Anybody here a dyed-in-the-wool "old schooler"?

[flintlock]

I probably am since my camo doesn't match, vest is over 20 years old, pack 3 calls of which one I made from a mussel shell in the creek, my bow is 14 and my primary weapon is traditional black powder 12 ga double. 

It doesn't mean I am better than anyone else, just a tight-was, LOL.

I'd say we all are smiling wide come April as the sun begins to rise and the ol gobbler starts to hammer!!!  I simply can't wait and wish everyone the best if luck!

Take some pics!!
Wess

[DirtNap647]

I find every year going back to my roots  little by little

[WildTigerTrout]

When I started hunting turkeys as a teen in the mid 1970's  the only camo available was the WWII pattern. I had one turkey call, a Lynch "World Champion" box. I used a H&R single shot "Topper" 20 ga shotgun with Win 3" #4 shot. We put camo paint on our face and hands. No blinds, no vests, no decoys, no GPS, no special choke tubes, no turkey specific shotshells, no HTL, no camo guns, etc. I am surprised we EVER killed a turkey without all that stuff! LOL. I have improved my guns, ammo, clothing and calls. I do not use blinds or decoys or HTL shot so I guess I am a mixture of "new" and "old" school.

[Byhalia]

When I started hunting turkeys as a teen in the mid 1970's  the only camo available was the WWII pattern. I had one turkey call, a Lynch "World Champion" box. I used a H&R single shot "Topper" 20 ga shotgun with Win 3" #4 shot. We put camo paint on our face and hands. No blinds, no vests, no decoys, no GPS, no special choke tubes, no turkey specific shotshells, no HTL, no camo guns, etc. I am surprised we EVER killed a turkey without all that stuff! LOL. I have improved my guns, ammo, clothing and calls. I do not use blinds or decoys or HTL shot so I guess I am a mixture of "new" and "old" school.

Started with the H & R 10 ga. in 1979 and still using it !!!!!   My birds are just as dead as your birds !!!
No fancy gun or chokes here either....fixed full choke !!   

[R AJ]

I'm a mid 60's hunter and kept up with a lot of the new fangled stuff . Have hunted from dove stools, sat on the ground but never from a blind and no decoys. Got super tight chokes and HTL and wonder why when he's out there at 15 steps or closer at times. I do use a home made face mask and gloves on whatever cammo smells best. If he's very far at all when I first hear a gobble then I know that by the time I get there he is on the ground or died on the limb. The older I get the more times I awake during the night but not from excitement of thinking about going the next morning; it's just another nature call.
Love having everything right ready to go for the next morning and just as I walk out the door I think of something that requires awaking my true love just one more time. I thank the Lord every day for having the opportunity to be able to go turkey hunting one more time. I'd rather call one up for a kid or someone new to the sport  than to shoot one myself - but I ain't a saying I won't shoot one when I want to.
Turkey hunting is the best outdoor show in the world in my opinion.

[timberchicken]

does owning a shirt in the drake old school pattern count?

[catdaddy]

I am old school--not because I especially try to be--its just the way I am.

[mudhen]

Not much of an old school guy...would hate to have tried to turkey hunt with polio...

mudhen

[TJK68]

I don't think it matters if you are "old school" or "latest and greatest" we all enjoy the same thing and that is what counts. I do not knock a guy for what he wears, weapon he carries, or call he uses, that is his choice as long as he hunts ethically.  When I bow hunt I wear plaid wool shirts, wool green pants, backquiver, cedar arrows tipped with Bear Greenies, and carry a 68" longbow.  I also carry an 870, wear Ol'Tom gear, yep and I have a decoy. I do not hunt from a blind, or shoot past 40, killed more than some and alot less than others. If I never kill another I am thankful the Good Lord still lets me chase them. My point is, I won't waste my time or argue about what gear you use or I use, we are all hunters. As I said as long as you hunt ethically,  most of you would be welcome to hunt with me at my farm   anytime, because we are all Turkey hunters and outdoorsman. Just my thoughts.

[2eagles]

As I said as long as you hunt ethically,  most of you would be welcome to hunt with me at my farm   anytime, because we are all Turkey hunters and outdoorsman. Just my thoughts.

Very good thoughts!   

[WildTigerTrout]

When I started hunting turkeys as a teen in the mid 1970's  the only camo available was the WWII pattern. I had one turkey call, a Lynch "World Champion" box. I used a H&R single shot "Topper" 20 ga shotgun with Win 3" #4 shot. We put camo paint on our face and hands. No blinds, no vests, no decoys, no GPS, no special choke tubes, no turkey specific shotshells, no HTL, no camo guns, etc. I am surprised we EVER killed a turkey without all that stuff! LOL. I have improved my guns, ammo, clothing and calls. I do not use blinds or decoys or HTL shot so I guess I am a mixture of "new" and "old" school.

Started with the H & R 10 ga. in 1979 and still using it !!!!!   My birds are just as dead as your birds !!!
No fancy gun or chokes here either....fixed full choke !!   

I must agree my Benelli SBE and Browning BPS 10 ga. are fancy but man do they knock-em dead! LOL

[THattaway]

If the bar for old school is 1990 then yes I guess I qualify. 1981 for me, killed my first couple one evening on my own in 1986. The learning curve was steep. I wish the heck I'd have known all that old gear and camo I used then would be so sought after now. Most all of it has was handed down to other new hunters along the way.

[rempumpman]

Love the "Old School ways" but I am also thankful for mordern technology; I do hunt with decoys (a lot of them) I LOVE my Mossy Oak camo, LOVE my turkey seat with the soft cushion, I do hunt out of blinds when ever possible but also run and gun a lot too, have several "old school" shotguns that I kill turkeys with but also have the lastest as well, use the modern shotshells, and the rest of my gear is pretty much considered modern; I TOTALLY agree that the Old Timers were and still is some of the BEST hunters out there but I am pretty sure that IF alot of this stuff would have been available back in the day, the old timers would have used it.

[THattaway]

Most definitely would have used some of it. Hevi shot being #1. You youngins wouldn't have nothing to shoot at now if we'd have had it back then!