Deep Down, Why Do You Turkey Hunt?

[2in1shot]

So Catmans side tracked harvest numbers thread got me thinking.... What makes each of us want to hunt turkeys. A lot of what started the controversy on the other page has to do with the age gap and use of media before, during, and after the hunt. A lot of the younger guys enjoy putting there life and hunting on the web, while some of the older crew does not want even a picture of their face on the www. Media has changed, for some, why we enjoy hunting. And of course as we age, our reasons for hunting change with our experiences and maturity.

I hunt turkeys because I enjoy the challenge (both from the long beard as well as myself). I enjoy seeing and hearing the spring woods wake up. I enjoy the interactive nature of the spring turkey hunting chess game. I enjoy the rush of having a bird gobble and close the distance. I enjoy honing the skills to mimic an old hen. I enjoy the physicality of several miles walked per day. And lastly I enjoy hunting turkeys by my strict set of rules: no decoys or cameras. Just me, my calls, my gun, and a mature bird that wants to gobble/play the game. For me, it's a very personal affair and for that reason often I enjoy hunting alone.

Maybe I'm one of the odd birds in this group. How about you guys.

 

[Jcalder]

Cause it's illegal to kill deer in the spring. I do prefer eating them over deer but the hunt does little for me. Seeing those cry over how people hunt them is a huge turn off as well. Wouldn't bother me at all if I never seen another.


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[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

There's nothing like the thrill of calling and reacting with turkeys.some days you can't do anything right, and some days it goes easy.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

There's nothing like the thrill of calling and reacting with turkeys.some days you can't do anything right, and some days it goes easy.

 

[Spurhunter]

I wish I had never gone turkey hunting. I miss some of the best fishing of the year. But I am addicted to hearing them gobble and watching them strut. Getting the shot off is fun, but anti climatic. I only enjoy hunting them when they are gobbling. I will not spend all day in the woods trying to kill one if they aren't.

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[poorhunter]

For me it's the whole idea of calling them to me. Having them gobble back at me and work their way to my position is where it's at. I'm also very much into trying to figure out what they're going to do and where they're going.

 

[Setterman]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

 

[JAY B]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

Couldn't have said it any better if I tried!! Spot on brother!

 

[Boll Weevil]

I hunt turkeys because I enjoy the challenge (both from the long beard as well as myself). I enjoy seeing and hearing the spring woods wake up. I enjoy the interactive nature of the spring turkey hunting chess game. I enjoy the rush of having a bird gobble and close the distance. I enjoy honing the skills to mimic an old hen. I enjoy the physicality of several miles walked per day. And lastly I enjoy hunting turkeys by my strict set of rules: no decoys or cameras. Just me, my calls, my gun, and a mature bird that wants to gobble/play the game. For me, it's a very personal affair and for that reason often I enjoy hunting alone.

^ This pretty much sums it up for me too.

Maybe I'm one of the odd birds in this group.

No...you're not.

 

[REN]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

Man couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

Man couldn't have said it better myself.

Yep...save me a bunch of typing, Setterman.

 

[megalomaniac]

Because I've never experienced anything in life that gives such a rush every single time you do it.

 

[AT Hiker]

This is where I would insert the Dos Equis meme that reads "I don't always agree with Setterman but when I do..."


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[poorhunter]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

I don't think you could kill a turkey if it sat at the end of your barrel. Have you ever even seen one? Heard a spit and drum? You're so full of yourself thinking you can kill turkeys. You have no idea how hard it is to get them to come to your call...you probably belly crawl and bushwhack them don't you? I think you're a racist bigot and hate turkeys and hunting them too. You? Kill turkeys? Psssht, in your dreams buddy.

:rotf:

Just kidding Setterman! Well said on your part.

 

[Mike Belt]

I'm a hunter and turkey is the only other big game anywhere near here aside from deer. The layoff between the close of deer season and the opening day of turkey season is plenty enough time to recoup from hunting deer and for cabin fever to begin edging into the picture. The spring weather is here and green up is beginning. Aside from Fall, the beginning of Spring is my favorite time to be in the woods. And then there are the turkeys. Roaming the hills and woods listening for those close by booming gobbles or those far away and barely distinguishable gobbles, trying to home in on their locations, and then making a move to get set up on them and it's game on. What sets turkey hunting aside from deer hunting or any other hunting for that matter is that it's so interactive. Somewhat unlike deer hunting in which most activity is nocturnal and missed and mostly immobile, turkey hunting is done totally during the daylight hours. You see, hear, and are a part of everything going on in their world and you have to react to what, when, and where. They move and you countermove. They react and you counter react. So goes the battle of wits. Every day is a new and different day and a new and different battle... and you may experience many battles before ever winning the war. It's the offering of those battles that draws me to the woods.

 

[fairchaser]

I agree with what Setterman said. Additionally for me it's a chess match with a master who's playing with his life on the line. Their need to procreate outweighs their survival. It's akin to salmon swimming back to their place of birth to spawn and die. His normal caution is set aside in order to breed. It's this distraction alone that allows us to imitate a lonesome hen. The fact that we don't really know how to talk turkey only sound like one shows just how distracted they are. Just as if an attractive female says something to you from across the room, it wouldn't matter if you heard or understood what she said, you are only interested that she said something to you. You want to hear more and to do so brings you closer. She could easily raise a shotgun and blow your head off. A gobbling turkey is such a unique sound and indicates one thing, readiness to breed or in some cases shock or surprise. The turkey knows that he's also calling predators. This makes him especially vulnerable. Knowing with all these things in the hunters favor, he still can't easily dupe a gobbler, makes the victory even sweeter. I love the chase.

 

[gasman]

"And lastly I enjoy hunting turkeys by my strict set of rules: no decoys or cameras. Just me, my calls, my gun, and a mature bird that wants to gobble/play the game."

I personally am new to turkey hunting. My only rule at this point in time is to do it legally. If that means for me to use a decoy, as long as its legal, i will use a decoy. I think you have an awesome set of rules, but what i don't get is others downing me or you because they do not agree with what works for us....

 

[Newt]

Setterman said it perfectly

 

[2in1shot]

In response to gasman. My strict set of rules only apply to me and I do not judge or condemn anyone for chasing turkeys in any legal manner. In fact, I was catman minus the camera and YouTube 15-20 years ago. Hunting consumed my life. I would use any legal means necessary to help turn the game in my favor. I used decoys, hunted using ambush tactics, blinds, all of it. I can remember one long belly crawl of 4-500 yards. I have only settled into my set of rules in the last 5 years. It took 20 years of turkey hunting prior to this season to refine my rules of the game. For me it took getting over the thrill of the tigger pull to really enjoy the sport and that came only after I had killed several turkeys. I now take my oldest child with me some. Do we use blinds? Sometimes. Do we use decoys. Sometimes. But when I hunt alone, the rules change or I don't have interest in killing that bird unless my rules apply.

 

[megalomaniac]

Because I've never experienced anything in life that gives such a rush every single time you do it.

When the swamp gobbler fired off at noon 100 yds away a few hours ago, I thought I was having chest palpitations but in a good way. It NEVER gets old, even after 33 seasons and and this being around the 20th day this season I've been afield. I could literally do it every day of the year without it getting old.

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[woodsman04]

Being in the woods as they transition from winter to spring over the course of 6 weeks is something to behold. Watching barren forest floors come alive with wildflowers, trees bud out and leaf out is a cool thing to witness transpire each year.

Interacting with a bird, being able to sit down and have conversations with a bird and convince him you're worth coming to visit.

Then strategy and chess match. Figuring out where he is, how to close the distance, best set up for him to commit, and then watching it all unfold or fall apart.

The moment when you realize he's coming and your shot is imminent.

Having a bird just out of sight shake the ground with a gobble or hearing the strutting non vocal sounds just out of sight.

There's nothing hunting wise that can give me the emotional roller coaster of chasing turkeys. One day you feel on top of the world only for the next day to feel like a complete failure. Haha

Pulling the trigger is the least exciting part. If I could I'd touch every bird I kill, roll them over pat them on the a$$ and watch them leave. I'd love for them to be able to play the game again another day a little wiser.

Same thing for me.

It's the only thing I truly enjoy doing. It's my only hobby. All of my off time for work is dedicated to turkey season. All of my land management of my own piece of property is geared towards turkeys.

Piss on deer.




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[RB_243]

I love how it's a different challenge every time you step in the woods. Very rarely will you have two hunts that are alike and I think that's a fun part of it. I don't know about anyone else on here, but family is a big part of it for me too. My uncles got me hooked when I was 14 and I'm still obsessed to this day. The very first hunt they took me on, we worked a long beard to 50-60 yards and he hammered right in front of us. That rattle shook my insides and is something I won't forget.

I now live in GA and killed my first GA bird Thursday morning, but it felt a lot different being by myself instead of being with family and friends. I'm all for hunting by yourself, but there's nothing like sharing memories with others in the woods.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Ditto Setterman. Plus I really enjoy the travel aspect. It is much more affordable and logistically easier to travel and hunt turkeys alone than it is bigger game.


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[Coker]

I hunt turkeys because I enjoy the challenge (both from the long beard as well as myself). I enjoy seeing and hearing the spring woods wake up. I enjoy the interactive nature of the spring turkey hunting chess game. I enjoy the rush of having a bird gobble and close the distance. I enjoy honing the skills to mimic an old hen. I enjoy the physicality of several miles walked per day. And lastly I enjoy hunting turkeys by my strict set of rules: no decoys or cameras. Just me, my calls, my gun, and a mature bird that wants to gobble/play the game. For me, it's a very personal affair and for that reason often I enjoy hunting alone.

Maybe I'm one of the odd birds in this group. How about you guys.

This!!!!
:super:

 

[DANO63]

It's in my blood.

 

[fairchaser]

Because a gobble is the most amazing, distinctive and thrilling sound in the woods.

 

[Gravey]

Setterman nailed it. That said I'd rather kill a big buck but would rather turkey hunt.

 

[cowhunter71]

Because the good Lord made me a Turkey Hunter, along with many in my family. Not just a "Spring" Turkey Hunter, but a full blown Turkey Hunter, Spring and Fall. Making truly wild, hard pressured Gobblers, and an occasional hen in the Fall, come look for me, is what I live for. We also eat the piss out of some Wild Turkey

 

[scn]

Long post-may want to skip.
The "why" for me has probably changed over the years. I went on my first turkey hunt when I was drawn for a hunt on Central Peninsula (now Chuck Swan) in 1972. I remember hearing one gobble at a distance, but it was exiting nonetheless. At the time, hunters in TN were killing around 100 gobblers a year statewide. We had some birds at Shelby Forest, Catoosa, CP, and in some of the North Cherokee Units. I probably would have shot one any way I could at that point.

The opportunity to try again didn't really happen until I started working as an officer up in Cocke Co in the late seventies. My mentor was the father of a fellow officer/supervisor that was a WMA supervisor responsible for stocking a lot of the Cherokee area before he retired. He was usually one of the "100" in killing his bird every year. His message was pretty consistent to me in that if I just wanted to shoot one, I needed to scout and pattern a flock, and deer hunt a bird. Or, I could continue to learn to play the game and do it the right way. There were a lot of rookie mistakes that took place in those learning years. But, I was determined that my first bird, if it ever happened, would be one called to the gun.

I learned some about turkeys by spending some long, cold hours on cannon nets in catching and relocating birds during our restoration efforts. In 1988 I promoted and moved into the Nashville office to handle LE training. I didn't have any opportunity to do any hunting in starting a new job and hunting for a place to live. Finally, on the last day of the LBL nonquota hunt, I took a day off and drove up there. I got one to answer a call at 8:30 that morning, and finally pulled the trigger on him at 11:30. He was strutted out, and barely weighed 18#s, but he had an 11" beard and the spurs were 1.5" . I didn't realize how good of a bird he was, but, was advised to save those feet with the spurs as likely I wouldn't do better in the future. They sit behind me on a bookshelf, and still are my best spurs many years later.

After killing the first one, the goal became to be consistent and kill one every year. I benefited tremendously with some days in a goose pit with Harold Knight and David Hale. When the geese weren't flying, they were very generous with turkey hunting knowledge. It cemented my "style" of hunting as the old school way my mountain mentor taught me of valuing a bird that answers and having the patience to let him come at his own speed rather than running through the woods trying for a thirty second hunt. As I slowed down, I pulled the trigger more frequently rather than just hearing a bunch of gobbling. But, I still remember the ones that beat me more than the ones I killed.

As the miles and the years have crept on, the "why" has become almost spiritual for me. Turkey hunting is my #1 outdoor passion, and is what I "live for" every year. It influences me in good ways to stay in shape so I can navigate our TN hills and hollows. When the season rolls around, being out there those first cold days watching the woods come alive means to me that I have made it through another cold, dark winter, and have been blessed to watch the rebirth of God's earthly kingdom another year. At my age, I do not take it for granted. As has been eloquently said in this thread, watching spring become alive is on the same level as hearing a gobble and playing the game. But, without the gobble, it is unlikely I am out there to enjoy the rest of it.

This spring has been special in a lot of ways. I have dealt with some heart issues since December, where I worried that I might not have it in me to hunt this spring. I have been able to do what I normally do, and the health part hasn't been an issue. I've been blessed with some gobbles and a couple of nice birds. The first was a fairly short hunt and a 2 yr old gob, but, the second was an hour and a half afternoon duel that led me to pulling the trigger on the new turkey gun on a 3-4 yr old bird at about 20 ft. I almost missed him, but, he was drd. I go into Vandy on Friday for a fairly serious heart tune up, and have to work early in the week. So, my season is likely over for the year. If this for some reason is my last turkey season, I can only count the blessings of what these gobbling bearded heathens have meant to me.

 

[TheLBLman]

Great Post, SCN!

If this for some reason is my last turkey season, I can only count the blessings of what these gobbling bearded heathens have meant to me.

x 2

But planning on seeing you in the turkey woods next year.