This morning I took a friend to a spot really close to where I filled my 1st season tag yesterday. He harvested a really nice 1 and I did all the calling. I won't be able to hunt again until the 25th. He was ecstatic and so was I. It was a spot that not many people frequent even though its public ground. I know that turkey would have prolly stayed in the general area but this was his 1st public bird and his 1st score since starting 2 years ago. My question is do you guard your spots from everyone or do you help a few chosen ones. I am a senior citizen and he was 24. Was I right to give up a turkey to make a young man's season ???
Just wondering....
Nice gesture, I have helped several in the turkey woods. I think it's why we are all here................
Some I guard and some I keep to myself. I believe it's always nice to help others out. However, it can also bite you in the hind-end if you aren't careful. I would encourage a thorough screening of the person before that decision is made.
Good-looking and Platinum level member of the Elitist club
I have. Many times. But almost ALWAYS with THEIR birds.
I had a (former) best friend stick it to me and break it off after I introduced him to goose hunting at MY HONEYHOLE. So, if I take you hunting MY turkeys..........you're family or next thing to it.
But, I love helping others experience a spring hunt done right. And hopefully, if it goes by the script, they've paid attention and learned a whole lot of things they to take to the woods the next time they go by themselves.
I've helped out close friends and family on several occasions. All private land and never public. I too am a senior citizen and helping the younger ones to get into the game is a reward in itself, I applaud you for your unselfishness.
As long as you trust him to not take advantage and beat you to that spot next season... Good for both of you!
The land I hunt is private so I am not allowed to share which is understandable. Not sure I would anyway, I do not have to many places I can get to with my body.
I have given away all kinds of hunting related items, mostly archery and some turkey stuff.
I do, every year. Multiple times throughout the season. Done it for a very long time. Has not come back to bite me yet either.
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I have and still will, BUT it depends on the situation. If you have land or access to birds but never reciprocate "my kindness" then I won't continue to extend invites. I have become the ol turkey hunter where it's "don't ask bc I don't tell". You have to be careful. Most all of the trespassing pblms we have had has come from former guest or family/friends of past guests. Loose lips....
OTOH, if the situation is right, I enjoy hunting with new friends....but I have become very cautious and selective.
I will help anyone I can, but at different levels. I agree, in most cases it should be on their spot.
If i feel he has a great passion for learning about turkey hunting i don't mind helping a new hunter.. I just want him to understand my passion and the reasons i enjoy turkey hunting.
I would just like for that person to have some of the same characteristics as myself in hunting and pursuing these gobblers.
For myself, i will not just help everyone, i just have to get to know that person and what he's all about in wanting to chase gobblers. Sorry this is just my code of ethics. I have spent countless hours learning to hunt these gobblers and if i pass what i have learned over to someone else i just want to know how really serious he / she is about turkey hunting.
I have taken a few new turkey hunters and they now enjoy that same passion in chasing turkeys..
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 17, 2024, 09:19:19 AM
I have taken a few new turkey hunters and they now enjoy that same passion in chasing turkeys..
I have taken many new"hunters because I just wanted to spend a quite spring morning with them. I have never taken one that I suspected might become a turkey hunter. It grates to take someone who a year or so later is found hunting your spot without your knowledge.
Quote from: silvestris on April 17, 2024, 04:42:55 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 17, 2024, 09:19:19 AM
I have taken a few new turkey hunters and they now enjoy that same passion in chasing turkeys..
I have taken many new"hunters because I just wanted to spend a quite spring morning with them. I have never taken one that I suspected might become a turkey hunter. It grates to take someone who a year or so later is found hunting your spot without your knowledge.
It all depends on your judgement in my opinion... But do whatever you want in taking others
My most enjoyable hunt this season came from taking someone else. He had invited me to hunt his farm and when I showed up his intention was for me to call for him, I didn't know it until I got there. He had only turkey hunted a couple years and had killed a Jake by accidentally walking up on it. Well this gobbler is hot to trot on the limb, I bet he gobbled 300 times at everything that made a noise. He hung up in a creek bottom and I got him to break and come in. He comes up this ridge strutting, spitting, drumming all the way to us. He gets to around 26 or 28 yards and stands there for every bit of 3 minutes. I told the guy to shoot him at least a dozen times, he never did, the gobbler realized the jig was up and ran off. We beat him. And he was shook up. The show the gobbler put on was the highlight of my season so far.
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Got my son in law his 1st called in turkey not on his family farm. Son, 2 nephews, couple of good buddies all killed birds I either called in or set them up to call in. I prefer to hunt with people that I am genuinely as happy with them killing one as me, and that list is a pretty small list. I'll take acquaintances fishing, but turkey hunting is for family and real friends. Heck, I cleared, planted and maintain a food plot on my property for others to hunt deer. I don't care anything about deer hunting any more, but enjoy planting and maintaining the plot.
I am fortunate to have access to quite a bit of private land, so I will often take close friend and their kids. I don't mind sharing some of my places, but I don't always give up my honey-holes.. my favorite hunt to date was my son's first harvest.
I think you did the right thing. Now you will have to see how much he appreciated your gesture.
Quote from: Tom007 on April 13, 2024, 11:52:07 AMNice gesture, I have helped several in the turkey woods. I think it's why we are all here................
Agreed. Help them and show them the correct way to do things!
Ralph
Amen my friend....
I have done this since day one of my time Turkey Hunting and the number of birds I have helped others get far exceeds my own number, through the last 33 years and Learn to Hunts, Youth Hunts, Mentored Hunts, Charity Hunts, and then hunting with Friends and others it all adds up. I normally always take them to my spots as I have birds scouted out already. Seasonally I will have 20-25 Toms scouted over the properties I hunt both on Public and Private, even some of those I meet through work, and my "Turkey University" Seminar Series I have given people tips on where to go on public lands I know where it holds birds.
MK M GOBL
I'm happy to help other people and love being there for anyone's first gobbler, but it'll be on their dirt.
My brother and his boy don't get to go as much as we all would like (I loathe baseball), so before season when I'm scouting, I have them in mind. Which is perfectly okay with me, because I love them and they know the game. A secret will stay a secret.
I commend people that do,but about as far as i go is helping them with techniques,what equipment,calls to buy,etc...Id go with them on their spots to help,but i really dont want them hunting my farm when im not or my neighbors ive hunted for decades and let rent mine for farming.
My nieces son keeps asking if he can hunt mine and i dont let him since i know he likes a entourage.....Plenty of public ground alot closer to him.. ;D
Ive had it happen where you cave for one and pretty soon its more...
For years I was very secretive of all my hunting and fishing spots. Now as I get alot older and grayer I have enjoyed showing several young people the little bit I do know. Passing along my little bit of knowledge is like Passing the torch. Its all public land so I do what I can.
Many years ago I worked in the hunting section of a major sporting goods retailer. I took the department manager to one of my honey holes that I had exclusive hunting rights to. It produced well for me for years. I went in there on a day off and found where leaves were disturbed from someone sitting up against one of the trees I liked to hunt from. Come to find out that since my manager controlled my schedule, he knew when I'd be working & would slip into my spot to hunt while I was at work.
Jim
I Hunt the first day by myself and then spend most of the rest of the season helping buddies or new hunters.
I guard my spots. But I have 3 kids. Everytime I could "help" someone - I could be degrading a chance for my kids later on down the line. I know this might seem self centered but in this day and age of private access degradation, public overcrowding, and social media/youtube my spots don't need anymore influence from me.
Its interesting all the different ways of looking at this situation. Its very interesting.