Do everything right and still no bird?

[OldSchool]

I think that's what I enjoy the most about turkey hunting, the uncertainty. We've got to do the right things at the right times, but the right thing today with one bird, may be the wrong thing with another one tomorrow. It can drive you crazy at times, but never gets old.

Bob 

[Farmboy27]

Natures way is for the hen to go to the gobbler. That's why a gobble can be heard much farther than a yelp. This means that basically you can do every thing right with you're set up and calling but if the gobbler doesn't do something wrong (going to the hen), then it still won't work. Every time we try to call in a gobbler we are trying to get them to do something wrong. Sometimes they just want to do everything right too and we fail!  That's the fun of it.

[g8rvet]

I think I understated the mood of the gobbler in my early hunting.  Sometimes, they are just not as fired up.  Maybe because of my calling skills (or lack), but sometimes they just lack the fire to close the distance.  Other times, I think I am a master and so does Tom.  So many variables.  I think the frustration is what makes it so fun.  I do know there are better turkey hunters than me.  But I also know there are plenty of dumb turkeys and I am fine with that.  I really think dumb turkeys taste better. Well, maybe cause that is the only kind I have eaten!   

[Marc]

When I started turkey hunting, I lived in a different area, and managed to get access to some premium hunting property.  If I flubbed one bird, there was another around the corner willing to cooperate.

I no longer live in the same area, and I have a few birds around, but generally I am hunting one bird (or lately a pair).  When things go wrong (or don't go right), I find myself being a bit more introspective.

The pair I was hunting this afternoon was fired up...  I called, got them fired up, and waited...  They came close again, but then wandered off (gobbling as they left me).  I set up right were they came to yesterday (I could see their footprints).

I then started gobbling at them, which once again got them fired up, and they started coming in quick...  Alternated gobbling and hen calling, and they were eating it up...  Came to the same point and wandered off again (gobbling the whole time).  I have no idea what I would have done different...

Many, many times I know exactly what I did wrong...  More often than not I have no idea, and I think that is just turkey hunting.  Maybe I need to buy those magic crystal turkey balls from Flextone...  Then I would know if I could have done something that would have resulted in my carrying a bird back to the truck.

[g8rvet]

Get determined.  You got this!   

[bmhern]

Sometimes you do nothing wrong. Calling a gobbler to you is like reversing mother nature,  most of the time it just wont work.You just have to tip your hat to him and try another day!