Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs First Time Hunter Advice

Unfortunately I can't take credit for this post, but it has a lot of the facts and truths of turkey hunting in a fairly short post. This is from a MS forum I frequent.

"Below is a response I typed to a new hunter. Enjoy, critque, or lambast it:

Starting out on public land may make for some degree of frustration beyond that found on a piece of property with less pressure. But then again, I have run into more people on private land than public, mostly trespassers. The biggest advantage to public land is probably the vastness of land you have to hunt in most cases.

Nevertheless, you may do well to find someone with some experience to guide you along as you get started. It isn't very complicated, but there are many nuances that cannot be readily explained without experience: How close to get to one on the roost? How do you tell how far one is from you? When should you move locations? What does "don't move!!!" really mean? When should I call? When should I shut up? What is the proper volume of speech in the woods? Is he in range? Should I cross that open field in broad daylight? (That answer is almost always "NO"). Why did he stop gobbling?

Over time, you will assess much of this on the go without much thought. And there will be, if you stick with it, years where you kill turkeys almost effortlessly. You may have great success for many years, and then you may (will) fall into a time where you can't seem to find one anywhere, not even Winn Dixie. But, if you stick with it, the time will come again when you have phenomenal seasons of great success.

And after awhile, perhaps a great many years, you will begin to give lip service to the notion that "It doesn't matter whether I kill one or not; I just love to go." For the most part, in the beginning, you will simply be lying to yourself. But even giving this idea lip service shows some level of maturity, even if it is disingenuous. This may go on for many years, and those lean years will eat at you like some sort of disease. But then one day, you will, seemingly suddenly, awaken to the true splendor that is the spring woods and the wild turkey. And you will understand, profoundly, that the killing obsession is a stopping point along the journey to becoming a turkey hunter.

Thus, it is a worthy endeavor to pursue, but it isn't always smiles and high-fives. People who shoot turkeys over corn or other illegal methods often never "get it". People who are driven by the "Look at me; I am great" attitude often don't ever "get it."

Now, having said all that, it is a wonderful feeling to call a turkey up and kill him no matter how long you have done it or how philosophical you may become about it. It is a great sport; just respect the bird you are hunting enough to go about it in a way that is legal and ethical. Good luck. "

http://bullnettlenews.com/forum/yaf_postsm298018_A-response-to-a-new-hunter.aspx#post298018

That is truly a great post. Lots of insight into what actually requires alot of us to climb out of bed day after day just for the slightest opportunity to hear a gobble
and play the game one more time each year.

I'm ready for March.

Very good post!

Very good.

So where you at?

You want to kill one or it doesn't really matter?

Myself, I like putting my boot on as many bloody necks as possible every year.

Still working for #1!

I concur.

Well we are going to have to change that crap. Can't have you hanging around here and not killing no birds. Only 3toe is allowed to do that.

Man I hope so! I had some chances last year and learned a lot (the hard way) so I hope to change that status quick like and in a hurry this season!

I am in Athens, we can try to get together and go some this year. I can show you what not to do and have fun while doing it

I hope to get #1 (and maybe more) this year too Thompson...

Very good read crenshaw thanks for helping out us newbies!

Sounds great to me! But I've been reading on here long enough to know that you know what you're doing! LOL

I went with JUGHEAD a time or two last year so I learned all the wrong things to do from him...It'd be nice to learn from someone that knows what they are doing! LOL

I think I'll have to call a bluff on this one....

I do hope to kill #1 this year and if that's all I get fine. If I dont get #1 at all that's fine too. I just know that I will be trying very hard to get it. It's going to be a year of mistakes, but ya gotta learn to walk before you run.

Ah ok...I just thought I had seen you post some pcitures on here before of turkeys you have gotten...I guess I've got you confused with someone else! GOOD LUCK!!! I hope you get your first limit, not only your first bird!

Negative sir, I have not... I hope the same luck for you too! Just dont let JUG kill more than you!

Ah, he's been talking about how he is going to limit out before April...So, I doubt he even hears a gobble this year! LOL

You are going to kill one this year man. You got to see how it is supposed to happen a couple times last year, you will get it done this year. You know you are going to be a turkey killer when people are already trying to tell you that you have killed one before you ever even pull the trigger on one.

JUG has one of two things going for him, one is what I like to call imabeginnerandcantdoanythingwrong YET or number 2 where he just has so many birds where he hunts that all he has to do is run over them with his moped while they eat out of the cattle troughs.