Here is what I learned: stay relevant and be "causiously aggressive." Towards the end of the season, I took on a much more agressive approach and was able to harvest 3 birds in 3 consecutive days to get my limit (once law school exams were over).
Once I felt a gobbler wasn't going to commit, I made a move. I used the heavy foliage and wind to mask my movement and noise. I would also call aggressively to get a response so I could keep tabs on the bird. I would cautiously sneak into the area I thought the gobbler was located and I would listen for scratching, drummin, or anything else that would give away his location. Generally, once I thought I had his location pinned, I wouldn't call anymore. Each of the last three I killed were going about their business and had no interest in coming to me.
I will say, however, that this tactic will result in spooked birds and I only recommend in certain situations. If birds are alone or coming to the call consistently, I would advise being more patient. After spooking my share of birds, I feel like I have developed a pretty good sense of when a bird will work and when one won't.
What did you learn or find success doing?
I learned that I am not as good a turkey hunter as I thought I was
You gotta be in the woods every possible chance. You can't kill them sitting on the couch and you won't melt in the rain.
"Once I felt a gobbler wasn't going to commit, I made a move."
Worked twice for me, couldn't agree more.
There is a saying we use when fishing "don't leave fish to find fish". This year I stayed with them longer instead of leaving to find a hotter bird. Killed most of my birds this year after 9 o'clock. From what I have seen from this past season(s). They will eventually come by. It's not the most exciting way to hunt them, but it is productive. They will seldom come in gobbling. If one does gobble at me after 9 its GAME ON he is by himself and looking for company. Your odds go way up when you find a mid morning bird gobbling. I do move on them, but it is seldom very far. The area I hunt is not over run with birds, so grinding on them has been my most productive method.
I learned Spring is a lot more fun when shared by written word with hundreds of other turkey hunters on OG!!
Thanks OG. :z-guntootsmiley: :you_rock:
don't ever forget the basics
Quote from: Nimrodmar10 on June 24, 2011, 03:14:23 PM
You gotta be in the woods every possible chance. You can't kill them sitting on the couch and you won't melt in the rain.
I like that one...
Thats a great quote...
The longer I hunt'em, the more I hate'em! :angry9:
When you feel like it's time to get up and move, stay right there another 15 minutes.
Don't forget the bug spray or thermacell
Luke95
:agreed:
Quote from: drenalinld on June 25, 2011, 08:56:02 PM
I learned Spring is a lot more fun when shared by written word with hundreds of other turkey hunters on OG!!
Thanks OG. :z-guntootsmiley: :you_rock:
:agreed:
I learned that if you ask for advice on diaphram calls on a turkey hunting forum you get about five pages worth, and some of it pretty entertaining.
Quote from: guesswho on June 26, 2011, 08:14:27 PM
I learned that if you ask for advice on diaphram calls on a turkey hunting forum you get about five pages worth, and some of it pretty entertaining.
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Be where the turkeys want to be or go. Calling is important but if they want to go somewhere they will gobble as they are heading to their destination. Scoot
To hunt 'em however you have to hunt 'em to put birds in the back of the truck.
And this season also reaffirmed my belief that persistent patience kills.
Quote from: guesswho on June 26, 2011, 08:14:27 PM
I learned that if you ask for advice on diaphram calls on a turkey hunting forum you get about five pages worth, and some of it pretty entertaining.
Did you ever find your diaghram? :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
TRKYHTR
Quote from: TRKYHTR on June 27, 2011, 04:14:47 PM
Quote from: guesswho on June 26, 2011, 08:14:27 PM
I learned that if you ask for advice on diaphram calls on a turkey hunting forum you get about five pages worth, and some of it pretty entertaining.
Did you ever find your diaghram? :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
TRKYHTR
When I was looking for it I did a google search for a diaphram, and I'm pretty sure I don't have what I found so I quit looking.
Thats funny right there. Hope the shoulder is feeling better.
TRKYHTR
For the first time in my hunting career, I learned that it's OK to share the secrets and facilitate another hunters understanding of how to kill turkeys. I also learned that I'm ok with not killing a bird if it means sitting under a shady tree for 3-4 hours, making turkey noises and hoping a gobbler comes strolling along. Dead is dead and to each his own, but I don't enjoy "deer hunting" a turkey.
What did I learn? Hmmm. Well I found this website called Old Gobbler, and now I can't stay off this damn computer!!!!! My wife may actually leave me: Oh well, off to the call section! On a serious note. I learned that it is way better to share your sons first turkey with him than all the turkeys I've harvested by myself.
I learned to not put all your eggs in one basket. Every season is different, so if the birds just aren't acting right, move to a different area or save some time to hunt when the birds are acting right. I wasted a lot of vacation time this year hunting early when the birds just weren't active. Would have saved a bunch and had better hunting if I'd have quit when I knew the birds weren't hot in that location. Couple hours drive would have made all the difference in the world, or I could have gone back to work and used that time for later in the season when the birds were hot.
Quote from: rtsj on June 28, 2011, 08:25:29 PM
I learned that it is way better to share your sons first turkey with him than all the turkeys I've harvested by myself.
Congratulations! That's awesome!
I learned that I enjoy getting people on birds when my tags are filled. I agree that the birds I killed weren't as exciting as my 11 year old son's first bird. I also learned that if you can get Tom's in a person's lap (within 30 yards) it doesn't mean they are going to make that shot. . . .and as hard as it is to say that's okay because they were excited, had the show, and had a good experience. It is just as fulfilling helping people get their first birds.
Oh yeah, I learned that hunting Merriams in Standing Rock isn't as easy as what people posted. Don't get me wrong, I tagged out but man it was tough. Not sure if I went too late.
What I learned this season:
My Dad's Brain surgery is more important than turkey season. The turkeys might not be there when you get back. Surveyors WILL wear blue sweat shirts with red hats while surveying county land in your best turkey hunting spot and not notice you until your putting your decoy away. Deer and Grouse are still cool to watch even when they're not in season.
I learned that if a guy comes in on your set-up after daylight and sets out a strutter deke while in plain sight of the turkeys you are calling to that there is a good chance that they are NOT going to come. :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
I learned that hunting one specific bird is a blast,,,kinda got obsessed it.No I haven't gotten him yet but can't wait till fall for our cat n mouse game to continue.
turkey hunting in Pa. was not like last year
birds were not co-operating at all!!!!!!!!!!
that when you take your 10 year old grandson turkey hunting for the first time, he yells theres one grandaddy and away they go. can't waite till next year.
Don't leave your video camera in the car over night when it gets down to 2o degrees. It wont work.
TRKYHTR
I learned that what I thought they would do a lot of times they didn't. Oh my! :cowboy:
Quote from: 2ounce6s on July 06, 2011, 09:36:26 PM
I learned a whole new level of patience by hunting with my 6 year old Son and his .410.
30 yard "close" ain't close enough when you've set the max range at 20 for the lead 3" 7.5s. Made for some heart thumping times though and witnessing his first close encounter, seeing him racked with shortness of breath and excitment and then being ok passing on this "bit too far" bird:
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/hattT05/Turkey%2011/P4230060.jpg)
was worth all the effort.
If that doesn't get your heart pumping, nothing will! Very exciting! Nice pic!
I learned that above all to enjoy every day spent a field be it by yourself or with a loved one or best friend. I also learned that the late season can be just as exciting as opening week.
To use most or all the calls I carry during the course of the season. I think we all get pigeon holed into that favorite call and forget that something different might be just the thing to get him that last 10 yards. Kinda like "if ya got 'em, smoke 'em".
:smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
I don't much care for hunting turkeys in a blizzard.
I learned that even after you miss too keep your head up and stay out there because it pays off sometimes.
Late season is not as easy as the begining of the season.
A little extra work scouting pays off greatly.
Just because your hunting on private land doesnt mean that your the only one hunting there.
I learned 2 things:
I make too much noise in the woods.
I really need to work on improving my calling.
I had 2 hens and a tom within 75 yards of me this spring and failed to call him in, and then busted all 3 when I moved to a different setup.
I learned that breaking in a new pair of boots is best done in the offseason and not during game time itself....
On a related note, I was reminded how fat and out of shape I'd gotten and this is also something to address during the off season and not when it's 90 degrees outside and you cant catch your breath to blow your mouth call....
I learned I'm still a little selfish, and need to make some time to hunt by myself.... I did not go into the woods one time by myself this season. I got to see some great stuff, and I called in my Dad's first Rio....but, I am still mad enough at them that I want to pull the trigger. Somehow, I thought I was past that, oh well :z-guntootsmiley:
I learned to sometimes just let the hen drag the gobbler right in front of your sights.
Quote from: FullChoke on June 26, 2011, 09:12:53 AM
When you feel like it's time to get up and move, stay right there another 15 minutes.
couldnt agree more, dont know how many times i've been busted from that gut feeling saying move.
My DSD strutter I can be a pain
Here in PA i learnd i hate huntin turkeys that dont gobble!
I learned that I need to wait it out a little longer in the mornings. If a gobbler is hung up or if i get cut off by hens, stay put. He will be back to business in a little while.
Should have stayed put......
Quote from: Nimrodmar10 on June 24, 2011, 03:14:23 PM
You gotta be in the woods every possible chance. You can't kill them sitting on the couch and you won't melt in the rain.
Deffinately agree. If I hadn't listened to my wife and went the last few hours of fall season, I wouldn't have tagged out. I got in the woods with about 4 hours left. 2 hours later, killed a bird. You just never know.
I learned you can get into some pretty funny conversations full od advise with local turkey hunting experts at the turkey call section at Wal-Mart right before and during turkey season.
Patience gets more birds to the gun. The birds I hunt are hunted heavily. It took me 3 hours and very soft calling to kill my last bird of the season. Also I find the more I improve on my woodsmanship the more successful I am. Also the great info from OG helped alot. Cant wait for another spring God willing.
i learned hunt some where other than your brother who has tons of vacation time to kill all the turkey on a spot before you go in and hear nothing
also keep scouting reports to yourself
Quote from: gob09 on December 06, 2011, 10:40:51 AM
i learned hunt some where other than your brother who has tons of vacation time to kill all the turkey on a spot before you go in and hear nothing
also keep scouting reports to yourself
''to-chache"
I really really hate wind :angry9:
I learned with my new hunting buddy, my turkey hunting focus is changing a little. (Sorry, don't know how to resize picture).
(http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz103/crowdertim/Carsonfacepaint2011.jpg)
I also learned to not give up after I miss a bird. Nothing is more frustrating than working a bird and sneaking up on a bird only to miss and watch him fly off. This happened to me this past spring, but I kept hunting and ended up taking a bird later that same day.
nothing
That I enjoy just being out there! I called in 4 coyotes and killed them all and chased one aggravating tom all season and never pulled the trigger. Tried to get my little sister a shot on him one morning she was with me. Had him at 25 steps and there was a tree between him and her. A coyote came trotting in. I should have shot the turkey then the yote, but I didn't have the heart to kill that bird after she had sat ther for 3 hours waiting on him.
I guess I learned I am not quite as selfish as I thought I was about pulling the trigger. Also was reminded that if you intend on killing a bird, you better keep his hang out to yourself! I tipped my grandfather and stepdad off to 4 nice toms! That was okay though - glad they got 'em!
Get tuned into all the sights and sounds of the spring woods as there are great treasures out there. Got my best photos of a young fox that I squeaked into my boot.
I learned that NOTHING compares to spending time with your daughter practicing shooting the shotgun, laughing how she "names" every hen she sees, and sharing the tree with her as she pulls the trigger on her very first bird......AND GETTING THE MEMORY ALL ON VIDEO TO LAST A LIFETIME.
...and then getting to share it: enjoy our memory from 2011
http://youtu.be/PN8lPFbm-Pk
I learned that in the words of the great tom Kelly "a turkey is a hard thing to giveaway,and when you call one in for another fella that is what you're doing.And that's just hard to do!
I learned (re-learned) patience. The year before last I could not make a mistake. I tagged out in Missouri and Kansas and called in 7 more birds for other people. I saw 11 gobblers die. Last year I took a jake with a bow and finally managed to get a gobbler in the last week of the OK season. In KS I called in three gobblers for my buddies and missed one myself. Patience is key, sometimes I lack it, though.
To be more patient
I learned that it ain't over till its over. We can only hunt until noon in NY and I shot my bird at 11:52.
Quote from: JohnnieB on February 12, 2012, 10:21:21 AM
I learned that it ain't over till its over. We can only hunt until noon in NY and I shot my bird at 11:52.
I heard that. I tagged out by killing one bird a day on the last three days of the season.
PATIENCE KILLS TURKEYS
I learned to listen to the birds more.. they will tell you what they want if you listen.
That being agressive isnt always a bad thing and to never give up on a bird. If he doesnt act or respond the way you want.. leave him and come back later. He might just fire up and march right in.
Quote from: FullChoke on June 26, 2011, 09:12:53 AM
When you feel like it's time to get up and move, stay right there another 15 minutes.
That was the first lesson in my first season last year.... which was followed by a number of other hard learned lessons that came from trial and error. Mostly error.
I learned that turkeys can be smarter than I am at times!
I learned that watching my wife miss a bird at 25yds on the last hunt of the year makes the offseason that much longer.... and that if you say anything about it, you've found a way to dig your hole that much deeper :TrainWreck1:
I learned not to forget why I was hunting. For the enjoyment. Took a little more time to enjoy every aspect of being in the turkey woods!