Whats the best lesson you've learned from a tough bird that helped you later on?

[NCspurs22]

A wise man once said, "Do you want to hear him gobble or do you want to kill him?" Just think on that advice.

[Tom007]

Never under estimate their vision, intelligence, and Woods sense. I learned from all the tough birds that we are hunting in their "domain", they have the home field advantage. A successful harvest on a mature gobbler requires flawless strategies and a little bit of luck. That's what makes our sport so rewarding when it all comes together....

[GobbleNut]

Never under estimate their vision, intelligence, and Woods sense.

How true. I'm not sure I would define it as "intelligence" as much as a turkey's instinct to conclude that pretty much everything that is out-of-place in their domain is something that is going to try to eat them.   
Either way, underestimating their ability to associate unusual "stuff" in their environment as a threat is a really good way to not give one a ride home in your truck.   

[Tom007]

Never under estimate their vision, intelligence, and Woods sense.

How true. I'm not sure I would define it as "intelligence" as much as a turkey's instinct to conclude that pretty much everything that is out-of-place in their domain is something that is going to try to eat them.   
Either way, underestimating their ability to associate unusual "stuff" in their environment as a threat is a really good way to not give one a ride home in your truck.   

Amen my friend, your spot on here! Be safe...

[Yoder409]

Over the years I've had a few birds in paticular that were just IGNORANTLY hard.  But what those few had in common is that
...in the end...they died.

How that helped me is that it made me realize:

#1. None of these birds is invincible.  He WILL screw up one day.

#2. I ain't too bad at this game.  My skills are pretty solid.  Confidence is huge.

#3.  Be patient.  And while you're being patient, LEARN the bird and figure out his weakness or the flaw in his game.

[shaman]

There was one bird that taught me the most,  Mister Natural

See Mister Natural and the Incident at Broken Corners

Bottom line:  Don't wreck your season trying to target a single bird.

Natural not only wrecked my season, but he darn near put me in the hospital.