Remorse

[elknturkey]

I've always felt a little remorse after the initial rush goes away mainly cause I know I want get to play the game again with him again but this year has been so much worse. I'm sitting here in Virginia on a beautiful hardwood ridge looking at this bird I just killed and I'm more sad than thrilled. He put up a pretty good battle and had him just out of range for about 2 hours. He was a spitn and drumming son of a gun. Maybe I'll just film from now on. It's my first day I've gotten to go alone so maybe I just got used to watching others lol. Ok ok that's enough dear Abby for the day

 

[JRA]

I feel you. I always have mixed emotions when I take a turkey or deer. It means you have a soul man.

 

[REN]

I have struggled with that since I started hunting many moons ago. Seems to get worse as I get older though to the point that I dont even shoot deer that often anymore even though I go everyday I can. it has gotten worse on turkeys though over the years.

 

[TheLBLman]

For me, it's often not a case of my not being happy to kill the turkey or a particular deer,
but maybe as much a case of just feeling so blessed with how many these experiences I've had
part of me just wants that particular turkey (or deer) to continue living so that someone else
might have more opportunities, and sometimes that someone else might be me as well.

It's just more fun when there are more longbeards and more bucks ---- as more of them creates more daytime active bucks, and more active, more vocal turkeys.

2-yr-old and older longbeards are not an unlimited resource.
There's not enough living in TN for every hunter to even kill one annually.

I have no remorse about the turkeys and bucks I give a pass,
but have had remorse about many I've killed.

 

[fairchaser]

I'm happy to have killed one. I'm not blood thirsty but I don't remorse the killing because I know everything dies in the woods and I can give it as much of a painless death as it would otherwise have. Mostly, I feel thankful to have been able to have had the experience and to have shared that connection to the animal. I appreciate the blessing.

 

[timberjack86]

It's all shared on the table with my family, no remorse whatsoever. Pure joy when I take an animal and watch my family's eyes light up with that first bite.

 

[Mike Belt]

Try a camera. You can play overs and over

 

[Boll Weevil]

No remorse here but more humility that I've been blessed just one more time, to squeeze the trigger on a longbeard. I enjoy spring so much every year as it's my relief valve and a time to rest and reflect on how good God is. As well, I consider the management and conservation aspects foremost every single time I shoot, or choose not to. It's all part of it.

 

[woodsman04]

I get that feeling occasionally, especially on the years I'm having good luck.
But I never feel too sorry to quit!

I have called a few up before and let them walk. No idea why, I just did.

Used to I'd kill them anyway I could (besides decoys because they were illegal where I started)
I'd crawl em, bush wack em, ambush em, shoot them flying if I jumped them. I'm glad I've grown out of that, now I don't shoot them unless I call them up.


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[tickweed]

As for turkeys, when l have one l have battled for a while, one who was really a warrior, l feel sad that his gobble wont ever be heard again ringing the hillsides or bottoms
Again. I know that sounds kinds crazy, but lve thought that several times as l was standing over one. I agree with woodsman04. Now, l call him in right, or let him go. I started in the early seventies. Have seen so many changes. I promise, if l never take another, l took my part.

 

[catman529]

Don't feel bad, that's what it's all about. There will be another one just like him. Turkeys are all pretty similar and there will be more to chase


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[megalomaniac]

Its about 80% respect, 10% awe, and 10% remorse every time I pull the trigger.

They are amazing animals, and as beautiful as they are at 50 yards, they are even more beautiful when viewed up close in hand.

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[woodsman04]

Its about 80% respect, 10% awe, and 10% remorse every time I pull the trigger.

They are amazing animals, and as beautiful as they are at 50 yards, they are even more beautiful when viewed up close in hand.

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Man I love em. My favorite part might be picture time with these new iPhones on portrait mode right after the kill before he gets stiff. I set it up some how, put the timer on 10 seconds, and take as many as good pics as I can.


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[elknturkey]

Got another in Virginia today. Still got one tag left in Tennessee and 1 tag left in Virginia but that did it. Pulling the trigger just isn't fun anymore. Don't know why the sudden drastic change but I'll hang up the guns rest of the year and concentrate on filming others. Doesn't bother me watching someone else shoot for some reason.

This was only my 3rd day able to go solo and could have been done as I let one go Tuesday after I got him to fly to me from roughly a quarter mile away. Landed in my lap and I just watched him walk away. Here he is before he touched down then after he landed. I've gotta build me a computer to edit with as my laptop can't handle the enormous files. Catman if you see this, or anyone that edits, what computer are you using? I self film in 4k so I'm able to zoom in during the editing if need be but dang the files are massive. Basically a GB for every minute. Filming someone I just film at 1080p

 

[Andy S.]

Doesn't bother me watching someone else shoot for some reason.

For sure, I love helping others get a turkey or deer, especially if it is there first one, of first few. Their excitement and sense of accomplishment is very rewarding and contagious! I've watched several guys pull the trigger this spring.

 

[elknturkey]

Doesn't bother me watching someone else shoot for some reason.

For sure, I love helping others get a turkey or deer, especially if it is there first one, of first few. Their excitement and sense of accomplishment is very rewarding and contagious! I've watched several guys pull the trigger this spring.

Same here and I'm usually more excited than them lol. I'm not a hootn holler or fist pump kind of guy but it brings a smile to my face to watch someone get tore up!

 

[megalomaniac]

I love taking other people, and have gotten 4 for others this spring, but I'm greedy... i want to be the one who killed the bird (the one who picked the place to set up and the one who did the calling that fooled the bird to come into range). I could care less who pulls the trigger. That is the least special part of the hunt to me.

Its bad, though. My son needs to learn how to call on his own. He's practiced a lot this spring and is decent, but the only way he's going to get to do the calling is if I forget mine or he strikes out on his own without me. Yes, I'm THAT selfish when it comes to working a bird :)

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[elknturkey]

I love taking other people, and have gotten 4 for others this spring, but I'm greedy... i want to be the one who killed the bird (the one who picked the place to set up and the one who did the calling that fooled the bird to come into range). I could care less who pulls the trigger. That is the least special part of the hunt to me.

Its bad, though. My son needs to learn how to call on his own. He's practiced a lot this spring and is decent, but the only way he's going to get to do the calling is if I forget mine or he strikes out on his own without me. Yes, I'm THAT selfish when it comes to working a bird :)

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I'm always the one that does the calling and picks the setup. Nobody I hunt with is crazy about turkeys like me or at least as serious. They enjoy the hunt and killing but they're not good at all with calling or choosing setups. All the hardcores I associate with either prefer to go solo, which I totally understand, or are a blind /decoy type which I have no desire to do. The newbies I take will usually have the decoys the first day until I tell them to leave them in the truck and then they don't bring them again. They think they're a must have but if I watched hunting shows all the time I would to.

I growed up hunting with 2 uncles and we always went together but most of the times split up from the truck. 1 is dead and the other can't get around so I started taking guys I knew or worked with that hunted but not turkey hunted. 2 of them are eat up with it now. 1 isn't very good at calling yet and sadly had a mild heart attack at 39 so he's limited to what he can do. The second one will be a turkey killer in a few more years. He's always calling or texting me when I'm not with him wanting to learn. He's had a few close encounters this year just needs to tweak a few things on setup, how to read a bird, when and why to call with what call, etc. He'll get it though. Going with him in the morning.

 

[cowhunter71]

Kind of figured you were not as serious as you lead on to be.

 

[poorhunter]

Kind of figured you were not as serious as you lead on to be.

You have a way with words.