I started turkey hunting about 3 years ago. It started as something to kill time in the off season from deer season (not to mention wild turkey breast is delicious). I had a close encounter on my first hunt and it sparked my interest. The next year I saw my first bird while actually turkey hunting (they're everywhere durin deer season but hard to be found when its actually turkey season) and it gave me an adrenaline rush through the roof. It didn't work out that day and that started a long streak of bad luck that I thought would never end. So many times I've worked birds and they'd get henned up, a coyote would mess up my hunt, even got as close as getting busted raising my gun on a young jake. Then came Saturday morning, opening day here in nc. I had located a few birds Friday evening and had a good idea of where to go. It was an area I've never hunted before. When the sun came up I had 6 different birds responding to the calls. A few got henned up, and around 830 I couldn't get a bird to respond to any calls. I had to be somewhere at 11 so I needed to be out of the woods at 10. I made a last ditch effort at 930 and walked to a new area and hit the locator call. When I did I had a bird hammer at only 60yds! I got down beside a tree real quick and didn't even have time to get my blind or decoys out. A couple of clucks and purs and he came running in... 20yds and I let the 870 eat. He didn't move a muscle. He ain't the biggest bird in the woods but it feels amazing to finally put one down! Turkey hunting is my new addiction, the sound of a bird gobbling at daybreak is like music to my ears! He had a 6.5" beard Ill have my guns, money, and freedom. Y'all can keep y'alls change.
Congrats! I got into turkey hunting when I lived in upstate NY. Lots of birds up there. You are right in saying it's a huge rush to have a tom come running straight at you.