Did anyone learn anything this year related to turkey hunting? One thing I learned is its a lot easier to roost a bird in the South East than I previously thought. In years past I rarely tried to get a response from a gobbler the evening before, and when I did it usually ended with no gobbles. But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
I also learned to keep the gun barrel under the scope at a 6'oclock posistion, tilting it to a 3'oclock posistion to get the bird in the scope can cause you to hit a big arse pine tree that appeared to be out of the line of fire.
Did anyone else learn anything new that might come in handy next year?
...only that things I'd learned from previous years don't always apply. :D
This wasn't a new thing but a reminder that turkey hunting is ridiculously expensive ;D
Oh yeah...I learned that buying a Cabela's Gobbler Lounger was a good choice.
That ther are TONS of tics here in Maryland.
The Mosquitos will try to steal your thermacell.
Way to many snakes.
Sometimes when you roost a bird he may not be there in the morning when you get back.
And last but not least,confidence will kill turkeys. It stared with me by listening to live recordings of turkeys, puttin in alot of time at the patterning board, and pre season scouting. All those things made me a more confident, boarder line cocky but not brazen, turkey hunter this season. :icon_thumright:
That 6 o'clock-3 o'clock thing is a tough lesson to swallow. I learned that lesson this year after watching the biggest turk I've ever seen strutting for ten minutes at twenty yards. After that I learned how easy it is to create new and colorful explicitives and also no matter how much you stomp a hat it still will rettain its shape.
Quote from: anthonyjhallen on May 13, 2011, 12:19:18 PM
And last but not least,confidence will kill turkeys. It stared with me by listening to live recordings of turkeys, puttin in alot of time at the patterning board, and pre season scouting. All those things made me a more confident, boarder line cocky but not brazen, turkey hunter this season. :icon_thumright:
I like that! We had a conversation before season about that very subject! :icon_thumright:
Quote from: beardblaster on May 13, 2011, 12:20:49 PM
That 6 o'clock-3 o'clock thing is a tough lesson to swallow. I learned that lesson this year after watching the biggest turk I've ever seen strutting for ten minutes at twenty yards. After that I learned how easy it is to create new and colorful explicitives and also no matter how much you stomp a hat it still will rettain its shape.
:TooFunny: Yep! I hear ya! Here's the result of my lesson. The turkey was standing just to the left of the tree.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/olesixbeards/P5080192.jpg)
These both appear to be a no brainer, but where both things that I overlooked this year.
When hunting with young/shorter hunters, their line of site to the target doesn't match your own. What appears to be an open shot may not even be in view for them. Hunting with a lefty requires changing the way your normally position yourself.
I'm going to try to keep both in mind when I hunt with my daughter in the morning.
If a smart old bird sees a decoy and something doesn 't look right........he's gone! (had one tree hop closer from the roost to get a look. He flew down the opposite direction)
Moving on a bird can deffinately help seal the deal. (Worked twice this year, including the double my buddy and I killed.)
I call better than I give myself credit for.
Turkeys hear WAY better than I gave them credit for.
Soft purrs can really reassure a bird to come in. See above.
Landowners will still give you access even in this day and age.
I still love turkey hunting and can't wait for fall season!
I learned that the new club member is a complete idiot in the woods.
I learned that the subordinate gobbler that hangs with the strutter does something completely different than the strutter did once he's dead.
I also learned that an old bird doesn't always equate to big spurs
I learned that when the gnats are real bad, the turkeys stay away from the more open areas and stay in the timber, where I like um. ;D
Quote from: CASH on May 13, 2011, 01:03:43 PM
I learned that the new club member is a complete idiot in the woods.
I learned that the subordinate gobbler that hangs with the strutter does something completely different than the strutter did once he's dead.
I also learned that an old bird doesn't always equate to big spurs
Ah,Agree on All Three!!!!We were snake-bit together!! But I still got the subordinate bird after hunting him a long 7 day stretch.;D
A successful season isn't always measured in the number of tags you use. Calling in a bird for someone else is just as exciting as pulling the trigger.
A tent does not dampen the sound of thunder very well.
Spam and scrambled eggs taste good before a morning hunt, but might not be the best choice if you are afterwards confined in a small space with someone you care about. ;D
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:22:05 PM
Quote from: anthonyjhallen on May 13, 2011, 12:19:18 PM
And last but not least,confidence will kill turkeys. It stared with me by listening to live recordings of turkeys, puttin in alot of time at the patterning board, and pre season scouting. All those things made me a more confident, boarder line cocky but not brazen, turkey hunter this season. :icon_thumright:
I like that! We had a conversation before season about that very subject! :icon_thumright:
I had this on my mind alot this season. Things just kinda seemed to work out when I stayed positive and knew that whatever I was doing was right. I havent killed but one bird with my newfound outlook but I still have 10 days to get er done.
i have always been told that life is a continuing education.after,taking many toms over the years,i still continue to learn something each season and i am 69 years old.i hope to get even smarter. ;)
Over the last two weeks I've looked back and thought about most of my hunts this year and what I could change for the future. The biggest thing I remembered on all of the close encounters or missed birds was that I was all fired up and over anxious - usually due to watching them come from a ways off and a ton of gobbling. I compared that to the 2 hunts where I was successful in taking a bird, and I remember being calm and just letting it happen. The need to force or make something happen is something I will try and change next year.
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:25:24 PM
Quote from: beardblaster on May 13, 2011, 12:20:49 PM
That 6 o'clock-3 o'clock thing is a tough lesson to swallow. I learned that lesson this year after watching the biggest turk I've ever seen strutting for ten minutes at twenty yards. After that I learned how easy it is to create new and colorful explicitives and also no matter how much you stomp a hat it still will rettain its shape.
:TooFunny: Yep! I hear ya! Here's the result of my lesson. The turkey was standing just to the left of the tree.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/olesixbeards/P5080192.jpg)
Wow! Couple more shots and you woulda been yellin' "Timber!"
After 30 some years of this I seem to love it more and more each year.
We're not as good as those "easy" birds make us think we are.
Quote from: barry on May 13, 2011, 02:29:38 PM
We're not as good as those "easy" birds make us think we are.
:agreed:
I learned that turkeys in MS are as bad as everyone had previously told me. (I still got to walk out of the woods with one swinging over my shoulder though! :you_rock:)
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I was wondering the same thing. Like him, I have had less and less luck hearing birds gobble on the roost in the evening. I just assume it is due to lower turkey numbers and less competition. Maybe we are re-learning an old lesson. Turkey hunting secrets are not secrets when you share them. lol
I have learned to think and adapt on a changing situation, instead of sticking with the same bad game plan that stuck me where I was to start with!
Also, I learned that I really, really, really, really hate them!
:character0029: I learned when you tune your gun to throw an awesome pattern at 50yds, every shot opportunity you get will be at 15yds. :character0029:
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I'll post this later from my death bed :-X :)
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 02:57:02 PM
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I'll post this later from my death bed :-X :)
Was it this?...
(http://www.missouriwhitetails.com/forums/files.php?pid=2108002&aid=183754)
That I still have not killed enough Turkeys yet .. maybe some day I will be able to let that ole longbeard walk away without a shot fired when he is dead to rights, like in the "Old Pro turkey Hunter" but I have not made it there yet :)
Quote from: stinkpickle on May 13, 2011, 02:58:52 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 02:57:02 PM
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I'll post this later from my death bed :-X :)
Was it this?...
(http://www.missouriwhitetails.com/forums/files.php?pid=2108002&aid=183754)
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I learned that I get just as much if not more enjoyment from smacking turkeys with a 20 gauge as I do a 12 gauge.
Quote from: stinkpickle on May 13, 2011, 02:58:52 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 02:57:02 PM
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I'll post this later from my death bed :-X :)
Was it this?...
(http://www.missouriwhitetails.com/forums/files.php?pid=2108002&aid=183754)
Dang! How did you find out? :TooFunny:
No, it is actually an old aluminum pot call that never did sound good but it has that super high pitched ear-ringing tone. I dug it out of my junk pile this year and threw it in the car. It seems I can cutt on it real aggressive right at dark and maybe 30 minutes past, and somewhere a gobbler will gobble at it.
Quote from: stinkpickle on May 13, 2011, 02:58:52 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 02:57:02 PM
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on May 13, 2011, 02:37:14 PM
Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2011, 12:08:19 PM
But this year I tried something different and got at least one response every afternoon I tried it.
What did you do that was different that made them gobble?
I'll post this later from my death bed :-X :)
Was it this?...
(http://www.missouriwhitetails.com/forums/files.php?pid=2108002&aid=183754)
Stink, you are a riot. You can join my camp anytime!
Thanks, guesswho! Season's over here, but I'm going out tonight with my old alumanator, titaniumanotor,and ceramicanotor and I'm not coming home till I make one gobble! :you_rock:
I was reminded the hard way when you've got a rangefinder in your vest use it!! Also reminded of something an old school turkey hunter told me one time: It takes three things to kill turkeys, PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND PATIENCE!! Both of the birds I harvested this year were killed at midday after hunting them since midmorning. Don't give up!
I shot a cottonwood in OK this season. I feel your pain! :TooFunny:
I learned that I need to practice more soft calling.
I need to build a small blind in these thinned out woods. Too hard to get a good hide in that stuff.
1. I learned that when you are almost to the property you're hunting and you hear a tornado warning come over the radio the proper response is not, "Well, sounds like some good weather to kill a bird in."
2. Even the most well staked down blind doesn't tend to want to stay staked down in 65 mile an hour straight lined winds and can lead to you holding on for dear life.
3. After my first successful turkey season I've already become a full turkey hunting addict and can for sure see myself taking vacation time off from work next year in April!
1. When bow hunting from a blind...to be mindful of how close you are to the front of the blind...when you release your arrow you just might deliver a perfect kill shot...to the blind that is....I did create a new "peep" hole to peer through....BTW...blinds don't flop around or bleed like a turkey...there are very tough!!!
2. KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid....don't over think it...go with your first instinct or thought
I've learned that I'd shoot more birds if I'd remember to do all the things I'm suppose to. Critical is to stake down your lightweight dekes to inable their movement on windy days. Birds will spook off from a deke spinning like a top. Wasn't that windy when I put out the deke in the morning, but I knew it was going to be. Why take the chance, put some stakes on both sides if the deke, and it will still have some movement, but not go out of control or fall off the decoy stake. I might have lost the opportunity of my highest scoring bird of all time in Kansas this year because of this. Big bird with at least 1 1/2 hooks, and great beard. Expensive screw up.
I learned that my 6 year old son can sit still for longer than 10 mins. I learned that when I think its time to move on.......I should wait 15 more mins. I also learned that hunting with decoys really isn't something I want to do anymore.
I learned that turkey hunting is much like crack, i.e. one taste of turkey hunting and a guy can become instantly addicted. Secondly, I learned that I apparently have addictive tendencies. :-\
I have learned no matter how long and how many birds you have killed you shouldn't get to cockey. I have 6 unfilled tags from 3 different states right now. anybody have a good recipe for tag soup.
Quote from: Jay on May 14, 2011, 07:59:31 AM
Big bird with at least 1 1/2 hooks, and great beard. Expensive screw up.
If he was close enough to see the length of his spurs he should have been dead! Don't forget to shoot Jay! :TooFunny:
I learned that if you can't call a big old gobbler from his hen, stick with him for 4 hours and maybe he will decide you might be better than she is.
I also learned that sometimes getting down and dirty will lead to killing a bird. Belly crawling through a dew soaked field for 200 yards doesn't sound fun, until that gobblers head is only 30 yards away from you.
I learned that $4 a gallon sucks for long trips. But, it is WELL WORTH it to get out there in God's great outdoors.
...and that my ol 100gr thunderheads and the 2F black powder still rock their world.
Good luck and I love that pine tree shot. I know of a pig hickory with a broadhead stuck smack dab in the middle myself. ;)
Wess
1. Woodticks don't seem to mind 12" of snow on the ground.
2. Turkeys hear EVERYTHING. sometimes your "stealthy" footsteps actually add to the illusion that you're another turkey.
3. I've learned to pay alot more attention to selecting a spot for a set up, especially in the rush following an unexpected gobble within 100 yards. that bird might come to within 5 yards, but if you aren't set up in a good spot, you aren't going to kill him.
4. Unlike most activities, that become less interesting, even boring as the newness wears off, turkey hunting only gets more and more addicting...
Quote from: flintlock on May 14, 2011, 07:23:35 PM
Good luck and I love that pine tree shot. I know of a pig hickory with a broadhead stuck smack dab in the middle myself. ;)
Wess
I'd probably like your big hickory with a broadhead stuck in it more than I do my pine tree :lol:
Quote from: Gopherlongbeards on May 14, 2011, 07:31:32 PM
2. Turkeys hear EVERYTHING. sometimes your "stealthy" footsteps actually add to the illusion that you're another turkey.
3. I've learned to pay alot more attention to selecting a spot for a set up, especially in the rush following an unexpected gobble within 100 yards. that bird might come to within 5 yards, but if you aren't set up in a good spot, you aren't going to kill him.
Ah, somebody's been paying attention.
I learned that there are some turkey that aren't supposed to die....
I named one bird "lucky" because I shot over his head once at 30yds---then came back the next weekend and had my reddot reticle fail/not properly illuminate with him standing at 40-----but watched him walkoff to roost so I had a good plan for the morning when a tornado rolled in at 3a.m and we had to abandon turkey camp in the middle of the night....
I think the good lord wanted to watch "lucky" strutt for at least another year...
Unfortunately, there are some lessons we have to learn more than once. Fortunately turkeys are good teachers. Here are a baker's half dozen I had to rememberize again this year:
1. You can't get to the woods too early but you can get there too late.
2. You don't have to be able to shoot a turkey at 50-60 yards if you'll call him in to less than 30. (And 1 3/4 oz of shot kicks waaay less than 2 7/16 oz)
3. Don't spray Permanon tick spray on your skin or breath the vapors, it's poison.
4. Never yelp on a turkey call until you're standing next to a tree that you can work a bird from when he gobbles just out of sight.
5. The older you get, the harder it becomes to get up. (From the bed at three in the morning or from the base of a tree when you just dropped a big tom.)
6. 90% of the work involved in killing a turkey is done before the day of the hunt.
7. Killing a turkey is 75% woodsmanship and 25% calling.
I learned you might as well not bother driving for two hours if the lightning that's pounding the area is flat out scary and the rain is so hard you can't see out a pickup truck's window because you probably aren't going to see a turkey no matter how much you want to.
I got reminded that turkeys that have been hunted hard don't follow the rule as long as your still they will not spook. You better have your butt hidden well.
I learned that I'm not quite as fast as I used to be swinging on a gobbler to my right. It's best to just stay still and let him walk off and then reposition and to try to call him back.
I learned when setting up on a feild you better be as close to edge as possible, but hidden well. All it takes is one tree in the way to make the difference of kill or not.
I learned a lot in my second season turkey hunting.
1. Just because I killed a 25 lb stud my first year doesn't mean I'm going to kill a turkey at all my second year :-\
2. Just because my buddy who farms the area calls me and tells me he see's 50 turkeys before season in the field that I have permission to doesn't mean I'm going to kill a turkey.
3. Thermacell really works! The mosquitoes were horrid this year and would swarm me as soon as I sat down but once that badboy got heated up, there was none in sight!
4. I now see why you all talk about taking toilet paper in the woods...it's not fun walking all the way back to the truck with only one sock on...
5. I'm still calling too loud and too often
1. turkeys continue to cross rivers, fences, and come down hill when they shouldnt.
2. We do have rattlesnakes so need some snake boots.
3. Need a thermacell. Hard to sit still with a tom in range but behind cover with biting flies chewing on your ears and forehead!
4. When you think they are not going to do anything and are ready to leave wait at least 30 more minutes
5. People, if he dont answer the first 50 hoots he probably aint going to answer the next 50!
1. Be patient
2. Call less and look more
I hunted quite a bit with a 77 year old friend (Keith) this year. He is one of the original "Old School" turkey hunters. I learned from him that:
1. Quiet and sparse calling is effective. You don't always have to cut and yelp loudly on a mouth call, even if the turkey is far off--which brings up the second thing I learned--
2. Turkeys can hear much further that I imagined. In Kentucky while hunting with Keith, I called in a bird and killed him from over 150 yards out on a very windy morning. Keith would only let me yelp a few times here and there on my slate--it worked like a charm.
I relapsed from last year. I was much, much more patient last year than this year. Need to work on that waiting 15-30 minutes longer part. I busted two different birds this year because of that. >:(
I learned that in the rain, you take what you can get. I killed a jake, which I was perfectly happy with.
I learned that in my first encounter of the year, and years past, I miss. I now call that a "warning shot" :D I hope to proudly break that tradition next year. :D
There's more I'm sure
1. patience is always important, even in run and gun it needs to be a calculated part
2. try not to waste to much time second and third guessing my instincts, the birds aren't really out to trick me they're just living their lives the way god made them
3. sit tight just a little longer
4. scout, scout, and scout
5. dont get hung up on the big bird that made you look silly when theres other properties to hunt... this was huge for me in NY I got so focused on one in particular monster bird that I ignored properties with several more patternable birds
Oh Hell yeah I learned to take both of yer gloves off befor ya pee when ya been hunting in Poison Ivy. C ause the one ya hold yer underwear down with just may touch ya where ya don't want it too. There is one gun that I will never take out in the woods again as long as there is Poison Ivy around.
1.Old gobbler is an awesome place to hang out.
2. Don't take anything for granted.
3. When you see a shooting star on the way to your hunting spot expect to climb 1000 ft in elevation and 1 mile north of where you started to get your bird.
pittboss
I learned that I'm not as good of a turkey hunter that I thought was. Then again, I seem to learn that lesson every year. Should have bagged 3 or 4 more gobblers than I did.
Quote from: wildturkey6 on May 16, 2011, 07:57:10 PM
Oh Hell yeah I learned to take both of yer gloves off befor ya pee when ya been hunting in Poison Ivy. C ause the one ya hold yer underwear down with just may touch ya where ya don't want it too. There is one gun that I will never take out in the woods again as long as there is Poison Ivy around.
:-\ Good point. Ditto on Poison Oak.
Lessons learned in Spring 2011 :
1. Just because you dont hear any turkeys gobbling early in the morning doesn't mean they wont gobble later during the day.
2. Hunt ALL day !
3. Trying to roost a bird is not a waste of time as I previously thought.
4. Be patient. Sit tight an extra 15-30 minutes.
5. It is possible to kill turkeys without the use of a mouth call.
I learned I never have good luck in the rain
Bout the time you think you got everything figured out, an ole boss Tom, WILL give you a humbling experience. Never expect anything but the unexpected.
Oh, and I also learned that I need a new pair of Danner Pronghorns before next season. My feet were wet everyday except when I wore my super heavy, ultra uncomfortable rubber boots. >:(
A caterpillar is more interesting to a 5 year old than a several longbeards having a gobbling duel and less than 75 yards away coming in.
Hunting with the right buddy is very fulfilling, better than hunting by yourself. Like to run on my own a lot, but enjoyed hunting with two members from this board a lot.
Quote from: wildturkey6 on May 16, 2011, 07:57:10 PM
Oh Hell yeah I learned to take both of yer gloves off befor ya pee when ya been hunting in Poison Ivy. C ause the one ya hold yer underwear down with just may touch ya where ya don't want it too. There is one gun that I will never take out in the woods again as long as there is Poison Ivy around.
I'm paying for this mistake right now. SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!