RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

Well said pat!!! I don't suggest you hang it up either!
It sounds like the issue might be the property your hunting on.
Are you making too much noise setting yourself up in the morning? Are you using a flash light? Are you setting up too close to the roost? Using decoys, if you are....try hunting without, if you aren't try using a couple. Try different calls.....try, try, try and don't give up! Good luck

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

I would say pack up your belongings and move to Missouri. You won't have such a hard time getting your first turkey around here!:D;)

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

Ditto what everyone else has said---lots of good comments. One day you are going to be at the right place at the right time. The first turkey I killed was so hot that I swear I could have called---Here turkey turkey---and he would have come in. Have you been doing the same thing over and over? A change in tactics may be in order.

Also see if you can find a turkey hunting mentor and invite him/her to go with you.

One thing I know for sure---a longbeard will not go strutting through your bedroom!!

Good luck

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

No matter what anybody says you have to make that decision!!!!! One thing I can tell ya was I didn't just stop with 3 books and a couple of video's.... I read every thing I could get my hands on and watched at least a 100 video's. But I'm the type of person that doesen't do things half ---ed!!!! I've been hunting since I was 11 years old. I was self tought bow hunter, turkey hunter and every thing else I do... So I guess what I'm getting at is you'll never be good at anything that your heart isin't in;) Not trying to beat you up just sounds like your heart just aint in it....

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

took me 3 yrs i got one last yr and this
goodluck

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

my sister (huntnma) waited 7 yrs if i'm not mistaken....it was brutal for her but the first time it all came together we agreed that it was wellllllllllllllll worth the wait.
don't give up....you'll never get one if you give up and by the sound of your post it sounds like you really want one.....have patience....it'll be worth it.

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

Yup, hang up your shotty.. And get out your bow...;)

Seriously, I feel your pain, but add 5 years... The last turkey I harvested was in 1994!!!!!! Everyyear I have high hopes only to be shot down in flames... Here in MI our season is only about a week long... So basicly I get 1 maybe 2 weekends out of the year to hunt them... Keep it up man.. You will get one, and when you do it is going to feel so good, you'll wonder how you could have ever thought about quitting... Is your season over for this year already??? if so... Get ready for next year, cause you never know...

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

are you still having fun when you go out.. thats the big question.. if so then yes stick w/ it.. it took me a few years also but, no way i was giving up .. then i got my first and it made it that much better..

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

If you are still enjoying the pursuit then I wouldn't quit. There is so much good advice that has been given it is hard not to repeat what has been said. I don't care how good of a hunter a person is, if that person is hunting in a poor area the success rate will show it. A guy can't kill something that is not there.

It sounds like you have all the gear now so you might as well use it. As long as it is fun I would encourage you to keep trying. I have a couple of buddies that hunt elk with bows. One of the guys has not ever killed an elk in over 25 years of trying. The other got his first last year after something like six or seven years of trying.

Whatever quarry one is pursuing often times the hardest one to get is the first. So much can and does go wrong. But when everything comes together it will seem easy. If you served as an officer in the NWTF you should have some connections with successful veteran turkey hunters. Perhaps you could tag along with one and see if you learn anything new.

Let us know what happens. I wish you well.

RE: Should I hang up my shotgun?
 

I believe it's not about the actual turkey hunting, but the passion and anticipation that leads and comes from it. Then again, Im goin on 4 years of Scoreless hunting....:D