How Long Did It Take You To Kill Your 1st Spring Turkey Without A Mentor?

[NCL]

Also started later in life at age 50. I think it took 16 years to kill one but I had chances on Jakes but do not shoot them. Also missed one at a ridiculously close distance, still can not figure out why. Never really had a mentor, per se,  but did hunt a couple of times with more experienced guys if that counts.  So most of my experience is from trial and error and mistakes of which there are a bunch.

[g8rvet]

First day with my mentor.  He warned me it almost never happens like that, but I was hooked.

Last day I could hunt of my second season hunting alone it finally happened after I had stumbled around in the woods learning from my mistakes.  It was on a well populated private lease I was in.  So many close calls and mess ups.

My son-in-law had a better mentor.    His second hunt alone.  My daughter was so mad at me from him trying to master a mouth call for an entire summer.  He would call me on the cell and make these sounds that I can best describe as a raped rabbit.  I would just say "Keep working on it".  He finally mastered it after getting a pot call and I said make it sound like that! 

[PharmHunter]

Killed one the first time I ever went with a good friend who did serve as a mentor.  Spent the rest of that season trying, unsuccessfully by myself.  Killed one alone the following season and rolled on from there.  I'll never forget the first with him or the first on my own.  I can still see and hear them.

[Tom Threetoes]

Killed a gobbler the first 2 seasons I hunted.... Nothing to this I thought.... hunted hard the next 5 seasons before I got number 3.

[tlh2865]

Central Virginia, 13 years ago as a 12 year old. On my 4th hunt I called in and killed a gobbler by myself. I didn't kill another for 6 years! But man the Good Lord taught me a bunch of hard lessons in those 6 bridless years!

[EastKyGobblerSlayer]

The fella that got me started was very kind and took me along every time he went for years. We had a deal where one day I got to take the first shot and the next day it was him. Still hunt together most of the time and still have the same deal. I had been at it for a good while before it came together on one of the days I hunted alone. Its much like the first one, Ill always remember it . Last year was the first year that I was able to take a bird and he didnt, not that I believe Im even close to equalling him at this game yet. The one bird he had a good read on he allowed his stepson to take. Thats the kind of fella he is though and he didnt have one complaint.

[Sir-diealot]

23 years.

[Hayudog]

First bird was a public land bird in California.  I drew a hunt on public ground.  Walked to the top of the hill, about a two mile walk in the dark.  Heard a bird down a ridge about sunrise. Snuck in close??? 100 yards or so.  Sat next to a tree...books say you should do that.  Put on my reall cool head net face mask...couldn't see anything. Took that off.  Replaced with my duck hunting type 1/2 mask.  Got out my slate call.  Dropped the striker into the wet grass.  Went thru vest to get a new striker. The entire time the bird is hammering.  Finally get a set of yelps out of the slate.  He answered...I'm amazed. Within a very short time I see him come over the rise about 75 yards in front of me. My gun is crossways on my lap.  I'm frozen still...he's walking directly at me the foam decoy I'd stuck in the ground 10 yards in front of me.  I watched him full strut in to the decoy, and in full strut when was at the decoy, when he turned away, I raised the gun.  He never saw me. I shot him with a 3 1/2" at 10 yards.  Aimed at the base of his neck.  I didn't miss. Two year old. This turkey hunting stuff was easy, so I thought. That by far, was the easiest bird I've killed. That was 2006.

[Vintage]

10 years

[West Augusta]

I called in 3 longbearded turkeys my first time in the woods.  (got real lucky).
I had Dad's Model 12 with me.  (I forgot to load a shell in the chamber, I was just a little excited)
It was 5 years before I bought my Super Mag 870 and FINALLY bagged my first gobbler.
I learned a lot in those 5 years.

[TonyTurk]

My second season.  Took a vacation day, got up early on a Wednesday and drove 2 1/2 hours to a piece of public ground.  It rained liked pouring you-know-what out of a boot.  It was a miracle I didn't get stuck on the muddy roads.  After a while the rain stopped and the skies cleared.  I think I may have had that entire 16,000 acre tract to myself that day.  Mid-afternoon I was able to kill a jake who was following a hen.  It was only a jake but I will never forget that day.

[bushwhacker]

First season maybe 4-5 hunts I called and killed my first gobbler. I was 14 and soon to be 36 so 22 springs under my belt and only two of those were tag soup. Have only killed three turkeys that someone else called for me.

[WTNUT]

This is a good question.  When I have more time,  I want to read other responses.  In the meantime,  I had "heard" some turkeys in the early 80s in West Virginia (where I grew up).  I don't honestly remember when I first heard one or when I first saw one.   I started college in 1985,  and a friend who shot at a local bow club who was probably 10 years older than I offered to take me spring turkey hunting; provided,  I taught him to be a better archer. 

I don't even remember his name,  but as soon as 1986 rolled around we scouted for turkeys darn near every morning from the first of January until season in April.   I vividly remember being around Stone Coal Lake on February 14, 1986 at daylight.   We heard 13 different gobblers than morning listening at daylight.   That part of the State had a lot of birds back then. 

I killed my first gobbler with him that year,  and I don't recall the exact length of the spurs but they were a legit 1 and 6/8th long.   I had no idea at the time that I would probably never kill a bird again with spurs like that.  I don't even have the spurs now.   They were thrown out - by my mother I think. 

But,  back to your question.  I killed a bird on my own the very next season.  I did it because he spent an inordinate amount of time with me during January to April in 1985 teaching me.   I will say he was into turkey hunting more than any other person I have ever met.   I also did it because,  in my opinion gobblers were easier to kill back then than today.    Long response for your to read,  but a great few minutes remembering years gone by. 

[The Lung]

I tried on Oklahoma public land for 4 or 5 seasons with zero luck and not even a gobble. I didn't quite understand the appeal of this turkey hunting thing. With ducks the action was immediate  quickly gratifying. Finally I hunted a piece of private land and when those gobblers answered my call and came in from the neighboring property,  I started to get it. I killed a turkey on that property finally. Life will never be the same.