Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

So for those that have been at this obsession for a while.  Did you keep a count of how many birds you have harvested?

I don't. It isn't going to change who I am, and quite frankly, the amount of turkeys I kill is pretty low on my list of things I would like to be remembered by. I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

I lost count a long time ago. It's a lot, but I honestly don't know how many.

It just simply isn't important to me anymore. I rarely limit out anymore even when I have ample opportunity.

Use to, haven't in a while and now I don't know what my total is

I'm also weird enough I stopped collecting beards/spurs


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If I never kill another one I can honestly say I have killed my fair share.

Never did as I went along.

Couple years ago I sat down and tried to remember, at least, where each spring bird I have shot was taken.  But I was trying to recount for 40-some years off the top of my head.  So I don't know how many I may have missed/forgotten. 

Doesn't matter anyways.  I'm about as anti a "numbers guy" as you'll meet.

Quote from: Spitten and drummen on February 20, 2024, 09:52:42 PM
If I never kill another one I can honestly say I have killed my fair share.

You -n- me BOTH, brother !!!!

But I still can't wait for the NEXT one.    :happy0064:

I've never really kept up with it. I know it's been more than I remember. I usually give the fans to my father who puts them up in a wall in his shop. I walked in back in the summer and was shocked at the number of fans. I don't remember killing that many over the years. Same goes for deer as well. When you've hunted for 30 years plus, that equals a lot of game.

Quote from: Happy on February 20, 2024, 09:38:15 PM
........ the amount of turkeys I kill is pretty low on my list of things I would like to be remembered by. I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

I read this.   Then I re-read this.........like........5 times.

This is, in its simplicity, one of the single, most perfectly worded, SPOT-ON statements about turkey hunting I've ever read.

If EVERYONE who took to the turkey woods lived by THIS simple credo.......... What a wonderful turkey huntin' world this would be !!!!!!!!! 

I salute you, Mr. Happy.

Was just trying to think of that the other day and realized it doesn't matter. Funny thing is I can remember all the misses and the birds that beat up on me without a problem.

They are are all accounted for in a photo album and are also on the wall, tables or floor in some form of display. I have only been hunting turkeys since 2012, so I don't have as many as some, which makes it easier to remember them..

No not really. I just enjoy chasing them with the anticipation of being successful. Most of the time the gobblers have other plans and don't always cooperate but regardless calling and chasing is fun and exciting. Nothing better than those early spring mornings and hearing turkeys on the roost. Hopefully after that you will have a gobbler flopping on the ground.  What an adrenaline rush even for us older hunters.

129.  I don't know why I keep counting but I do. Maybe it's for me , or maybe it's for the turkeys.

I knew it for a time, but I have lost count.  I guess that makes my answer, not enough.   ;D

I counted em, photographed em, remembered em, and honor em. I killed em in a lot of states for a lot of years. It doesn't mean anything to anybody else so I don't show and tell. I have a lot more seasons behind me than in front but maybe I'll be able to sit on the porch and reminisce when I can no longer chase em. I'll still be after em this spring so I must not be done.

My goal was to kill 100 by 30 years old. Once I did that I haven't kept up with it anymore and definitely haven't slowed down. Just hope to tangle with one more ...... every chance I get.

Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

I remember a conversation I had with my son when he was young about deer hunting and it applies with turkeys or anything you hunt. He didn't understand it at the time because for him at the time in his life it was about killing or getting something each and every-time he went afield.
I told him, " Son it isn't always about killing or harvesting an animal but more about being out in the woods enjoying what nature provides us. If you see a deer or a turkey that's a treat, if you happen to harvest one that's a bonus. Enjoy and be thankful!
He understands now that he got older!
Why keep a count, who are you impressing but yourself?

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 04:02:51 AM
Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

Best thing you can do Tom. That and the people you might have been with and any dumb thing that happened on the hunt or in the camp and who did it. That way you can bring it up years later and laugh about it.

Yup, sure do. I keep a spreadsheet with every bird, the state and parcel of land I killed him on, distance, beard length/spurs/weight, and brief 1 liner on the hunt. I can tell you how many birds i've killed in each state, how many multiple bearders I've killed, how many of each subspecies, how many in each national forest, etc. But I won't tell you. I do it for myself and noone else.

When I started turkey hunting you kept it secret ! If someone asked depending on who it was you might tell them you killed one that morning or may not . Only your true friends and family got to see the beards and spurs you collected . I wouldn't mind it being that way again but I know I'm dreaming.

Yes. I've kept an old note book for 20+ yrs. As many have said it's for me and it's not for the numbers.  I can open it up and recall birds I would have forgotten about by now. I use one line on the paper for each bird. Date Time beard spurs weight short description of where. I do this not only for my birds but all birds I have a part in the hunt. I used to keep a hunt journal way back when. I still love picking them up and reliving a hunt I wouldn't remember otherwise. I wish I had kept doing that consistently.

Quote from: Turkeybutt on February 21, 2024, 04:15:19 AM

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 04:02:51 AM
Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

Best thing you can do Tom. That and the people you might have been with and any dumb thing that happened on the hunt or in the camp and who did it. That way you can bring it up years later and laugh about it.

Amen my friend...

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 04:02:51 AM
Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

I wish I had kept a hunting journal.

The cool thing I see being revealed in this thread is most of us who are regular posters are older veteran hunters and are in the senior stages of being a sportsman. If this crowd was younger I suspect there would be a lot of numbers being posted. I would not be surprised if many of the youtubers could give you numbers right off the bat. As we mature in this sport we learn numbers are only relative to opportunity. If you travel a lot and have a lot of hunt time, your numbers will be better. For me it was a form of validation when I was younger and it kind of drove me. I have even confessed in some of my post that my family suffered from my obsession, missed birthdays and school events and so forth. I would give up every turkey to have some of that quality time back. For me, I had an epiphany one day and realized I had made my turkey hunting prowess an idol in my life. Yes this came after I became a Christian and a lot of things changed. I once had almost an entire wall in our basement covered with fans, spurs and beards. On the day I spoke of I bagged it all up and set it out for the garbage truck. My wife actually bet I would go get it before the truck came, but I didn't.

Do I count, not deliberately.  I have kept a photo album and each picture has bird stats on the back. I do enjoy looking through it and reminiscing, just like all you with journals. I think it's ok to count if you want, especially when your younger. Just don't be a jerk and braggart about it. Someone asked me once how many I have killed and my answer was this, "I don't keep a count and haven't for many years, if your still counting you ain't killed enough. You'll know when that day comes." That is still my answer. I hunt hard as I can stand anymore, but I am perfectly fine walking away from a gobbler and not putting one more notch in my turkey gun. A rare wildflower found will make my day. 

I had to stop counting after I ran out of fingers and toes .

Truth be said, I wish I could knock em down, take a few photo's, give him some smelling salt and watch him return back to his roost for another hunter to experience him. That would be wonderful....

I keep up with it during each season, that's about it.  I have no idea how many I've killed.


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Nope.  Numbers shouldn't be why we do this; it should be about the experiences we have and the friends we do it with.  Experiences, travels and friends will make memories, numbers are just that numbers.

I took an 81 year old gentleman out last April.  He had never killed a turkey in his lifetime.  I called for him and had 3 different birds working to our location.  I looked at him and told him, "I don't know which bird is going to get here first but be perfectly still."  Within 5 minutes, he had his first bird down at 20 yards.  Numbers don't mean a thing, when you have these MEMORIES!

I'm big on the old photo albums also but as for actual numbers it would only be a guess.  Lucky to have chased them for so long.  Remember I've been around during the "glory days" when two bird limits were the norm and I often took a camper to multiple states during many a spring.   Been quite a ride.  Good luck to all this season.

I do for 2 reasons.  First, I am much newer to turkey hunting and haven't killed nearly as many as most of you.  Second, I also keep a journal that helps me remember and celebrate the wins and losses.

Quote from: Happy on February 20, 2024, 09:38:15 PM
I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

This will come back to haunt you, better spend more time in gym!  :toothy12:

Like eggshell said, most of us are older, I like to have something to remind me, have 1st Tom mounted and should have had my sons 1st mounted, but I cherish those 2 hunts more than anything, numbers dont matter.

Quote from: eggshell on February 21, 2024, 07:20:06 AM
The cool thing I see being revealed in this thread is most of us who are regular posters are older veteran hunters and are in the senior stages of being a sportsman. If this crowd was younger I suspect there would be a lot of numbers being posted. I would not be surprised if many of the youtubers could give you numbers right off the bat. As we mature in this sport we learn numbers are only relative to opportunity. If you travel a lot and have a lot of hunt time, your numbers will be better. For me it was a form of validation when I was younger and it kind of drove me. I have even confessed in some of my post that my family suffered from my obsession, missed birthdays and school events and so forth. I would give up every turkey to have some of that quality time back. For me, I had an epiphany one day and realized I had made my turkey hunting prowess an idol in my life. Yes this came after I became a Christian and a lot of things changed. I once had almost an entire wall in our basement covered with fans, spurs and beards. On the day I spoke of I bagged it all up and set it out for the garbage truck. My wife actually bet I would go get it before the truck came, but I didn't.

Do I count, not deliberately.  I have kept a photo album and each picture has bird stats on the back. I do enjoy looking through it and reminiscing, just like all you with journals. I think it's ok to count if you want, especially when your younger. Just don't be a jerk and braggart about it. Someone asked me once how many I have killed and my answer was this, "I don't keep a count and haven't for many years, if your still counting you ain't killed enough. You'll know when that day comes." That is still my answer. I hunt hard as I can stand anymore, but I am perfectly fine walking away from a gobbler and not putting one more notch in my turkey gun. A rare wildflower found will make my day.

Well, hop on Facebook and you will see plenty of old men thumping their chests and complaining about TSS.  Some people treat it as a competition or their whole identity, which is weird to me.   A lot of ego in the turkey game, and glad it isn't present heavily on these forums.

In the end they are just you before you had your epiphany.

Of course I have been a really bad turkey hunter for a really long time.  So I learned to just appreciate being around the woods pretty quickly.

Yes I know how many,  if I would  count  all the spurs up .

Quote from: JeffC on February 21, 2024, 08:17:21 AM

Quote from: Happy on February 20, 2024, 09:38:15 PM
I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

This will come back to haunt you, better spend more time in gym!  :toothy12:

;D :icon_thumright:  Yep,...if you mean what I think you mean, taking anybody out to your spots on public land will eventually bite you right in the behind.  Take it from somebody who did it way too much...and finally learned the lesson waayyy too late.  There is a BIG difference between taking other folks (kids or adults) on private land where you can control "matters" indefinitely.  It is a whole 'nother ball game to take them to your public land spots. 

As for the question, I have not kept track...probably could have made a count up until about 1990, but lots of turkeys have flown under the bridge since then.  I kind of wish I had kept better track after all these years.

The first ten or so years I spring gobbler hunted, I wrote full-length accounts of my hunts...and now wish I had continued to do so. For you newer hunters, it might be a good idea to jot down something on your hunts.  Don't do it as an "ego" thing...do it as a "memories" thing. After a few decades of doing this, you will be glad you did.   :icon_thumright:

I honestly have no clue, I had a bucket of spurs for years but pitched them when I moved, I was averaging around 10 per year for a while and that adds up pretty quick.

Have also guided countless hunts so I got to see a lot of birds shot by others as well, sure has been fun and can't wait to get after it here shortly!

There are only a handful of people I will tell when I kill. I could have one in my truck bed, and be talking to you, if you are not one of those people, you would never know about it. Hell, I've had guys walk up to the truck and see a gobbler in the bed, and still deny killing one, even game wardens ;D  That said, I've kept every beard and set of spurs, off every gobbler I have ever killed, this out of respect for them. Never once have I counted.

When I was younger and could remember things better, I just knew how many but didn't actually keep count perse.
But back then, turkey hunting was a new thing in WI and I was quickly hooked. Like others have said, it's not about the count, it's about the experience and being in the outdoors. I have taken a lot of first time hunters out and the ones that only went that one time, still talk about the hunt as it is forever etched in there mind. To me that is more than worth it as they will forever have a better understanding of the outdoors and respect for those of us that live the outdoors.

I do. It's more than some, it's a lot less than many have killed, but I'm thankful for the experience of each and every one of those hunts.

I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping track of kills. We humans seem to view much of the world by the numbers. I don't think there's anything wrong with sharing those numbers with friends, though I rarely have. The total used to be important to me, not so much now that I am older. I'm guessing that's the case with virtually everyone. One's perspective changes with age.

I do wish I had kept a journal. There was a time, and not that long ago, when I could remember details about each and every bird I ever killed such as which way the bird was turned when I pulled the trigger. Not so much anymore. I've tried to forget every miss and screw up, but they tend to remain as vivid memories.

Remember and memorialize your time in the outdoors in any manner that gives you pleasure. That's what it's all about. If that means a room full of fans and beards, great. If it's a mind full of memories, that's great too.

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I do not, I remember a lot of them, and some of the special ones,  but don't keep track.

Well for me this is easy, I have only gotten one. That said I don't think I need to keep track of any of the animals I have killed in order to prove to myself or anyone else that I am a man.

To me it is like a guy that sleeps with a lot of women and keeps track of how many, the only one it really impresses is himself. I knew a guy that had a wall of panties for all his conquests, actually felt sorry for the guy that that is all he thought relationships were about and I was still young then.

Edit: I have as some have mentioned tried to keep a journal, mostly what I have seen during the day turkey or visiting deer or birds as I find myself getting interested more and more in birds in general as well as just some thoughts during the day. I feel sorry for anyone trying to read it after I am dead and gone though, my handwriting is horrific. I have also as of late decided to shoot them more with the camera than the gun, if I am in to much pain to clean them then there is no sense shooting them but at least I will have a photographic memory as it were.

If I had kept a journal, I would have several pages with just tears on the pages and I see no reason to go back and recollect why those tears are on all those pages. But for those of you who keep a journal that is still pretty cool...  Turkeys can make you hate yourself in just a matter of minutes ... LOL

Man isn't that the truth.......A few of the unsuccessful hunts stick out more than the successful ones lol

Quote from: JeffC on February 21, 2024, 08:17:21 AM

Quote from: Happy on February 20, 2024, 09:38:15 PM
I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

This will come back to haunt you, better spend more time in gym!  :toothy12:

I think this his way of saying they are gonna whip us so badly that I am gonna hate turkey season. . Bold words, my friend. First off, I killed a turkey last year, so I have used all my luck up for the next 5 years in that department. Knowing this, I have really laid it on in the smack talk and good looks department. By the time I am done, the bs wagon will have a broken axle. And if you think I show others my spots, then you are mistaken. The only people that I trust that much are my kids, and I still haven't shown my full hand with them. I typically help others hunt their own spots. I may, on occasion, give someone I know and trust some general info, but those are a very select few.

I kept a log with date and place, quit the log book 15 years ago at 60 something but I do still have every beard and spurs but I have never got them out and counted, I ran across the old log book not long ago and got a kick out of some of the places I had wrote down, Swamp, Bridge,Equipment shed and Broke down barn.

I have all the spurs, beards, and shotgun shells, so I guess I could count them, but don't. Like many others have stated though, I started a journal when we found out we were expecting my now 7 month old son. I have logged every buck and turkey I have shot since we knew he was on the way. I have tried to add some sort of "lesson" or thing I learned with each story. I hope he enjoys reading them some day, and hopefully he can get a couple laughs about his old man while doing so. I'm sure I will get a few looking back as well!

No idea.  I killed my first 40 years ago, and I got my last one last April.  Been a bunch in between but I've never kept track. I know my 17 year old has killed 6, and my 10 year old has 2 under his belt.  I sure hope I lose track of their kills too.

 :popcorn:

The most important number in my turkey career has and always be #1, my first one. Every other one has been a God Given bonus! I look forward to the mere opportunity to continue chasing them.....

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 12:54:53 PM
The most important number in my turkey career has and always be #1, my first one. Every other one has been a God Given bonus! I look forward to the mere opportunity to continue chasing them.....

Tom I agree, my first one and the only one I have mounted are the most special ones ...

I haven't killed as many as some of you, I'm sure. But I never thought to keep count. I have one of each of the six sub species mounted so I can show folks the difference, plus a couple other special ones. I do keep beards and spurs too. Been at it a long time and have enjoyed them all. Even the ones that got away.

I only keep track of two things. How many turkeys I've killed (all varieties) and how many deer I've killed with the bow. But those numbers are for me alone, and a couple I consider as close friends. A heck of a lot of folks have taken far more of both.

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 12:54:53 PM
The most important number in my turkey career has and always be #1, my first one. Every other one has been a God Given bonus! I look forward to the mere opportunity to continue chasing them.....

The first was unforgettable, I couldn't believe I was successful, what a day!
I don't keep exact track now but I have a rough idea, I can count the beards I kept,  but I didn't keep them all especially the early years.

   I keep Journals- so,I know how many,I have Killed since 1990 when,I got my start in Turkey Hunting at age 30. There were Zero Turkeys in my area of New York in 1974 when,I was 14 and started to hunt Pheasants.
   I am up to 128 Turkeys Killed. Spread out between New York,Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and 1 Turkey in Tennessee.

I have kept a notebook for the past 28 years, ever since my son was born. I have several notebooks.
I also kept the shells/hulls of my kids and nieces and nephews first deer/ducks/squirrels well you get the idea. I wrote name date and game on each one. They don't have a clue about it. I have them put up in Turkey call cases. I figure when they have their own kids then I will give them to them. I could go back through the notebooks if I was interested in numbers but I ain't.

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I know exactly how many turkeys I have shot (it ain't many) but lost count long ago how many have made me look like an idiot. I will say that I shot 1 and only 1 hen...which was a fall bowkill. It just didn't feel "right" and I refuse to shoot another. I should add that it was a legal kill but felt wrong. I also have no idea how many deer I have taken. I keep track during the season but that's because I could count leftover tags.

They are all hanging on my living room wall. 

After the 1st few gobblers I shot, I'd have to recollect them to figure out what number the current harvest was. It wasn't important to me so I stopped trying sometime in the late 90's. I do have a strutting mount, a triple beard limbhanger from Mo, my 1st multi beard.

I haven't turkey hunted any where near as long as I have deer hunted. I kept a deer journal/kill log for a bunch of years but quit keeping up with it about 15 years ago. I had killed around 190 deer at that time with 80 something bow kills. I would conservatively guess that now it is over 300 whitetails with over half bow kills. I bowhunt 90% of the time and we have a long and liberal season. I wish I had kept up with the journals but at some point, I realized that no one else cared about it. My wife nor daughter have an interest in hunting and rarely even ask me much about it. They will make fun of me when I get obsessed with killing a certain buck or a stubborn gobbler. Luckily, we've been married long enough that my wife understands my passion and has NEVER interfered or complained about me going.

I really wish that I had kept up with the turkeys and that I had started a lot sooner than I did. I missed out on some great turkey hunting in the late 80s and early 90s in Georgia. My Dad tells stories of hearing birds in every direction and just picking a direction and going. Not sure what year that I started, but there were a lot of turkeys in Georgia but the population seemed stable and not growing. Now, over the last 8 or so  years, the population has fell off a cliff.

I haven't killed near the numbers as a lot of guys on here, but I have a lot of beards and spurs around the house and for some reason, in my freezer. I put the legs in the freezer before I trim them and clean them up and then I never seem to get around to finishing the work. I wish that I had put on paper some of the hunts that I've had whether I killed one or not.

 I never kept a paper with numbers for 20 years. I did keep beards. Had a cat when I was a young chew on right at 25. Then later, Years, had another cat find some and do the same. Other than that I have 90% or better of the beards collected.

I have a few, and I want a bunch more.

I quit counting several years ago.  I didn't keep spurs or beards to start with.  I've given two of my nephews spur necklaces, plus one of my own and have a few pairs loose, however many that is.  My best friend has a 2 gallon ziplock bag stuffed full of so many beards, it looks like a pillow.  No idea how many he's gotten, but it's quite a lot more than me.  He gets to hunt all over the place and has several world slams under his belt.  I've never hunted turkeys outside of a 10 county radius, but that's fine, just as long as I have places and time to keep pursuing that gobble.

I put notches on pot & box calls to keep track of how many birds each call has pulled in.  One retired pot has 26 notches (retired because it doesn't sound lively anymore), another has 12, and one in my vest has 6.  My current favorite box has 13 notches and the old Lynch I fell on & broke had several (20+ years ago, no idea how many) . I gave another sweet sounding box call to my best friend that had some on it as well. 
I had a guy (on another forum) take great offence with me about notching my calls and how it might affect the sound quality...Maybe it will, maybe it won't. I don't have any kids to pass them on to & they're certainly not museum pieces. They're my working calls and I'll notch 'em if I feel like it.

Jim

 This will surprise some but I would bet money a two gallon bag would hold at least 1K of beards. Long beards.

Nice pillow

Pert neer close!!! ¿¿¿

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Got every single beard from every gobbler I've ever killed.


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     I wrote 128 on a above post- but could have had many more. I have taken 2 Female friends out a total for 7 Springs now and given away  my best early days including the opener.  One of my Sister's  accused  me of being too nice of a Guy. This Spring- one of those women with 4 Springs under her belt and 5 Gobblers that,I helped with wants to call one up on her own.
     That is great news to me! It was getting old AND TIRING walking around in late May when the Temps quickly reach the mid 80s.

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 07:28:48 AM
Truth be said, I wish I could knock em down, take a few photo's, give him some smelling salt and watch him return back to his roost for another hunter to experience him. That would be wonderful....

This is so true, but dammit I love to eat them too. I just recently went over my mishmash of old notes and stories I have written down. My wife and I spent a few hours laughing and talking turkey. She told me to write them down and she would make a file for us to go back to. It was an afternoon well spent. I started to count when I was a new hunter but that was lost on the preparation and calls and all the other crap we get caught up in.I try to simplify as much as possible.

Where are they? At what time of the day?
How do I get to them without spooking them?
What is the basic gear I need to do this?
What time do I set my alarm for?

This is pretty much my mindset. KISS method. Z

I have zero idea. That stuff isn't important to me. Even if I could right now look into a crystal ball and see I'd prob not go over to it to look. What's more important is the memory of the kids, mine or someone else's, first birds. Much rather watch a video, see a pic of that than worry bout what I've done. In early 2000s a buddy of mine asked "how many birds I'd given away mentoring". Gotta be honest he had to press me to write it down but there were over 50 I could remember to write down. Who cares about that either. It's the memory of the kids and the smiles, high fives and hugs. The tearful look in mom's eye after we came home that matters boys. If we're past the beginning stages, help someone else on their way to numbers. It starts with number 1 and that's a big deal to that kid

I agree there are many days I would like to revive an old gobbler and send him on his way, but we also enjoy eating them. No turkey has ever gone to waste in my household. Even when I was killing 6-10 a year they all were eaten. I even brought turkey meat home from out of state camps where guys killed them and didn't want the meat because they were traveling on to the next state.

I see the consensus is most of us don't count but many keep mementos in the form of beards/spurs/fans/journals. I think it is all great and part of enjoying the sport in the best manner for you. Counting is not a bad thing at all and I hope that is not the feelings here. What I do not like is a guy that uses numbers to brag and self-glorify himself and belittle others to bolster his weak ego. I think most of us call them slobs.

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 04:02:51 AM
Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

That's actually a good idea. The Wensels (stickbow guy) talk about it. I started on for my harvests/events of my daughter way back when. I have no idea where book went or when I'd stopped but is cool sentiment if I had it to give her

I even go as far as keeping the spent hull with each beard/spur and labeling the info of that turkey on the hull. I can pick up and set of beard/spurs and immediately relive that specific hunt.

(https://i.imgur.com/7vxJJ2z.png)

   I have also given up my very early Spring Turkey Hunting Days to help out my 2 Brother's in Law. That is 4 people total. I have 3 main Journals  that cover 1990 to 2023. And pictures of all of my Turkeys as well. Family Members down the line will be happy to get those Photo Albums.
    It is a big sacrifice to give away all my best early days  to give of myself and call Birds in for others. Not all veterans will do that.  Somehow with the Sweat pouring in Late May,I can still call them up and Kill them when out Hunting alone. It is all about helping others  when you get older.
   

I've got every single beard from every gobbler I've ever killed. Either on the bird or on my display (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/d768fa936ab5fd8aa43855a284a4b5ed.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/7195ea9639789f79523577f83cd3fa9b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/d0fb9d20cc2a628bfad19ede9e96d393.jpg)


Neal


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That is a very cool trophy room for both of you. I enjoy seeing well thought out and cared for displays....good job guys. Mine was never that organized, when I had one.

Not really anymore but i did when i was a kid coming up and things like that seemed important. Nowadays i just hunt and enjoy it regardless if i have a dead turkey or not. However, that dose not mean I'm slowing down anytime soon chasing after them!


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     I remember  Dwain Bland writing that he had " Killed A Small Army Of Turkeys".  Loved his Book-- Turkey Hunters Digest and The Pictures!!
   One picture showed him after finding a Human Skull in the Mexican Mts. while Turkey Hunting and another showed him stepping out from behind a old Barn and taking a Fall Gobbler on the wing with his Muzzleloader with the caption below-- Easy Pickins.

Counting ones I've called up for others and they shot, 112 since 2006 at age 11. I keep up with it because I worked so hard to get that first one. I hunted for 5 years every day that my dad or brother would take me before I got the first. Completely self taught on hunting them and calling them. But I'm in the process of writing a book for my kids of my hunts, tips, tricks, and things I've observed on those hunts. Just a little something to have for them and if they decide they like it, I can share it in written form for them to always look back at.


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Just reading this post is definitely worth a look!!! This is great! Just my opinion, roll on fellers!

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Quote from: neal on February 22, 2024, 09:59:03 AM
I've got every single beard from every gobbler I've ever killed. Either on the bird or on my display (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/d768fa936ab5fd8aa43855a284a4b5ed.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/7195ea9639789f79523577f83cd3fa9b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240222/d0fb9d20cc2a628bfad19ede9e96d393.jpg)


Neal


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Love that Oscellated Bird, nice collection

Some Very Impressive pics.

Are we counting jakes?

Do I know off the top of my head no, do I have it written in a log, yes.

After I first started turkey hunting, I kept a logbook of my hunts as I was self-taught and so I could reference back to some notes, and properties that I hunted early on, after those first 5 years as I became more consistent in my luck with turkey hunting, a few things happened and I began to do some guiding and then at this point kept track of every bird we killed as it was "part of the business" to post your success percentages for future customers, I guided for 5 years and had a 100% success ratio. This in some way also put me off of the guiding for turkey thing and dealing with clients was not the most fun, there's a bit of a story in this. But after I quit guiding, I got into helping others with turkey hunting, I had been doing my "Turkey University" Series of Seminars, and then started taking others, no money, no pressure, just fun! A few more years passed, and I was asked to help with a "Learn to Hunt" Program through the State of Wisconsin and a local Sportsman's Club/Organization, this just clicked with me, I had really helped a number of people get their first bird in previous years and this was a great program, I have been doing the LTH's now for 20years, it also got me into doing Charity Hunts, Youth Hunts and even more friends and others new to the hunt and I continue with all of these today!

I have the old hunt log as memorabilia and have since kept a hunt log on the computer, it's there for me and can't see how it really would matter to anyone else. But yes, I have a number that is rarely shared, it's not about being boastful, it's about the stories behind those numbers, things I have done, and as I log those hunts it's about the memories that were shared, this will be my 33rd Spring chasing them!

Part of all of this led me to creating my "FanAtics Turkey Displays" Business, I had been doing these for myself for years, then as for a few of my family members and then a few friends and as these were being shared to others I had friends of friends asking to have one made, as this was going on people were posting pictures on their FB pages and I had them on my personal FB page I kept getting inquires as to where I was buying these displays, finally decided to do this as a side business and opened in July of 2018.

Check out my FB Page https://www.facebook.com/FanAticTurkeyDisplays


MK M GOBL

Quote from: Tom007 on February 21, 2024, 04:02:51 AM
Most important to me is my Turkey log book. A scribble of memories, how, where, when, weather. This is information that brings back the memories, I go back to it often.

I have the same thing. I also draw a picture with an ink pen of the kill shot.

Yes crow, jakes count and so do sabaticals....see your number just tripled

More like 10X,    and that's not even counting trenches

  Crow hit the Mark!!
    Same here Crow- No Mentor/Self Taught- Took my 1st Turkey at the last part of my 5th  Year. And kept that Journal going from day 1.
   Probably  why,I have kept count. How hard it was in the beginning.  On my own from the start.

Have shared camp and have become friends with a well known call maker.

Was teasing him a lil about his old cannon 12ga, it had 87 hash marks on it, he said he's retiring it when he gets to 100.

I then came back with, if I killed all my birds with a wood stocked gun and notched it for each bird I would have no stock left!

Turkey camp is fun!


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I don't , but I could recollect and get pretty close . I do have an accurate photo album. From childhood til now. I used to keep a log book. Deer and turkey hunting . Did it for a few years , it was really more for the deer hunting to compare year to year info but I stopped doing that years ago.

I stopped counting when I hit triple digits. However, I have kept a log of all the longbeards I have called in for others down to the last detail. Also in the triple digits.

  Appalachianassasin- God Bless you! You must be Traveling  the Country both Spring and Fall to Kill Triple Digits and call in Triple Digit Gobblers.
   I know Dwain Bland did the same. Upwards of 40 a year. Your Triple Digits bring back clearly what,I have read in Frank Harben's Book- Hunting Wild Turkeys In The Everglades. Just Tremendous numbers. Tom Gaskins Little Books-- The Same. Same area also-- South Florida . The dates of the late 1940s to early 1980s seem to connect in those 3 Books.
   I wish,I had the Money. I would be Traveling as well. If,I can Kill around 5 Spring + Fall in New York + New Jersey- that is an Awesome year. I want to get back to Turkey Hunting in Pennsylvania- but,I don't think my 2004 SUV will make the Trip.
  Keep Knocking them down Appalachianassasin!

Quote from: quavers59 on February 26, 2024, 07:33:01 AM
  Appalachianassasin- God Bless you! You must be Traveling  the Country both Spring and Fall to Kill Triple Digits and call in Triple Digit Gobblers.
   I know Dwain Bland did the same. Upwards of 40 a year. Your Triple Digits bring back clearly what,I have read in Frank Harben's Book- Hunting Wild Turkeys In The Everglades. Just Tremendous numbers. Tom Gaskins Little Books-- The Same. Same area also-- South Florida . The dates of the late 1940s to early 1980s seem to connect in those 3 Books.
   I wish,I had the Money. I would be Traveling as well. If,I can Kill around 5 Spring + Fall in New York + New Jersey- that is an Awesome year. I want to get back to Turkey Hunting in Pennsylvania- but,I don't think my 2004 SUV will make the Trip.
  Keep Knocking them down Appalachianassasin!

PA is usually my last stop, maybe ill see you there. I travel a lot in the spring but have only fall hunted once. Killed a bird but the experience just wasnt the same for me. My numbers are over the course of nearly 30 years.

I used to keep a turkey hunting journal.  I documented not only my successful hunts and associated bird count, but other fun or more rare things I encountered in the field.  Most of those stories I remember off the top of my head, such as a badger running past within 2 feet of me to go after my decoy, or a bald eagle that didn't like that new camo blob against the tree and sat right above me for 2 hours screeching its fool head off until I went away.  After a number of years I realized I never went back and read what I took a great deal of time to write, so I stopped doing it. I do still have the journal.  Maybe one day when I'm too old to hunt I will enjoy reading it and will have wished I kept documenting things.   

I keep reminders of every harvest. Beards, spurs, fan mounts and full body mounts. So yes, I know how many I have taken. But that is not why I hunt. I hunt for the pure enjoyment of the sport, especially now that I'm in my 60's.
Harvest or not, I enjoy greeting the dawn, hearing owls and songbirds, waiting for the first gobble of the morning and watching the denizens of the woods going about their lives. If I just so happen to harvest a gobbler, that's just the icing on an already sweet cake.

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I don't keep a count, so to speak, but like others I keep beard, spurs, etc.  I also usually keep the hull of the shell used for the harvest.  I haven't done it, but one thing I thought was pretty neat was a story on a local public network hunting show.  An old-timer had written the story of the hunt, with great detail, on a small piece of paper, rolled it up, and stuck it in the hull from the hunt. I thought how cool would it be if I could read the hand written stories of grandpa's hunts.

Yes - I keep count and know the number- I like some others have every beard and spur I've killed- I've got a number in mind I want to reach for myself- then all others will be a bonus- I'm not all that far away from my goal!!

I have no clue on the number... but i do keep beards and spurs!

I had them all wrote down for a long time but slacked a few years and realized it didn't really matter. I'm guessing 130ish and can't wait for the next one!

Yes. They have season limits here so kind of have to.

Do not count them , but keep beard and spurs in old boot boxes.

I know exactly how many I have killed and I have every beard to prove it. But I don't bring it up. Even if someone asks me how many I've killed, I just say "my fair share"

Every single one for 40+- seasons...

I keep a log, and can remember each one...

I began in an old spiral notebook in 1983 and record the date, time, location, weather, who I'm hunting with, if not alone, gun used, ammo used, distance of shot in yards. I don't know why I started this, but I knew the first year I called a longbeard in this was something different. NOTHING else like it to me.

One thing I started doing several years ago is take an "as found" picture from my Gaia GPS app. That way I have the picture, date and location. Then after the fact I edit that waypoint adding the beard length, spurs and weight.

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That waypoint gets the number and state. On my Gaia I have a folder with all tsken since I started doing that.

I can only remember several over time that were memorable for some reason but doing the Gaia thing as I look at them I pretty much get total recall.

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Quote from: Yoder409 on February 20, 2024, 09:55:39 PM

Quote from: Spitten and drummen on February 20, 2024, 09:52:42 PM
If I never kill another one I can honestly say I have killed my fair share.

You -n- me BOTH, brother !!!!

But I still can't wait for the NEXT one.    :happy0064:

This is definitely one way to look at it...

Or...if you can count 'em, it's definitely not enough.   :funnyturkey:

Thanks for sharing everyone.  I enjoyed reading the responses.
Hope everyone has a safe and productive season.

Quote from: Happy on February 20, 2024, 09:38:15 PM
I don't. It isn't going to change who I am, and quite frankly, the amount of turkeys I kill is pretty low on my list of things I would like to be remembered by. I know I love hunting them and am thankful for every moment I get in the spring, behind the gun, or helping someone else.

Amen Brother!

I hope to add 3 to 4 more between New York + New Jersey.  Still a Looong wait to go.

I can't tell you off the top of my head exactly how many I've killed but I can sure tell you how many I've missed and that's 7. In fact I think those hunts are more memorable than the ones where I end up packing a bird out.

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 14, 2024, 12:26:30 PM
I can't tell you off the top of my head exactly how many I've killed but I can sure tell you how many I've missed and that's 7. In fact I think those hunts are more memorable than the ones where I end up packing a bird out.

A good honest hunter always admit to misses. Amen my friend, I share your sentiment and remember those very clearly.....helped make me a better hunter.......

I've been at this for close to 30 years now, I've never kept track, it's a handful, it sure has been fun, god willing I'll be doing it for a long time.

I started to put tick marks on the receivers about 10 or 12 years ago(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240314/ecaf096e5d75e40490061e583d913c49.jpg)

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Yes - reviewing 40 years of pictures, beards, metal tags, etc  think 113 in multiple states. A few fall hens taken prior to Thanksgiving maybe omitted. A long and enjoyable ride.
Btw - that's really a wild guess but was fun to think about.

I regret not keeping a journal. I have so many fond memories.

Really excited about taking my Son that just turned 12. I'll keep y'all posted.

A poor memory makes me sometimes wish I had kept notes or a journal but each time I tried to it felt forced and a bit like work.  Those feeling are counter to why I enjoy hunting...

23 full out gobblers, in 30 years of hunting.Longest beard was 10 inches.Biggest bird was around 25 pounds.Several over 20 pounds.

In 30 years of hunting, I've never missed one on the ground. I did miss one flying at 70 yards through the trees.That was my only miss.Im really good with a shotgun.I think the shot is the easiest part of turkey hunting.

A lot of interesting comments in this thread. It seems most don't keep a hard count, but have some idea of a range (like between 1-5). Most of us have kept journals or photo albums and cherish the memories. I know I will open up the photo album and reminisce. Numbers are kind of arbitrary as they are more related to opportunity then skill. I know there are many on here just being humble and have an idea of the range of numbers they have killed. A lot of us take pride in the years we have put in. It might be interesting to Post some data points. I don't wnat this to be whoe's got the biggest tool thing so kill numbers are optional, If you post numbers you can either post Opt out or <50 or >50. I think that's a fair benchmark. I know many on here are well over 100 or even 200, but in the realm of friendly discussion maybe it's just best to keep it at a lower benchmark. 

Years turkey hunting and first year  1971 =53yrs
NUmber of states hunted   total               9
Average number states annually              2
range of kills                                       >50


I think it will show there's a lot of "Old Gobblers on hear and thus a lot of wisdom. It will also bring things into perspective, that opportunity is paramount.

Quote from: eggshell on March 17, 2024, 02:37:19 PM
A lot of interesting comments in this thread. It seems most don't keep a hard count, but have some idea of a range (like between 1-5). Most of us have kept journals or photo albums and cherish the memories. I know I will open up the photo album and reminisce. Numbers are kind of arbitrary as they are more related to opportunity then skill. I know there are many on here just being humble and have an idea of the range of numbers they have killed. A lot of us take pride in the years we have put in. It might be interesting to Post some data points. I don't wnat this to be whoe's got the biggest tool thing so kill numbers are optional, If you post numbers you can either post Opt out or <50 or >50. I think that's a fair benchmark. I know many on here are well over 100 or even 200, but in the realm of friendly discussion maybe it's just best to keep it at a lower benchmark. 

Years turkey hunting and first year  1971 =53yrs
NUmber of states hunted   total               9
Average number states annually              2
range of kills                                       >50


12 years; 2012 to now
0
0
49


I think it will show there's a lot of "Old Gobblers on hear and thus a lot of wisdom. It will also bring things into perspective, that opportunity is paramount.

Quote from: eggshell on March 17, 2024, 02:37:19 PM
A lot of interesting comments in this thread. It seems most don't keep a hard count, but have some idea of a range (like between 1-5). Most of us have kept journals or photo albums and cherish the memories. I know I will open up the photo album and reminisce. Numbers are kind of arbitrary as they are more related to opportunity then skill. I know there are many on here just being humble and have an idea of the range of numbers they have killed. A lot of us take pride in the years we have put in. It might be interesting to Post some data points. I don't wnat this to be whoe's got the biggest tool thing so kill numbers are optional, If you post numbers you can either post Opt out or <50 or >50. I think that's a fair benchmark. I know many on here are well over 100 or even 200, but in the realm of friendly discussion maybe it's just best to keep it at a lower benchmark. 

Years turkey hunting and first year  1971 =53yrs
NUmber of states hunted   total               9
Average number states annually              2
range of kills                                       >50


I think it will show there's a lot of "Old Gobblers on hear and thus a lot of wisdom. It will also bring things into perspective, that opportunity is paramount.

I like this.

First year hunted 2004

Number of states hunted 17

States hunted annually varies. Lately roughly 5. I couldn't drive for the first several years of my hunting career.

Total taken >50


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I like this information as well
First year hunted 1993 - 30plus years
Total states hunted 7
Yearly states hunted 3
Number of gobblers killed > 50

I like this too.
First year hunted - 2000
Total states hunted -1
Number of gobblers killed -  >50


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I think i started hunting them in 1999..I hunt spring and fall and never did get into keeping count....Its quite a few tho over the years and The Good Lord Willing i hope to kill quite a few more or at least get out and enjoy Gods creation trying...
Nothing like the song birds singing and Gobblers sounding off in all directions...Thats my kind of Heaven....I learned along time ago its not always about the kill.....

23 years hunting where there actually were turkeys.
Average .25 kills a year
Total kills <10

Good-looking and Platinum level member of the Elitist club

I lost count after 10. Ran out of fingers. That was thirty years ago I guess.


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Been my experience over the years, that most who are quick to tell you high numbers, more often than not , have more money than turkey hunting skill. Outfitters or "softball" turkeys in far away states account for most of their bragging.

I hate to have to admit it but I have probably been turkey hunting twice as long as many here on OG have been alive.   ;D
I think I was either twelve or thirteen when New Mexico had its initial spring gobbler season, which would place the year somewhere around 1963 or '64.  Relying on my dad to take me the first few years (and I'm extremely lucky to have had a dad that did), I am pretty certain we missed a year or two in the 1960's, but I think I have not missed a year spring gobbler hunting since 1969...but might have missed a year due to cancellation of our spring season due to extreme fire danger.

Success was pretty "spotty" that first decade in that I/we did not have a clue (and that is being generous) as to how to go about hunting spring gobblers.  I killed my first gobbler in 1969 in a "drive by incident"...kind of embarrassed to admit that but was pretty proud to get one by any means at the time. 

Early seventies were our actual "learning period", which could best be described as a "cluster" as we made just about every mistake one could make in turkey hunting...and then some.  I killed my first legitimate, called-in gobbler in 1975, and with the exception of a couple of years when my shooting skills were even worse than they are now, I have managed to stumble and bumble my way into a gobbler or two every spring since. 

As to the question of "how many?", I couldn't accurately say.  In an attempt to honestly answer the question, I have done some "gunzintas" based on yearly averages and would guess that I have put a tag on roughly 150 gobblers in all those years...and if I truly was a "body counter" and shot every gobbler I legally could have, that total would be significantly higher.  ...Not a lot compared to some guys half my age in this day of multi-state hunting and the bag limits available (up until recently, that is).   ;D

...That's my main story in a nutshell...and I'm stickin' to it!   ;D :D

Sometimes I wish I had then I try to figure out why. I did count pictures of the ones I have pictures of several years ago and came up with a number. As long as I get to chase them each year I am good. As Happy said it is low on my list as well when it comes to what I want to be remembered for.

23 gobblers, 6 jakes, 10 hens or there about.Around 30 years of hunting.3 states.My biggest was 25 pounds.

Quote from: High plains drifter on March 21, 2024, 12:23:22 AM
23 gobblers, 6 jakes, 10 hens or there about.Around 30 years of hunting.3 states.My biggest was 25 pounds.

23 *With Grizzly bears lurking.
Each one counts for 3 , that's 69  gobblers

Quote from: Zobo on March 21, 2024, 07:34:58 AM

Quote from: High plains drifter on March 21, 2024, 12:23:22 AM
23 gobblers, 6 jakes, 10 hens or there about.Around 30 years of hunting.3 states.My biggest was 25 pounds.

23 *With Grizzly bears lurking.
Each one counts for 3 , that's 69  gobblers

:TooFunny:  Yeah,...no doubt that possibility would changes one's attitude while turkey hunting with a shotgun.  I don't know if TSS would be an effective deterrent...    ;D

Quote from: GobbleNut on March 21, 2024, 09:02:51 AM

Quote from: Zobo  lol exactly. I never
did get that bird. link=topic=116595.msg1179361#msg1179361 date=1711020898

Quote from: High plains drifter on March 21, 2024, 12:23:22 AM
23 gobblers, 6 jakes, 10 hens or there about.Around 30 years of hunting.3 states.My biggest was 25 pounds.

23 *With Grizzly bears lurking.
Each one counts for 3 , that's 69  gobblers

:TooFunny:  Yeah,...no doubt that possibility would changes one's attitude while turkey hunting with a shotgun.  I don't know if TSS would be an effective deterrent...    ;D

I journaled each and every hunt at the advice of an old timer who was hunting them after WWII. He told me to recap my hunt in detail, not so I could keep a kill tally, but so I could enjoy my hunts over and over. He was right...I'm 74 and when I read my journal, I smile as the memory takes me back. Sometimes it's as if I'm sitting with my back to a big cottonwood, watching the dance, listening to the feathered jukebox release his thunderous gobble looking for his girl...never gets old. Glad I took his advice.

All total I've probably gotten 50 birds in 30 years of hunting. 23 gobblers. 3 states.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.
Have a blessed season.