults, the State kill numbers by hunters don't add up for the decline we are seeing. We don't have quails here anymore and had lots when I was teenager. There also something going on in the environment that's not being pointed out.


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Yea, population expansion and the things that come along with it, habitat destruction.

As much as they are a mess people need to embrace city living. Just imagine the acres that would need to be plowed over if everyone of those city living people wanted to move to the suburbs or country to have their own .25-.5 acre lot for a house!!


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Some of us are tagged out and jonesin' while others got no birds and a monkey on their back.

I think I'll go start a thread on burning turkey nests.

When it all comes down to it, there are some of us that just come on here to irritate people.  I won't name names.  We all know who we are.   ;D :toothy9: :angel9: :newmascot:

And some are pretty good at it

We are a family, and dysfunctional and at times delusional as we are, there are good people here who are willing to share stories, photos, tips and how to do things. That is what is so great about this place! Some of us should only be left out of the attic for turkey season or on holidays and locked up the rest of the time. Sure, we might squabble and kick some dirt but in the end 99% of the people here look out for and try to help others.

I am far newer to Old Gobbler than many on the site so I cannot say I have a long term perspective.  I continue to enjoy the site.  I have learned and continue to learn a great deal.  I appreciate the feedback I have received on many topics.  I value the different opinions and respect everyone's right to voice their opinion.  That said, I do not always agree some opinions.  I do, however, realize my opinion is worth very little if I won't listen to opposing views and continually re-evaluate my perspective in the light of new facts.  Fortunately, I think most of us approach these topics with a spirit of fraternal discussion.  I hope it remains so in the future.

Y'all ticked about crowded public land.  In TX we don't have much public, and 98% of that is by draw and takes four or five years to get enough points to draw.  I kind of feel for FL hunters, but the other option is to go pay to hunt.  I just cut a big old check for a hunting lease for another year so pay up or deal with the crowds.

God Bless America, we can travel to other states and kill all their birds.  :OGturkeyhead:

Everybody is arguing because once again they are all wrong, and I am right. Geez guys it ain't complicated. The sooner everyone thinks and does exactly like me the better off everything will get.

To be honest the site seemed to take a very negative turn during Covid. Not everyone that was here but some and many newcomers that had no respect for Shannon's rules.

It is not OG, Facebook, or anything else.   It is the way of the world now days.   Folks cant even figure what bath room to go in and fuss about it.     The problem now no one is happy and think everyone around them should not be happy.  So they get online hide behind a computer and tell you what they will do.  Then call a buddy tell them to get on and help him out.   :z-twocents: :z-twocents:

It's called intense fellowship not arguing.

Quote from: Happy on April 28, 2023, 05:22:14 PM
Everybody is arguing because once again they are all wrong, and I am right. Geez guys it ain't complicated. The sooner everyone thinks and does exactly like me the better off everything will get.

That's an all out lie happy!!  We can't both always be right! ????

Quote from: howl on April 28, 2023, 03:22:57 PM
I think I'll go start a thread on burning turkey nests.

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Quote from: Happy on April 28, 2023, 05:22:14 PM
Everybody is arguing because once again they are all wrong, and I am right. Geez guys it ain't complicated. The sooner everyone thinks and does exactly like me the better off everything will get.

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Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 28, 2023, 05:57:25 PM
It's called intense fellowship not arguing.

I stand corrected.

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 It's turkey season, it's spring. Yeah they go hand in hand, both my two most favorite things!

To the OP... I respect your post, I agree 100%.
To BBcoach, I agree.


I wish there was never a duck to fly over Arkansas. On public ground, walk. Expect small acreage to be crowded. If you primarily hunt public ground try hunting during the week. The pressure will be less, yes it will!

If you can't afford to take time off from work during the week it's not my fault, it's not an OOS fault, it's your fault! Your decision!

Yeah, I am tired of hearing the crying and whining too. Go hunting,  hunt harder, then hunt harder than that. Don't just cry because you don't kill a turkey and someone else does.

I define luck as this: while setting on my couch a gobbler walks through my yard and I kill it because I have NO time to hunt. That's lucky! Once you leave your house you define your luck! Make preparations and get it done.

I do think there is plenty of "intense discussion" (I like this and fully intend to steal it - thanks!) but even this site is way better than when I first joined.  I ignored three people, two of them are gone and one I un-ignored and glad I did.   The key I think is to just not engage the obvious trolls and I don't really think there are many left.  I think when a mess of them learned no one was gonna join their "religion", they moved on to pollute some other cyberspace.  As long as it does not get personal or too preachy, I am cool with folks giving their opinion.  I don't much listen to anyone I don't respect anyways, so it is not likely to change my mind about anything unless it is delivered in a more positive tone.   

I must be naïve.  I like this site and have certainly experienced much worse.   

Quote from:  ;)Brillo on April 28, 2023, 08:20:42 PM
I must be naïve.  I like this site and have certainly experienced much worse.

This site is typically very calm and agreeable.  Folks get tired of dealing with extra hunting pressure, I get that.  I have no public land very near me to hunt so I'm more on the traveler side.  I try to be respectful of all (except for my trolling post above  ;)) and I have encountered very few rude turkey hunters.

Quote from: Happy on April 28, 2023, 05:22:14 PM
Everybody is arguing because once again they are all wrong, and I am right. Geez guys it ain't complicated. The sooner everyone thinks and does exactly like me the better off everything will get.

This is too funny!  :TooFunny:


This is still a great place, I love some of the sharpies comments. There is an unbelievable wealth of Turkey knowledge here. We know who they are and we appreciate you all.

There needs to be some arguing in the turkey hunting community right now...as long at it is somewhat civil.  Turkey are in dire need of help across the entire US.  I think the bubble is about to pop for the guys who have not seen the affects up north.  Maybe not to the extreme that we are dealing with in the SE, but there will be a decline within the next 10 years that will have everyone on the edge of their seats.

If we don't start looking at the problems, then the solutions will never be discovered.  Etiquette, hunting style, habitat, weather, predators, etc.  It is all on the agenda to be scrutinized.  Some times you're going to make people mad in these types of situations and that's something everyone is going to have to realize.  Just be a bigger guy and understand opinions are simply that.  Here them out and develop your own thoughts to express, but keep is civil.

I feel terrible for the people in states that are in decline and those like Florida that are being inundated with out state hunters.
The area I hunted this year was busy enough and on the last day there was someone from another state in a spot I wanted to hunt.  I was more disgruntled than if the vehicle was a fellow taxpayer.  I can't imagine seeing that regularly.  If those topics, which are inherently emotional, can't be cussed and discussed here then where should they be discussed? 

Until people can look at reality and stop being emotional, nothing will change for the better as far as wildlife goes.

Perfect example: Over populated places have no food and water, so what do we do??? Give it to them, so that they can make more babies and be more over populated actually harming them MORE over time but it sure makes us feel good "Now".

For these reasons and luckily for us that neither of us will live long enough to see it, every ounce of land will one day be plowed over to grow crops and or grow useless trees to make paper and build more giant homes for people to live in.

This will leave nothing but areas left not capable of supporting much wildlife and it'll all be gone.

Think out west. It looks to have vast habitats for game "aka the mountains" yet those mountains are under feet of snow come winter, and the wildlife migrates down to peoples yards and crops where they get run off until they start starving and die.

Millions upon millions more people every year need a place to live. And these days they want everything big. The avg house built now is almost double in size what it was when I was a kid, as are the vehicles to carry us and all our trinkets around. This takes down massive amounts of habitat with it.

Every person here has an example of where they once roamed and hunted as kids that is now houses!!

THAT IS WHERE THE MAIN PROBLEM IS, and it will never change because of the way humans naturally are. 


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1965 to 2019 where I live

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Quote from: Gooserbat on April 28, 2023, 11:27:59 AM
There's a certain contingency to people who don't allow room for people to do things differently than they themselves do things.  My view is there are bag limits and there are many ways to get them filled.  Hunt however you like and have a good time.

Looking for a "Like" button. Well put.  I agree 100%

I sort of blame COVID.  People got cranky, vengeful, and only interested in looking out for #1 about the time that all went down.  We haven't totally moved on yet.  There's also too many people these days with similar interests.  It didn't used to be crowded in the turkey woods and hunters seemed to be more uptight with the turkeys than other hunters.  There weren't draw hunts around here either, because not as many people were competing for the same resource. 

Just like there wasn't a size restriction or limit on crappie, though it's more common these days because some abused the privilege.

Jim

Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 29, 2023, 01:20:51 PM
Until people can look at reality and stop being emotional, nothing will change for the better as far as wildlife goes.

Perfect example: Over populated places have no food and water, so what do we do??? Give it to them, so that they can make more babies and be more over populated actually harming them MORE over time but it sure makes us feel good "Now".

For these reasons and luckily for us that neither of us will live long enough to see it, every ounce of land will one day be plowed over to grow crops and or grow useless trees to make paper and build more giant homes for people to live in.

This will leave nothing but areas left not capable of supporting much wildlife and it'll all be gone.

Think out west. It looks to have vast habitats for game "aka the mountains" yet those mountains are under feet of snow come winter, and the wildlife migrates down to peoples yards and crops where they get run off until they start starving and die.

Millions upon millions more people every year need a place to live. And these days they want everything big. The avg house built now is almost double in size what it was when I was a kid, as are the vehicles to carry us and all our trinkets around. This takes down massive amounts of habitat with it.

Every person here has an example of where they once roamed and hunted as kids that is now houses!!

THAT IS WHERE THE MAIN PROBLEM IS, and it will never change because of the way humans naturally are. 


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You got it right. 100%

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Quote from: Spurs on April 29, 2023, 08:07:34 AM
There needs to be some arguing in the turkey hunting community right now...as long at it is somewhat civil.  Turkey are in dire need of help across the entire US.  I think the bubble is about to pop for the guys who have not seen the affects up north.  Maybe not to the extreme that we are dealing with in the SE, but there will be a decline within the next 10 years that will have everyone on the edge of their seats.

If we don't start looking at the problems, then the solutions will never be discovered.  Etiquette, hunting style, habitat, weather, predators, etc.  It is all on the agenda to be scrutinized.  Some times you're going to make people mad in these types of situations and that's something everyone is going to have to realize.  Just be a bigger guy and understand opinions are simply that.  Here them out and develop your own thoughts to express, but keep is civil.

This hits the nail on the head!!

There has been a major culture shift with turkey hunting, thanks to advances in technology, tools, and social media.  Should we sit idly by and not challenge (discuss and share opinions) what are real threats to the future of turkeys and turkey hunting?  I don't think so.  I think it's absolutely imperative that we have these discussions.

In the comments of a FB post, a guy in a state forum shared OnX pins of where two gobbling turkeys could be located in a WMA.  I knew exactly where it was, as I had heard those same turkeys.  If WE invested turkey hunters don't keep that in check, what will we have left in 10-20 years?  This is the new social media dominated culture, in which we are quickly becoming outnumbered, and sticking our head in the sand with the attitude of "if it's legal" or "as long as it's within our bag limits" isn't going to bode well for the future.