Not too long ago I made a rather silly comment about how much patience I had acquired with turkeys the last couple years, and how it has helped me become more successful. Well, my lack thereof cost me a turkey. Not once, but twice, the last two mornings. When am I going to learn?

I think some of the problem is that I can't hear as well as I used to, and think birds are farther away than they actually are, giving me the false impression I have enough time to make one last minute adjustment. Wrong!

I don't hear too good, either. It's very frustrating. Good luck Matt. You'll get him next time.

Happened to me yesterday morning. The wind was blowing so hard that I miss judged the distance. Left my set up and not 50 steps away he was running towards me. If I had stayed put for atleast 10 more min he would've been dead. I blame my impatience on the 40 mph gusts I was dealing with. I keep telling my self that I would stayed if it wasn't blowing like that.

It happens...sometimes its hard to make that call...and sometimes you need to make it quick...

Dang Matt..the number one thing I learned about killin them dang evil birds is ..PATIENCE!!!
Patience and perserverence will kill more of those evil red headeds SOBs then the best calling!
Wait them out...and when you think its time to move..wait just 15 minutes more. Dang boy...do I have to come and hunt with you and shoot them sobs?
Lol..just kidding Matty..but if you need me to come down and help you out just give me a call. Im a patient old man! LOL.

and even with my Old age, buddy..my best sense is my hearing! Ill be happy to help you out! seems like you got as many mature gobblers as you do mature bucks!

If I could teach my self patience in the turkey woods, I would be dangerous.

You damn right. Me too

But then again, the patience thing won't work for hunting like I have to do most days... I hunt a pretty good bit during the week, before work. I don't typically have a set time to be in, but I can't just lay out all morning, so the point is I really need the hunting to be hot and now!!! And the birds where I hunt (large wooded ridges, Natl Forest) are NOT stationary...their legs are running when they pitch out, and they hit the ground covering distance! Very seldom does one pitch out and walk right to you. So it's normal to have multiple set ups, make some risky "too close" moves, try to cut them off, etc, etc. More times than busting them in a frenzied escape through the tree tops, they just shut up and you never know where they went. Pretty sure you got seen, or otherwise spooked him. But I just don't have the time to stay seated while he's going dead away gobbling, and see if he'll return hours later. And I reckon if I'm being totally honest, I don't enjoy that "down time" either.
This morning I literally went two ridges away (1/2 mile or more?) to a turkey, got set up close enough to hear him shaking when he gobbled, heard him drumming and walking, then 5 minutes later he gobbles 100 yards away, then 150, then gone! I wasted another hour, then just left and drove to work. The set up was PERFECT (from my vantage), just don't know why they do that stupid %^@#$%!

Sometimes Murphy's Law is going to rule. I've had a few similar experiences this season. Nothing like educating turkeys so they will be even more difficult to fool with. Hang in there, turkey hunting mojo seems to come and go in waves...I am currently drowning in the undertow myself.