I’ve lost my turkey “COOL”

[2eagles]

I'm pretty new to the turkey hunting thing. Started turkeys in 2009, but have been hunting deer, waterfowl and upland birds since the early 60's. I've been doing really well by Iowa standards and have filled both available tags most years. I missed a bird a few years ago, the only one. Not 2021! I've had TWO misses in two opportunities and I'm bummed. I'm rushing the game. Getting Tom fever. Getting overly anxious. I'm shooting a new gun this year and yup I've patterned it and have been impressed with the way it shoots. I know this is a mental thing, a lot of hunting is, so I'm thinking about breaking out the old Browning to give me some mojo back. I need to calm down, yup. But if turkey hunting doesn't get me excited, I'll buy a Butterball at the grocery store. I had to get this said. Thanks guys.

[Jimspur]

Are you shooting different shells with the new gun? Is your pattern better now, but tighter? How far were the birds you missed?

[TonyTurk]

For most of us, misses happen sometimes.  We understand this, but understanding doesn't make it any less frustrating when we do miss.

You are obviously a skilled hunter.  Stay after 'em. 

[RiverBuck]

The hardest part of turkey hunting is patience and staying still.. It's really that simple.
Someone could add don't call too much but there is no other type hunting more overcomplicated than turkey hunting.

Enjoy the moment and make it happen.

[ChesterCopperpot]

We've all done it. If someone tells you they've never missed they probably ain't spent much time in the woods. I had a bad spell where I missed three birds in a row a few years back, and, yep, I was just losing my cool. Told a buddy I didn't have an ounce of cool left in my body. Must've found and swallowed some somewhere because it came back. That to say, keep doing what you're doing. If they're in gun range you're accomplishing the hard part. Head down, take your time, trust your instinct and your history. You know what you're doing.


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[Greg Massey]

It's like gambling, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, we have all missed gobblers, i feel your frustration. If you have confidence in your gun and shells, just keep on trying, your cool will return. Good luck..

[grayfox]

I know your pain & frustration. There was a time when I thought I could never miss a big ole bird like a turkey. I was humbled big time when I missed my first time. A gobbler came in strutting & dragging his wings all the way to me. I was waiting for him to take a couple more steps so I could see him better before I shot him. He was no more than 25-30 yards at that time. Then one of the two hens that were with him (that I had completely forgotten about) came running up within about 3 yards from me, clucked loudly a couple times & starting running towards the gobbler. She never saw me but I think she saw my decoys in the log road in front of her & she didn't want that gobbler to go to them. I panicked, raised up & shot over her, missed the gobbler & blew the whole deal. Took me many months to get over it. There was about a week & a half of turkey season left that year & I never went turkey hunting again that season because I was so devastated.

[2eagles]

Are you shooting different shells with the new gun? Is your pattern better now, but tighter? How far were the birds you missed?

Completely different setup. I've always shot a 12 and the new one is a 20. I have patterned it and have a good load, so I am sure it's ME, not the gun.

[Jimspur]

Are you shooting different shells with the new gun? Is your pattern better now, but tighter? How far were the birds you missed?

Completely different setup. I've always shot a 12 and the new one is a 20. I have patterned it and have a good load, so I am sure it's ME, not the gun.

Ok - I was just wondering if you switched to a super tight pattern.

[Gooserbat]

Sounds like you need to step back and take a breath.  It happens to everyone, enjoy the ride and figure out what you need to do different.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

there is no other type hunting more overcomplicated than turkey hunting.

This sums it up for me. 


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[Tail Feathers]

When it comes time to shoot, focus ONLY on the shot.  No hens, no beard, no spurs, just the sights and his neck.  But you know that, just repeat it to yourself as he is coming in.
We've all missed.  For the handful who haven't, they will if they hunt enough.  Doc Weddle, in his book reports in hundreds of shots by him (and guided clients I think), runs about 10% misses over decades of turkey hunting.
Don't beat yourself up over it and good luck this spring!

[Pluffmud]

Brother, i feel your pain. Ive been on  4 birds this season, all with my bead on their neck within 15 yards. The only reason they aint dead is because we were desperately trying to get my wife and my buddy their first birds, so i was just a backup shot to finish it if they wounded the bird with a poor shot. Every time, we set up to give them a shot, and the bird skirted us and came in on my side. After 1 missed from my buddy and 2 from my wife, my buddy finally got one.  Had one more come in at 10 yards and he stood behind an oak and i could never get a shot before he walked off. Its funny, last year was the best bird hunting year ive ever had. Hammered the ducks, linited on turkeys, shot a pile of quail. I was wondering when the streak was gonna end... Well it was this year. Ducks were scarce, no quail, lots of missed opportunities on turkeys. Gotta take the ups with downs though. It will turn baround for us. All of the experienced/veteran hunters have been through what we went through this year.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

Worked on one this morning for 2 hours.  He and his buddy were hammering up until I moved my head a little to look down beside me for something and I heard them putting.  I thought they were further in the woods than what they were.  As I was walking out the gobbling started back, but further away.


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[El Pavo Grande]

I feel your pain!!  I killed one opening day with my Browning 12 gauge that I have carried for nearly 20 years.  Decided to use my new Franchi 20 gauge.  This past Friday I called up one at 6:20am (30 steps).  It was open in a fresh burn, he didn't see a hen or saw me and turned to leave.  I shoot and miss.  Get on another one at 11:00am.  4 set ups later, I choose a bad set up that puts the turkey at 10 steps uphill before I can shoot.  At 2:30, he struts to the break and when he comes around the pine tree, he eye balls me and turns to leave.  I shoot the pine tree.  ??.  Walked out feeling like I had never turkey hunted before.  Did most things right, except one bad set up and poor shooting.  Yesterday I had one shut up after fly down.  I'm waiting him out, and not hearing him walk in the burn, he's standing to my left at 20 steps in the wide open before I see him.  I didn't get a shot, but he spotted me and pitched off the ridge.  It's not the gun, but I went back to carrying my Browning.