End of the year for NY'ers How did you do??

[MACHINIST]

I tagged out,got my first on 5-3,20 pounds 8 1/4 inch beard and "1 spurs


my second came last sunday the 25th,he was 19 pounds,8 3/4 inch beard and "1 inch spurs


This year was very different from what I have been used to.Usually we could roost them pretty easily the night before using owl hooter or crow calls if not spotting them with bino's then using general knowledge of the lay of the land to set up on them the next day.This year I,or anyone I hunt with could get a bird to shock gobble the night before heading to the roost or off of the roost,It didn't matter what we through at them.That made us do more runnin and gunnin early in the am when they would sound off.I saw the biggest bird I have ever seen this year,between myself and 4 others I know we figure he is pushing 25 pounds and has a rope to match.When you see him with other birds he is noticeably bigger all around than any other bird.I got to take my daughter and nephew out for their first hunts also this year.My daughter had a ton of luck.Every time she went out we had birds on us.She had 5 jakes come in one morning and held herself back from shooting because she didn't feel comfortable about the shot.Tat made me feel really good.It takes a a ton for a young person to know when not to shoot because its not a good shot and my heart swelled with pride that she held back.Then my nephew had a late start.He had a totally different experience,he never saw a bird(on the hunt anyways),never heard a gobble or a hen for that matter and he was out with me today ( I was calling he was shooting) and he wanted to go all day!!! He is hooked and cant wait for fall so he can deer and turkey hunt,now I have a problem because I will have to take both him and my daughter out.Great year and cant wait till fall!!!

[njdevilsb]

Congrats on your birds. 

My dad and I filled the 4 tags we had.  I got mine on opening day and today, the last day of the season.  My dad got one on opening day and one on the 11th.  It was a tough year with tight lipped birds once they hit the ground that didn't respond to much of anything and most of the time the toms weren't even doing much strutting.  It was definitely a challenge and frustrating at times but that makes it all the more rewarding when it comes together.  I'm already looking forward to next spring.

[troutfisher13111]

Strange year for me as well. Got my 12 year old son his first, and that was the highlight. I tagged one, and messed up on two more. At the beginning of the season I had several birds located, they all seemed to disappear after opening weekend. Definitely not my best year, but my sons bird made it the most memorable.

[Rick Howard]

Had fun but left the woods empty handed.  Learned some stuff though.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Was up there Wednesday and Thursday.  Had a great hunt even with poor weather.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

I will say, though, the numbers are way down in NY and many places in the north east.   Bad weather, poor hatches, fishers, and more hunters are all applying pressure to a fragile resource.

I wish NY would suspend fall hunting for hens to bolster the flock... Seems like a lot of NYers are complaining about low numbers but still gladly go blast hens in the fall. 

[turkeyfeathers]

2 yr old on opening day.
Skipped many a days I could have hunted but my 11 year old daughter couldn't tag along.
3 hunts with her in tow. She got to see some great "shows" and hear birds rip. The "thank you's" she's given me for taking her are etched into my brain. I know how much she enjoyed it.
Hunted Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week solo. Finally killed (May 29th) the bird I've been chasing for awhile now. She and I were both disappointed she wasn't there.
The best part I have to look forward to and wait is she's taking her hunter safety course in October and can pull the trigger on Mr. Tom next spring. May have to take her fall hunting even though I'm not really into it except you get to sleep in a bit.
All in all a great year.

[WNY Bowhunter]

Truthfully, going into the season things were looking grim.  I just wasn't seeing many birds in the fields on my hunting ground during preseason scouting. I'm not sure that our pop. is way down but it definately seems to be below where it has been for the past few years. Overall, season went surprisingly well. I managed to call in 6 gobblers that were harvested in 18 days of hunting...with 4 of them hitting the ground before 6:30.

4/26: Youth Season...first hunt of the season = longbeard down by 6:00!!!





5/2: Late morning bird down hunting with a friend (no pics)...

5/3: Tag #1 filled with a nice two year old...





5/12: My wife smoked a stud 3 year old that came spitting and drumming into the decoy...





5/15: Tagged out with a double bearded two year old...







5/23/14: Wife tags out.  Had a longbeard in range at the same time but our signals got crossed and the   jake hit the ground...