The question always seems to be asked prior to the season as to how many days each of us is planning to hunt. I suppose the follow-up to that is how many days did we actually end up hunting compared to our predictions or expectations?
For me, I usually want to try to get in at least twenty days each spring, either personally "on the gun" or at least helping somebody else. I tallied things up for spring '24 and I ended up hunting "on the gun" a total of twelve days. In addition, I was "in the field" with other hunters trying to help them out another four days, and with one additional scouting day, for a total of seventeen days...a bit below my preseason expectations.
But, in all honesty, I could have easily added another trip at the end of the season and reached that twenty-day expectation. I just didn't have the drive to do it...and quite frankly, I was completely satisfied with how the season had gone and didn't need...or even want...to hunt anymore.
How 'bout everybody else? Did this season meet your expectations of time spent afield and the satisfaction you had with your hunts?...
Given that our seasons here in Illinois are short I was only able to be "on the gun" 12 days with only 1 tag filled out of 3. The weather played a huge part .... I hunted in a torrential down pour 4 of those 12 days. I was able to help a buddy fill his tag. All that being said I will spend 20 days scouting or more prior to and during season. I love being in the woods chasing ole tom. I am retired so I can spend alot if time and with my knees and back not 100% it takes alot of time these days.
If my memory is correct I thought I would get out at least 10 days. My final tally was 7 days so I definitely fell short. The worst part is I do not have a good reason that I did not go out those final days.
I believe I hunted either on the gun or helping others in some capacity approximately 40 days. Several of those were after work for a couple hours either in the morning or the evening. It was about all I could squeeze out of turkey season and I loved every moment of it
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Never enough is my answer to both questions
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I started scouting in early March, scouted 19 mornings. My season opened April 22nd, and I harvested my last bird on May 13th. That's around 22 days, I did take one day off during that time, and a few Sundays I did not hunt. As usual, I enjoyed every minute and can't wait till I hit the woods again.....
Had every day......ALLLLLLLL day to hunt.
Ended up hunting 4 1/2 days in Campeche for Ocellated birds. Then 6 days at home to fill 2 tags here.
I had planned to hunt another state or two. But my Mrs. got laid up for a good while and I needed to attend to the fires at home.
Still......... A spring FULL of AMAZING hunting !!!!!
I do not count scouting days.
Hunted or assisted 23 days in 10 states.
Overall a great season.
As usual, not a many as I hoped. Between work and other things, it seems like the only time I get out is if I plan a trip with someone else. I hunted 3 days in South Carolina and 4 days in Tennessee (all with guests). I thoroughly enjoyed those days and wish I had made time for more.
I carried a gun 18 days. Lost 4 days to travel, 3 days to weather.
I typically hunt 20-22 days. The weather is typical, it will happen, just when. So, I guess I was about normal for the spring hunt days.
I hunted 11 morning, got my two tags filled. One on opening day, one on second to last day of the season.
Scouted for 2 weeks every evening prior to season opener.
I couldn't squeeze more hunts out of the season.
I'm still working and I took one day off, got laid off one day due to rain and went one morning before work.
I was there every 4 weekends of the 4 weeks long season.
I also got 3 mornings in calling for friends.
Wasn't counting those.....
Everyday it didn't rain!
I didn't keep track, but I'm guessing around 20 days +/- 3. I hunted two states. This is more days then usual, because I messed up too much.
I came up with about 20 days this spring. If I can pull time off from work early I get an extended trip to a southern state. If not, it's generally weekends from the middle of April to the end of May.
Planned to hunt 10-20 if the body allowed that much but life had other plans and I was not able to hunt at all this year. I got to snap this picture going down the road though, so that made me happy, I have been shooting them with my camera the last two or three years instead of my gun anyway. The full sized version of this picture looks so much better but did not want to mess up anybodies download. link will take you to full sized and many of my other pictures as well. https://www.viewbug.com/photo/103478995
(https://i.imgur.com/bQqZSzSl.jpeg)
18 or 19 days as I recall.
I planned for ten days. I refuse to hunt out of state, so it was just our seven week season for me. I carried a gun during season for three days ending up with three turkeys.
I don't keep track of the days scouting or hunting. However, scouting for me usually starts around the beginning of March while shed hunting. Once my home season opens I am out there almost everyday weather permitting. Like many here I look forward to this all year long and spend as much time in the woods as possible.
Just hunting was 10/10. Ten with a gun and ten without. 13 Toms, total for us all. No youth hunter this year for the first time ever. Z
Like I always like to say. If you can count 'em, it ain't enough. But usually between 12/15 some seasons I'd get a 20 in. Not bad for 3 states over the 6 weeks.
It's Prolly about 14 days total in the woods. I always plan for more, and with work, it just never seems to work out like I plan. It sucks being good-looking and important.
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For me about 16 days I think, but I can only hunt until noon and no Sundays. So some of those "days" were two hours,three hours. Four birds this year, a really good season for me.
But I too am extremely important, way, waaay more than Happy, although I might have to concede on attractiveness.😆
Quote from: Old Swamper on July 23, 2024, 09:48:14 AMI hunt alone, and could not give a rats a## about hunting out of state. Was fortunate to hunt just about everyday of my state's 6 week Spring season, and 2 full weeks in the Fall. Been like that almost every year. Good Lord made me a Turkey Hunter. It is what I do, and what I live for. ;)
Are you retired?
Quote from: Old Swamper on July 28, 2024, 05:07:15 PMQuote from: YoungGobbler on July 27, 2024, 11:20:12 PMQuote from: Old Swamper on July 23, 2024, 09:48:14 AMI hunt alone, and could not give a rats a## about hunting out of state. Was fortunate to hunt just about everyday of my state's 6 week Spring season, and 2 full weeks in the Fall. Been like that almost every year. Good Lord made me a Turkey Hunter. It is what I do, and what I live for. ;)
Are you retired?
No Sir, self employed. Early Fall and Spring are turkey season. I am a turkey hunter and plan work accordingly
That's good. Not always easy to leave work when you are self employed, sometimes it's even harder than when being an employee.
I hunted 24 mornings and listened an additional 4-5
Was down a little due to not drawing two states I hunt annually.
Only went 4 times as back issues kept me home. Was able to call in a first gobbler for my 9 yr.old Granddaughter and another nice gobbler for my Son. Unfortunately back surgery is in my near future.
Best I can remember is 22 days this season, could have been more but I was out of tags, probably another 4 or 5 scouting as well.
Several hunts went really well with birds being taken quickly which also lowered the days, Missouri was a struggle initially but I killed birds back to back days after several days of an old fashioned azz whippin!
Normally hunt 7-10 days each Spring. I only hunted 2 days in 2024 but my batting average was pretty good.
Took 1 tom in Texas and 1 tom in Oklahoma.