I need another habbit like I need another....

[Deitz Dittrich]

I need another outdoor habit like I need another hole in my body. But a good friend of mine is trying to talk me into this Turkey hunting thing. I personally think they are kinda ugly, but I wont hold that against them.

Please, tell me why this whole Turkey hunting thing is what its all about. You all seem so passionate about it. I love to hunt deer with a bow, and woudl like to maybe get a turkey with a bow, but may hold off till I get a few under my best before I try that.

Share stories..

[bigswede]

There is nothing more exciting than sitting in the woods at 4:30 in the morning, cant see anything and then to hear gobbling start. It is cool, eary, exciting all in 1 package. Also they are a SMART Animal. They can see like no other nad can hear unbelievably well. It took me 4 years before I got my first bird on the 5th year and not until the 5th day. I ahv always put in the time scouting and what not, but was finally able to connect. I would think after you do it 1 time you will be hooked. I know I was..

[Hotspotter]

Ray.....we're finally getting to him.

Deitz:

You already know my opinion on the subject, but rest assured, there are some seasoned turkey hunters on this site that will put you through a crash-course in turkeyology by springtime.

Ray and I both say it, "If I had to pick only one outdoors activity, I'd lose fishing, and everything else to hunt turkeys."

How's that for a ringing endorsement?

Joel

[Wild Willie]

My TOP TEN reasons why you will get addicted to Spring/Fall wild turkey hunting:

1) The Challenge - a true test of all your hunting skills regarding complete knowledge, respect and admiration for "The Cock of The Woods", its illustrious history, it's strengths/weaknesses and it's environment.

2) Skill Development - a great opportunity for outdoorsmen to advance their all around hunting skills and tool box by applying new found knowledge of the turkey woods shared by other big game animals.

3) Interactive Hunting Opportunity - there is nothing more thrilling or exciting as the knowledge and ability to listen, locate, understand, get into positioned, communicate and reposition if necessary to call your trophy to well within your shotgun's range.

4) The Competition – it’s you against Mother Nature, yourself, the woods, the hens and the Boss. If you are one that likes to compete then be prepared for a chess match in the turkey woods. Things are constantly evolving and changing from week to week. You will experience setting-up in the wrong place, setting-up at the wrong time, making the wrong call, making the wrong reposition move, blinking your eyes at the wrong time, looking in the wrong direction only to find the Boss has out smarted you again by circling around from behind, etc., etc., etc.

5) The Gear - this depends on how hooked you get. The basics work great at first, but soon your uncontrollable addiction to bag the Boss will drive you to acquire as many tools as you deem necessary to satisfy your need to achieve success.

6) The Experiences - talk about deer camp stories. Just a few seasons into spring/fall turkey hunting and you will enough material to write a book.

7) The Opportunities - spring and fall opportunities can be found practically anywhere in North America. Start early south of the Mason/Dixon line and work your way up to the Great White North. Need I say more!

8) Solitude/Group Flexibility - turkey hunting, like many other forms of addiction, allow the addict flexibility concerning keeping the experience all to themselves or sharing with others. You may or may not conform to the two types mentioned above. You may become a co-dependent or enabler, it all depends on your core personality and situation.

9) Sense of Pride - knowing your long hours of research, scouting, call practice and new gear was well worth the investment.

10) Table Fare – doesn’t get any better!

[fishnhooks]

Deitz,

Last spring was my first time for turkey hunting. It only takes one try to get hooked on it.. be careful!

"hooks"

[Hotspotter]

Wild Willie:

Outstanding post! Well-thought-out and very true on all accounts. Nice work.

Joel

[Stratosman]

It's overrated, they just walk right up to you and you cap 'em....

[Tippman]

My favorite thing about it is that you get to hunt during the spring. It's a nice treat instead of going from December to September without hunting. It also seems like you see more pheasants, ducks, deer, and hear grouse drumming more than you do when you are hunting for those animals.

[BigWadeS]

I've seen that Turkey Farm by Hastings, now I know what all the hype is about...I'm in....

[Wallydog]

Careful Deitz, that hook has a barb!

WD

[Borch]

Wild Willie an excellent post!

Deitz,

Don't do it. Your a busy man and this new hobby will consume you.

Just think of the scouting and woodsmanship of archery deer hunting with a much more vocal animal that is even more paranoid than a big whitetail buck. Now you're starting to get a feel for turkey hunting.

If turkeys had a good sense of smell I doubt we'd know they existed.

Getting one with a bow is the ultamate challenge! Without a blind you'll get busted 9 out of 10 times if you're good.

Naw, no reason to take it up.

[GatorBait]

Turkey hunting has been a fond tradition of mine since the introduction of them in WI many years ago. I've learned that they just aren't some dumb bird that can fly a little ways. They have been noted to see a mosquito at 100yds away, if something is not right, they ain't stickin around. Calling is the biggest challenge, every turkey hears it differently, some get greedy and come running in, others want you to come to them. Trying to rip a dominate tom from a group of hens is always a good challenge. Talk sexy to him and you may get a chance. Yet, you may take one with a shotgun and think, wow, that was cake. Move it up a bit and try one with the bow next time, as that represents even more fun and a greater challenge, to test your limits of getting one by the ol'tom. I've put many miles on chasing these feathery longnecks in the woods. Though success rate is pretty good, i've had my share of losses too. Every hunt brings a different story which is why I love hunting these birds. I'd offer it up to anyone to give turkey hunting a try as we only live once and sharing a new experience with friends or family is always a good time, no matter the outcome. I do have to say, getting one fully mounted looks very cool too. Tom Boy is my door greeter at my house. Hope you decide to give it a shot, I know you will enjoy it. Good Luck

[shamalex72]

For about the last five years I kept thinking "next year I will try turkey hunting" but I never went through with it.

Well, I finally went through with, last week I applied for a permit. A friend from work has some turkeys on his land and said he is going to let a few of us hunt it next year. I am already getting excited about it. Now, I just hope I get a tag.

[shamalex72]

Quote:

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5) The Gear - this depends on how hooked you get. The basics work great at first, but soon your uncontrollable addiction to bag the Boss will drive you to acquire as many tools as you deem necessary to satisfy your need to achieve success.

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If it's going to be like muskie fishing, I will have to add on to the house

[Greybeard53]

Dietz,

Years ago I grew up and learned to hunt around Brainerd. Grouse, Ducks and Deer were all I hunted, and as far as I knew, that's all I needed. Never thought I'd ever see a wild turkey, much less hunt for them. That was for those guys "down south".

Back in the early 80's I let a friend convince me to go along on a hunt with him in Iowa. One hunt. That first throaty gobble on the first morning of the first day and I was addicted.

Everything about those birds sets them apart. The size, the color, the vocalizations, etc.. I definitely recommend giving it a try. Besides, it's not like you need a bunch of new equipment. You probably have everything you need already. Except maybe a box call, and slate or two...and a few diaphragm calls,..oh and an owl call, crow call, vest, spring camo., facemask, new choke tube for your shotgun or broadheads for your arrows..oh..and several decoys, and I hear those ground blinds are pretty nice. Come to think of it, a bigger garage would be nice(mine is half full of all the stuff listed above) and a dedicated 6'x6' spot in the house for a full body gobbler mount.

Several years ago I took my young son (ironically named Tom) on his first hunt. That first morning a gobble rang out just as the sky was starting to lighten a bit. As soon as I looked over and saw the whites of his wide eyes, my first thought was "Oops, there goes the other half of my garage"

Get your application in soon!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[eyes']

Dietz,

Don't do it!!! It is by far the most addicting thing as far as hunting goes!!! My dad went with us for the first time last year and can't stop talking about how pumped he is to go next year... Trust me, once you shoot one for the first time you will be looking into hunting the whole USA that has a season on turkeys!!! I started in Nebraska and now I am hunting 3 different states per year!!! Bad news I tell ya!!!!

[GatorBait]

Yeah, before you know it, you'll be going for a grand slam. Which consists of bagging the Eastern, Osceola, Merriam, and Rio Grande turkey. A substantial task that would be a great experience.

[Ray Esboldt]

Yep. I would quit all other outdoor activities tomorrow if I had to make a choice between turkey hunting and the rest of it. And, I'm not even that good at it.

For me it combines the best of all hunting: proper concealment, use of calls, decoys, woodsmanship, well though out stategies, and sometimes a ton of exercise. Plus, you learn that there really are quite a few ticks in long grass in May. I still kick myself for not starting on it sooner in life.

[FarByondDrivn]

I really love deer hunting with a bow but turkey hunting is my favorite kind of hunting. That fist time you hear one spit and drum or gobble right in your face; you're hooked. Its fun to do with a bow too but I would recommend getting a ground blind. Try it, you'll never regret it!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wow- thanks all for the replies! I would put you Turkey dudes in the same boat as a Muskie angler for sure.. So much passion!

If I do decide to plunge in, I'll be sure to blog it on the HSO site... Rookie Deitz! I do like the taste of turkey!

[Hotspotter]

Deitz:

Good analogy, very similar in how empassioned we are regarding our sport.

The biggest difference is that we're not a bunch of ego-driven meatheads with serious inadequacy and inferiority complexes. Kidding!

Joel

[Borch]

Quote:

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Deitz:

Good analogy, very similar in how empassioned we are regarding our sport.

The biggest difference is that we're not a bunch of ego-driven meatheads with serious inadequacy and inferiority complexes.

Kidding!

Joel

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Yeah what he said!

Once while hunting in the Black Hills a group of guy we didn't know invited us along to a wild turkey fry. I'll never forget the line the guy used, "Hey, come on over! We're just a bunch of crazy turkey hunters."

[Ray Esboldt]

Don't ever refer to muskies and turkeys in the same sentence. We kill things and eat them. Those guys spend days on end just to see one. We're worlds apart when it comes to fanaticism.

[Cooter]

There goes the neighborhood, DD out chasin longbeards!

Sorry if this got covered already, but they are alot like muskies if you ask me. Both have brains the size of soybeans and are dumber than a day old FMer but at times you'd swear they are the smartest, craftiest, just want to tick you off animals around! But by all means give it a try DD, you'll get hooked, twice! Later.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Well my friends..I sent my turkey application in today. Please cross your fingers for me!!!