At what point did you "get it?"

[gobbler777]

Like many of us, I learned turkey hunting from a mentor/friend (way back in 1962) who was like a second father to me. Most of those techniques were very conservative, many would say "old school". I still use some of them. But I really "got turkey hunting" after I watched a video produced by Denny Gulvas (you who have been around a long time may remember him). He taught me to be an aggressive turkey hunter and that did it for me. Its been a great ride ... this is my 51st Spring Season. Good luck and "think safe" to all out this Spring. 

[Mike Honcho]

Probably the biggest thing I've learned over the years is to put a lot of time in scouting.  I try to roost birds every evening before I hunt.

This works for me because I hunt in a 20 mile radius from my house most of the time.  I know that doesn't work for many hunters due to driving time, public land hunts etc.

Even when I roost birds I don't always have a successful hunt obviously....they can fly down on private land I don't have access to etc., etc.,but it sure ups the odds in my favor and gives me time to plan my set up for next morning...I may look at topo maps etc to plan the best set up.

For me scouting is the " OK I get it "

[Old Gobbler]

After the first 10 gobblers I shot I realized I was starting to get proficient , after I got to about 80 gobblers I realized I didn't know jack s#%^

[GobbleNut]

For me, "getting it" was realizing that the enjoyment I get from spring gobbler hunting does not come just from killing a turkey, it comes from all of the things that happen before the trigger is pulled.  A positive end result,...that is, killing a gobbler,....means nothing to me if the method I use to achieve that is not what I, personally, consider to be a "proper" one. 

Having said that, each of us has our own circumstances and conditions under which we must hunt.  I do not try to impose my standards or methods on anyone else.  I learned long ago that "getting it" in southern New Mexico is not necessarily the same as "getting it" in New Hampshire,...or anywhere else. 

[strut2]

The past few seasons I have really began to have a lot of success in the turkey woods. I do not judge success by filling my tags. I enjoy filming turkey just as much as I do shooting them. Just when you think you have a bird figured out they will throw something knew your way. The more you spend in the woods the more you will learn. I grew up learning off my dad who is a great turkey hunter. Always watching Denny Gulvas videos and turkey videos of all sorts. I listen to CDs of turkey talk in my truck when traveling and practice with my calls every chance I get. Another thing that has helped my turkey skills is building a pen and having my own turkey that I can listen to at any time. It's a great tool to get specific sounds. I highly recommend filming birds and going back an watching your footage over and over and you will discover things you would not have if you didn't have the footage. I feel confident in my skills because of the time I put in but some birds are just hard to figure out or can be very incorporative. It's called hunting for a reason. Get in the woods as often as possible and study. It's like anything the more you practice the better you will be. Good luck to everyone this upcoming year. Unfortunately I made a career change that won't let me get out much this upcoming year. I sure am going to miss it. Be safe!

[hoyt]

I first got it around 1968, then really got it in the mid 1970's when I started hunting public land birds.

[Gobble!]

I got it pretty good right now but feel I can continue to get better. Was very proud of the year I had last year because it was tough and I had to use patience but still filled all my tags.

[FLGobstopper]

Started feeling pretty good about it 7 or 8 years ago after having good success on private and public land here at home and on some out of state hunts. Two years ago I got my son on his 1st bird at age 6 and another friends son at age 10, killed my season limit the first 2 days of the season and was feeling like I was getting good. Then it came time to get one for my buddy! Let's just say that that has been the most humbling experience for me a turkey hunter I've experienced. Were going on season 3 and have yet to put one on the ground for him and I'm beginning to wonder where and what kinda bad juju he's got on him or if it's ever gonna come off. I mean we've had birds in range and out of range, too far and too close, hang ups and screw ups and just about everything imaginable and unimaginable happen while to trying to get him a longbeard.

So, I think I used to get it but I've been beginning to wonder lately.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

When I started calling less and thinking strategically more...

[RutnNStrutn]

I wouldn't say that "I've got it", because I'm still learning and (hopefully) improving every season. I didn't get to feeling confident in the turkey woods, and start harvesting bird(s) every year until about 8 years of hunting turkeys. I'm much more confident now. I think it comes with experience. Also with opportunity. We all don't have the opportunities that others do. Experience and opportunity go along way towards producing confidence.

[captin_hook]

I'd say it took me 3 years. Hunting the fall really helped me " get to know turkey's". I have a great teacher as well.