Shot my first turkey last spring and still feel bad about it.

[Cut N Run]

A great turkey hunt doesn't always involve killing a turkey.  If you have misgivings about taking an animal's life, try hunting with a camera.  It still takes skill, stealth, calling, and getting close to your quarry.  It's everything but the BOOM.  You'll have to worry more about lighting and backdrop, but it can be equally as challenging.

I practice calling and being still in the woods in state parks before the season starts. It absolutely gets my blood pumping, even though there's no possibility of a shot.  Give it a try, then measure your desire for pursuit that costs tags.

Jim

[eggshell]

I agree with all the above. I been at this a long time and I can tell you I still don't rule out shooting a jake if he give me a good hunt. I typically don't, but I would if the right scenario came up. I have been an many first kill hunts and there is usually some remorse that the hunter didn't do it themselves. I hope your guide helped explain his strategy as you hunted. I try to share why we're setting up and my calling strategy to new hunters. Still it is no. 1 and something to be proud of and build on. Regret will only lead to mistakes, be content with breaking the ice and go put old longbeard down this spring. It does get easier with experience.

[GunRunner]

Brillo....I agree with GobbleNut.
But what I sense from your post is that it bothered you that you did not do the 'work' required to bag the bird. Your friend had birds pinned down and knew where to go right off the start. He did the calling and brought them in. You did not even get to watch them respond to the calls and come into range. You just spun around the tree and shot on command.
I think what you need is to work hard (hunt, locate, call in, and out smart a mature gobbler) all on your own. Once you accomplish this you will feel better and proud of your accomplishment. You will have earned that majestic gobbler.

GunRunner

[g8rvet]

Good points.  Why I never would go on a guided hunt where the guide calls in the bird(s).  Absolutely no judgement on my part from any that chose to do so, just not my thing.  For me (and for me only) a gobbling jake called in to the gun is 10 times the trophy of a guided monster gobbler.  Not trying to offend anyone as that is just my take.  And my first spring bird was called in by a buddy.  But my first bird I did all on my own is the fan in my office. FWIW, I do not count hunting with a buddy where he calls and I squeeze the trigger (or where I call and my buddy shoots) as a guided hunt.  That is a TEAM effort and both share in the kill.  My point is, make your own ethics and enjoy the hunt. 

[Dougas]

Guided hunts are not my thing. Hunting with an acquaintance, no matter how well you know them, where you are on their selected area and you are hunting they way they are wanting to hunt, is still hunting and a lot of lessons learned from the experience can be had. I helped a buddy of mine get his first and second toms. I then asked if he was ready to go it alone. He was ready. He got his own property and his first solo turkey.  He later told me that those hunts we did and the turkeys we got, the first time we actually doubled, gave him the confidence to go out and make some.good decisions and mistakes on his own and feel good about it. That bird he got solo, a jake, was extra special.

[ferocious calls]

Congrats on getting your first bird. You felt the loss of working and watching the bird. I understand that.

If you go out preseason and call yourself up a dozen or so Toms, you will be more prepared for harvest season. If you educate a few all the better to hone your skills. For many years calling in every Tom in the area preseason was the goal. Man was it fun and taught me a thing or 2 about fooling Tom.

[Neill_Prater]

Nothing to be ashamed of. When I started turkey hunting over 40 years ago, I didn't know anyone who knew any more than I did. If I had, I would have been happy to have had the help.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

[Knights6]

Nothing to feel bad about brother. You harvested a legal turkey in what seems like a hectic situation especially for your first bird. Congratulations on a job well done.

[WV Flopper]

 Brillo, you and I have one thing in common. I shot my last Tom this past spring. Now, I have to wait 3 and a half months to shoot another.

You still have plenty of time to hone some skills and do plenty of scouting. Good luck this spring and I hope you enjoy yourself and the woods.

[MK M GOBL]

"My" first 2 turkeys weren't even mine, I did everything but pull the trigger, but it was for my Buddy 1st and my Dad 2nd, the 3rd time it was mine. I have way more turkeys that I have helped others get through Learn to Hunts, Youth Hunts, Charity Hunts, and the other Friends, Family, a few I work with and others I have met. All and all the number of "others" double my numbers, I have fun at it and it helps others get into the steps of it, I have watched other that I have mentored now mentoring others too. this will be my 33rd spring at it and still don't get enough of it, during 8 weeks in spring I am out as much as I can be hunting.

Take your 1st bird as an experience, and you were able to take a bird, it also sounds like for the most of us the "hunt" and all that goes with it is what you will enjoy, killing a bird is just an end result some of those days.

I have been very fortunate in my turkey hunting time so far, and that's why I do what I do, just a passion for it that has also lead to another thing that I enjoy with it in my "FanAtic Turkey Display" work (Side Business) I do, that too started as just a little thing that I did for myself then a friend here and there and has turned into more than I ever thought.

Take the ride, it's a good one and see where that road leads you.

MK M GOBL

[Marc]

We all start somewhere...

Some will disagree, but...  Nothing wrong with shooting a jake...  You call in a jake, gobbling, drumming, and strutting, it is still exciting...  They eat well, and honestly less likely to breed a hen than the toms we are all so eager to shoot...  Truth be told, killing toms over jakes is more about social status than conservation.

It is natural that our ethics and experiences evolve as we hunt and learn more...  New hunters initially want to kill a bird...  Then to call in and kill the bird themselves, and then it is calling in and hunting toms...

Like GobbleNut, I understand that you are a bit disheartened by your experience...  But as you play a greater role in harvesting a bird, there is a greater sense of excitement and satisfaction...

[eggshell]

We all start somewhere...

Some will disagree, but...  Nothing wrong with shooting a jake...  You call in a jake, gobbling, drumming, and strutting, it is still exciting...  They eat well, and honestly less likely to breed a hen than the toms we are all so eager to shoot...  Truth be told, killing toms over jakes is more about social status than conservation.

It is natural that our ethics and experiences evolve as we hunt and learn more...  New hunters initially want to kill a bird...  Then to call in and kill the bird themselves, and then it is calling in and hunting toms...

Like GobbleNut, I understand that you are a bit disheartened by your experience...  But as you play a greater role in harvesting a bird, there is a greater sense of excitement and satisfaction...

I completely agree Marc. If my memory is right this will be my 53rd spring of chasing gobblers. I went through all the stages of this thing and finally discovered I didn't have to impress anyone, but myself. If I am happy with a hunt it is a good hunt. Outside of my closest friends no one even knows if I kill a bird or what I kill. I actually regret many of my seasons when I forsake my family and all life for a da#n turkey. I think my daughter still harbors hurt feelings because her dad was always gone turkey hunting on her birthday, when she was little. I want to go and hear them gobble and then match whits with them. If a jake answers every call and comes in strutting and putting on a show I will consider shooting him with no qualms at all. I typically don't, because I look at Jakes as the future of the flock where an old bird has done his thing and spread his genes. I admit it still is fulfilling to look down on an old manarch and know you beat the best in the woods, but that Jake is no dummy either. Shoot when it makes you happy and tell all the trophy guys to pound sand. Then go home and take your family to dinner, life is better when you just enjoy what your doing.