I just thought I'd ask, seems to be alot of great info here. I know some of you have a ton of experience and have been chasing the birds for a alittle while.
I've only been hunting turkey here in Indiana for about 12yrs. I've learned and seem to be learning alot along the way and have come to love the season. So lets hear how long you guys have been hunting.
Started turkey hunting my junior year of high school in 2005 I was 16 years old. Keep learning more and more every year. I've learned alot about the sport from my uncles in ky on it. This time of year cant get here quick enough.
on and off since i was 12.
This will be my 18th turkey season
29 years.
TRKYHTR
This will be my 46th year in the spring woods. Thats why I ask so many questions.
I started hunting when i was 11, I didn't start turkey hunting until 1986,our season starts march 15
Quote from: AndyH on February 29, 2012, 07:46:04 PM
This will be my 18th turkey season
Same here :icon_thumright:
33rd season coming up.
1992 I was 17.
This will be my 44th spring chasing gobblers and I've done well I think, but there is much more I'd like to know about these critters. I try to help young or new hunters as much as I can. Been asked by many which is the hardest gobbler to kill and my answer is the next one.
This year will be my third year.
16 years.
This will be my 10th season. Hopefully I make it to as many seasons as some of the other guys on here.
This is season 21 and Im losing so bad I don't think I will ever catch up.
33 years
Been educating turkeys over 30 years. Hope to get another 30.
Im not sure how many years its been but I do know Ive been extremely successful the last 4 years from being out in the woods more and learning from mistakes Ive made. I guess its like with anything else the more you do it the better you are at it.
This spring will be my 49th and I'm just as passionate about it as my first spring hunt.
23 yrs for me
I can't remember not turkey hunting. My dad always involved us in it at an early age. I killed my first turkey at the age of 9, and that was nearly 26 years ago.
I am 44 yrs. old, and I started with my dad in the spring I turned 9. This will be my 36th spring hunting these magnificent birds.
23 years. I wish you wouldn't have made me think about that one. Sure dosen't seem that long, but I guess it is.
My uncle started me turkey hunting when I was 12 and I'm going to be 37 this season, so 25yrs. I hope to learn as much in the next 25yrs as I have in the first so one day I'll be able to call myself a turkey expert.
I started while in college 12 years ago.
Been doing it since I was 8 yrs old......24 yrs ago
This will be my 23rd season, god willing and the creek don't rise...
22 years this spring, have shot birds in the fall for 25 years. the birds in the fall weren't on purpose but bonuses from bowhunting or grouse hunting.
20th. Started in 1992 when I was 11 I believe. Whacked one the first time I went by myself and have been ate up with it ever since. Hope I still have another 40 left in me
46 Years . I was 10 when I started hunting ,but the killing came several years latter .I was 16 before I got one to ride home in my truck with me.
This will be my 34th. year, started hunting them in 1978 and killed my first bird in 1979. Still learning!
this will be my 35th season
51yrs. I remember calling Knight and Hale about some turkey calls and which ever one I talked to (don't remember that) wanted to tell me about a new call they were coming out with called a Tube Call.
Also remember when mouth diaphragms started hitting the hardware stores...that's where most of the sporting goods were sold back then and it was very hard to find anybody that sold turkey calls. Bout the only one's I remember were Lynch box and Jet Slate. But when the mouth calls came out the late Ben Lee had one that had a chunk of lead on the top (acted like the double frame of today). Wonder everybody didn't get lead poison from it. Although I can't swear it was lead...it was heavy and metal I remember that.
I had to beg people to go spring gobbler hunting with me...99% of the hunters back then didn't even know there was a turkey season in the spring. Never saw another hunter back in those days.
I have hunted turkeys off and on since the mid-1970's. Just really got serious about it the last 14 years.
36th year, Lord willing!
Not long enough..... but I'll keep trying!
pittboss
i started going with my dad when i was twelve in 78.
I started in 1998. I was in 8th grade and called in a nice 2 year old that was almost 20 lbs. I guess this is my 15th season coming up.
Started in 1998 while in college. Didn't get a bird my first year, but got three my second year, all longbeards. So I guess I'm going into my 15th season and I still learn something and get my tail kicked a bunch every year!! Wouldn't trade it for nothing!!
I killed my first one in the fall, at age 25. That means I have been after them twice a yr. for 48 yrs. Unless I was a little younger to start. :toothy9:
13 yrs
30 years and enjoy it more and more each year!
Doug
28 years turkey hunting - I got to thank my Dad for taking me along with him on the hunting trips
I started when I was the legal age of 12. I am now 25. Over 14 years now.
This will be my 5th season.
30 years
38 years and still baffled!
Thirty-five years.
I started when I was ten years old. This spring will be my 16th season.
I've been hunting around 21 or 22 years. Can't wait to start another season!!
About 1975. Started in OH when it was a two week split season. Around 2500 (?) were drawn for the first week. The second week was open to all. Those first few season you were happy to just hear a gobble.
This year will be number 27
12 years
Season opens March 24...if I make it till then it will be 37 spring seasons. Maybe this will be the year I figure them out :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
headbanger
this season will be my 20th killing on my own, but I started hunting with my dad 6 or 7 years before that.
Newbie here... This will be my first year. :angel9:
5 years but once I get into something I get into it serious
20 yrs. :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
This is 19th for me. Went fast.
This will be my 23rd year of actually carring a gun. I tagged along with dad for 2 years before he would let me bring a gun. I started when I was 6 years old and have never looked back! I've been on the ride of my life!! :turkey2:
Jonathan
Counting the crow season that ended yesterday............ two and a half weeks! My ten year old got the bug from his buddy and finally wore me down. We were able to hunt 2 days of crow season and are now trying to learn everything we can about turkeys (they come in next for us). This site has been a tremendous resource especially the 20ga section. Glad I joined and hopefully we will have something to show you guys next month.
Mike
37 years :fud: :OGani:
I started when I was 12 in texas and am now 31. So 19 years. I still learn something every time I go out. Rarely are there perfect hunts.
How do you guys remember that far back. Heck I have a hard time trying to remember what I ate for dinner the day before let alone when I first starting turkey hunting. I do remember that you couldn't buy your tags over the counter like you can now but had to apply for you tags back then.
I remember a Ga. hunting licence was $2.25 a yr for everything but ducks...they had duck stamps back then too, don't remember how much they were. You could buy a daily pass to hunt or fish Ft. Stewart for $2.50 or a yr pass for $10.00.
They had wild cows roaming around on Ft. Stewart and you could kill them legally if you could ever see one. I saw nothing but their tracks. They are wilder than deer or turkey.
26 years! Believe it or not but back then there weren't a lot of turkeys in Kansas as they were just getting populations started in certain areas. I had to go to Missouri to hunt with my buddy. Now my buddy leaves Missouri and hunts with me.
Quote from: bird on March 01, 2012, 08:55:39 AM
How do you guys remember that far back. Heck I have a hard time trying to remember what I ate for dinner the day before let alone when I first starting turkey hunting. I do remember that you couldn't buy your tags over the counter like you can now but had to apply for you tags back then.
You still have to apply for your tags in IA. Are you doing OK Al? :TooFunny:
TRKYHTR
Quote from: TRKYHTR on March 01, 2012, 10:16:08 AM
Quote from: bird on March 01, 2012, 08:55:39 AM
How do you guys remember that far back. Heck I have a hard time trying to remember what I ate for dinner the day before let alone when I first starting turkey hunting. I do remember that you couldn't buy your tags over the counter like you can now but had to apply for you tags back then.
You still have to apply for your tags in IA. Are you doing OK Al? :TooFunny:
TRKYHTR
Only non-residents have to apply Joe. I can wait until the day I want to hunt if I want and go buy my tags as a resident of Iowa. :funnyturkey:
Killed my first longbeard 16 years ago. I got a late start because my Dad didn't hunt turkeys. He was serious about deer.
I would have to say about 12 years and we didn,t have wild turkeys in Canada till the early 80s and it was about 5 years after that, when they started a season but only in certain areas in which you could only shoot one bearded turkey,Now we are able to take 2 in the spring season but not in the same day and one in the fall and it can be either sex! W e only have turkeys in the province of Ontario not all Canada
Saw my first turkey in the wild 18 yrs ago, and i've been hunting them ever since. I guess you could say that first turkey made an impression on me.
Off and On since I was 15 years old, I will be 32 in April. I got serious about turkey hunting in 2007 and haven't missed a spring since. Still learning alot from mistakes that i made and still make.
A long time ago..... in a galaxy far far away (22 years) and #4's was the shot of preference. :funnyturkey:
4 years I have been going at it. Love it. Eventhough I am waiting to kil my first gobbler I have enjoyed the learning process. Great stuff :turkey2:
I have been turkey hunting since the early 80"s. I wih I had kept track of the numbers I have killed.
This should be my 24th year...I think?
Quote from: catdaddy on March 01, 2012, 03:02:47 PM
I have been turkey hunting since the early 80"s. I wih I had kept track of the numbers I have killed.
Lets just say ALOT!!!!!
TRKYHTR
Last March 16 I turned 54. Opening day was march 15th and it was the first time I ever hunted turkey. In fact, it was the first time I ever hunted ANYTHING! I had a good first season, even though I didn't get a bird, but I expect this season to be better. Last fall, I did get my first white-tail! Nothing great, a 9 point about 130# but it was one of the best days of my life. Now, if I could just take one of those pesky long-beards!
8th Season for me...wish I'd have started way sooner!
started in early 1980s but really did not have a clue untill I started going with my Now paw-in-law aka Grunt in 1988. so around 30 years.
started in 1979......... :OGturkeyhead:
My Daddy took me to listen on my second birthday in 1967 and at least a few times every year since. I don't remember when I started carrying a gun but I was young. Killed my first one in 1980. Have been blessed to be able to hunt a lot in the last 40 or so years. Looking forward to this season!!
I was 7 years old in 1985 when my Dad took me for the first time. That will be 27 seasons ago. I still remember that morning in the pine country of SE OK when standing there in the half light I watched Dad bLow the ol' "Who cooks for you, who cooks for us too." Some where a turkey gobbeled and then another, and a seven year old kids eyes lit up. Right then and there I became a Turkey Hunter.
Thanks Dad
my addiction began 22 years ago
This is only my second season coming up. But this site is helping me temendously.
Quote from: MossbergMike on March 03, 2012, 10:48:59 AM
This is only my second season coming up. But this site is helping me temendously.
Same here , learned alot the fist year, didnt get a bird but had a Great time
This will be 42 Springs for me . Hope I got another 42 in me ! lol :funnyturkey:
20 years and still learning.
Probably 14-15 yrs
Let's see..... 57 minus 12 equals 45...so it's 45 years!! And I still or maybe get more excited today than I did 45 seasons ago..nothing on this planet I enjoy more other than family. Been a long journey and to about 17 different states other than confusion. :z-winnersmiley:
Hello. My name is David, and I've been obsessed for 26 years
Quote from: guesswho on February 29, 2012, 07:49:30 PM
This will be my 46th year in the spring woods. Thats why I ask so many questions.
Slow learner I guess. ;D
17yrs for me and I've never killed a Bama limit.
Shane
Quote from: chatterbox on March 04, 2012, 09:15:24 AM
Quote from: guesswho on February 29, 2012, 07:49:30 PM
This will be my 46th year in the spring woods. Thats why I ask so many questions.
Slow learner I guess. ;D
I just want to make sure I get it right.
Killed my first gobbler in 1976. Most of you guys were not born yet. :drool:
This will be my 33rd year!!
This will be my 14th spring and I cant wait till I can start!!!
Quote from: Fullfan on March 04, 2012, 04:35:25 PM
Killed my first gobbler in 1976. Most of you guys were not born yet. :drool:
I was! I killed my first buck in 1976. I killed my first gobbler in the fall of 1975.
This will be my 22nd year in the spring woods...my dad started me in the spring woods when I was 8 yrs old and have been addicted ever since!!
God bless
7th year is this year.
I started, I believe in 2005 or 2006. Id ask BIRD if he could remember, but he cant remember his last meal, so I wont. But he took me out and showed me the ropes. I have been lucky and have gotten at least one bird every year. Since then I have been so consumed that I started making my own pot calls and have been handloading TSS and hevi shot and ITXTT. AND HAVE SPENT A TON OF MONEY. Oh well, I've enjoyed every minute of the ride.
Mailman, I do believe 2007 was the year I got you started chasin gobblers. :icon_thumright: :funnyturkey:
4th yr this year
Started in 1994, got a 26lb. on the first day, and got spoiled too. Found out the next year just how lucky I really was. :fud:
Turkey hunting for 17 years. Really getting after it for the last 5 years.
I believe this spring will be my 23rd season of chasing them and I like it more every year.
My first hunt was in 1998, then i took 12 years off and started back up again a few years ago.
This will be 24 years for me. I got a late start compared to most.
since I was 5 and I'm 20 now so bout 16 years
First hunt was the spring of 1983
started in 1996
Right at 25 seasons