Hi guys,
We all know luck frequently dictates your hunting success. In some cases that is bad luck! Last year was the worst turkey season of my career. I'm curious of stories others may have.
Here's mine from last year - I had back to back seasons in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I intended to hunt the last 3 days of MN and the first 2-3 days of WI. In MN I had temperatures in the 20's to 30's. There was some form of rain, sleet, or snow the whole time, and SUSTAINED winds of 25-40mph. I travel to hunt so I tried to make the best of it and hunted all day every day. It became a personal test of fortitude as much as hunting. Over 3 days I heard one gobble and saw one hen, the least activity I've ever had. I was looking forward to Wisconsin as the weather was supposed to be better and the farm I hunt I have always had to myself. On the first morning of WI when I arrived at the farm I thought I was on schedule for my usual pre-dawn start but as I was walking the field/woods edge to the middle of the property I was surprised by the degree for which I could see through the woods. I thought I had arrived late. When the sun came up I realized that around 200 acres of woods covered bluffs had been largely logged off. A half hour after sunrise heavy equipment came in from several directions. It turns out the property owner had sold out to a fracking sand mining operation and had forgotten to notify me (I had gotten permission around February). I packed up and went home.
buddy showed up with a crossbow........
Hunter interference - several times. The worst was calling a bird and some jerk slips in from the other side and shoots the bird and shot goes just over our heads. Course, it would have been worse if the shot had gone into our face.
Got stationed at Fort Benning, GA. Hadn't turkey hunted in over a decade. Went and bought all the essential gear and was ready for the season opener. Roosted the birds the night prior and got set in early the next morning. At first light had em gobblin and on a B line straight toward me. Every yelp was met with a gobble and the gobbles were closer each time. It was like a TV show, everything going according to plan until about 60 yards out some douche had set up and blasted my gobbler.
Weather, then work.
Had a hot gobbler working and a utility worker / meter reader walked out the ridge between me and the gobbler to a gas well.
Haven't had too bad of luck yet, but a couple seasons back I was set up on a field edge about 150 yards from a creek where I thought the birds would roost.
First light a guy walked by me, I got his attention and it was an older guy who had hunted there before and didn't expect to see anyone. He went on down toward the creek, and the gobbling started a while later. By sunrise I heard a shot, followed by another shot....a little later, the guy comes back with a jake, and said that he accidentally killed 2, thought he missed 1 on the first shot, then the 2nd bird stepped out from behind a tree and he shot it, only to discover he killed two birds which isn't legal in the same day during tn spring season.
He was too afraid to carry both out and get caught, so he left one. I wasn't going to tag it because you technically can't share tags here, and I also didn't want to turn him in for a simple mistake, so I walked the other way and never even looked at the other bird. I guess it was more bad luck on his part than mine, but still spoiled my opening morning hunt.
Sent from the talk of tap
A number of bad-luck deals from last season:
- Took my father out (who has killed plenty of ducks but never a turkey), and had a bird coming in... As it was just about in range, he had to get up cause he was covered in red ants. Then had another pair coming in, and he had no idea they were coming (as he is hard of hearing), just about in range, and he stands up to stretch...
- Had a bird coming in on a different ranch, and they were preparing to cross a fence, and some horses came in and ran them off.
- Had a bird coming in on the first ranch, and someone drives up on a quad (as the bird is about 50 yards out).
- Called in Three toms and a hen on the last day, and the cattle ran in to see what was going on... I could not get a safe shot without shooting a cow... The cattle spooked and then the turkeys spooked, and I never had a safe shot.
Hunting on a military base last year and there were a few birds gobbling across this huge valley and up the other side. Myself and a friend were calling to them occasionally. After about a half hour of listening to them gobble their heads off, we decided to get aggressive with our calling. One or two kept gobbling and then silence. We are sitting there and mind you, I have perfect hearing and my buddy does not, but, he can usually hear drumming really well for some reason and I cannot.
Somehow, I start hearing drumming all of a sudden this bird gobbles not 35 yards over the side of the hill. He had flown in and went around the backside of the hill to our left. We get ready and he starts moving to the right. I hadn't killed a bird yet and my buddy was wanting me to shoot. He is getting ready to clear some brush at 25 yards and in the valley below us, someone shoots twice and our bird is now airborne without us even getting a shot off. Ooooohhhh that still pisses me off and I have nightmares about it...
A hunter intercepted and got between me and a gobbler I was working towards me and then came a BANG!
Had a cattle scenario similar to the previously mentioned. Couple years ago my buddy and I were working a couple different birds coming in from two different directions. I could see a fan crest the knoll and then someone blasted across the field with a rifle. Unfortunately, as they walked out to see if they'd hit their bird, it also spooked the one at the top of the hill. Went in to hunt a spot one morning and found the whole hill side had been logged. Birds roasted there every night. It was a real shame. My favorite was the time I had a jake coming towards me early in my career. Didn't care at that point as I'd have shot anything in those days. Anyway, I was sitting along a split rail fence and a red squirrel came charging down the fence as the bird was out about 50 yards or so. The squirrel charged down the barrel and across my shoulder sending me into a tailspin. The bird decided not to hang around.
A few years ago during our learn to hunt a guy was working two toms on the other side of the road. The toms were coming and they could see them. As the birds stepped up on the shoulder of the road, a truck came flying down the road and hit both birds about 75 yards from my buddy and the kid he was mentoring.
Would like to mention a time a friend of mine was hunting. He and his buddy kept hearing a bird gobble on the other side of the road so they humped it quickly back to the truck, drove over there and got out. As they went through the gate he heard a thundering gobble. Looked over his shoulder to see a tame turkey stuck in a pin with a path beat into the grass where he was trying to find a way to get over to them.
Several on my list, the worst? Worked a bird for 3 hours, no one around for this first 3 hours. At the moment of thruth, just as I was tugging back on the bow, BOOM BOOM! Actually heard the BB's whizz over my head, beacause two idiots snuck out into the field and took about a 70-80 yard shot at the bird.
Calling in a hot tom and he is headed to me. I can see him at times, but he is still a little ways off. I see him heading the other way at a fast walk. Soon after I see a red fox heading the same way (still a pretty good piece away).
Quote from: wisconsinteacher on March 24, 2015, 08:14:14 PM
A few years ago during our learn to hunt a guy was working two toms on the other side of the road. The toms were coming and they could see them. As the birds stepped up on the shoulder of the road, a truck came flying down the road and hit both birds about 75 yards from my buddy and the kid he was mentoring.
Oh man, that's rough for sure!
I've told this before, but I was taking my cousins kid on his first youth hunt and we had a bird coming when an eagle swooped in and tried to take the gobblers head off. The gobbler managed to duck the attack, and then got the heck out of there before the eagle could make another pass. In the end though he fired up again about thirty minutes later and we killed him with about a minute to spare.
Worst for me. Going in a river swamp before daylight. I don't use a flashlight but it was a bright night with a full moon. Tom gobbling good. I came to a slew that had knee deep water in it. It was about 30 yards wide. The gobbler was about 150 yards on the other side of it. Knew I needed to be on the same side that he was on. Started wading the slew and got almost across when it felt like I got double tapped by a hornet. I jumped back and fished a light out of my cargo pocket and turned it on. A stump tail water moccasin was lying on a log and had his mouth opened and half curled ready to strike again. Killed the snake and went to the hospital with it. Scaredest I have ever been in my life. A dose of anti venom and a ton of antibiotics , I left the hospital 4 days later. That has to be the worst season and luck I have ever had turkey hunting.
Had 3 gobblers hammering and coming straight to me then a bobcat tried to make them a meal and ran em off
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on March 24, 2015, 09:09:20 PM
Worst for me. Going in a river swamp before daylight. I don't use a flashlight but it was a bright night with a full moon. Tom gobbling good. I came to a slew that had knee deep water in it. It was about 30 yards wide. The gobbler was about 150 yards on the other side of it. Knew I needed to be on the same side that he was on. Started wading the slew and got almost across when it felt like I got double tapped by a hornet. I jumped back and fished a light out of my cargo pocket and turned it on. A stump tail water moccasin was lying on a log and had his mouth opened and half curled ready to strike again. Killed the snake and went to the hospital with it. Scaredest I have ever been in my life. A dose of anti venom and a ton of antibiotics , I left the hospital 4 days later. That has to be the worst season and luck I have ever had turkey hunting.
You win...
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on March 24, 2015, 09:09:20 PM
Worst for me. Going in a river swamp before daylight. I don't use a flashlight but it was a bright night with a full moon. Tom gobbling good. I came to a slew that had knee deep water in it. It was about 30 yards wide. The gobbler was about 150 yards on the other side of it. Knew I needed to be on the same side that he was on. Started wading the slew and got almost across when it felt like I got double tapped by a hornet. I jumped back and fished a light out of my cargo pocket and turned it on. A stump tail water moccasin was lying on a log and had his mouth opened and half curled ready to strike again. Killed the snake and went to the hospital with it. Scaredest I have ever been in my life. A dose of anti venom and a ton of antibiotics , I left the hospital 4 days later. That has to be the worst season and luck I have ever had turkey hunting.
Holy moly!! No one can top that story. Where did it strike you?
Roosted a bird the night before. The next morning I took a buddy before work, got in there extra earlyand got set up in the small block of pines that the gobbler had roosted in. We are sitting there as dawn cracks, and make a few soft calls to see if we could get him started, then all of a sudden, my buddies alarm clock goes off on his cell phone. And off he sailed in to the next county.
Quote from: alloutdoors on March 24, 2015, 09:04:05 PM
Quote from: wisconsinteacher on March 24, 2015, 08:14:14 PM
A few years ago during our learn to hunt a guy was working two toms on the other side of the road. The toms were coming and they could see them. As the birds stepped up on the shoulder of the road, a truck came flying down the road and hit both birds about 75 yards from my buddy and the kid he was mentoring.
Oh man, that's rough for sure!
I've told this before, but I was taking my cousins kid on his first youth hunt and we had a bird coming when an eagle swooped in and tried to take the gobblers head off. The gobbler managed to duck the attack, and then got the heck out of there before the eagle could make another pass. In the end though he fired up again about thirty minutes later and we killed him with about a minute to spare.
Kinda like this Alloutdoors... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp88qOHvc6w&index=4&list=WL
Nothing to spectacular for me. Just other hunters ambushing my calling and a couple times killing the bird I was calling in.
The last thing I think about is snakes. Wonder I haven't been bit. We don't have as many here in Ohio as you fellows south of us. Few, but not as many.
Last years first week was depressing for me. Had a new place to hunt, private land around it, cattle and some open fields.
Early season scouting showed at least two gobblers roosting on this farm and heard several on the property next to it. Needless to say I didn't scout other areas like I normally do which proved to be a huge mistake on my part.
Cold rainy conditions had our birds tight lipped for most of the season. Even on nice days.
I went the first 7 days of hunting with out even setting up on a gobbling bird. I was sick but kept at it.
I managed to tag out late in the season, but my buddy hunted all four weeks and never tagged a bird.
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on March 24, 2015, 09:09:20 PM
Worst for me. Going in a river swamp before daylight. I don't use a flashlight but it was a bright night with a full moon. Tom gobbling good. I came to a slew that had knee deep water in it. It was about 30 yards wide. The gobbler was about 150 yards on the other side of it. Knew I needed to be on the same side that he was on. Started wading the slew and got almost across when it felt like I got double tapped by a hornet. I jumped back and fished a light out of my cargo pocket and turned it on. A stump tail water moccasin was lying on a log and had his mouth opened and half curled ready to strike again. Killed the snake and went to the hospital with it. Scaredest I have ever been in my life. A dose of anti venom and a ton of antibiotics , I left the hospital 4 days later. That has to be the worst season and luck I have ever had turkey hunting.
Dang that sucks. I am deathly allergic to bees, & have had painful allergic reactions to red ant bites so getting hit by a snake would probably do me in. Glad you made it out OK.....
Haven't hunted with my oldest son in years..so last year we made plans, on taking him out on opening week of season to our lease to hunt turkey and calling him a bird in..we're setup in a great spot, birds gobbling, waiting on them to pitch down...i hear something about 50 yards away and look to see a flashlight...so I'm watching as daylight is just breaking, it's a guy and his wife with headlamps on their heads, they'd snuck on to property, trespassing, and were picking mushrooms all night..needless to say the birds shut up and flew off the roost in another direction...Morning setup ruined.
Thanks guys. He bit me dead center on my right thigh. I wear snake boots now not that it would have helped then. I still don't use a flashlight , but needless to say I am Leary when I'm around backwater.
Our Texas host died in a car accident one year, which was bad enough...but THEN his father invited us back down the following year, and he passed away from a brain injury after that. Bad luck all around.
I was setup on a powerline with birds in front of me and behind. At flydown a hen flew right into the setup and started eyeballing the decoy. The gobbler in front headed my way quickly and I could hear him drumming. He was just below the edge of the right of way and gobbling hard when the hen putted and took off. I knew I had not moved and all the sudden the neighbor walks up and asked why didn't I shoot that bird. After some words he went one way and I the other.
Had a big black snake crawl under my legs once when we were working a bird. My buddy is bad afraid of snakes. He jumps and runs off. I had to bust out laughing.
All in all, its all good. Even when things go south.
I hate when you get multiple birds in and they stand so close you can't shoot without know you could kill/injure multiple birds and have to let them work off.
90 mph straight line winds on the OK/KS border a few years ago shut down the birds for a couple days.
Had numerous coyotes come in and ruin a few hunts,but other than that nothing like some of what you guys have had
Many years ago before coyotes had gotten a foothold in SW. Fl. (to see one was really rare, mostly just heard rumors of sightings) I was working a gobbler. He was coming my way but on the other side of a thin cypress head..about 100yds from me. He didn't really want to cross as it was thick so he kept walking back and forth gobbling at my every call.
I was on the verge of looping around to cross the head and get on his side when all of a sudden I hear a small dog yipping and wings flapping right where the gobbler was.
Never heard another peep from the gobbler and for a couple yrs I had it in my mind that some guy who's old pickup was parked up on the power line had turned a little dog loose to screw up my hunt.
I just couldn't figure what a small dog (sounded just like a little fife dog) would be doing way back in the swamps of the public land I was on. Then a couple yrs later I got familiar with what a coyote sounded like and figured things out.
I Had roosted a tom the evening before a hunt on a buddys land and we both couldnt sleep with the thought of that old gobbler pitching down into a field he had roosted by. Next morning we snuck in early and set up a decoy in a perfect spot and sat on two large oaks with low hanging branches (you know those trees that scream perfect turkey set up). Sun came up, bird fired up, then pitched down about 150 yards to our left with hens and started to slowly work our way putting on a heck of a show. Next thing we know we see some idiot steadily low creeping through the field! :fud: Well the gobbler spooked along with the hens except one of the hens went for some tall grass. We watched in amazement as this fool creeped up the field and jumped the hen out of the grass like a quail hunt and unloaded all three shells folding the hen up like a quail. We sprinted out there ready to beat the brakes of the guy and it turned out to be his younger cousin who claimed he had no idea it was a hen and that we were hunting. Worse than that his dad had put him up to it. Needless to say i dont think very highly of either of them even 12 yrs later! :angry9:
From the bigger horse farm I hunt, I heard a gobbler that sounded like he was in the neighboring cow pasture. I hot-footed it over that way on one of the horse trails I'd cleared. I hung back about 75 yards off the fence in the woods and could see him strutting on the knoll of that pasture. Once I was set, I cutt with my long box and he double gobbled right back. I yelped on a mouth call a few minutes later and he broke strut and headed my direction. There was a gap where it went from panel fence to 3 strands of barbed wire where the deer crossed all the time. I knew that's the way he'd come. Just beyond the gap was some old rusty farm implements with weeds & small trees growing through them. About the time the gobbler got 20 yards from the fence, BOOM a couple of guys who had been set up behind the implements busted him. He was hung up to their calls and when I started calling, that gobbler must have thought the hen was leaving & followed. At least they thanked me.
Jim