My Turkey Season

[firedeptlt]

I had a good year, didn't fill my tag ( again ), but still a good year. I hunt mostly afternoons til the end of legal. Strictly bow and no blind.
Lots of interactions with the birds. Had the hens beating up my decoys on quite a few occasions. Really interesting to see how they use the leading edge of their wings to strike. In almost every attack they went after the eyes first.
I have been hunting since the fall of 2018 and haven't filled a turkey yet. For me the spot and stalk has been a challenge but it has been interesting to say the least.
I've been chasing the same Tom since I started. He is a true beast of a bird. I'd like to post a video he but I don't think I can.
His beard drags on the ground when his is walking upright and the fan is just amazing. I had him at 12 yrds while he was sizing up my jake decoy but he picked me off. Had him coming in on a rope at 45 yrds but it was 7:01 so I backed out.
Since this will be my first turkey ever I'm gonna hold off on every other bird.
I must be improving my skills as I had a lot of turkeys walk by without seeing me. Closest was 1 yrd. A hen walked by as I sat in tall grass under a low hanging tree branch. I really enjoy using the environment instead of a pop up blind.
Hopefully one season I will have an entry for the big turkey contest.

[fratri]

Sounds like you had a great season even without a shot. This is what memories are made of, Congrats

[tom gobble]

Seems like your having fun, every hunt is a learning experience. Why pass on other birds? I know you want your first to be that bird but in my eyes every bird is that bird. To each is own I guess. Hope you get that bird in the fall good luck.

[Sprite]

Chances are real good that it's not the same bird you're chasing from year to year.

-N.

[impact]

Nice story and congrats on being out there and putting in the effort. That is why they call it hunting and not killing.
Every outing enriches your experience.
Pick up any ticks sitting in the tall grass?

[firedeptlt]

I can almost guarantee ( 99.9 % ) that this bird is the same bird. It is a small rafter on private land. I'm the only one who is hunting turkeys in that area and I've gotten to know the birds. I was out there 27 days this season due to a very generous work schedule.
I sure wish I could post a video here. This guy is absolutely amazing and will be a full mount if I ever get him.
I think by focusing on this one bird ( and I just realized this while typing this response ) that I am improving my novice skills at an increased rate. For example..... say I set out a blind on opening day and harvested a jake with the Bowtech Revolt. Sure I would be over the moon happy with the result but I wouldn't have the experience of trying to pattern, anticipate the movements, determine what call to use and when, practice an open field stalk and the list goes on. Don't get me wrong... If this guy and I cross paths on day one I will not hesitate to send an arrow down range. When I do get him it will all have been worth it ( in my opinion ).
As for ticks.... I haven't picked any up as of yet ( bear season isn't over though ). I am usually pretty well covered. I have dealt with more than my share of poison ivy, wild parsnip and stinging nettles so far this spring. I don't know how that stuff is getting through all the clothing I wear. Maybe its residual that I'm picking up on the exterior of the clothing.

[Sprite]

I was out there 27 days this season due to a very generous work schedule.

I’m not sure hunting the “same” turkey on the same farm for 27 days of the 36 day season constitutes “improving your novice skills at an increased rate”. Sounds to me about as successful as pushing a rope.

You say you had several run ins with this bird — has it not occurred to you that maybe you haven’t killed him yet because you’re putting far too much pressure on him? They remember you know…

I walk away from gobbling birds every day in the woods. Turkeys hang up, it’s just something they do — go find one who won’t!

-N.

[Ata83]

I think that was my mistake for the last 3 weeks of the season.
I only hunted weekends, and went after the same group of toms on same location weekly. thinking they would forget.
Id have them coming in and stop and 80 yards maybe on Sat, only gobbling on sundays and never saw them.
Same story next Saturday morning...
it was still amazing and had a bunch of week old moose calfs come close and smell me, and no time to scout for another location, next year ill make sure to scout multiple locations before the season.

[firedeptlt]

Can't shoot them from the couch.
I don't sit it the same spot. I don't hunt at the same time. I don't use the same decoy set up every time. The farmer isn't working the same field or cutting the bush or picking rocks every day. I know they are a smart bird and every day brings a different set of circumstances.
I had him at 12 yards but he turned into me instead of away from me as I was anticipating and he picked me off drawing back. That was the only time that he reacted to the "pressure" I was putting on them and even at that all he saw was movement of the bow. I take my time blending into the environment regardless of where I am set up.
There were days when only hens came in or that I saw. Some times only jakes. Other times the one I want was escorting a bunch of hens.
I don't want or need to find the next available bird just to fill a tag.
Who are you to tell me how I rate MY improvements ?
Could I lean up against a tree and shoot an over zealous jake just to fill a tag ? Sure. Do I want to ? Not a chance.
I was relating to the forum how MY season went.

[genec]

Thats how you learn….mainly trial and error for the first few years, until u learn what things may work in any situation….we all went thru that.
I lived near Midland for 9 years after retiring, and what worked for me there to get birds doesn’t work very well in Niagara. For example, I have pretty well given up on decoys here, because ALL the toms here stick with the hens all the time! Calling used to work for me up there quite well, but most of the time here the toms just ignore it. Most of my success here is intercepting the birds shortly after morning fly-down once I figure out their feeding routes.