I got skunked myself. Hunted eight days this season and saw a turkey (at least a hen) on six of the eight days but only had one opportunity for a shot and my own stupidity caused me not to get that one (only 15 feet away right in front of me). Our season started a week later this year and it was generally cold and wet. While I have access to some prime private turkey habitat, the birds decided to spend their time on the adjoining public land and the preasure there was much heavier than I have seen in the past. Lastly, we have had a poor hatch the past two years and I think there were not as many young stupid turkeys around that a guy like me can pick on. No excuses here I am just more determined to get two next year to bring my average back up. I also plan to do a little more fall hunting this year to see if I can thin the hen population a bit.
I also went birdless. I had a really good season though, I got to hunt 17 days. I was into turkeys, just couldn' t put it all together.
Tyler
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" Turkey hunting is a magical outdoor exercise in tactics, requiring split-second decisions that are almost always irreversible. It does not require the production of a dead turkey to be a success."
good luck filling a tag those left with time to hunt.......those of you that are done..sorry to hear that...it took me 5 years to get my first....i was in your boat for 4 years until now...hang in there youll get him sooner or later.....bird or not i still enjoed all my other seasons and closed them with a smile and couldnt wait for next year.....im planning my fall hunt already! lol....
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>>----Give 'em the shaft!--->
Ken, after lucking out opening day here in NY, that was it for me ever since!!
This sure has been one heck of a season, probably the worst I seen in quite some time!! Tomorow and friday are my last attempts trying for a second bird!!
Ever since the first of May, I haven' t had another gobbler in my gun sights!! One last try and then the " Fat Lady" can sing her song!!
Ken, I had my share of empty mornins too!!Sounds cliche-ic cause throwin one over your shoulder is what were tryin to do,but I did have alot of fun and some good hunts even though I didn' t put one in the bag!!I like Buckeye' s enthusiasm in that it will make him more determined next year.To go along with that comment hopefully we learn a thing or two from those birdless mornins whether it be from the bird,our own bonehead mistakes,or that its time to look to greener pastures!!At least thats what I try and do when ole gobbler kicks my butt!!Kicken the dog helps too!!!!!
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Monarch isn' t a butterfly it' s the King of the Spring!
I too got skunked this spring... had only three days last weekend in NY and on top of it all it rained all three days!!! I hunted hard and came close on Monday... but no cigar!!! Fall is on the way so.... ya never know!!
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Paul W.
NAHC
NWTF
VETERAN (retired)
Birdless here too, season ended this past Monday with monsoon-like weather. I got out six times during the season, only heard birds gobble on two days. The local paper here said alot of birds were taken, but they also said not much gobbling going on this season probably due to weather. Passed up a shot on a great bird on opening day cuz I thought the shot would be too difficult, I' ll never second guess myself like that again. Last week I set up in a roost area and had a gobbler explode to my first tree call right at first light, couldn' t have been more than 50-60 yards. I thought it would be an early morning, but I couldn' t get him to take another step. I still had a great time out in the woods, and I look forward to next year. Time to concentrate on fishing and getting ready for whitetails.
How many birdless in 2003?
