MidTennFisher
Well-Known Member
I was in the woods at dark Saturday and Sunday. Had roosted birds that kept flying to private land (of course) so I had to do some work. I did not wind up with my 2nd turkey this weekend but I don't feel like I left empty handed. Many of you know me better from all my kayak fishing adventures and I'm certainly better at fishing than hunting. This is a new sport to me but I'm all in as far as continuing to put in the work and get better.
I decided that decoys aren't for me. I also decided that watching a field is boring and is more of a waiting game than it is hunting. I hit the woods almost the entire weekend except for the first hour after sunrise hoping those roosted birds would walk to me. It was hard work as where I hunted has a lot of terrain changes but it was worth it. I felt like I learned 100 times more about turkey hunting this weekend by forcing myself to stay in the woods than I could with years of sitting along the edge of a field and waiting. I called in hens, I got late afternoon birds to gobble at me but never saw them. I was able to use binoculars and spot birds far away in the woods and started to learn what kind of stuff they're likely to be wandering around in and what stuff you'll never see one walking in. I noticed obvious roosting areas and travel routes.
My turkey season may be over, work hours are going to be pretty hot and I may not get another chance to go. At least I got my first bird and learned so much that I expect to have much more of an advantage going into next Spring. Good luck to everyone still getting the chance to go. I hope you all tag out.
I decided that decoys aren't for me. I also decided that watching a field is boring and is more of a waiting game than it is hunting. I hit the woods almost the entire weekend except for the first hour after sunrise hoping those roosted birds would walk to me. It was hard work as where I hunted has a lot of terrain changes but it was worth it. I felt like I learned 100 times more about turkey hunting this weekend by forcing myself to stay in the woods than I could with years of sitting along the edge of a field and waiting. I called in hens, I got late afternoon birds to gobble at me but never saw them. I was able to use binoculars and spot birds far away in the woods and started to learn what kind of stuff they're likely to be wandering around in and what stuff you'll never see one walking in. I noticed obvious roosting areas and travel routes.
My turkey season may be over, work hours are going to be pretty hot and I may not get another chance to go. At least I got my first bird and learned so much that I expect to have much more of an advantage going into next Spring. Good luck to everyone still getting the chance to go. I hope you all tag out.
