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Boll Weevil

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My turkey hunting mentor was what I would call an old timer...straight old school. I learned to hunt the birds from his guidance + trial and error and error and error. Only until recently (like the last 6-8 years) did I start documenting stuff about successful hunts and even unsuccessful outings.

I often think details of our insane obsession yet beloved pursuit is being lost over time. Do you keep notes or any meaningful record of your turkey chasing for those that follow? For your children, grandchildren, or some juvi from church or a neighbor you helped?

Just a thought.
 
I don't keep a record but I should. I forget a lot of details over time


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I have them going back to the early 90s . Pretty neat to look back and relive those hunts. I just jot it down in a calendar/planner type deal.

At one time, I kept up with all of my kills in an Excel spreadsheet, but I slacked on that.

A few years ago I started keeping a video log of hunts for me and my dad, and then when the season is over, I will do a DVD of highlights and give to my dad for Father's Day.
 
Curious... How many factors do you consider? Wind speed and direction? Barometric pressure? Cloudy or sunny? Temperature? Time of the season? Also, can you find a constant that might convince you to hunt certain time frames or weather events? Turkeys are so flippy from one day to the next and I've never been able to figure out why one day they'll go crazy gobbling today and the next day with conditions identical they won't talk at all.
 
I record kill date, time, specific location, bird behavior, gobbling activity, other birds seen/heard (hens, jakes, toms) and any other notable observations. I also record information from preseason listening and camera data. Viewing multiple entries over time helps determine population trends or perhaps what stage the birds may be based on historical data.

I can't possibly remember every detail from successful hunts years ago but having them documented makes it simple to recall.
 
I don't go into much detail. Mine is more of a diary entry for each day.
 
I use to record conditions for every hunt. Not so anymore. I do check dew point, temperature, humidity before heading out the door.
 
wish I did, but most of my hunts start an hour before daylight and don't end until 30 minutes after sunset. After 13 hours of hunting hard, all I want to do is eat, have a toddy, and go to sleep by 9pm.

It's funny, tho... I can still remember every bird I've killed or called in for others to kill... For those I've called in for others, I often don't remember who actually shot the bird, but I can recall the hunt itself

I don't think a record log would be helpful at this point, as my calling sequences and changes to different calls and when is almost pure muscle memory. Kinda like after you shoot 100,000 arrows, you no longer really need to keep practicing year round. Just pick up the bow a week before season, shoot a couple arrows a day, and muscle memory does the rest.
 
Mike Belt":1x0k0ihz said:
Curious... How many factors do you consider? Wind speed and direction? Barometric pressure? Cloudy or sunny? Temperature? Time of the season? Also, can you find a constant that might convince you to hunt certain time frames or weather events? Turkeys are so flippy from one day to the next and I've never been able to figure out why one day they'll go crazy gobbling today and the next day with conditions identical they won't talk at all.
Click to expand...
I used to keep a journal EXACTLY like what you describe. Of course I started chasing them in 1984 and just hearing a bird made for a successful hunt.
 
Never kept anything more than GPS coordinates years ago so I could get back to those places far away from the road. I rarely do that these days, just try to go where they are and try to get in the game.
 
Boll Weevil":2jx09kmn said:
My turkey hunting mentor was what I would call an old timer...straight old school. I learned to hunt the birds from his guidance + trial and error and error and error. Only until recently (like the last 6-8 years) did I start documenting stuff about successful hunts and even unsuccessful outings.

I often think details of our insane obsession yet beloved pursuit is being lost over time. Do you keep notes or any meaningful record of your turkey chasing for those that follow? For your children, grandchildren, or some juvi from church or a neighbor you helped?

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I write a recap of every successful deer/turkey hunt I've been on. Been doing it since I started.


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