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Just wanted too see how everyone faired this Season?  Our Season ended yesterday in Arkansas.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to tag a bird but was able to get my son on one and watch him pull the trigger.  So I'd say it was a successful season.   A memory made and a lot of mornings watching the world wake up


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Spent time with the kids, Gunnar, my oldest son, missed one, saw a hen strut with them, I was able to get my daughter her first after years of trying hard to make that happen, called in a friend of mines first gobbler for him but was unable to seal the deal on it, mentored another friend from work and he killed the biggest gobbler I've ever seen. Was able to tag out, the first was killed about 45 minutes after fly down and the seconds flew down at 6:50 and I shot him at 7. And was able to go on my first OOS hunt. It was a banner year for me.


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We've had a great season in my family/friend hunting group. We did 2 trips this year, since Oklahoma is a one bird state. I was drawn for Kansas and Iowa. First trip was Kansas, killed a bird on the first day. My buddy killed on the 2nd day in Kansas. Being off work for a week, we loaded up and drove to Missouri on their 3rd day of season and bought OTC tags. First morning in MO, I killed a tom but my buddy didn't connect with one in Missouri. We came home and I killed my biggest Oklahoma eastern tom yet, which was sporting 1 3/8" spurs. Iowa trip time rolled around and 4 of us went to Iowa and all 4 killed longbeards pretty early in the trip, with my bird being a double bearded sharp spurred tom. Left Iowa and stopped back by Missouri on the way home and hunted a few days. Ended up filling my 2nd Missouri tag with a monster of a gobbler. By far the thickest beard I've ever held in my hands and had 1 broken spur, but the other spur was pushing 1.5". A real Missouri Monarch. Unfortunately, none of the other 3 guys in camp killed in MO. I feel lucky to have killed 5 longbeards this season, and filled every tag I had. 5 birds in 4 states, the best season of my life.

My seson was the worst I've had in many years. I had 3 tags and never pulled the trigger. That being said.. I called up turkeys for my girlfriends grandkids and watched 2 of them harvest their 1st turkey. The other got his also but it was his 3rd. Outstanding season in my eyes. Thank you Lord for all my days afield.

I filled two tags, early crossbow and late shotgun. Both long beards.

Oldest two grandsons shot a long beard.

13 year old twin grandson/grandaughter have had no luck with very limited time. Soccer, track, baseball/softball ball have left little time to be in the wood.

Overall great season but continue to see smaller pockets of birds. Small areas that held birds 1-2 years ago no longer have any.

Skunked in Florida.
Skunked in Maryland.

At one point, I had hunted 6 1/2 days and never heard a gobble.  That has mever happened to me in 45 or 46 years of spring hunting !!

GREAT opening week in PA !!!  Made up (mostly) for the other 2 states.

Still have that pair of Maryland tags.  But, current intel suggests the birds are still not burning it up there, so.....

Had a good season overall... Already looking forward to the fall season 2025 and next spring 2026

I was fortunate to tag out in Indiana on opening day at a friends farm.

I went to Colorado and hunted private ground one day. It was a nice hunt seeing a couple dozen birds feeding in a field the first and last hour of the day. Couldn't get one to commit though. The hens were running the show. I had planned to hunt public a couple days but truck problems trashed that plan.

I have an invite to hunt a buddies farm in Wisconsin this coming weekend so maybe I'll get another opportunity.

Success in that at 78 still able to get out and chase them. The buddy double I shared with a friend a bonus. It looks like the family's health situation will preclude any out of state trips this May.  We'll see. Life goes on.

Quote from: Yoder409 on May 12, 2025, 09:03:34 AMSkunked in Florida.
Skunked in Maryland.

At one point, I had hunted 6 1/2 days and never heard a gobble.  That has mever happened to me in 45 or 46 years of spring hunting !!

GREAT opening week in PA !!!  Made up (mostly) for the other 2 states.

Still have that pair of Maryland tags.  But, current intel suggests the birds are still not burning it up there, so.....

I'll trade MD pins for PA pins... :turkey2:

Yes boys, this is a joke. .............

 I avoid PA at all costs  :funnyturkey:

FL public land spanked me, again.
Got one in KY and filled my one tag locally.  Tried to double with my grandson here but he missed the shot.
Then missed another bird later opening morning.  We were in them tho!
He got his bird on the next hunt.
I'm calling it a very good season!

So far, I've been skunked in Virginia. I still have one day left I'll be able to hunt my home state tho.

Illinois was a success.

Wisconsin was awesome, double bearded bird.

Indiana I got skunked. Rained for 3 days. I heard one gobbler in 4 days and I hunted my  off.

North Carolina I got skunked. Never heard a bird. Only hunted 2 half days. Saw lots of sign tho.

I have one more late state to hit Memorial Day weekend. So here's hoping that turns out good.

Filled all 3 of my tags. The property was a dead zone compared to the past years, so feel fortunate.

Missed a nice bird in Wyoming, Filled my Nebraska tag with a nice longbeard hybrid, filled both my tags in WNY by the 7th and called in a bird for a new turkey hunter neighbor who never hunted them...

Had a gobbler well patterned and the perfect situation to get him.  Took my great nephew instead of doing it alone.  He scored and I got a bonus buddy that was tagging along.  Did not kill another, but it sure felt like I tagged out. 

Filled one tag opening day of the NY season. I am using the bow for the second bird but it's been quiet. Had a jake come in and put on a little show 2 days ago but I passed him up. Still have time in the season so at least i'm still in the woods.

I've been working them around the rain storms. Saw 4 longbeards giving me the silent treatment. Give it a go tomorrow. The blessing of today was I stopped  to pick ramps for soup for the family  and friends.  Good day.

Rain and wind diminished the gobbling some I believe. I had a few good days though. I probably hunted 30 to 35 days. 3 out of 4 of us in my family got a longbeard. Stepson got his first one that I called up for him, and I called up a pair of longbeards straight of the roost for the wife... She tagged one. Step daughter only hunted 1 day, so she didn't get one...I finally broke free and got to hunt for myself. Called up a longbeard 3 days before the end of the season, and I killed him at 32 steps. Came in gobbling hard and strutting like we all want them to do. My grandson was sitting right beside me on it...he's 8 and he's hooked now...lol I didn't travel out of my home state at all this year but had a great season. 

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Had a pretty good season. I was kinda down the 2nd and 3rd weeks of the season, but that happens every year.  Things went really well after that. 

Quote from: ruination on May 12, 2025, 10:59:01 AM

Quote from: Yoder409 on May 12, 2025, 09:03:34 AMSkunked in Florida.
Skunked in Maryland.

At one point, I had hunted 6 1/2 days and never heard a gobble.  That has mever happened to me in 45 or 46 years of spring hunting !!

GREAT opening week in PA !!!  Made up (mostly) for the other 2 states.

Still have that pair of Maryland tags.  But, current intel suggests the birds are still not burning it up there, so.....

I'll trade MD pins for PA pins... :turkey2:

Yes boys, this is a joke. .............

 I avoid PA at all costs  :funnyturkey:

I would.......

But the property owner where I hunt in PA is a TOTAL S.O.B. !!!   :blob10:

Very, VERY hard to get on this piece. 

No luck here..tough season. Found a few but was unable to outrun the competition to the gate. I don't know if maybe they slept there or something. Found another and actually could have shot but I never could see his fan so am not sure if he was a legal bird or not. His beard was borderline..I think. And had a guy park on top of me after seeing me the last weekend. Since I saw 6 or 7 jakes; I have an idea where a few will be next spring if they make it through the winter

Great season for me. One of the best I've had as far as opportunities for time spent afield. 

Florida was happening.  My son and I doubled opening morning (north zone).  I was able to call in a bird for a buddy and then another for my son.  Wish they could all be like this...

Mississippi was tough.  My neighbors and I killed 1/3 the birds we did last year.  Seemed like the population was reasonable, but conditions were tough and the birds tight-lipped.  Did kill one off my place but no luck for my son. Overall a down year but not a bust. 

Oklahoma was a trip with a buddy to a place loaded with birds, and we doubled on our first morning.  A really fun hunt on a new place.

Texas was a short trip on a buddy's place that ended with 2 good birds running down the gun barrel on the most exciting hunt of the year.  Also the last hunt of the year.  The one I picked out was my biggest bird of the year, but nowhere near the size of the other tom, which my buddy shot. His was several pounds heavier and spurs were 1/4" longer at 1 3/8" each.

Best news is each place I hunted had a healthy jake population, so hopefully next year will be just as good.  Great time spent with friends and family enjoying these birds and the different places they live!

Didn't get to hunt as much as usual, my oldest is graduating from HS and the activities have been endless.  Not going on any trips to hunt either.  That said, I managed to get my 2 in FL.  Had close calls with my boys when they were able to get out with me but no dice for them.

Success for me, not because I was fortunate to tag some, but I thoroughly enjoyed everyday afield. Still have 8 days left. I usually hunt alone, but enjoyed my hunt with Zelmo in Florida and teamed up with a retired buddy this spring in my home state. We are on them, enjoying the comradery. I look forward to the Fall, but first a nice summer break will be welcome. Be safe, enjoy your summer!

Hard season here. Wife and I doubled and I got one in Maine and tagged out in NH. One more tag in Maine. 3/4 tags filled with 2 weeks to go and the wife is 1/2. Not bad for around here. Z

I tagged out in my home state on the second day of the season.  Dumbest decision I made all year. 

Very successful in terms of filling tags. Was very discouraging in terms of the ever growing crowds and lack of hunter etiquette.

Good season for me. However, gobblin esp after fly down was low to nonexistent. Did not even get on a bird by getting an answer at long range to a call and acting accordingly.Had a few "out patienting" type hunts. Did see quite a few jakes so that's a plus.

Technically had a great season, gobbling on the ground was really slow, killed two completely silent birds mid morning, only birds that gobbled coming in were called in for friends.

Broke a long streak of tags filled on my last hunt, what really stings is a made a few bone head mistakes that cost me that last bird!

Ignorant other hunter encounters are up again as well, I just don't understand these folks!


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My 9 year old daughter killed her first gobbler sitting right beside me.  That was the best part of season

I was able to hunt 5 states and going to make one more trip soon. Had action everywhere I went. Turkeys seem to be doing well in 2025. Better than I've seen in the last several years.

Hunted 5 states, weather beat me up in Missouri and I went in blind in a new area in Montana with only a day and a half.  Killed in neither but I had fun Killed 3 birds respectfully in Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Called in some more for other folks.  Had a great season and saw some poults the last day of Oklahoma season so I'm happy.

Great season with lots of time to enjoy it. I tried different spots which i enjoyed.

I got two tom with 9inches beard and 1/2-5/8 spurs for one and 5/8-3/4 for the other.

Ready for fall season  ;D

I killed eight long beards in 17 days. Seven of which we're on out of state public land.