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2025 Official Turkey Challenge

Public birds themselves might take the same skill level to kill… but it’s no doubt my boots have way more miles, I’m up earlier, and I’m faced with challenges that private land hunters don’t have in regards to competition. The bird being a bird isn’t different on private or public… but the overall effort is higher. And I’ve hunted both private and public so I’ve experienced both and to me… I’m more proud of the birds I’ve earned on public land.

Date pics- yea I forgot. We made that rule in the first year when we did have someone in the group that was prone to cheat. He’s not here anymore. But a rule is a rule. I’ll make sure to have it all present on the next one…. Cause there will be a next one. 😂

OG rules to the ODT turkey hunting challenge just presented more opportunity for some excitement. Double beard is an additional point. Additional point for spurs over 1.25 inches. Additional point for beards over 11. Stuff like that. The name of the game is winning but more importantly, fun. More opportunity for points equals more fun.

And ain’t no body I know passin on two ten inch beards… if that’s true… I have great psychologist recommendations 😂. DM me and I’ll get you connected. lol

I don’t agree with that 100%. I logged a 5+ mile day on a 315 acre private lease this season and I arrive to public or private an hour early regardless. I put 110% into my hunting time be it on my land or public land. Not every private land bird is that hard earned, nor are public land ones. I have killed them 300 yards from the truck on public after getting to the woods after my work shift ends at 08:00. Heck, my 2023 Paulding Forest quota hunt bird was killed 125 yards off of the road. My bird from 2022 was 300 tops from the gate.
I have killed my share on public land and they don’t live up to the hype as far as being more hard earned or any more challenging. I just don’t get why folks want to put them up on a pedestal just because they’re on public land.
 
Turkeys can be tough to hunt anywhere
(private,public,etc) but I have to agree with @Fly Fishing Guy on this one, public land you definitely wake up earlier and put in a lot more miles for sure. Also have to deal with people that don’t know what there doing as well. 😂
So basically, we are awarding extra points for walking farther and waking up earlier. Got it. 🤣
 
Maybe next year divide the challenge into 2 categories - Private and Public? Seems some think one is more difficult than the other, and others see no difference. Maybe having a winner for each might be best option? We might want to create a new topic for discussing next year's challenge so this thread stays on focus for this year's challenge...
 
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