Our Youth Turkey was unsuccessful

[brokentrail]

We went over Thursday so we had at least a day to scout this year but really had trouble finding birds on public.  We saw and heard tons of birds but they were still in large flocks and on private in the valley, at least that was our experience.

Oh well, he has one more youth year, maybe next year will be his year to finally get one. 

[jackelope]

He can still hunt a really long season that starts in 10 days. Keep at it. It’ll happen!!

[MtnMuley]

Just because he didn't kill a bird doesn't mean the trip was unsuccessful. I bet you enjoyed time in the mtns and learned several things to make your next trip even better. Ice often found youth weekend (especially early like this) to be one of the harder seasons to kill birds. As you mentioned, many are flocked up still and often take several hours to get away from hens and that can be really tough with kids. You also have to remember that a lot of youth season success comes from private lands where an abundance of the birds are still at and have the same daily routine making getting set up in a good spot that much easier. Make a trip back in the middle of May and you should have a lot of opportunities at birds at all elevations and far less pressure. We've killed the majority of our birds with kids in May.

[HillHound]

 
 I didn’t even get out with my son this weekend with family coming over and  everything else going on. That’s all right we’ll have plenty of time to get some birds on the ground still And like others have said it will just get better in the next month

[KFhunter]

Worked 12 hours days, no huntie

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[hunter399]

I'll say it unsuccessful here too.
Worked ,was unable to get the time off. Graveyard.
Got home in the mourning.Jumped in truck didn't even get to the woods in till 8:30-9:00 ,Saturday was a total pile.
Only heard one Turkey gobble from a long ways off,probably on private land.
Yesterday had Alot more action but just couldn't pull them away from those hens,then even tryed a little stalk. Sent those birds into the next county.
All public land
Crap hole thing Saturday mourning like 5 toms in my driveway.
But kinda like to make kids work for it.

[CoryTDF]

My daughter had quite the experience. We called in a really nice tom from about 300 yards away. It came into view about 50 yards to our left gobbling it's head off and pitting and drumming. He worked his way behind us at about 6 yards and made a full circle. At one point he was about 6 ft from me. He got to the decoy and stuck his head up "BOOM" he jumped and began to walk to the decoy again "BOOM'' this time a little more scared he started off "BOOM" and we watched as he walked out of our lives forever. It was heartbreaking to say the least. In her excitement my daughter forgot to put her face down on the gun and she overshot him every time. heartbreaking....   

[brokentrail]

He can still hunt a really long season that starts in 10 days. Keep at it. It’ll happen!!

He has baseball tournaments every weekend from now until the end of May but if any get cancelled, I will certainly take him back over to try again. 

[brokentrail]

Just because he didn't kill a bird doesn't mean the trip was unsuccessful. I bet you enjoyed time in the mtns and learned several things to make your next trip even better. Ice often found youth weekend (especially early like this) to be one of the harder seasons to kill birds. As you mentioned, many are flocked up still and often take several hours to get away from hens and that can be really tough with kids. You also have to remember that a lot of youth season success comes from private lands where an abundance of the birds are still at and have the same daily routine making getting set up in a good spot that much easier. Make a trip back in the middle of May and you should have a lot of opportunities at birds at all elevations and far less pressure. We've killed the majority of our birds with kids in May.

Yes, you are correct, unsuccessful may have been a poor choice of words, probably should have said "he still has his first tag in his pocket".  We always have a good time and enjoy the trip.  He loves it over there.

[Birdguy]

I know the pain of things not working as planned. We tried to cram in turkey and baseball/softball with the kids in spring....no easy task. We got the point where we hit the youth season and if it did not work out we would certainly take any cancelled weekends to go. The boy got to the point where for him, hunting and fishing were more important. He would let the coach know he had plans on this weekend (just like families who take vacations) and the coach would plan for him to be gone.  He said baseball was for fun, hunting is for life! Lol.

We looked at every trip and still do as memories, filled tags, coolers of meat, just icing on the cake. Make the best of eery opportunity and you will both love it!

[brokentrail]

 

I know the pain of things not working as planned. We tried to cram in turkey and baseball/softball with the kids in spring....no easy task. We got the point where we hit the youth season and if it did not work out we would certainly take any cancelled weekends to go. The boy got to the point where for him, hunting and fishing were more important. He would let the coach know he had plans on this weekend (just like families who take vacations) and the coach would plan for him to be gone.  He said baseball was for fun, hunting is for life! Lol.

We looked at every trip and still do as memories, filled tags, coolers of meat, just icing on the cake. Make the best of eery opportunity and you will both love it!

   That we will do!