Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I generally hunt for turkeys by myself...

I will sometimes take someone who wants the experience of turkey hunting, but I am doing the calling, and they are doing the shooting... (I'll be taking my new brother-in-law out on the opener this season).

Duck hunting I have obligations and friends to take, and I enjoy that experience, as generally, both of us get plenty of shooting, although I still enjoy and appreciate time in the field by myself...  But with turkey hunting, and limited birds and access, it is likely only one person will take a bird (at least where I hunt)...

I suppose in general, that turkey hunting is one of my guilty, selfish pleasures, that I enjoy doing by myself.

I much prefer to call for someone else.  That way I still have my tags so I get to keep hunting.  :z-guntootsmiley:

Unfortunately my son is in the merchant marine and will be away this season, so I'm down one reliable hunting buddy.

It's more fun to hunt with someone, but more productive by myself..I prefer hunting with someone...but if the going get's tough...I'm flying solo.

I'm a loaner lol. I enjoy hunting with my Dad but don't get to much.


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I always hunt opening weekend with my cousin. We started learning to hunt turkeys together and the first time out we doubled up. We should have last year but someone fell asleep(him). It has become a tradition that we both really enjoy. The rest of the season we usually hunt alone and I tend to be up a few birds on him.

I have never had a turkey called in for me, but I have called some in for friends.  I just prefer to go for my birds by myself.

By myself for mine ...but it is loads of fun helping others learn the roaps and get them their birds :dancingturkey:

Quote from: porcupine on March 06, 2015, 03:55:44 PM
By myself for mine ...but it is loads of fun helping others learn the roaps and get them their birds :dancingturkey:

:agreed:
Wish I could create a clone of myself to help me double team my bird

I often hunt alone, but if I am hunting with another competent hunter and caller or two, I know that our chances are going to improve by working a bird with multiple callers.  You cannot achieve the same realism in calling and spacing with a single caller that you can with more. 

In my opinion, people that hunt together and do not learn to use both (or more) hunters as callers are making a big mistake.  In any gobblers eyes, two or three willing hens in the distance is better than one!  You get two or three guys that know how to hunt and call together and that combination can be deadly.

The only problem with multiple hunters is that often, only a single one will be the shooter, which means the group has to get on multiple gobblers or one or more will sacrifice the shooting opportunity for that day outing.  ....A good time to have one acting as the cameraman, though.

Depends on the person.  I enjoy hunting with my Dad And my son, as well as a few close friends. There are some who I don't enjoy so much.

Love to hunt with my grandsons when I can....they live 4 hours from me.  Mostly by myself, I enjoy hunting alone , I' m a bowhunter  for deer so used to it.

Unfortunately with competition for hunting ground so intense that's another reason I'm solo and tight lipped.

I usually go by myself, but I take just as much pleasure if not more helping someone else get a bird.  Every once in awhile I will go out with the friend who got me into turkey hunting in the first place, which is always a great time.  Usually pick up a nugget or two of knowledge when I'm out with him as well.

I learned a long time ago that I have friends, hunting friends, and turkey hunting friends. I have some good friends that I don't enjoy turkey hunting with.  I really enjoy calling in birds for others, especially newbies.

Quote from: ridgerunner on March 06, 2015, 03:44:03 PM
It's more fun to hunt with someone, but more productive by myself..I prefer hunting with someone...but if the going get's tough...I'm flying solo.

could not have typed it any better for myself. Feel the same exact way

Doesn't matter. I just like to be out there. If I'm hunting with someone they better be willing to hunt hard. Nothing makes my blood boil more than a lazy hunter.

Turkey hunting is a one man game, not a social event.  It is nice to have someone to share lies with after the hunt.

Quote from: reynolds243 on March 06, 2015, 04:46:17 PM

Quote from: ridgerunner on March 06, 2015, 03:44:03 PM
It's more fun to hunt with someone, but more productive by myself..I prefer hunting with someone...but if the going get's tough...I'm flying solo.

could not have typed it any better for myself. Feel the same exact way

:z-winnersmiley:

The only time I enjoy hunting with anyone else, it would have to be my son. Best hunting partner in the world!
Otherwise, myself.

Mostly hunt alone now that son and nephews are grown. Still occasionally hunt with someone.  Will be taking my daughter this year and really looking forward to it.  I was a noob spring turkey hunter when I finally got my son his first gobbler, I was 10x prouder than when I killed my first spring bird. I always tell folks that squeezing the trigger is the easy part.  Getting him in that position is the real game, so it does not matter much to me who does it. 

Have passed twice on double up chances due to not wanting to raise my gun at the last second (both times were surprised it was 2 birds and did not have my gun at the ready).  Don't regret it one bit, but a double up still eludes me.  there is always this year! 

I enjoy both, but prefer to hunt with a partner. One because I can't hear worth a flip and I enjoy turkey hunting with my BIL

I hunt alone, and really enjoy that.  But I have a good hunting partner that I'll ride out with in the morning and back with in the evening, and scouting is done together. We have a few pre-arranged times that we check in on walkie-talkies during the day, sometimes meet up for lunch depending on how far apart we've ended up.

I hunt on public land, mostly quota hunts so kids that ive taken would come first then by myself until I get one. After that I like to call for anyone that I can, thats new to  turkey hunting.

I like to hunt with others if they are willing to bring something to the table...

I have left the free loaders, users, and do it all for me type behind...

I tend to fine myself focusing on family...then meet up with others for breakfast...

Most the time I find others tend to not share but always suggest hunting together on your place...

I'm to the point anymore I just go...solo...a lot less hassle and more hunting.

I enjoy helping new turkey hunters and calling for them, but historically if I am carrying a gun I'm by myself.  My kids are getting old enough to hunt, so my solo days may be over for a while. 

I prefer to go it alone...except when the grandsons want to go.

Quote from: Tail Feathers on March 06, 2015, 07:00:46 PM
I prefer to go it alone...except when the grandsons want to go.

This for me as well except it's any kids instead of grand kids (won't have any for a long time). This year, my nephew will be my season long companion...... :z-guntootsmiley:

I always hunt alone. 

I thoroughly enjoy hunting with my youngest son who is now 26 and one other hunting buddy. I have been on lots of hunts with those guys I will never forget. But I harvest a LOT more gobblers when I go it alone.

Half by myself an the rest with good friends !

Alone or with my kids. Rarely will another person subject themselves to following me around, which is fine with me.

 :drool: Depends on the company

Quote from: silvestris on March 06, 2015, 05:04:48 PM
Turkey hunting is a one man game, not a social event.  It is nice to have someone to share lies with after the hunt.

^This.  I have some friends that I like to camp with, but we always go our own way.  Sometimes we will team up on a bird, but its normally a "you go this way, I go that way" kind of deal.

I prefer it to just be me and the birds.  I get my fill of "buddy hunts" with duck hunting.

 :angel9:

I like to hunt with others, but when I get in killing mode I hunt alone.

I enjoy the hunt with others.

Almost always with someone, usually my good buddy that taught me turkey hunting. I take my wife out every year and always hunt with and call for my dad. After that I try and take new hunter, youth hunters, vets anyone really willing to go. If I'm by myself then no one else could go that morning.

I hunt alone all except 1 or 2 times a year. That's just my preference, this year I will be mixing it up a little more. I have two friends that I'm going to try to take to get there first bird.

Mostly by myself. nobody likes me. :'(

Quote from: ridgerunner on March 06, 2015, 03:44:03 PM
It's more fun to hunt with someone, but more productive by myself..I prefer hunting with someone...but if the going get's tough...I'm flying solo.

Yes sir

 :z-twocents:h

Quote from: Shotgun on March 06, 2015, 09:39:54 PM
:angel9:

I like to hunt with others, but when I get in killing mode I hunt alone.

This ^^^^

I enjoy hunting with a select few that hunt the way I do, but it is easy to be hesitant with decisions when others are involved.  It's hard to explain, but when solo the decisions made are instinctive and quick with no second guessing.  I am typically more successful that way.  My brother and a couple close friends hunt well together.  My oldest son (10) is my new hunting partner so a lot of my time is spent hunting with him these days.  I also have a few inexperienced guys I take each year.  I already have a couple inquirying about going this spring. 

It just depends...

Turkey hunting is not a team sport to me, but there are some guys I really enjoy hunting with...


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My best friend of 42 years and I make time to hunt together every year.  Sometimes we'll hunt the same property and set up a long ways apart and other times we'll set up together.

Most other folks I know aren't as serious about turkey hunting as I am and I'm not about to have them screw up one of my hunts because they don't care enough about it to have their stuff together.

Jim

I enjoy both. Most important thing for me is being out there with the birds and the rest of nature.

Solo.  Once I got to where I could call birds in on my own, I really have no desire for someone else to call a bird in for me.  I would like to make a point to double up with my father one day, but usually it's, you go that way I go this way.  Seems more productive usually. 

I've got 2 really good friends I like to turkey hunt with. One is an avid rifleman. The other won't carry anything other than a shotgun. I personally have no preference but find I change my habits depending on who I'm with. Both are accomplished turkey hunters and even with rifles in hand, we rarely shoot farther than 45 yards and most are within 30. Not real sure why I'm bringing all this up but...

The fella that carries the shotgun is pretty good when it comes to calling. Much better than I ever considered myself, until last year. I've called in birds but hunting with him always seemed like it upped the odds. Looking back, I believe he was just a better bird hunter and he always pushed me to be better at it as well. After several years of hunting with him, it made me want to become more proficient at calling. I worked at it pretty hard and last year I called in 13 birds and worked about 20 others. Some were prior to season on a piece of ground that I don't get to hunt during the actual season so it was just simply calling birds in for fun (no gun involved). That really boosted my confidence and gave me the confidence to go it alone last spring. Even when my shotgun buddy and I hunted "together" last year, we split up to cover more ground. I called in 6 jakes and a long beard but didn't get a shot at the elder so let the jakes walk as well. Came back home and managed to shoot 2 beautiful birds (12" beard 1.5" Spurs, 10.5" beard 1-1/8" spurs) by myself last year. I've managed to get a couple pieces of private ground secured where I live now which makes things much easier so I figure we'll spend more time apart this year as he'll hunt one piece while I hunt the other on Sunday's (legal here) but we'll probably hunt the public land/hunting club together on Saturdays. It's always nice to have someone there when it all comes together but not a necessity. Apologies for getting long winded on this one.

I prefer to go it alone but have no problem sharing a hunt with a dedicated turkey hunter, someone that has a true interest and passion for the sport. This type hunter seems to be getting few and far between here lately or at least in the circles I'm currently running in. Strutter

The only person left living, that I like to team up with is my Dad. I have hunted with several other people in years past, but I just like hunting by myself.  :OGturkeyhead: :OGturkeyhead:

By myself, sometimes I try and take my brother but he doesn't like getting up early.

Always with my uncle, at least for the first days.  After that, we both have to go back to work and only have weekends.  Ironic, because I will go by myself after that but don't enjoy it as much, or go with my buddy who thinks being still means he can still move his feet around as we're calling one in.... :character0029:

I love hunting alone but  have had more fun calling birds in for my wife and my now 9 year old son the last couple years. my daughter will be 6 next season and legal to turkey hunt. she is already excited about getting after a bird. With that said, My turkey hunting is usually during the week and i use the weekends for my wife and kids. Opening day always monday in Missouri I have my wife take off to get her first bird so i can use the following weekend for my son. I found last year that as the week went by hunting alone I started to miss my little hunting buddy.

I have a bunch of people I usually get out with each year.

Those of you that don't, I understand.

I'm very serious about turkey hunting, and I've dealt with friends that don't scout, and lean on you for that and calling for them.

Those type of things can get to Ya.

But I have many, many fond memories with family and friends in the turkey woods.

I've called in lots of people's first bird, which is some what of a trophy to me.

I've never passed up a kid, or anyone for that matter, that wanted to go. Those are some of the most enjoyable experiences I've had over the years.

Pass it on...

I like hunting with my son we just don't get to do it near enough

I hunt by myself most of the time but also enjoy hunting with my teenage son and  an old friend of mine

I really enjoy hunting with my son, i started taking him when he was 4, he took his first bird at 6 which was his first year to be the shooter, he is 17 now. I enjoy hunting solo, but not as much as when we hunt together.

I love the fellowship of friends in camp but love to hunt by myself.

I am still learning the ropes so I enjoy hunting with others even if I am not the one shooting.

I am a 100% solo guy if I want to kill birds. My favorite times though are calling n coaching kids to birds. I've also been known to help new hunters besides kids but it's not the same unless it's family.
The whole waiting on someone to get up, be quiet, get in position, GET THE DAMN GUN UP when a bird Is coming drives me nuts.
I love the challenge and reward but seems I'm trying harder than the guy shooting. My brother can read a play n he's an exception.
Couple more years n my kids are too old for youth days, I already have kids lined up.

Hunting with friends is fun but when I get real serous about killing one, I hunt by myself.

I've only got one buddy that I would be happy to hunt with anytime, and he lives in another state....so 99% of the time, I'd just assume be by myself in the turkey woods.  Love duck hunting with my buddies but turkey hunting is a different story cause most of them want to leave the woods earlier than me, or show up late, or make to much noise, etc. etc. etc.  and I end up having to hunt differently with them. Almost like I feel like I have to keep them entertained.

Next year when my son gets old enough to go, I'd say my answer will change because I cant wait to teach him all about it.

I like to hunt everything by myself. But, if I were to decide to hunt with someone it wouldn't be spring gobblers.

Quote from: ridgerunner on March 06, 2015, 03:44:03 PM
It's more fun to hunt with someone, but more productive by myself..I prefer hunting with someone...but if the going get's tough...I'm flying solo.

This is me as well. Some of the most memorable hunts I have been on have been with someone else. But if it comes down to tag soup or a bird, I am going solo. But it defiantly is more fun after a kill (be it myself or the buddy I am with) and talk about it for a little bit. When you are solo, you are talking to yourself. 

Kenny morgans book title says it best. ONE MAN GAME.

I prefer to hunt turkeys alone but often hunt with one friend.  The reality is, although a good guy and dedicated turkey Hunter, it stings extra bad for me when someone else makes mistakes for you. Out of the last two spring birds I've killed, one had been shot at and missed previously,and the other had been overcalled and spooked previously, both by my "hunting" partner in that same season lol.  I think this year I'll hunt alone til I score, then help others, as opposed to vice versa.

I love to hunt with my cuz because he's a gobbler slayer, but I do come across 'those types' that are as stealthy as an earthquake.

I always hunt the first day with my dad. Then I bounce between going hunting by myself or with a close buddy that is a similar turkey hunter to my style. It is enjoyable to share moments with special people and be able to talk about it! Every time I kill one by myself I always think I wish my dad or my buddy would have been here.

Most of the time alone.  I can socialize any time.  The solitude is part of what I love about it.