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Kill him on my terms or his?

Andy S.":18v38fi4 said:
IMO, if you truly call one to the gun strutting and drumming, and he never gobbles, and you're still enough and slick enough to pick him up and kill him before he spoils the fun, you've accomplished the ultimate in the turkey woods. Of course, gobbling turkeys are more fun to hunt and kill, and my preference, but I've rarely had older gobblers ( > 1 1/8") come in blowing the woods down. Kill him as you see fit, but if I call him to the gun in open woods and I beat him at his game, my gun will fire every single time. Good luck with him.
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This right here. Totally agree.
 
Southern Sportsman":3rshshhc said:
I cannot understand targeting a particular turkey, calling that turkey up despite the pressure he's encountered, but then not shooting him because he didn't gobble on his way in.
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X2. Kill the dang bird already.



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TheLBLman":5gfh4i5l said:
I felt he had "won" that morning's game. I remember being a little frustrated that I had turned my head when I did, a little frustrated that I "blew" an opportunity that likely would have resulted in him stepping in front of me and starting back gobbling & strutting, maybe within seconds. But I was not frustrated over the decision not to shoot, not to take an easy shoot. He had won the game, I had enjoyed playing it. It was a great morning I'll never forget.
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Exactly the same thing for me when I passed the chance to shoot him as he flew away last Sunday. He won that battle, having seized victory at the last second from a sure defeat.

Had nearly exactly the same scenario a couple years ago in TN after working a bird over 1h and finally getting him to commit. He came right to me and had a 100yr old oak between us. When he popped out from behind the oak 5 yds away, he pegged me. He spooked just as I clicked off the safety and shot, and I missed his head by about 3 inches behind. I could have killed him with a follow up shot at around 20 yards as he was running away, but chose not to... he won.

At this point in the season (having had a good hunt every time I've been in the woods), I have no desire to end my MS season by punching my last tag unless it's on my own terms. No big deal if I end up eating my last tag.

Going this afternoon to see what I can tee up for my 11 y/o little girl tomorrow morning down here in MS. Oldest daughter has prom tomorrow night, so I will stay here and miss TN's opener for the first time in over 2 decades. Should be pulling into TN early Sun am before daylight though.
 
I consider it a win if I call the bird to the gun whether he gobbles or not. I fooled Mother Nature. The shooting part is sort of anti climatic if all else goes right. If that trigger pull is on the last bird ending my season then so be it. I've had a fun and a productive year and that was my goal at the beginning. I could always carry another hunter to the woods to help them out afterwards.

The question that comes to my mind is would you feel differently if you hadn't killed any birds yet and were having a dismal year in calling or locating one and the season wasn't looking very promising. Would a silent bird that came to your calling get the same treatment?
 
First bird of the season is getting killed no matter how he comes to my call. After I knock the dust off a year's waiting for turkey season is when I get picky and focus way more on the hunt itself than the kill.
 
It isn't about the kill for me completely and much more so about the game. I've tagged enough birds over the years that for me to tag one it's going to play the game I enjoy. There's always another day and if I eat a tag so be it
 
Setterman":2qqmfufl said:
It isn't about the kill for me completely and much more so about the game. I've tagged enough birds over the years that for me to tag one it's going to play the game I enjoy. There's always another day and if I eat a tag so be it
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thats pretty much were I am these days. Ive killed enough at this point that the "kill" (while still my goal every time) is no longer the main focus more so how it all plays out. If they are not gobbling or at least playing the game, ill just come back later or the next day. Heck just another glorious day I get to spend in the woods vs at my house doing my honey-do list lol
 
I suppose something that comes into play that isn't mentioned much is where you hunt in relation to where you live or how far you have to drive to hunt. If you're spending 3 or more hours a day just driving back and forth it could have some bearing on how high you are willing to set your standards. Those that can walk out their door and start hunting or drive 10 minutes down the road have the luxury of coming back later in the day or even the next day. If that's all they've ever had to do they probably don't fully understand that benefit.
 

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