Swing and miss. First time I've ever done this. How long before these birds will be workable again?
They may be wary now but with a little extra TLC, they have the potential to fall victim :-). Good luck.
Happened to me this morning also. First time I have ever missed.
Most of us have been there. The best medicine is fried turkey breast - from one you shoot.
Depends. If he only heard the shot and left, not so bad. If he saw you, a little longer. I have had them fly across a creek and not come back for 2 weeks. Other times, they were gobbling 2 days later. Nephew killed one a couple of years ago he had missed about 5 days earlier. Assume it was the same two cookie cutter 9" 2 year olds.
2 years ago I called 3 longbeards in for my cousin. He missed. An hour later they were out in a field strutting only 150 yards from where he shot at them. The next morning all three came in together again and he killed one. I hate missing as much as anyone, but when I miss a gobbler clean I know it's not the end of the world and I'll probably get to work that bird again. Now a nice buck on the other hand, if I miss him he's probably out of my life forever.
I actually think we spook them more bumping them than we do shooting at them...
I did miss one, and he took off running... But many times, I have shot a bird in a pair or group, and the other birds do not even seem to mind the gun shot...
When I have taken a guest, I always tell them, if they kill a bird in a pair or group, do not move until I shoot as well.
Now, the cursing that generally follows a missed shot might hurt ya'.