Late Season Hunting

[The Southpaw]

Who has more success in May than they do in April? I certainly seem too.

[Will]

I've killed quite a few on the last day.

[Marc]

I've killed quite a few on the last day.

Sometimes I think we are a bit more "determined" on the last day...

I might leave early, or "lay off" a bird earlier in the season, when I know I will have more days...  But I am more likely to stay in the field, or make a move on a distant bird, hike in to that steep area, or work a bit harder on that last day...

Here in California, if we have some late spring storms, it seems like the hunting can be good with some active birds...  In mild spring seasons, it often seems that it is game over by the last weekend, and killing a bird is more a matter of being in the right place at the right time, as opposed to working a bird in.

[Tail Feathers]

Late season can be good.  Very late, the gobbling begins to drop off but our season starts way too late and goes until I see signs of molting already.  It's done when that starts.

[Happy]

I tend to kill them spread throughout our season. Its more relarive to when i can get free to hunt.Ours opens middle of April and ends third week of may. The middle portion is the toughest. Most of the easy birds have been killed, the rest have been educated and the old boys are locked on hens. Near the end of a typical season when most hens are nesting it gets better and typically I kill bigger toms. Not always though.

[renegade19]

Sometimes the big boys can be real "thirsty" come the end of Illinois 5th season.  I always put in for 1st and 5th seasons on my tags.  Since we can have up to 3 tags, sometimes, I'll apply for 2 5th season tags.  Seems to be a lot less hunting pressure then too.