The Hardest One Yet

[HookedonHooks]

This spring has been a fantastic year, I have been blessed with as much woods time as ever and had great success for myself and amongst friends, in fact I pulled the trigger on or called in more for buddies than any season before this personally.

I crunched the numbers and was in the woods 43 mornings this Spring, and got to see 13 turkeys die. This is just over a 30% success rate on average, though one day was a double, there were several other days we could've pulled the trigger but didn't, and also had two misses between us. I hunted about a 1/3 of the days by myself and tried my best to soak in those days, but truly enjoyed the camaraderie that came with hunting with many different buddies and seeing their joy through success.

I can't fully explain, nor do I understand it, but with that great success I am having a hard time coping with season going out. I ran it to the buzzer and woke up this morning wanting nothing more than to get back out there. In seasons before, great success or a struggle, I've always felt the grind wearing on and in ways was happy it came to an end so you can get back to "normal life" or get that extra sleep.

Spring turkey season has always been a special thing for me my whole life growing up from a very young age, but once I got to college and out on my own I wasn't using spring break to get drunk on a beach I would use that time to travel turkey hunt, in my mind I've always known what I wanted to do this time of year. I know I'm not anymore afflicted with it than I've been before, but this year that grind (even though it took place) never truly set in. Maybe I'm getting old, but it really does hurt this year more than ever. Maybe it's a product of today's world, a much different one than we were in even last season. I know I'm more than satisfied with my season, I just feel I already can't wait for the next one.

Is anyone else feeling extra emotional about this year's season going out? Or is it just me? If you weren't satisfied with your season this year, just remember one thing so you can make adjustments for next season; "Tomorrow is not promised and today is short." Do what you desire, whatever it may be.

[falltoms]

I hunted 7 states and was out 41days. Some of those were preseason scouting. I always have withdrawal symptoms when the season goes out. Its back to work and reality, I had a very good season and it's hard to let go, but time goes on. I start planning for next season, but can't wait till fall to chase the longbeards again

[nativeks]

I hunted 13 times. First time since 1996 I did not pull the trigger on a turkey. Only saw turkeys on 2 hunts.

[Tom007]

I get it, I was out in woods around 25 days. Had a successful season, but extremely tough one. Very cold weather year, only a few warm days late in they season. In fact it was 44 degrees this weekend during the day in Northern NJ. I get that withdrawal feeling every season when I clean my gear, and guns. This forum actually keeps things going in the off season, it's nice to stay in touch with others that share this passion. Good news, we will all reminisce and look forward to next spring with eager anticipation......

[Brian Fahs]

I had a challenging season this year. Hunted 21 days in a couple states and somehow manged to fill my tags.

I'm Ok with the season ending. It's just gonna take about another week or 2 till I quit roosting on the headboard of my bed..........lol.

My wife does permit me to strut in front of the coffee maker first thing in the morning as long as I clean up after myself when I'm done.

Yeah, real turkey hunting separation issues here.

[bonasa]

SE NY was a good season, unfortunately due to work we did not travel this year. Although we Had the best preliminary scouting days this season, locating 57 males on 11 properties. I called in for myself and others 8 shooting opportunities on long beards in 3 days, due to mishaps we had two days we had 3 opportunities. Was a good season, some nice birds on the ground including two with 1.25" spurs. 

[Gooserbat]

It was a rougher than average season.  I killed 6, missed 2, (please don't ask about the one in Florida) called in 4 more, and fanned in another for other people.  Probably hunted 25+ days.  I'm going to rest now and do something relaxing like driving nails and planting hot peppers.

[WV Ridge Reaper]

6 states 42 days..I'd do it for another 42 if I could...That last bird of the year really hit hard this year..I just sat around didn't want to leave because I knew it would more then likely be the last bang for the year...I'll be ok by the end of June until then...well click my heels and close my eyes hope for the best haha

Hope to see the next one

[Cut N Run]

It was a kick to the nuts kind of season for me. Hunted 15 days, still haven't seen a gobbler.  Saw & called in hens almost every trip early on. Zero gobblers with them.  Had one gobble his @$$ off from the roost, then move over to his favorite strut zone...for the entire day.  Of course the days I had to work, the property owner would call or text saying "That big gobbler is hanging out right where you like to hunt." 

Fooled one longbeard that I played chess with for 6 hours, but he came in right behind me and kept going. I never saw him.  Had another follow the creek the other side from me, answering as he went.  He drifted up onto an old roadbed across the property line & got shot by somebody else.  Heard several die and a few misses, but I never took the safety off.  I love to hunt turkeys in the Spring woods, though I enjoy it more when I get to use tags.  Pretty much everybody else I know who turkey hunts tagged out.

I heard shots from places that never used to get hunted and there's definitely more hunters in the woods around where I hunt.  Gotta find some new ground to hunt.

Jim