Thinking about getting into it...

[PA Bandit]

Myself being a "diehard" its what I live for, how most feel for turkey is like I for deer in that I could care less most seasons, but when spring turkey rolls around I get like a little kid is for Christmas every year. My life has been spent around public land "pressured" birds so I can not speak to the ease of turkey hunting because I have shot 50+ turkeys and never had one "run right in". It takes persistence and a good understanding of common tendencies to pattern and kill mature toms. I would note that to get effective results and what I would say is the best experience (watching a turkey on the roost is almost magical) that scouting/roosting and getting as close to that tree in the morning is a top tactic for killing wise toms.

I would say the biggest problem I see at least here in NE Ohio is the limited amount of land to chase birds on. Its nice to have multiple properties to bounce around to when one spot is dead is definitely going to be an experience for me when I hunt the only property I have access to, don't find any birds, then have to go home because I have no other option (except to drive hours to a state park :/)

 

[giles]

You guys are starting to get me excited about it...

 

[carbonarcher]

Ill go with ya tryin all spring to get out wear I can kinda new as well butt am one of those guys that swallowed the hook.

 

[carbonarcher]

They are as fun as deer if not more.

 

[PSE13]

I haven't turkey hunted in like 5 years. Always enjoyed it and I'm trying too get back into it! It's just hard after I haven't done it in awhile.

 

[giles]

It sounds like a lot of fun when you run and gun them.

 

[tarcher95]

I have never used the "run and gun" strategy. I guess if you have a large enough piece of land to hunt on it would be fun. I like the sit on my butt and call technique lol.

 

[giles]

I've let Jakes walk twice this week, haven't really hunted hard or anything though. Once I was laying in bed and heard a gobbler so I ran into the garage and loaded up. Then headed them off in the front yard. I should of killed one just so I could say I killed my first bird while in my underwear and standing on my porch! But I let them live to grow bigger.

 

[brock ratcliff]

The actual killing of the bird is the smallest part of the turkey hunting experience ... there is no harm in letting them live a little longer. With that said, there is no shame in shooting a jake, IMO, if you feel the need. I don't think turkeys get any smarter with age, so if they are gobbling and putting on a show, I shoot 'em when the mood strikes! Good luck the rest of the season.

 

[finelyshedded]

They are not the brightest animal in the woods. They are not especially hard to kill. They are a lot of fun...more fun than hunting deer, IMO. I've killed some big birds, and some with egg shells still on their heads, and none was more of a trophy than the other. However, to me, there is nothing better than having a bird gobbling ever so often as he walks in to his death. Knowing your quarry is on the way but not really knowing how long it will take is what makes turkey hunting fun to me. Do not fall to the temptation to call if you actually want to shoot one. A hot bird will stand and gobble all day long, but if he is gobbling, he isn't headed your way, he is waiting for you. I've been guilty of calling, a lot, just to hear them gobble, but it is not the way to make them look for you. If you want to actually shoot, call just enough to keep tabs on his movement toward you. And don't move....

Great insight and post Brock based on my observations.

 

[jwiley77]

Please do!

I'd love to come help thin a few out.

 

[giles]

I'd love to come help thin a few out.

As long as by "few" your talking limits... My neighbor was just over the other day and complaining about them too.

 

[Bigcountry40]

Giles,
I grew up on the border of Erie and Sandusky County and have had similar experience growing up. I have been a half hearted turkey hunter for about 7 years, I have called a few birds in within a 100 yards in NC (0nly to have them stop on someone else's property). In Ohio I have had turkey literally within spitting distance during deer season, but have had a difficult time even seeing birds in Ohio during the actual season. I think personally it helps to go with someone that has had success and really knows what they are doing (i have not had much help).

 

[giles]

Yea, I've sorta gone on a couple of "hunts" for them here in my yard. I have one guy thats going to take me out next week, I'm kinda waiting for that to happen before I get into it. I need some sort of guidance for sure. I also agree with Brock about the hunt, not the killing.

 

[giles]

With these farmers pounding the fields the way they are, is one place better than another. It seemed to really effect the few birds I had here for the last month. I never seen or heard them today. I've been holding out waiting on a big Tom…

 

[PA Bandit]

With these farmers pounding the fields the way they are, is one place better than another. It seemed to really effect the few birds I had here for the last month. I never seen or heard them today. I've been holding out waiting on a big Tom…

It might influence there normal patterns if they had been previously using the fields a lot but they should still be in the same general area and I don't feel it would have any affect on their overall activity

 

[giles]

I'm running out of time to get this done. Starting to get a little frustrated "learning" how to hunt these things on my own. Anyone tagged out in the Hillsboro/Washington Courthouse area and want to help a guy get his first bird? I don't own much land and have pretty much forced the birds in my area away from my land… You can only trial and error so many times on the same group of birds, lol. And I haven't wanted to be "that idiot" ruining everything on public land, so I haven't ventured out yet. I'm thinking about hitting Fallsville South area in the morning. I have an idea of where about they normally roost. Going in blind…isn't exactly what I want to do. But I'm running out of options. Sorta starting to wish I'd popped one of those Jakes I kept letting walk, if nothing else, just for my confidence.