Defeated

[Bgoodman30]

Went after him for my last time in TN this morning. I decided I would get in a little earlier and set up a couple dekes to see if that helps him commit this time. I think he hung up the first time and went high to look for the hen he didn't see.

I didn't hear him on the limb though? Maybe he saw me? Heard me? I'm pretty sure I could hear drumming. The 2 field birds that have stayed on neighbors several hundred yards off hit the ground and seemed to be getting closer. So I moved closer to property line where I could get glass on them. Sure enough they were coming my way slowly strutting and seldom gobbling.. I stopped calling and watched them and a couple hens make my way. They got right behind me 30 yards, the spitting and drumming was deafening. I thought about the other post about property lines and could of slid around and let him have it but I didn't... It was now 3 hens and they made the loop and started back. I decided I better start calling again, with some cutting mixed in and nothing. I switched to some sweet talk soft calls and purrs and nothing but some looks.

I thought I heard drumming again as I was glassing the two in the field but they were no longer strutting. I heard it some more and looked out in front and their he was, the ridge king.... He quickly made his way into a full run towards my decoy. I didn't have a clear shot since I slid over to fence line and thought he's going to get spooked and run before I can get a shot... Rookie mistake.

Nope he runs in and doesn't even care about the decoys he's looking for me.. He comes in the thick stuff with me to the right. I let him get to clear and let it sing. 15 yards. He flops around and flies off low towards the neighbors pasture. I looked along that tree line 3-4 times, walked all the woods on my side. I drove over to my neighbors but he didn't answer the door.


Number 7 stings the most. I know I wounded this bird... I have seen or have trail cam pics of some of the others that made it...

I never quit after missing 6 in a row but this has me wondering if I should just hang it up for good.

Catman was wrong I'm definitely the worst shot in TN.

I thought I had this sport figured out and I would have my limit by now every year...

I just don't get how I can be so unlucky...

Thanks for listening..




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[cbhunter]

Re: Defeated

I know it don't make you feel any better but 15 yards is easy to mess up if you have a tight pattern. Hang in there and never give up. Personally with my set up, I prefer 25-35 yd shots. I know circumstances make that difficult and I would WITHOUT A DOUBT shoot at one at 15, I just wouldn't feel as confident.

 

[Setterman]

Re: Defeated

Dang man that sucks. Unfortunately missing spells happen and even worse we've all wounded a bird at some point. You didn't do anything unethical or wrong. Just bad luck

 

[turkeyhunter]

Re: Defeated

prob. still alive.

 

[TheLBLman]

Re: Defeated

I just don't get how I can be so unlucky...

Thanks for listening..

My comments are meant more as constructive criticism rather than to come across harshly.
We all have made mistakes.

By carefully reading your posts,
it sounds more like you're not prioritizing your shooting skills, how your gun is hitting, etc.
rather than just being "unlucky".

Most of the accomplished turkey hunters will spend lots of time annually patterning, sighting in various turkey loads,
and most have gone to optical sights. And they will not take low-probability shots.

Bottom line, by your choosing to take low-probability shots, not an unlucky or luck issue,
good chance you killed 7 turkeys this season,
although none of them got into TWRA's over-rated "harvest data".

 

[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

I just don't get how I can be so unlucky...

Thanks for listening..

My comments are meant more as constructive criticism rather than to come across harshly.
We all have made mistakes.

By carefully reading your posts,
it sounds more like you're not prioritizing your shooting skills, how your gun is hitting, etc.
rather than just being "unlucky".

Most of the accomplished turkey hunters will spend lots of time annually patterning, sighting in various turkey loads,
and most have gone to optical sights. And they will not take low-probability shots.

Bottom line, by your choosing to take low-probability shots, not an unlucky or luck issue,
good chance you killed 7 turkeys this season,
although none of them got into TWRA's over-rated "harvest data".

I've shot multiple boxes of shells this season at paper. 2.5 boxes of Longbeard XR, 2.5 boxes Federal TSS, 1 box of magblend. 1 box of pheasant loads for zeroing. I'm on my 3rd gun since March and had decent patterns. Sold my 835 went back to my M2, jellyhead with magblend which was a good pattern. Missed twice with it. I bought a SXP and patterned Longbeard choke and now Indian creek 665. I missed twice with it and Longbeard XR and added Burris fast fire 3, missed twice with dot once with longbeards and today with magblends. I wish now I just shot the 2 3/4 Super X pheasant load because it had the most open pattern....

So it ain't lack of shooting. I agree still not perfect but it's only money...


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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

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[PalsPal]

Re: Defeated

He's dead somewhere.

Most often they end up in the thickest stuff they can find and die there. I lucked into finding one a few years ago by walking the direction he went and searched first set of thick stuff I came to, which happened to be brier bushes of some kind. I finally made out the very tip of a tail feather, and dug a little deeper and pulled him out.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

I know it don't make you feel any better but 15 yards is easy to mess up if you have a tight pattern. Hang in there and never give up. Personally with my set up, I prefer 25-35 yd shots. I know circumstances make that difficult and I would WITHOUT A DOUBT shoot at one at 15, I just wouldn't feel as confident.

Yeah I do too but I was under attack..


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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

Dang man that sucks. Unfortunately missing spells happen and even worse we've all wounded a bird at some point. You didn't do anything unethical or wrong. Just bad luck

I appreciate it


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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

He's dead somewhere.

Most often they end up in the thickest stuff they can find and die there. I lucked into finding one a few years ago by walking the direction he went and searched first set of thick stuff I came to, which happened to be brier bushes of some kind. I finally made out the very tip of a tail feather, and dug a little deeper and pulled him out.

I searched pretty hard. I think he's on my neighbors property. I drove over there and knocked on his door but no answer. I think I can find his number..


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[catman529]

Re: Defeated

I just don't get how I can be so unlucky...

Thanks for listening..

My comments are meant more as constructive criticism rather than to come across harshly.
We all have made mistakes.

By carefully reading your posts,
it sounds more like you're not prioritizing your shooting skills, how your gun is hitting, etc.
rather than just being "unlucky".

Most of the accomplished turkey hunters will spend lots of time annually patterning, sighting in various turkey loads,
and most have gone to optical sights. And they will not take low-probability shots.

Bottom line, by your choosing to take low-probability shots, not an unlucky or luck issue,
good chance you killed 7 turkeys this season,
although none of them got into TWRA's over-rated "harvest data".

practicing and patterning definitely help, and are very important, but sometimes a big longbeard looking for you at 20 yards will scramble your brain and you won't be able to think straight....or shoot straight....


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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

I just don't get how I can be so unlucky...

Thanks for listening..

My comments are meant more as constructive criticism rather than to come across harshly.
We all have made mistakes.

By carefully reading your posts,
it sounds more like you're not prioritizing your shooting skills, how your gun is hitting, etc.
rather than just being "unlucky".

Most of the accomplished turkey hunters will spend lots of time annually patterning, sighting in various turkey loads,
and most have gone to optical sights. And they will not take low-probability shots.

Bottom line, by your choosing to take low-probability shots, not an unlucky or luck issue,
good chance you killed 7 turkeys this season,
although none of them got into TWRA's over-rated "harvest data".

I appreciate the conservative criticism but to clarify I'm at 6 misses this season with the 1st being last season. I know at least 3 of them live today because I have seen them with my own eyes this week! No question same birds. The one today I'm not so sure..


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[fairchaser]

Re: Defeated

Please don't be defeated! Missing is a mental game as much as anything. First, have complete confidence in your rig, gun, sights, ammo, effective range. Practice shooting in real world scenarios at turkey size targets. You might discover a flaw somewhere in your equipment or aim. If not, then great. Now on to the mental aspect. Slow down everything. Sure you might miss an opportunity but tell yourself it's better than missing or wounding. Make sure that on your next shot, everything is set up for an easy shot. You should have 99% confidence of a kill or don't take it. Once you have one down, it will build confidence for the next one and the next. Try not get overconfident or you will start missing again and will become more desperate to get a kill. It's sort of a roller coaster we all ride. In the end, you just have to keep shooting. We all do!

 

[REN]

Re: Defeated

ive stated this before but it wont hurt to state it again.

Shooting is all about muscle memory, confidence and mentally seeing the shot.

My advise in your situation is to do more shooting in your hunting stances, not off a rest or bench but how you normally set up. When doing so dont worry about the pattern just mentally go though the checklist of a solid hold, cheek down, eyes open and lined up correctly then squeeze off the trigger and hold good form for 5 secs after the shot.

keep doing that over and over changing your shooting from one knee to the other or side shots ect. with enough practice you start to build muscle memory and mental memory so when the pressure is on your mind and body feel comfortable and natural doing it so you dont have to think about it

next thing is get a 3 step mental checklist going that you practice as well. THis will help keep form as well as help give you something to think of to calm the mind prior to shooting. Can be simple such as 1 - is the shot in range 2 - is anything else in my shot path 3 - keep head down and follow though on the shot. Go though those prior to pulling the trigger every time.

if the turkey is moving to fast to go though them then I would pass on the shot (yup I said it) this will keep you from shooting a moving target and will increase your kill %.


after a while it all will just get natural and you wont even have to think about it, it just happens mentally and your confidence will grow.

 

[megalomaniac]

Re: Defeated

REN is right...

Can't say for sure if those feathers are off the breast or back. I'd suspect back if he hit the ground and flopped before flying off.... SO, that should tell you if you pulled left or right depending on his angle and you Def hit low... by quite a bit if he was 15yds. Go to a 2x scope with cross hairs if you shoot a rifle decently. It's not my favorite in a turkey gun, but that mental change of aim small miss small may make the difference for you.

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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

Please don't be defeated! Missing is a mental game as much as anything. First, have complete confidence in your rig, gun, sights, ammo, effective range. Practice shooting in real world scenarios at turkey size targets. You might discover a flaw somewhere in your equipment or aim. If not, then great. Now on to the mental aspect. Slow down everything. Sure you might miss an opportunity but tell yourself it's better than missing or wounding. Make sure that on your next shot, everything is set up for an easy shot. You should have 99% confidence of a kill or don't take it. Once you have one down, it will build confidence for the next one and the next. Try not get overconfident or you will start missing again and will become more desperate to get a kill. It's sort of a roller coaster we all ride. In the end, you just have to keep shooting. We all do!

Man you are exactly right. I have been shooting paper sitting wearing my turkey vest. I used to not have this problem killed everything dead in its tracks. I actually missed 5 birds in 2014 but still killed 3. Killed 4 in 2015 and 1 bird since...

I know it's definitely rushing the shot is my problem among others...


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[Bgoodman30]

Re: Defeated

ive stated this before but it wont hurt to state it again.

Shooting is all about muscle memory, confidence and mentally seeing the shot.

My advise in your situation is to do more shooting in your hunting stances, not off a rest or bench but how you normally set up. When doing so dont worry about the pattern just mentally go though the checklist of a solid hold, cheek down, eyes open and lined up correctly then squeeze off the trigger and hold good form for 5 secs after the shot.

keep doing that over and over changing your shooting from one knee to the other or side shots ect. with enough practice you start to build muscle memory and mental memory so when the pressure is on your mind and body feel comfortable and natural doing it so you dont have to think about it

next thing is get a 3 step mental checklist going that you practice as well. THis will help keep form as well as help give you something to think of to calm the mind prior to shooting. Can be simple such as 1 - is the shot in range 2 - is anything else in my shot path 3 - keep head down and follow though on the shot. Go though those prior to pulling the trigger every time.

if the turkey is moving to fast to go though them then I would pass on the shot (yup I said it) this will keep you from shooting a moving target and will increase your kill %.


after a while it all will just get natural and you wont even have to think about it, it just happens mentally and your confidence will grow.

You don't know how much I appreciate this. I'm going to re-read this post before I hit the board again. I will probably be patterning my 870 with a modified as well... I leave for Kansas on 5/17th I have to get this right...

I'm shooting my new SXP with Indian creek 665 which I'm really liking other than the 4 misses with it. Any recommendations on a more open choke?


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[Bone Collector]

Re: Defeated

I know it don't make you feel any better but 15 yards is easy to mess up if you have a tight pattern. Hang in there and never give up. Personally with my set up, I prefer 25-35 yd shots. I know circumstances make that difficult and I would WITHOUT A DOUBT shoot at one at 15, I just wouldn't feel as confident.

this. I missed a great bird at 15 yds last season. made me sick, but I knew why.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Re: Defeated

I've missed a few, but I've never had the "shanks" on turkeys. God knows I've hit some cold streaks on ducks. But if it ever happens with turkeys (missing multiple consecutive birds and losing confidence) I would screw in a modified or improved choke, shoot a good load of small pellets (hevi 7s/TSS 10s/Lead 7.5s - whatever you prefer) and I would go to the range and figure out how far I could shoot with a lethal 30" pattern. It will probably be 20-25 yards. You would have to pass up 30 yard turkeys, but as soon as one breaks that lethal range threshold, let that big ol beach ball pattern go to work. Kill a few up close, regain some confidence, and then try a "turkey" choke again.