The first day of turkey season comes with excitement and anticipation like what a child experiences on Christmas Eve. Distance gobbles and strutting toms glistening in the sun fill a turkey hunter’s dreams as they wait for first light on opening day. Confidence is high as the memories of last year’s successful hunts are still fresh in the mind and the failures long forgotten.
Hours before the first rays of sun on opening day I woke to rain hitting the window. The radar showed the storm should pass by sunrise, but I was going to get wet setting up my blind. In darkness and mud, I packed my blind, decoys, and bow ¾ of a mile into a section to set up in an area I had scouted a couple days prior. The rain stopped on que and I stared into darkness waiting for the first gobble. The sun eventually rose illuminating the woods and songbirds started to sing their springtime tunes. But the gobbles never came. How could this be? Turkeys were gobbling from this drainage just two days prior. Was it the weather? Did they move? Should I move?
Knowing patience pays during early season I stayed put until a looming zoom call required me to pack up around 11 am. On the walk out I heard a gobble. Then a second. Then a third. Each getting closer as I hiked back. The bird was within 200 yards of my truck and strategies filled my mind as I thought of ways to call him across the old road. Unfortunately, I had work obligations so this bird would have to wait.
The opening day bust was quickly washed away with new optimism of hearing a ridge full of gobbles the next morning. My dad joined me at a new location. One lone gobble broke the silence shortly after 7 am and other toms started to make their presence known throughout the morning. Male turkeys are usually with female hens first thing in the morning and today was no exception. Patience is a strategy I deploy in this scenario. Wait until the hens start to disperse, and then call in the toms.
A jake wandered his way into the field glaring at my decoys. After a few minutes he took off the direction he came. Peering out behind the blind I saw a flock of turkeys less than 200 yards away. I continued to call. The tom was content with the hens he had in front of him and paid me no attention. The hens were working away from my location and I assumed the toms followed. I sat in silence for 30 minutes deciding on my next move. Looking out the back window two toms were still strutting in the field. I made a few yelps on my diaphragm and one bird started to come my way. Shortly after, dad said “I think I heard him fly across the creek.”
A flash of feather caught my eye as the mature bird worked the edge of trees in my direction. The single gobbler approached my decoys in a full strut less than 10 yards away. I drew my bow, picked my spot, and let the arrow fly. He hit the ground and stood up. Blood was coming out of the exit hole and I knew I made a good shot. A short sprint was all he had left before falling to the ground. Watch Video Here
It was exactly 10 am. Patience paid off as I stayed with my program, even when action was slow, and it appeared all the birds had other places they wanted to be.
How Does This Apply to Business?
My strategy when hunting turkeys early in the season with a bow is simple: pick a location with a lot of birds and be patient. If toms are in the area they will eventually come to my calls. The temptation to chase a distance gobble is tough, however patience when archery hunting usually pays off.
In business we sometimes find ourselves chasing the “new” great opportunity. Much like a distant gobble, a shiny new idea or too good to be real deal distracts us from our original plan. The fear of missing out takes away time that should be focused on what you originally set out to do. The answer to this common dilemma is discipline and patience.
We must continually look for new opportunities. However, a coworker of mine always said “We can do anything, but we can’t do everything.” Spend time evaluating opportunities, then with the information you have pick the best, develop a plan, then work the plan. Work hard, don’t be afraid to make small adjustments, but be patient. Greatness takes time.
Until next time remember, your going to have to earn it.