Catman... You are one of the most open and honest persons on the this forum... I admire that about you..
Are you old school or new school?
- Thread starter Boll Weevil
- Start date
Tennessee Lead
Well-Known Member
Roost 1":2as8d175 said:
Very true
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catman529":2fpn7ssf said:
Well said.
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding"
Sent from my phone because I'm that cool
darn2ten
Well-Known Member
These threads start every year, lol. I'm would consider myself old school. I can relate to what most say, but there are exceptions. Most of the truly old school hunters that I've been around scouted, set up, called very little and had a TON of patience. I have, but rarely ever use a single hen deke, and unlike some of those old fellows that I mentioned I'm more of a run and gunner. I just can't sit in one spot for hours on end, I've got to move and take my game to them if possible. I truly believe the life of a serious turkey hunter is a evolution of things learned along the way that can only be gained with experience.
Im whatever it takes school. Just what makes it work for me. I kill em any legal means possible. Ill be real an honest 3 hour stalk, crawl, roll, or whatever to cover 200 yards to get close to a gobbler is way harder than calling one in when conditions are right. Don't get me wrong I love to set up on a gobbling bird and he run me over but where I hunt with the timing of the season most of that is over after the first weekend. They have hens constantly. My motto is kill em or run em off. JMO
Ill even add this. I have made some stalks and be like I cant believe that worked. That's the ones I remember the most. The first one my wife killed we prolly covered half a mile of stalking and made every right move and he strutted right into her lap and we doubled. My best turkey hunting memory.
catman529
Well-Known Member
thanks y'all, I'm glad I said something that didn't start a fight. LolAT Hiker":3i5ihgzn said:
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Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I've loved the few years I turkey hunted. With no where to go now I haven't in the past several years. I don't really know what old school/new school is. I do know that when I went I went to kill a bird. Finding and calling birds off the roost was how I began my day. Until they left their tree they were safe from me shooting them. After that I'd just walk, call, and listen. When I heard a bird the game was on. Sometimes they'd come to a call and sometimes they wouldn't. That's when the run and gun would start. Trying to outsmart and outmaneuver a bird on the move was like a good game of chess and the better you knew the land you hunted the more interesting it was. Just as with using decoys for ducks and deer, I see nothing wrong with the use of dekes turkey hunting. Some turkeys just can't be called in and decoying was the only way I could have killed a few of the birds I did. I suppose I took the same approach turkey hunting as I did deer hunting. I got pretty good at it and killing the youngsters didn't appeal to me. I let all of the jakes walk. I hunted out of a blind a couple of times because it was the only available cover under the circumstance. I much preferred leaning back against a big tree and calling. I think electronic calls have no place in the turkey woods.
easy45
Well-Known Member
muddyboots":mm6lyete said:
Exactly, I hunt the same way
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letsgohunting
Well-Known Member
Mixer of both. I had no mentor teach me how to turkey hunt. So I'm going to say I'm tndeer school style. Wonderful wealth of knowledge and Great bunch of mentors :tu:
Barnes Ridge Rambler
Well-Known Member
Roost 1":18nsadbq said:
letsgohunting":2v798f5r said:
I like your style and determination.... You have learned well.. You can hunt with me anytime.
Uncle Jesse
Well-Known Member
I'm definitely old school. The school I went to was tore down years ago.
As far as turkey hunting, I am extremely limited on time so I'll consider any method that's legal and safe. If my first set up doesn't happen, it's usually time to leave.
As far as turkey hunting, I am extremely limited on time so I'll consider any method that's legal and safe. If my first set up doesn't happen, it's usually time to leave.
WORM82
Well-Known Member
When I think of old school hunters I think of a guy sitting up against a tree for hours with a box call yelping 3 times ever 30 mins. I know that's not what your saying but by your description I'm an old school type of turkey hunter. No decoys or blinds, just me my gun and a few calls. Oh and a couple grocery bags stuffed in my pocket so I can pick some mushrooms on my way out of the woods.
arkwaterfowler
Well-Known Member
There is clear distinction between "old school" and "purist". I know some old school turkey hunters that kill by any legal means and have been doing it for 35 years. When I started decoys were not used nor were pop up blinds.
I consider myself an old school turkey hunter - I respect the animal and privilege to pursue them. I don't get caught up in the fads of the moment or what the TV shows market. However, you have to think about how much time a man has to hunt. As I have aged, my time has been limited by children and more work obligations - I signed up for the deal so no pity here. That being said I have to make it happen when I have the opportunity. I have two girls age 10 and 15 that kill turkeys which has greatly modified my methods (and also time by myself to be a purist). My oldest shot a nice tom at 15 steps when her sister was 7 sitting beside her in the blind running the box call - it sounded bad but he fell for it. Try doing that without a blind.
One more thing - American Indians are as old school as it gets. I am certain they relied on bushwacking extensively. They certainly were doing it to eat.
I guess the question is are you a "purist"?
I consider myself an old school turkey hunter - I respect the animal and privilege to pursue them. I don't get caught up in the fads of the moment or what the TV shows market. However, you have to think about how much time a man has to hunt. As I have aged, my time has been limited by children and more work obligations - I signed up for the deal so no pity here. That being said I have to make it happen when I have the opportunity. I have two girls age 10 and 15 that kill turkeys which has greatly modified my methods (and also time by myself to be a purist). My oldest shot a nice tom at 15 steps when her sister was 7 sitting beside her in the blind running the box call - it sounded bad but he fell for it. Try doing that without a blind.
One more thing - American Indians are as old school as it gets. I am certain they relied on bushwacking extensively. They certainly were doing it to eat.
I guess the question is are you a "purist"?
DeerWhisperer
Well-Known Member
All,
I have really enjoyed listening to everyone's perspective on this question. There have been very valid points made for both sides.
When I started out some 16 years ago, I would have definitely fallen into the old school category. I had saved a bought an Mossberg 535 camo pump. I had one box call and one slate call and no decoys. Back then I hunted primarily public land so most was wooded timber. Like most, I loved the thrill and chase of locating a bird and attempting to call him into gun range. It as both thrilling and challenging as I was new to all this stuff. I followed this approach for several years and upon moving to back to Middle Tennessee, I continued this approach as long as my land access allowed.
Over the past several years my land availability has changed. I have gone from several hundred acres of hard woods with limited fields to primarily field with limited hardwoods My area and leases have changed. This in conjunction with gaining a wife that thoroughly enjoys to turkey hunts has changed the way I hunt. I tried the run and gun technique with her for two years. This proved to be very frustrating. I would see the turkey, she could not. She would move, turkey would run off, encounters with snakes, etc: I just about burnt her out on the sport before she got her first turkey.
So, as a compromise, I suggested hunting from a blind. This offered her the concealment needed as well as provided her a chance to move around without detection. Also, to be honest, we had some very good conversations in the blind. This tactic also lead me to try the use of decoys. Calling in a gobbler in a wooded timber is one thing, but you know I have found it is much harder to do so in the middle of a 20 acre pasture. If the Tom did not see the hen that was making the noise, he had non interest in walking across that field. So, I have adapted and some may change. I am also an avid duck hunter and I equate the use of turkey decoys to the duck hunting. You can be the best duck caller in the world but if the ducks are working and do not all the ducks making that noise, chances are they will head somewhere else. Is it cheating, I don't think so. Just my opinion.
I do not have the time available as I once did, so I want to increase the odds in my favor as much as possible. I have actually learned to enjoy this method quite well. My wife and several adults and children have taken their first birds this way. So, coming from a "old school" method, I have changed but I still love to hunt. We follow all the rules and take only ethical shots. It has proven very rewarding for us. For me it all came down to making some sacrifices to allow my wife the opportunity to share in the hunt and also a change in our land availability.
However, I will say if given the opportunity, I still love the thrill of playing chess with a long beard in the timber, it is rewarding and challenging. I love it and I still do that if the situation allow me to do so.
I guess the main thing is for each us to enjoy our own form of turkey hunting. This could be old school, new school, or your own school.
As long as we are all safe and ethical hunters and have fun and enjoy God's creation that should be all that matters.
Sorry for the long post.
I have really enjoyed listening to everyone's perspective on this question. There have been very valid points made for both sides.
When I started out some 16 years ago, I would have definitely fallen into the old school category. I had saved a bought an Mossberg 535 camo pump. I had one box call and one slate call and no decoys. Back then I hunted primarily public land so most was wooded timber. Like most, I loved the thrill and chase of locating a bird and attempting to call him into gun range. It as both thrilling and challenging as I was new to all this stuff. I followed this approach for several years and upon moving to back to Middle Tennessee, I continued this approach as long as my land access allowed.
Over the past several years my land availability has changed. I have gone from several hundred acres of hard woods with limited fields to primarily field with limited hardwoods My area and leases have changed. This in conjunction with gaining a wife that thoroughly enjoys to turkey hunts has changed the way I hunt. I tried the run and gun technique with her for two years. This proved to be very frustrating. I would see the turkey, she could not. She would move, turkey would run off, encounters with snakes, etc: I just about burnt her out on the sport before she got her first turkey.
So, as a compromise, I suggested hunting from a blind. This offered her the concealment needed as well as provided her a chance to move around without detection. Also, to be honest, we had some very good conversations in the blind. This tactic also lead me to try the use of decoys. Calling in a gobbler in a wooded timber is one thing, but you know I have found it is much harder to do so in the middle of a 20 acre pasture. If the Tom did not see the hen that was making the noise, he had non interest in walking across that field. So, I have adapted and some may change. I am also an avid duck hunter and I equate the use of turkey decoys to the duck hunting. You can be the best duck caller in the world but if the ducks are working and do not all the ducks making that noise, chances are they will head somewhere else. Is it cheating, I don't think so. Just my opinion.
I do not have the time available as I once did, so I want to increase the odds in my favor as much as possible. I have actually learned to enjoy this method quite well. My wife and several adults and children have taken their first birds this way. So, coming from a "old school" method, I have changed but I still love to hunt. We follow all the rules and take only ethical shots. It has proven very rewarding for us. For me it all came down to making some sacrifices to allow my wife the opportunity to share in the hunt and also a change in our land availability.
However, I will say if given the opportunity, I still love the thrill of playing chess with a long beard in the timber, it is rewarding and challenging. I love it and I still do that if the situation allow me to do so.
I guess the main thing is for each us to enjoy our own form of turkey hunting. This could be old school, new school, or your own school.
As long as we are all safe and ethical hunters and have fun and enjoy God's creation that should be all that matters.
Sorry for the long post.
go_okfishin
Well-Known Member
I was thinking of the same analogy the other day being a duck hunter myself. They have their own war going on in regards to the Robo duck.
Great post Deer Whisperer!
YEKRUT
Well-Known Member
I'm a good mix of both I guess. Them old timers used to line all their heads up in a ditch full of corn and kill the whole flock at one time. If prefer to kill em a couple at the time but any more than that are hard to carry out.
In all seriousness I like a gobbling bird just as much as anyone, but just because they ain't gobbling dont mean I'm going to the house. It's called hunting so every now and then you have to hunt one that needs a killing even if they ain't talking. I've killed them about every way possible besides fanning so far I think and I ain't ever been toting a bird out and said "that sucked". I've said, this climb out of here is going to suck, or carrying 3 birds sucks, but that is about it. To each his own, whatever makes you happy go for it. Life is to short to try and hunt the way someone else thinks you should.
In all seriousness I like a gobbling bird just as much as anyone, but just because they ain't gobbling dont mean I'm going to the house. It's called hunting so every now and then you have to hunt one that needs a killing even if they ain't talking. I've killed them about every way possible besides fanning so far I think and I ain't ever been toting a bird out and said "that sucked". I've said, this climb out of here is going to suck, or carrying 3 birds sucks, but that is about it. To each his own, whatever makes you happy go for it. Life is to short to try and hunt the way someone else thinks you should.
