From: Juancho
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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I spend under one hour calling and waiting, when all of a sudden, he came. Huge tom with a beard I guess about 10 inches. Came to within 6 or 7 yards. I drew my 88# bow ( yeah , I know,.. I just want to nail it to the ground), and... No... I decided it wasn't his time. Last fall , my turkey season lasted 1.5 hrs on opening day. I decided that morning to take , not the big tom, but a hen, and not just any hen. I had to be one big enough to get a few meals , and small enough , to not disturb the flock ( is it called a flock of turkeys?) I wanted those birds to hung around the area for my next season, so I chose carefully. Fast forward to the spring , and on second day, I came across this huge tom. Even if I do not score a bird this spring , at least I'll have a longer season.
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From: Jim
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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I would have killed the big tom.
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From: Lowcountry
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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I would have shot him! I have been trying to kill one with a bow and no blind for 8-10 years now, so if I’m fortunate to draw on a Tom at 7 yards - I’m letting my arrow fly.
However, I say “more power to you!” If you are OK with your decision, that’s the only thing that matters! I certainly don’t have a problem with your choice. Good for you and congratulations on a successful hunt!
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From: thekunk
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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I would have passed as well if that was not my goal for the hunt. A hunter has to be happy with his expectations and goals. It is the actual hunt that most enjoy, not just taking of game. Now you will have more time to spend enjoying the great outdoors doing what you love and doing it your way. Good Luck!
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From: fdp
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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Never really know until you're sitting there.
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From: Corax_latrans
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Date: 26-Apr-22 |
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It’s tough only having one tag, isn’t it? LOL
I guess if you go out there knowing what animal you’re after and something else shows up, it’s totally understandable why you would pass on it.
The crazy thing about hunting is that almost invariably, the opportunity in which you manage to fill your tag will develop very quickly. so that can make it seem a little bit anti-climactic in a way.
Biggest mistake I ever made while hunting was when I filled my muzzleloader tag at noon on opening day of a 12 day trip, and I ended up with basically nothing to do. Maybe if I had been a “bull of a lifetime” animal, I wouldn’t have minded so much.
I think I would have taken the big Tom. Just because I’m not particular, and when I’m offered a good opportunity I almost never pass it up. For me they are just too few and far between…
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From: Casekiska
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I have passed on as many animals as I have decided to shoot. There have been plenty of times when the animal was close, I came to full draw, aimed, and then let the bow down. I've said "Not today my little friend" too many times to count, and chalk it up as a shot opportunity in which I felt I just did not need to kill that animal on that day. Yeah, I know,...then why go hunting if I'm not going to shoot? Well, in these instances I met the challenge and felt successful. On those days, at that time, with that animal I had done the job I came to do. That was enough and I felt like I'd had a good day. That was enough.
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From: Altitude Sickness
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I have been passing the longbeards on my place for a few years now. I don’t do anything with the beards or fans anymore. I used to put them on the wall in the barn.
So now I let people bring kids and or hunt them for themselves and save the more mature birds for them. So now I target Jake’s and bearded hens. Before I killed this years Jake I got a good show from a couple longbeards at 10 yards. Once you kill the bird all the fun is over.
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From: Sean Bleakley
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I’d take home but I get two rages and not a whole lot of time off anymore. Now, if I was able to take the whole season off like I used to And I only had ONE tag, probably pass too. But with two tags, I’d take him and be selective the rest of the season.
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From: kaw369
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Passed on an average bird last season and ended up not seeing another bird. I did get out plenty though.
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From: Bjrogg
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I don’t get much time for turkey hunting. I’ve only gone once and didn’t have anything within a couple hundred yards.
I would definitely have taken the shot, but that doesn’t mean you should have. Enjoy the rest of your season. Good luck and Happy Hunting
Bjrogg
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From: Bernie P.
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Well my 54#'r might not "nail it to the ground".But I'd have tried my best to do so.
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From: Popester
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I would have taken the shot, but that's just me. I wouldn't criticize anybody for letting a bird/animal walk.
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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It's simply personal choice, and absolutely up to the person sitting there with their weapon. Doesn't bother me one way or another, and honestly I don't know what I would do. We can only take one turkey in the fall, and one in the spring on our regular license...been that way forever. In the spring you can buy a second tag if you want, that's only been in force now for a few years. You have to enjoy how you hunt and not care about other's ideas. Some of my best hunts, actually most of them, ended with an unfilled tag.
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From: PECO2
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Since we can only kill bearded turkeys in the spring, I would have shot the big Tom.
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From: grizz
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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I would’ve taken the shot. That’s what I go for.
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From: Yeller
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Wow I thought I was the only one that did that lol. I passed on two this season so far I guess like some of you said it wasn’t his time yet then two days ago ( we have to stop hunting at 1) I was just starting to wrap up my hunt at 12:55 when I look up and see a stud gobbler coming in I just sit by a big tree so he comes in at 1 exactly. He gave me several opportunities but I said buddy you timed your walk perfect. At 1:20 he left the area. I would of liked to taken him but it was fun watching. Maybe today or tomorrow I would take a different guy. It’s what makes us all different but the same in many ways.
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From: Yeller
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Btw I only shoot 46. That 88 stuff way passed my days. Lol
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From: Verdeburl
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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As for me I probably would have shot, or attempted the shot. However--I always say--It's your hunt, and your decision was what was best for you. Run your own race as they say. What counts is that you feel right about your choice. You did nothing wrong by passing up the bird. I usually only pass on jakes, but again that's just me as I don't have really great turkey hunting spots, and if I do get one to come in I feel lucky. I am happy with, for your decision. To all who scored so far this season--a big congrats.
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From: DanaC
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Spring season here is toms-only. Fall season is either-or.
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From: Yeller
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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This guy came in at 11 today he came in at one two days ago to late to shoot. I did pass on couple earlier I just didn’t want to shoot then
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From: Kodiak
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Great bird, Yeller.
Love that old school camo too.
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From: Juancho
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Date: 27-Apr-22 |
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Interesting to hear different opinions. I did kind of the same last year on deer season. I waited until the last week of the season for a good shot. I spent probably over 30 days in my blind all together. Last week of the hunt in the last legal hour he finally showed up. Gave me a shot , but , I saw a couple of branches that I was sure I could avoid, but, if by chance I was to hit one, that would have turned bad. I have taken game at seemingly impossible distances , and against all the odds. But it was only small game. So I said goodby to my 9 pointed friend and wished him a good winter. My freezer stayed emptied of venison. Karma is always around the corner. A few days ago I took my wife to dinner , and we stayed a bit longer than usual. On my way back home , we came across an accident where not one , but two deer were hit. No one was hurt and no one care for the dead and dying deer on the side of the road. I did the cop a favor by dispatching the agonizing deer ( no tons of paperwork for him for discharged of a firearm ), and loaded both of them on my truck. I now have a full freezer and really good memories of my last deer hunt. By the way, if big tom comes around again, I'll take it as a sign that is my turn to shoot.
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From: olddogrib
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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I'd have killed it or died trying. I've given way too many "passes" to critters of all kinds never to get another shot all season. I never look a "gift horse in the mouth"...at my age every season could be my last, lol!
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From: Bassmaster
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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I would kill him, and grill him, or turkey soup. Nice thing is that it is your call one way ,or the other.
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From: Dry Bones
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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The place where I get to hunt has had a lot more turkeys in the past. The one trip I took this year resulted in a small group/flock coming through. I had an opportunity at a tom and past. Had he been a BIG tom and something better than I have done, he may not have been so fortunate, but with less around, I figured they were better off alive. That being said, I have seen a band of bearded hens on the place, and I do not believe I would have let one of them get by. As far as I know ALL turkeys eat well, or at least all that we have had.
-Bones
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From: Brian M.
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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I would have shot. Statistically, I would have missed, but I would have shot.
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From: 4nolz@work
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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Sounds like fun.Personally I wouldn't shoot a hen even if legal ever.Im not sure what I'd do if our season was a short as some States.
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From: papajack
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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I passed on my first one this year, he only had about a 3" beard. Well, I'm not sure you would say passed, maybe I should have said missed my first one! Well, it's the same, I didn't kill him, so yes, I passed on my first one! Haha!
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From: Jamie
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Date: 28-Apr-22 |
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I had some jakes a few yards from my blind this morning. Unfortunately they wanted to hang out just out of view.
Given the opportunity I would’ve shot the tom
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From: Dry Bones
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Date: 29-Apr-22 |
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Fred, from what I was told there is a high chance bearded hens have more wrong with them then just the beard and most do not lay viable eggs. IF that is wrong information then someone correct me. But I would like to know where you get your information not just another assumption. Everyone has an opinion. I want facts.
-Bones
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From: Mrrecurve
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Date: 29-Apr-22 |
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A bird in hand is worth two in the bush??. It’s like this, if I’ve got a BIG Tom at 7 steps and I pull my bow back, that dude is takin a dirt nap. I’ve passed on many animals but I know I’m passing them up long before they get that close. Don’t even grab my bow most of the time. A PA. or WVA spring gobbler is tuff to get with a gun let alone a stick bow. Just my .02??
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From: Mrrecurve
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Date: 29-Apr-22 |
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A bird in hand is worth two in the bush??. It’s like this, if I’ve got a BIG Tom at 7 steps and I pull my bow back, that dude is takin a dirt nap. I’ve passed on many animals but I know I’m passing them up long before they get that close. Don’t even grab my bow most of the time. A PA. or WVA spring gobbler is tuff to get with a gun let alone a stick bow. Just my .02??
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