WHO Gets To Shoot??

[GobbleNut]

Early in the season when everybody has a tag, I generally encourage everybody in our hunting party to hunt alone, unless they just would rather hunt with a partner or two.  There are generally a lot more options in terms of available gobblers to hunt and the number of uneducated, gullible birds is much higher than later in the season.  To maximize the chances of everybody getting to test their skills and calling ability, and perhaps tag a gobbler, I always try to get folks to go it alone initially. 

After those initial few days, one or more of us will have killed a bird and, in addition, there will be fewer options both in terms of numbers of gobblers, as well as gobblers that have not been totally scared out of their wits on the public lands we hunt.  As such, we are more likely to hunt together and hit those places that are more isolated and/or overlooked by the masses.  In those situations, shooting order is based on who has killed gobbles already and who has not. 

However, none of us really cares who pulls the trigger when we hunt together.  If a gobbler gets around the designated shooter or otherwise only presents a viable opportunity to one of the other guys, there is an unwritten rule that if a gobbler is about to get away and somebody has the shot, take it. 

We also have no "I am the only caller" rules either.  Everybody I hunt with has enough experience at this to understand how to blend-in together to present the illusion of multiple hens interacting with each other,...and that illusion has been the undoing of many a gobbler.  Now, admittedly, there are times when one of us calls and I say to myself..."You probably shouldn't have said that to him at this particular moment", but hey, it's all good when you are out with your buddies!  In addition, there have been plenty of times where I mentally made that comment to myself only to see the gobbler come marching right in when I thought they would be high-tailing it away.   

[dzsmith]

99.99% of everything related to hunting or my hobbies is by myself. On the rare occasion i do go with somebody , im either tagged out already, and even if im not, im probably going with them for their benefit ,not mine. Its rare but if i go with somebody, they are probably gonna be the shooter. my son isnt old enough to hunt yet. as a child i hunted with my dad, and usually if i still make a paired hunt its probably with him once or twice a season. ive witnessed many things that i wish i could have shared with a friend or family in the woods.....but lets face it. this is a one man game , humans complicate everything. one of the reasons i turkey hunt is to get away from people......in this day and age are you really even battling a turkey anymore or other hunters, because thats sure what it feels like sometimes

[Hwd silvestris]

My shooting days are over for the most part until I'm no longer cool to hunt with.  My 10 yr old does most of the killing unless a gobbler comes in on his weak side.  I generally cover his weak side since since I'm the opposite hand as him.  Had to shoot a few over the past years that didn't read the script.  I try and wait till he's about to booger before I do tho.  Ain't gonna watch em walk away!   He is generally ok with it.  He has actually told me "kill him daddy! I can't".
I'm ok with not being the shooter tho.  Much more gratification when my lil buddy gets a bird. I would rather him kill one than me 5! 


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[WV Ridge Reaper]

Kenny Morgan said it best long ago..it's a one man's game..Two people are ok but never any more..Even when it's two people one gun is enough


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[Kygobblergetter]

I hunt with others fairly often. Almost always I am calling and they are shooting. Once in a blue moon I will be hunting with my brother and dad or my brother and cousin. Have killed a lot of birds with my brother and dad. We did kill one on some bama public land a couple years ago with my cousin and I laying face down on the ground and my brother set up and shooting after a bird gave us one of those "oh crap" gobbles and came marching in. Have pulled off a few doubles in the past couple years when I went to call for someone else and multiple birds ended up coming in. I don't mind hunting with others but definitely prefer to hunt alone. I have one buddy who I really thought I was going to turn in to a turkey hunter but now he just wants me to call him in a bird on opening day and then he never hunts again. I don't hunt with him much these days


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[Sixes]

I have no idea, I don't have any friends, at least not when it comes to turkeys

[Bowguy]

You're assuming guys riding past in the dark are hunting sorta together? You can't know that. Personally if I'm with anyone the guy shooting first is not me unless it's a video camera. Nothing better than calling one for a kid, vet, newbie, someone disabled, etc than watching them shoot. This Covid thing put a kink in that I hope is passed

[Jmillwood21]

Last year me and a buddy was about to leave when we had two come in.  I was 45 angle off to the side of him.  He kept asking if I was ready and I was getting to get my gun in my hand from the tree it was rested on.  I almost had it and he finally shot.  Of course he missed. I grabbed my gun and never could get on one before they made it out of there.  I just turned and looked at him.  That's why I like hunting alone


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[Spladle160]

I hunt with my sons. I scout, haul in a blind, set up the decoys, buy the breakfast sandwiches, do the calling and they shoot then I clean. Am I getting the short end of the stick? maybe, but I feel like I learn a lot more when I'm not shooting and just focusing on the rest. I also get to spend quality time with my sons, get them into hunting and always have an excuse to tell them to be quiet if they start complaining.

[tikka]

If I am hunting with others we discuss a plan at the truck,   usually split the area we are hunting in half.   But hat hasn't always worked.   Last year a nice tom came in with a Jake,  tom was on my side but I wanted my buddy to shoot it and he finally shot a bird,   unfortunately it was the jake and the Tom got away.   I was aiming at the jake and planned on shooting at the report.   The Tom as bigger than what he had gotten in the past.   

[Turkeyman]

I have never hunted with anyone but myself, and never will...so not an issue.

That said, I have taken my grandson on a few occasions and told him...I'll never shoot a bird over you...but if you F up I'll kill him. Hasn't been a problem...he's killed.

[Howie g]

I have never hunted with anyone but myself, and never will...so not an issue.

That said, I have taken my grandson on a few occasions and told him...I'll never shoot a bird over you...but if you F up I'll kill him. Hasn't been a problem...he's killed.

Sounds like a fun guy