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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: Southerngobbler on March 21, 2020, 02:56:23 PM

Title: North FL opening day
Post by: Southerngobbler on March 21, 2020, 02:56:23 PM
Key takeaways from opening day in N/W Florida

1) Our WMAs are open, at least where I hunt.
2) There seems to be a good number of turkeys. Their not all gobbling with a little fog and light rain but some of them are-also fair amount of sign-strut marks and such.
3) People are getting ruder, old fashion values are almost gone. This was a quick transition that seemed to occur exponentially in the last three years.
4) Hogs are standing around looking at ya like they've never seen a human before. I don't recall them acting like this during 4 or 5 months of deer hunting-when you could legally shoot one. (i'm talking public land of course).
5) I've got a trumpet around my neck now-can't play it worth a toot but it looks pretty cool.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: RutnNStrutn on March 21, 2020, 03:07:56 PM
Quote from: Southerngobbler on March 21, 2020, 02:56:23 PM
Key takeaways from opening day in N/W Florida
1) Our WMAs are open, at least where I hunt.
2) There seems to be a good number of turkeys. Their not all gobbling with a little fog and light rain but some of them are-also fair amount of sign-strut marks and such.
3) People are getting ruder, old fashion values are almost gone. This was a quick transition that seemed to occur exponentially in the last three years.
4) Hogs are standing around looking at ya like they've never seen a human before. I don't recall them acting like this during 4 or 5 months of deer hunting-when you could legally shoot one. (i'm talking public land of course).
5) I've got a trumpet around my neck now-can't play it worth a toot but it looks pretty cool.
3 - Yes, that seems to be the trend these days.
4 - Ain't it always that way?
5 - ROFL!!! :TooFunny: Me too!!! ;D
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Upfold99 on March 21, 2020, 06:57:31 PM
Plenty of people. I beat two trucks to my spot by an hour, only to have a guy walk  up to me 1/2 mile in just before daylight and say, where you going?

This burns me up. If I beat you dont ask me where Im going. Your going to get the not so friendly reply of "where ever he gobbles, is where Im going"
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: LaLongbeard on March 21, 2020, 07:16:19 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 21, 2020, 06:57:31 PM
Plenty of people. I beat two trucks to my spot by an hour, only to have a guy walk  up to me 1/2 mile in just before daylight and say, where you going?

This burns me up. If I beat you dont ask me where Im going. Your going to get the not so friendly reply of "where ever he gobbles, is where Im going"

X2 people think turkey hunting is like deer hunting....it ain't. You can't have two people hunting within earshot of a Gobbler or you'll have problems. So parking 100 yards from another truck is not the answer unless your retarded. I have never understood all the "I just go talk too em and we find out we're everybody is going? I'm going we're the next turkey gobbles and if another hunter is within ear shot duh guess we're he's headed I don't care if y'all hugged at the truck and exchanged email addresses they hear a Gobble here they come.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Old Gobbler on March 21, 2020, 07:42:35 PM
Same old public land woes ....I went through all this 30 years ago ... I started hunting pressured Florida wmas in 1984 and consistently killed birds year after year the secret is to avoid the close spots go miles away... I've listened to nightmare stores back in the camp , they all start the same and almost never have a happy ending

If I'm parking a truck and can walk to a spot in 15 minutes, would just about guarantee me  interference

I resorted to walking or biking 4 miles , the excercise is good for you

You have to learn to accept that the( low hanging fruit )close spots on public are headaches and to avoid them and the people that hunt them at all costs ,

The turkeys are easy...its the people , learn to avoid them ..not only will your success skyrocket,  but your enjoyment too....
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Turkeytider on March 22, 2020, 08:45:49 AM
I'm very fortunate to be able to hunt on some private land that a buddy of mine from all the way back in high school ( I'm 72 ) owns and leases. If for some reason that ends, it'll be either a club for me or I'll have a lot of turkey hunting paraphernalia to sell/give to younger folks. I don't have the energy, drive or patience to put up with a bunch of rude and obnoxious anal orifices.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: RutnNStrutn on March 23, 2020, 12:07:20 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 21, 2020, 06:57:31 PM
Plenty of people. I beat two trucks to my spot by an hour, only to have a guy walk  up to me 1/2 mile in just before daylight and say, where you going?

This burns me up. If I beat you dont ask me where Im going. Your going to get the not so friendly reply of "where ever he gobbles, is where Im going"
I have a different theory on that situation. If someone beats me to a parking area on public land, I always ask where they are going. Not so I can horn into the same area as them, but so I can make sure they aren't going to the same area I was planning on going to. If they are, I go somewhere else. Just cause someone asks, it's not always bad intentions. Most of the WMA's I hunt in FLA are large enough for me to go to another area if someone beats me to the parking area.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Upfold99 on March 23, 2020, 12:27:54 PM
If we were still at the truck, I would have been ok with it. I had already walked in and was standing at my listening spot, when the guy walked up to me in the dark. I was gone before the guy ever pulled up.

Water under the bridge now. Its just frustrating in the moment.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: RutnNStrutn on March 23, 2020, 03:31:15 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 23, 2020, 12:27:54 PM
If we were still at the truck, I would have been ok with it. I had already walked in and was standing at my listening spot, when the guy walked up to me in the dark. I was gone before the guy ever pulled up.
Water under the bridge now. Its just frustrating in the moment.
Been there, experienced that too!! What are people thinking when they do that? ???
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: g8rvet on March 23, 2020, 05:02:22 PM
We got to our spot early on Saturday because we had heard a couple of birds.  Guy pulls in behind me at about 6:30. I thought it was my son and did not even look around.  When I did the truck was gone.  Then my son does pull up.  He said when he was heading in the guy stopped him and said there was someone at the end, my son told him he was joining me. They guy said "Cool.  Good luck, hope y'all get one."   There are still mostly decent folks. 
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Ol Timer on March 24, 2020, 07:40:24 AM
Went to Green Swamp WMA on Friday to scout but was told no camping they where closing the camping sites and all campers must leave by Sunday. My plans for the week just went down hill they also waived the daily 200 permit pass at the gate. They also laid off all there employees Friday that worked the check station sad for all of them. This covid 19 is really hitting all walks of our lives, hope everyone here has a safe hunting season with all the stress and frustration.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: Extendo Clip on March 24, 2020, 10:04:15 AM
I slept in my truck at my spot a 2 am.  Had trucks drive by all night.  Sunrises, I don't hear any gobbles so decide to go left into the woods.  30 mins later a bird gobbles across the road on the right.  I walk that way and someone has parked right next to me, after sun up!  This is in middle Georgia.
Title: Re: North FL opening day
Post by: rdjustham on March 24, 2020, 11:22:31 AM
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 23, 2020, 12:07:20 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 21, 2020, 06:57:31 PM
Plenty of people. I beat two trucks to my spot by an hour, only to have a guy walk  up to me 1/2 mile in just before daylight and say, where you going?

This burns me up. If I beat you dont ask me where Im going. Your going to get the not so friendly reply of "where ever he gobbles, is where Im going"
I have a different theory on that situation. If someone beats me to a parking area on public land, I always ask where they are going. Not so I can horn into the same area as them, but so I can make sure they aren't going to the same area I was planning on going to. If they are, I go somewhere else. Just cause someone asks, it's not always bad intentions. Most of the WMA's I hunt in FLA are large enough for me to go to another area if someone beats me to the parking area.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

I do the same thing at the boat ramp during duck season.  If someone is at the ramp when i pull up I ask, mostly because i dont wanna kayak two miles to where i wanna hunt to find a mud boat and paddle three miles the opposite direction to the next spot.