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Days until Turkey Season 2018.

I'll be honest, prior to last season, I had trouble getting pumped up for turkey season. I would say that I was excited, pumped up, whatever...but it was disingenuous. After 4 seasons of failure, I was dreading it more than anything. I never considered not going, that was never really an option, but I was pretty much scraping the bottom of the confidence barrel. I figured if I kept telling others (and myself) how excited I was, eventually I'd start to believe it.

That first Saturday morning, I got up and drank some coffee while getting ready, I think I posted my "For Those About To Rock" video that I always listen to before I head out - but I just had very little optimism for my 5th season of turkey hunting.

Last season was kind of a blur - I don't remember which events happened which days - but my lack of enthusiasm disappeared pretty quickly. I heard more gobbling in 1 morning than I'd heard in the 4 previous seasons combined. In my first 4 seasons, I think I actually laid eyes on a turkey maybe 2 or 3 times total. Last season, I had birds close on a few occasions including a few hens that practically climbed into my lap. And I finally got to really "play the game" for probably the first time. It started with a bird roosted probably 3/4 mile away and ended a couple of hours later when he busted me from about 75yds and I watched him run off. I thought he was a lot farther away than he was - I think he was looking away from be when he gobbled the last time and it threw me off...I tried to circle around and cut him off but never saw or heard him again.

5 seasons are in the books and I'm still working on #1. I read the "new hunter" sticky again this morning. I had a turkey hunting dream again last night - haven't had one in a while. I'm a lot more optimistic for this upcoming season than I was this time 6 months ago. Is it March yet?

(sorry for the rambling, when I started this post, I just intended to post the number of days left til season and the rest just sorta came out)

Gomer, there are certain stories and people that stick with me on Aldeer and you are one of them. Learning to turkey hunt can be difficult and frustrating, especially if you don't have a lot of birds to fool with. That's why a lot of people don't stick with it. The learning curve is just too steep. I'm pullin for you man!

It will happen. Hell, you will probably limit next year.

Dr. B

The first one is the hardest one, took me three years to kill a jake and 5 for a longbeard. Do it the right way and when it all comes together you will really appreciate it. Turkey hunting is about learning and adapting no matter how long you have done it.

you'll get em Gomer. The first turkey I killed was out of a truck window.

I figure another year or two and one of these turkey slayers is going to break down and take you. Put all of us out of our missery lol.

Lol

Great story Gomer! Your day is coming and it will be worth the wait!

[quote=jlbuc10]you'll get em Gomer. The first turkey I killed was out of a truck window.

Gomer's gonna be a turkey slayer when it's all said and done. Man I'm fired up for next season too buddy! My only words of advice is to download landglide and start scouting for turkey land. It's a year long affair when you get eat up with it.

That's a good post Gomer. Don't give up. I'm right there with you on the learning curve and have yet to call one in on my own. Ive only been turkey hunting seriously for three years so I know its only a matter of time before it happens. I think as long as you see improvement and work on your skills every season we'll get there.

I've had a few offers here and there, and I'd like to hunt with some of these folks sometime, but I'm determined to kill my first one on my own.

Ready for Mt. Skelton again?!? lol FYI, Gomer's a low lands turkey hunter ...

Fork. That. Noise.

Although this place I hunted last year and will hunt again this year isn't much flatter than Mt. Skelton.

Deer season is almost here and I still got turkeys on the brain.

I'm stoked about turkey season opening in 39 days.

We're pulling for you Gomer. I don't post much, but Ive kept up with your posts in turkey season the past 2 years hoping to see you finally get on the board. Maybe this next year will be the year. First one is always the hardest.

I wholeheartedly agree with everything above. However, that last statement is up for debate.

Dr. B

Ha! For me it was the first one. Took me 6 years. I spooked a bunch and missed a few. Killed at least one every year since. But maybe what I should have said is the NEXT one is always the hardest

Wife texted me this morning that she saw 4 gobblers crossing the road in front of my house. Hope they stick around!

If I felt like it, I could sling an arrow at one this Saturday morning in TN. We are covered in them during the fall and winter. Ol Longbeard comes by this weekend, he may catch a ride back to AL.

Gomer sounds like you got your mind right!

Took me years to get my first and spooked many a bird...the number one thing I have learned the hard way is patience...

I've spent the last week thinking about and searching for calls I'd like to have.