Mistakes

I believe I learn more from my mistakes then successes but I'm sick of learning so often. What mistakes have you made in the turkey woods that you've learned from? Two years in a row (I'm a slow learner) I've tried to sneak up on a bird that has just crested a hill (moving off) and ambush him only to have an educated bird to my presence. I still believe it could work

Well, I have another one to add to my list from this week's hunt! I was blind calling mid-day and got a gobble in response. He was close and closing fast and I was caught in the open hardwoods . Turns out there were two toms and they hung up just outside my range because they had pin-pointed the location of my last call, and although they didn't see me, they didn't see a hen either. 35 yards normally wouldn't be a problem, but that day I was carrying the muzzleloader and wasn't comfortable shooting farther than 25 yards. In hindsight, what I should have done was move up 20 yards or so after I called last, and they wouldv'e been in my lap. It was a neat encounter and that's what keeps me getting up at 4am and burning vacation days to hunt spring toms! I did end up taking a mature bird the next day, blind calling again during mid-day, this time the Beretta ended his gobbling at 37 paces. Next week back up to zone 3...........

If you know for certain there is a tom around and is gobbling and then all of a sudden quits gobbling, good chance is he will come in silent. May take 2 minutes or two hours, but will almost bet he will come in. Have been busted a few times by not hearing anything thinking they are leaving only to get up and take a few steps and then it takes off running. If they respond to your call, they know where you are and when they are ready they will come and find you. Also, may not be the safest thing but when my my gun is up to my shoulder, the safety is off. Just moving a finger to take the safety off can be enough to cost you a bird that is looking directly at you. Why does it have to make so much noise also?

The thing that gets me the most is not noticing them coming in silent. 2 years ago I had a tom sneak up on me, never knew he was there. I just got lucky that he was stupid enough to let me swing my gun completely around on the open side of my blind and shoot him quick. Normally they run instantly. Hens sneak up on me more than anything. I don't see anything, then I hear a cluck directly behind me.

I came walking down a firelane and spotted a tom and a hen about 70 or 80 yards away in a small clearing. The tom was strutting around. So, I made my way up to them without spooking them. There was a fallen tree next to the clearing so I set up my gun and got the bead on the bird's neck. I unengaged the safety(click) and they were goned I was busted and very disappointed.

Biggest mistake of the day. When you decide how to pursue a bird 60 yards away dont change your game plan. They ran across the road right in front on me and flew into a small opening in the woods. I put the sneak on and was within 60 and decided to stake the one decoy I grabbed and find a spot to hide. Hit the call and immediately got a response. Waited for a bit and the gobble sounded like they were moving away. Decided to sneak for a closer work (there was a hill separating us. All good until the one bird that WAS coming in spotted me. All busted! Also quickly learning about what ifs...If you live with what ifs and I should uv's you will forever be frustrated with turkey hunting!! should uv stayed put..

Was busted three times this year… Without a doubt, patience did me in a couple times the last two years (I was spoiled by quick hunts my first four years). First, I was busted trying to get close to a tom and overestimated the distance he was away (hill country). Called a couple gobbling toms for 15 minutes; waited for 1 ½ hours only to give up and try and locate on another bird... Then, we decided to come back to the same field an hour later after no luck on our relocation only to see two toms strutting right where we were originally setup. Also this year, drinking too much at turkey camp… Woke up 30 minutes late and my brother and I didn’t get setup in our usual dawn spot on a field edge on time. We walked to the field edge only to see the tom just entering the field right where we were going to setup. He was gobbling like crazy but I gave a couple soft calls and he went the other way.

I had my hunt last week. Walked in the woods got all set up with my chair and all brushed in. I sit down and get in my shooting position only to realize i forgot my arrows. Not five minutes later i had a 25lber at 10 steps and he had no idea i was there. Gobble Gobble I love turkey hunting Wadu

Fetchum's #5 and #6 have been my undoing too many times - including this year....I got caught turning to position myself for the shot behind me when I could have easily just waited for them (3 gobblers)to waltz out in front of me. Damnit!!!!! 2 days later I lifted my head and missed a jake clean as a whistle at 30 yards. Double damnit!!!!! I guess that's why God created seasons 4-6...right?

Dont forget to tell your young daughter/son to take the safety off when they are coming in hot. Called in the only Tom we saw this last period to 9 yards, couldn't belive she wasn't shooting, the tom started to take off and I heard the click of the safety... DOH It stuck around for 2 hours spitting and drumming gobbling but wouldn't come back close enough. What do you do then?

My top 10, in no particular order 1. Making the tom gobble too much on the roost. Sure it's fun, but it will only bring in hens or another hunter, both are a bad thing. 2. Giving up too soon if a bird doesn't come in soon after flydown. You have told other toms in the area you are a hen ready for action, not all will answer you and I have busted a couple by getting up to chase the vocal tom, only to chase off another tom coming in quiet. 3. Wearing white socks with short hiking boots. I got busted by 2 jakes that should have been easy pickings because I believe they picked me out by my socks. This can also be dangerous on public hunting grounds. 4. Trying to get too close to a gobbling tom by over-estimating the distance to him. Under some conditions they can sound twice as far as they really are. 5. Not keeping your head down on the stock, trying to peek to watch him come into range and shooting over the top of him. 6. Not having enough patience. If he gobbled at your call, he obviously heard you. He may very likely come in, when he's good and ready. You can't force him, like I said before, they don't wear a watch. They are on Turkey Time, and you need to be too. I have seen them come in to an area and stand still for over 5 minutes checking things out. 7. Not giving their eyesight enough credit! I have been busted numerous time trying to move while set-up or trying to sneak closer when I thought I was sufficiently screened by cover. They can see almost 360 deg and you can't get away moving usually if you can see their eyes. 8. Using decoys. While it may work sometimes, I have had them hang-up out of range more times than not. I know some guys swear by them, but I usually swear at them. 9. Not getting the gun up and ready soon enough. When he has closed the distance to under 100 yards, get it up and ready so you have less movement to make when he is close. 10. Believing the horrendous sounding hen you hear can't be a real bird, must be someone learning how to call. Got up to move and guess what came over the rise? A pissed-off hen followed by a big strutting tom!............

Where to start: Never get up before looking behind you in case one came in silent, Never walk into an open field without peeking out first to make sure there aren't turkeys in the field, Don't set up where you have no cover in case you need to move around to get in a better shooting position and most important don't assume there are no turkeys around just because they don't answer your calls. Oh yeah, don't get too close when they are on the roost in the morning either.