How many hours scouting do you put in to put that bird down? How long does it take to put him down after you grab the shotgun?
Over the last 5 years I've hunted about 7 hours total. Scouting for me in the last 5 years comes in at well over 200 hours. I only hunt public land but if my bird isn't flopping within a hour, I did something wrong. Because of life and the fact that deer season eats my vacation I'm lucky to have 2 full days to hunt a season. "5 day season only". For me it's all about scouting. And 5 years with 5 mature opening day toms is enough proof for me.

You are a prodigy.

So are u using your vacation to scout? Or do u call deer hunting scouting? Do u hunt Minnesota or somewhere else? I would bet u a gazillion dollars u couldn't kill 5 mature birds in 5 hours at Skyline

If I could only turkey hunt for 7 hours in 5 years I would find another hobby. Also, I have hunted the same property for 5 years now. My time scouting has gone down drastically each year I've been in the club. This past year I probably scouted around 2 hours before the season opened. There is nothing new to see as the turkeys basically roost in the same areas year after year.

I work nights. Off at 7am, home at 7:45, and in the woods by 8:15.
Deer season eats up a week of vacation and blizzards useally get a couple days. Kids get the others.
Like I said earlier. I only hunt state land. So I need plan abcdef.....z. With only a 5 day season for me, it's a must that I know what the birds are going to do before they even know. I'm able to spend as much time in the woods as I want without a gun so my enjoyment comes from scouting. The minute the gun comes out there are no more games.
I take pride in my turkey hunting and I'm very lucky to be in a very good area. Yes I hunt Minnesota. I have over 15 wma's within a half hour of the house and by the time my season rolls around I generally feel confident that I can put one on the ground at any of them.
I was just wondering if anyone else out there was as turkey crazy as me. I'm the same way with reloading and shooting. If I can't hit the range 3 days+ a week, I feel cheated. And working nights make it all possible.

you are probably gonna find that Alabama hunters go about things a lot differently than what you're used to. We also measure success differently.

Less, why do you only have a 5 day season? And why do you get to spend as much time in the woods without a gun as you want but have limited time to hunt. Call me confused. Oh, and one more thing, you must not be as turkey crazy if you think if you are using that week of vacation for deer instead of turkeys

I like my hobbie. I don't hunt clubs. I don't pay $1000+ a year for a club. I rarely hunt the same spot twice. I never hunt the first season. This year is B season next year might be the E season. The day before my season starts is the last day of someone else's season. You can hunt till dark so you can't rely on the birds to be roosting in the same tree. Not only do I have to pattern the turkeys, I have to pattern hunters. I take my turkey hunting very serious but I'm not going to pass up a mature bird just so I can hunt the next day. When you hit the trigger your done. So I think 5 birds in 7 hours over 5 years is pretty good.
I'm also the guy that would rather have snow on the ground and a big buck track at my feet with miles of woods ahead of me. There is nothing like tracking a big mature buck down and shooting him in his bed before he even opens his eyes.

Wow les. Slow your roll. Welcome to the forum.

Minnesota has there turkey season in 5 day blocks. A,b,c season are lottery only. D,e,f,g are over the counter. They did get the kids hunts right. The kids can hunt all seasons and it's only a $1 tag.
This year my season starts on a Monday and ends Friday. When I'm scouting / hiking I don't mind getting in the woods after daybreak. That's why I can spend as muck time scouting as I want. But hunting, I'm in the woods at 4am. For my opener I'll use half a vaca day and leave work at 3am. The rest of the week I can flex my hours to 7pm to 3am. So I guess I could hunt more but I like to get it done the first day in the first hour.
Here's my week if I don't tag out early.
Sunday. Roost one then sleep a couple hours. Go in for work at 11pm
Monday. Hunt!! In bed by noon. Up at 5pm. Work 7pm to 3am.
Tuesday. Hunt!!! In bed by noon. Up at 5 yadda yadda and so on.
It's just easier if I put the time in to get it done first day.

so you can hunt 4 different blocks of 5 days plus the possiblility of a draw for another block of 5? and each one of those comes with a tag? So you could realistically kill 5 birds and hunt 25 days?

jesus

I know it sounds funny to a southern boy but its a way of life up north. In the big woods you may only have 1 or 2 deer per square mile. Here's a pic I took last year right after I hit the trigger on my buck before he even opened his eyes. You can just see him in the center of the pic. Still in his bed


Even got it done with a shotgun

No. I get 5 days only. You can hunt only one block and harvest one bird

I don't pay 1000+ to hunt in a club either. You can hunt until dark in Alabama as well except on some of the WMA's in the state. So can you only kill one gobbler per season in Minnesota?

A quick prayer befor I hit the woods does help.

I'd have to move. Or I would be taking a lot of vacation to other places.

Les you might as well be speaking Chinese with this Minnesota turkey hunting talk

Welcome to the forum.