Now that this forum has declared that the only thing worse than the decoy is an out of state hunter it may be time to get real. There may be a few that do travel to multiple states and shoot every gobbler they can carry but they are so few and far between they are a non factor.
Using myself as an example here is how my 40 plus years of turkey chasing has gone. When I resided in Ohio if I tagged out I may travel for a few days to KY. When I retired and moved to KY I would travel back and hunt Ohio. Now that I live in Florida, where the season ends before many start, I am always looking for May opportunities. This year I have two northern states in mind. I won't mention either.
Last May I took a well planned trip out west for ONE Merriam. Maybe next year I'll look to the southwest for ONE Rio.
I don't feel the least bit guilty about any of this. Some of the post and proposed "solutions" to this OOS "problem" are truly delusional IMO. :deadhorse:
Loose lips sink ships. Remember what got us to this point. More regs are coming to combat oosers
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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Nothing to feel guilty about Joey. It isn't just an OOS hunter problem it can and does happen in your own state with resident hunters.
Quote from: joey46 on April 26, 2023, 04:02:39 PM
Now that this forum has declared that the only thing worse than the decoy is an out of state hunter it may be time to get real. There may be a few that do travel to multiple states and shoot every gobbler they can carry but they are so few and far between they are a non factor.
Using myself as an example here is how my 40 plus years of turkey chasing has gone. When I resided in Ohio if I tagged out I may travel for a few days to KY. When I retired and moved to KY I would travel back and hunt Ohio. Now that I live in Florida, where the season ends before many start, I am always looking for May opportunities. This year I have two northern states in mind. I won't mention either.
Last May I took a well planned trip out west for ONE Merriam. Maybe next year I'll look to the southwest for ONE Rio.
I don't feel the least bit guilty about any of this. Some of the post and proposed "solutions" to this OOS "problem" are truly delusional IMO. :deadhorse:
100% agree with ya Joey
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I don't think there's actually that much more killing around me in Alabama but the pressure this year is unreal. I still go and hear some gobbles but you can forget about yelping one up. If you call at all they're pretty much going to go the other way. It's really dang frustrating because that's the most fun part of the hunt. There are trucks out riding around every day of the week. I had a hunt messed up Tuesday by two guys who heard the bird I was set up on. They drove down to where I was and got out and started calling. Me and the turkeys heard it and the turkeys left. I think I'm ready for less opportunity and more quality versus what I'm getting right now. My area is getting pounded!
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As a traveling turkey hunter I have zero problems with a nonresident one bird limit especially on public land. Private land is different in so many aspects and thus there is merit in approaching it differently.
In two, at most three years, after you reg out OOS, the RES hunters will be crying that their license cost doubled.
They'll still be crying about all the lost opportunities they reged out.
Instead of complaining about someone having more vacation time why not look for some private ground to hunt. There still today is a thing called "Private Ground". It's actually all over the country! Maybe if you can't find something free, you buy into a lease? There are options.
To the next coming question, if you can't afford and you work all the time...sounds like time to look for a new job to me. One that pays you, plus gives you some free time to live.
Some years are more busy than others for me. Just so happens, I ain't busy this year and I am going to hunt every day I can. When I run out of tags, I will go to another state and buy more.
It's 10 months and three weeks before season starts over again, enjoy this one while it lasts. I am going to, hopefully all the way til Maine ends.
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 26, 2023, 04:28:57 PM
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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People make choices, those guys hunting don't get to enjoy the family things you do either!
Some prioritize family, some prioritize hunting, and it's everyone's personal choice!
This sounds like religion, (Oh you don't like my god??? Maybe we need to go to war with each other)
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Quote from: aclawrence on April 26, 2023, 04:58:17 PM
I don't think there's actually that much more killing around me in Alabama but the pressure this year is unreal. I still go and hear some gobbles but you can forget about yelping one up. If you call at all they're pretty much going to go the other way. It's really dang frustrating because that's the most fun part of the hunt. There are trucks out riding around every day of the week. I had a hunt messed up Tuesday by two guys who heard the bird I was set up on. They drove down to where I was and got out and started calling. Me and the turkeys heard it and the turkeys left. I think I'm ready for less opportunity and more quality versus what I'm getting right now. My area is getting pounded!
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Where's the line drawn then??
Let's put things to the outer edge of the spectrum for explanation purposes
Would you be happy with the woods all to yourself, but in order to do so you can only buy a license every 5 years??
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Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 26, 2023, 08:55:44 PM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 26, 2023, 04:28:57 PM
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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People make choices, those guys hunting don't get to enjoy the family things you do either!
Some prioritize family, some prioritize hunting, and it's everyone's personal choice!
This sounds like religion, (Oh you don't like my god??? Maybe we need to go to war with each other)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
As far as license cost, I'd absolutely be happy with paying double for license costs if it meant actually getting the opportunity to hunt. And as far as the private ground debate, I'm not sure how it is in your area but around here our private ground hunting opportunity is non existent. People ruined that for others years ago, not considering most of it is leased up by outfitters or it's Amish owned now, which, in most cases the land is stripped barren. Like I stated in another thread, I don't hate OOS guys. Some of my best talks have been around a tailgate or WMA gate with OOS guys. And I don't look at it as we own the public land as residents. I welcome Respectful OOS guys that have the basic common courtesy to drive on by if they see a vehicle at a gate. Up until this year it's been that way. I met 3 this year that were great guys and that had been coming here for the last 4 or so years. The majority this year is like the duck hunting crowd, they leave trucks at gates and go elsewhere. They come crashing in on you after they pull in behind you at the gate and could care less that you're there or if they ruined your chances. They camp out at gates, which is illegal except at "camp ground areas". These areas have seen more pressure this year than they typically see in 3 years and one particular WMA had the 2 years seasonal average killed in 6 days. To me, it seems they have over hunted their areas at home until they had low turkey numbers, jumped a state or two down, will do it here and then move elsewhere leaving us with the rind of what it used to be. I'm all for you guys hunting here, if we had a draw system that limited number of tags for non residents, or even limit the number of hunters on each WMA, and that's for local and non resident hunters. As far as the guy that mentioned finding a job with more vacation time, what I have is plenty, I guess I'll just have to start using it to come kill your all's birds. Must be plenty available in Ohio and Michigan because they're all down here.
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An area I hunt was promoted by NWTF, because NWTF put in a half acre food plot on national forest. The population was in decline. There weren't a whole lot of birds left. The next year the harvest in the area skyrocketed. DNR published and bragged in the magazine. I had people waiting by my jeep for me to come out so they could go in. Waiting in line! The next year the bottom dropped out of the harvest numbers while pressure continued. The birds we locals were killing were mostly at end of season and limbhangers.
The pressure finally dropped off this year, I would guess because published harvest data showed no birds. The point I'm trying to make is turkeys cannot withstand that level of pressure. It isn't a question of fairness to the hunter. It's that turkey populations can't take the pressure.
Also one of us needs a new job before life passes him by.
This same scenario has been played out in arkansas duck hunting. It's doesn't end well. And turkeys are even more fragile. Loose lips sink ships.
As a yearly multi-state travel hunter, I believe Mississippi has the right approach when it comes to their public ground. Close it to residents only except for the draw hunts for the first 2 weeks. You give the TAX paying residents time to hunt the land that their taxes support before us non-residents get the opportunity. Travel hunters will still buy the OOS licenses with the hope of a draw or they will show up after the first 2 weeks. If an OOS'er wants to hunt the first 2 weeks, they can join a lease on private land. As a traveling hunter, I believe residents should have the first chance at hunting the properties in their state before I do. Just my $.02 worth.
Wish we could put the genie back in the bottle and these YouTube and social media idiots wouldn't have put our public land turkeys on blast. We wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm thoroughly pissed off. Public turkeys and turkey hunting has been bastardized for profit and ego. And for every dollar made and ego stroked the turkeys and public land hunters pay x10 in loss of hunting opportunity
If the argument is geared towards the preservation of birds and growing flocks then the states should sell x number of tags. A certain percentage should go to local individuals and then a certain percentage reserved for out of state. Say an 85/15 split or something like that. But we all know it comes down to states making money out of it.
I also agree with wareagle22. I would like that for my state. Let locals have at it the first couple weeks before the out of state folks come in. Almost like how they run youth weekends.
Quote from: 357MAGNOLE on April 27, 2023, 08:29:48 AM
If the argument is geared towards the preservation of birds and growing flocks then the states should sell x number of tags. A certain percentage should go to local individuals and then a certain percentage reserved for out of state. Say an 85/15 split or something like that. But we all know it comes down to states making money out of it.
I also agree with wareagle22. I would like that for my state. Let locals have at it the first couple weeks before the out of state folks come in. Almost like how they run youth weekends.
I also agree with that and I think that's what I'm going to propose to our commissioners. Residents should have first crack at the places they pay for and then the non residents can knock themselves out after the first week or two. But our season is also pretty short compared to some. We get 3 weeks total.
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8)
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 06:41:49 AM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 26, 2023, 08:55:44 PM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 26, 2023, 04:28:57 PM
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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People make choices, those guys hunting don't get to enjoy the family things you do either!
Some prioritize family, some prioritize hunting, and it's everyone's personal choice!
This sounds like religion, (Oh you don't like my god??? Maybe we need to go to war with each other)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
As far as license cost, I'd absolutely be happy with paying double for license costs if it meant actually getting the opportunity to hunt. And as far as the private ground debate, I'm not sure how it is in your area but around here our private ground hunting opportunity is non existent. People ruined that for others years ago, not considering most of it is leased up by outfitters or it's Amish owned now, which, in most cases the land is stripped barren. Like I stated in another thread, I don't hate OOS guys. Some of my best talks have been around a tailgate or WMA gate with OOS guys. And I don't look at it as we own the public land as residents. I welcome Respectful OOS guys that have the basic common courtesy to drive on by if they see a vehicle at a gate. Up until this year it's been that way. I met 3 this year that were great guys and that had been coming here for the last 4 or so years. The majority this year is like the duck hunting crowd, they leave trucks at gates and go elsewhere. They come crashing in on you after they pull in behind you at the gate and could care less that you're there or if they ruined your chances. They camp out at gates, which is illegal except at "camp ground areas". These areas have seen more pressure this year than they typically see in 3 years and one particular WMA had the 2 years seasonal average killed in 6 days. To me, it seems they have over hunted their areas at home until they had low turkey numbers, jumped a state or two down, will do it here and then move elsewhere leaving us with the rind of what it used to be. I'm all for you guys hunting here, if we had a draw system that limited number of tags for non residents, or even limit the number of hunters on each WMA, and that's for local and non resident hunters. As far as the guy that mentioned finding a job with more vacation time, what I have is plenty, I guess I'll just have to start using it to come kill your all's birds. Must be plenty available in Ohio and Michigan because they're all down here.
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I'm from Michigan and we are allowed only 1 bird. I have'nt traveled out of state and if l did would only shoot 1 bird. There is no way I would travel to a extremely crowded state. I hate crowds! I'm sorry you have to put up with to many hunters. The same problems exist with southern hunters flooding northern states to get more duck hunting days. Social media has destroyed all types of hunting. Finding good hunting is becoming a rich man's sport!
Quote from: wareagle22 on April 27, 2023, 08:18:14 AM
As a yearly multi-state travel hunter, I believe Mississippi has the right approach when it comes to their public ground. Close it to residents only except for the draw hunts for the first 2 weeks. You give the TAX paying residents time to hunt the land that their taxes support before us non-residents get the opportunity. Travel hunters will still buy the OOS licenses with the hope of a draw or they will show up after the first 2 weeks. If an OOS'er wants to hunt the first 2 weeks, they can join a lease on private land. As a traveling hunter, I believe residents should have the first chance at hunting the properties in their state before I do. Just my $.02 worth.
I'm not knocking MS or their plan, but some of those lands are National Forests, land that all Americans own. I kind of like NE's system, only sell so many turkey license to OOS'ers. Not sure how that affects outfitters who book hunts a year in advance but I'm sure they could work that out.
Y'all can say what you want BUT IN NO REASON should ScottTaulbee have to drive around for hours in his own state to trying and find a place to hunt on public ground because of the number of OOS travelers. As a resident of his state he should have priority over OOS travelers. They should only allow or allocate a certain number of OOS travelers tags per 3 day hunt ...
Quote from: turkey stew on April 27, 2023, 09:27:54 AM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 06:41:49 AM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 26, 2023, 08:55:44 PM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 26, 2023, 04:28:57 PM
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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People make choices, those guys hunting don't get to enjoy the family things you do either!
Some prioritize family, some prioritize hunting, and it's everyone's personal choice!
This sounds like religion, (Oh you don't like my god??? Maybe we need to go to war with each other)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
As far as license cost, I'd absolutely be happy with paying double for license costs if it meant actually getting the opportunity to hunt. And as far as the private ground debate, I'm not sure how it is in your area but around here our private ground hunting opportunity is non existent. People ruined that for others years ago, not considering most of it is leased up by outfitters or it's Amish owned now, which, in most cases the land is stripped barren. Like I stated in another thread, I don't hate OOS guys. Some of my best talks have been around a tailgate or WMA gate with OOS guys. And I don't look at it as we own the public land as residents. I welcome Respectful OOS guys that have the basic common courtesy to drive on by if they see a vehicle at a gate. Up until this year it's been that way. I met 3 this year that were great guys and that had been coming here for the last 4 or so years. The majority this year is like the duck hunting crowd, they leave trucks at gates and go elsewhere. They come crashing in on you after they pull in behind you at the gate and could care less that you're there or if they ruined your chances. They camp out at gates, which is illegal except at "camp ground areas". These areas have seen more pressure this year than they typically see in 3 years and one particular WMA had the 2 years seasonal average killed in 6 days. To me, it seems they have over hunted their areas at home until they had low turkey numbers, jumped a state or two down, will do it here and then move elsewhere leaving us with the rind of what it used to be. I'm all for you guys hunting here, if we had a draw system that limited number of tags for non residents, or even limit the number of hunters on each WMA, and that's for local and non resident hunters. As far as the guy that mentioned finding a job with more vacation time, what I have is plenty, I guess I'll just have to start using it to come kill your all's birds. Must be plenty available in Ohio and Michigan because they're all down here.
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I'm from Michigan and we are allowed only 1 bird. I have'nt traveled out of state and if l did would only shoot 1 bird. There is no way I would travel to a extremely crowded state. I hate crowds! I'm sorry you have to put up with to many hunters. The same problems exist with southern hunters flooding northern states to get more duck huning days. Social media has destroyed all types of hunting. Finding good hunting is becoming a rich man's sport!
Some of them aren't bad. I had a group of 3, one from Ohio and Two from Michigan, in a truck pull in behind me as I was leaving a spot and all three were great guys. One was older and retired, the other was his son, and the guy from Ohio they picked up on the way. They were going to keep driving but had saw me walking to the truck and pulled in and waited. We had probably a 30 minute conversation about Michigan, Ohio, and the crazy amount of OOS'ers here this season. They all said that the local guys they've ran in to have all been nice, and had even shown them a spot or two with birds since they weren't going to get to hunt it after all. They all told me of other less respectful OOS guys blowing past them and completely ignoring them once they had made their presence known to them, that's how they ended up on the WMA I was on. That's what I'm used to with the handful of OOS hunters that we typically get. Last season we saw a huge upswing in the amount of OOS hunters but like stated above, they'd drive past if they saw a vehicle parked and would stop and talk to you on the road and ask where you were hunting, etc. But this year we have had quadruple the amount of OOS hunters and the vast majority will pull up right behind you and if they see you getting out or whatever it's like they kick it in another gear to try to beat you in there, or they'll ignore you and walk right past, most won't speak. And they aren't shy about trying to walk in on a bird you're working. But I guess most wasn't raised right. The vast majority this year I'd say are under 23 years old. Most of the 25 and older crowd have common sense and common courtesy.
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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 09:50:38 AM
Quote from: turkey stew on April 27, 2023, 09:27:54 AM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 06:41:49 AM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 26, 2023, 08:55:44 PM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 26, 2023, 04:28:57 PM
I guess it isn't real to you because you aren't on the receiving end of the equation. When you use 4 days of your 10 days of vacation you get a year, and work for an employer that regularly has you work 7 days s week. Sometimes 50 to 60 days straight several times a year. You're also married, with 3 kids with the oldest being 5 that are already missing their dad. You wake up at 2:30 am and are on the road from 3 am until 12 pm trying to find an area within 3 hours of your house that isn't overloaded with a newfound surge of OOS. You burn 300$ in gas in 4 days just to actually get to hunt twice of those 4 days. Once at 2:30 pm and once in the morning. Both times you have OOS hunters walk in past you and blow birds that you have roosted or are working out. Then it's back to work and being a family man and trying to sneak out an evening or two before season ends. I don't have a problem with OOS hunters, but when it makes mine and any other hunters hunting opportunities non existent within 200 miles that have any stitch of ethics or respect, it's a problem.
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People make choices, those guys hunting don't get to enjoy the family things you do either!
Some prioritize family, some prioritize hunting, and it's everyone's personal choice!
This sounds like religion, (Oh you don't like my god??? Maybe we need to go to war with each other)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
As far as license cost, I'd absolutely be happy with paying double for license costs if it meant actually getting the opportunity to hunt. And as far as the private ground debate, I'm not sure how it is in your area but around here our private ground hunting opportunity is non existent. People ruined that for others years ago, not considering most of it is leased up by outfitters or it's Amish owned now, which, in most cases the land is stripped barren. Like I stated in another thread, I don't hate OOS guys. Some of my best talks have been around a tailgate or WMA gate with OOS guys. And I don't look at it as we own the public land as residents. I welcome Respectful OOS guys that have the basic common courtesy to drive on by if they see a vehicle at a gate. Up until this year it's been that way. I met 3 this year that were great guys and that had been coming here for the last 4 or so years. The majority this year is like the duck hunting crowd, they leave trucks at gates and go elsewhere. They come crashing in on you after they pull in behind you at the gate and could care less that you're there or if they ruined your chances. They camp out at gates, which is illegal except at "camp ground areas". These areas have seen more pressure this year than they typically see in 3 years and one particular WMA had the 2 years seasonal average killed in 6 days. To me, it seems they have over hunted their areas at home until they had low turkey numbers, jumped a state or two down, will do it here and then move elsewhere leaving us with the rind of what it used to be. I'm all for you guys hunting here, if we had a draw system that limited number of tags for non residents, or even limit the number of hunters on each WMA, and that's for local and non resident hunters. As far as the guy that mentioned finding a job with more vacation time, what I have is plenty, I guess I'll just have to start using it to come kill your all's birds. Must be plenty available in Ohio and Michigan because they're all down here.
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I'm from Michigan and we are allowed only 1 bird. I have'nt traveled out of state and if l did would only shoot 1 bird. There is no way I would travel to a extremely crowded state. I hate crowds! I'm sorry you have to put up with to many hunters. The same problems exist with southern hunters flooding northern states to get more duck huning days. Social media has destroyed all types of hunting. Finding good hunting is becoming a rich man's sport!
Some of them aren't bad. I had a group of 3, one from Ohio and Two from Michigan, in a truck pull in behind me as I was leaving a spot and all three were great guys. One was older and retired, the other was his son, and the guy from Ohio they picked up on the way. They were going to keep driving but had saw me walking to the truck and pulled in and waited. We had probably a 30 minute conversation about Michigan, Ohio, and the crazy amount of OOS'ers here this season. They all said that the local guys they've ran in to have all been nice, and had even shown them a spot or two with birds since they weren't going to get to hunt it after all. They all told me of other less respectful OOS guys blowing past them and completely ignoring them once they had made their presence known to them, that's how they ended up on the WMA I was on. That's what I'm used to with the handful of OOS hunters that we typically get. Last season we saw a huge upswing in the amount of OOS hunters but like stated above, they'd drive past if they saw a vehicle parked and would stop and talk to you on the road and ask where you were hunting, etc. But this year we have had quadruple the amount of OOS hunters and the vast majority will pull up right behind you and if they see you getting out or whatever it's like they kick it in another gear to try to beat you in there, or they'll ignore you and walk right past, most won't speak. And they aren't shy about trying to walk in on a bird you're working. But I guess most wasn't raised right. The vast majority this year I'd say are under 23 years old. Most of the 25 and older crowd have common sense and common courtesy.
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You are entirely correct about how a person is raised! Some people is me,me,me! They are entirely about getting the kill. They do'nt even enjoy the outdoors and matching witts with a gobbler! They will run over anyone to get what they believe is theirs because they purchased a license!
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 09:50:38 AM
- But I guess most wasn't raised right. The vast majority this year I'd say are under 23 years old. Most of the 25 and older crowd have common sense and common courtesy.
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Interesting. I wonder how the early 20 year olds became influenced to start travel turkey hunting.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on April 27, 2023, 10:41:23 AM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 09:50:38 AM
- But I guess most wasn't raised right. The vast majority this year I'd say are under 23 years old. Most of the 25 and older crowd have common sense and common courtesy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Interesting. I wonder how the early 20 year olds became influenced to start travel turkey hunting.
No doubt social media and YouTube. It's the cool thing to do now. I'll be 28 in august and didn't experience Facebook, instagram, or YouTube until my high school years. At that point I had an understanding that all that stuff is just for entertainment and isn't real life. But most of these kids have known this stuff since they were children and look to it as the gospel.
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OK here's the deal. The SYSTEM is not geared towards the RESIDENTS. The only way to fix it would be to convince the Wildlife Commissors to change the SYSTEM of allocation of tags or permits. Nonresident licenses are 10 X the cost of resident tags and permits so how do you think the POLITICS will work on that ? Believe my home state getting HAMMERED by NONRESIDENT deer hunters. We locals HATE it. But honestly we can't hate the ppl buying the tags, we should hate the system. If someone walks in to a dealer and saying Hey, I'd like to buy a NONRESIDENT license and there are none to be had then they have to push on elsewhere. But if they can buy one, then who's to blame for that ? I feel home staters SHOULD have better odds of getting tags and I'm all for that but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. There are some states who require a lottery system for all their big game and I feel this is a better approach to the resident vs. nonresident issue.
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Man, people wish for opportunities to be taken away from them. Some of these comments are unreal. Be careful what you wish for! Most of y'all won't like what you'll end up with.
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Scott, where do you live that you can't find hunting within 3 hours due to crowds??
My standard drive to hunt (as I live where turkeys don't exist) is 3 plus hours away. However I drive it for single day hunts when that's all I have! I drove 6 hours to hunt one morning this year.
Sometimes you either want it or you don't.
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Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 27, 2023, 12:01:00 PM
Man, people wish for opportunities to be taken away from them. Some of these comments are unreal. Be careful what you wish for! Most of y'all won't like what you'll end up with.
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Most folks just cant stand the thought of a non-resident hunter coming to their back yard a poking in a limit on THIER public land in a week or less. I just smile and keep killing THIER turkeys.
Quote from: joey46 on April 26, 2023, 04:02:39 PM
Now that this forum has declared that the only thing worse than the decoy is an out of state hunter it may be time to get real. There may be a few that do travel to multiple states and shoot every gobbler they can carry but they are so few and far between they are a non factor.
Using myself as an example here is how my 40 plus years of turkey chasing has gone. When I resided in Ohio if I tagged out I may travel for a few days to KY. When I retired and moved to KY I would travel back and hunt Ohio. Now that I live in Florida, where the season ends before many start, I am always looking for May opportunities. This year I have two northern states in mind. I won't mention either.
Last May I took a well planned trip out west for ONE Merriam. Maybe next year I'll look to the southwest for ONE Rio.
I don't feel the least bit guilty about any of this. Some of the post and proposed "solutions" to this OOS "problem" are truly delusional IMO. :deadhorse:
Congratulations.
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 27, 2023, 12:02:51 PM
Scott, where do you live that you can't find hunting within 3 hours due to crowds??
My standard drive to hunt (as I live where turkeys don't exist) is 3 plus hours away. However I drive it for single day hunts when that's all I have! I drove 6 hours to hunt one morning this year.
Sometimes you either want it or you don't.
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I'm in central KY, the public ground around me is in the northern, north eastern, or eastern part of the state for the most part. The closest place i have to go is an hour, the farthest place I've been is 2 hours and 40 something minutes almost in TN. Not quite 3 hours but close enough in my book. And every piece of public land that I've ventured to this year has had a massive increase of OOS hunters this season spanning from northern Ky to as far south East as you can get. And I'm not the only one noticing it. Opening day, I went out for an afternoon hunt, from 12:30 until around 2:30 I was driving trying to find a place that didn't have multiple vehicles at every gate, I found one gate that was empty and went in, had a bird coming in silently strutting, and here comes two guys walking through and go past me at 50 yards. Back to the truck and driving, spent until fly up doing the same thing I did since 12:30. Put over 400 miles on the truck and spanned 7 counties to find one public gate open. The next day I drove from 3am until 9 am to find a spot that I knew likely didn't hold birds, someone shot a turkey off the side of the blacktop road with me watching, back to driving. It's been the common theme this season. That's unfortunate that you have to travel that far, are you at least getting the opportunity to hunt when you get there?. Myself and other locals of these areas are not. Unless we just pull in behind them and give them the same courtesy that we've received.
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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 12:31:07 PM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 27, 2023, 12:02:51 PM
Scott, where do you live that you can't find hunting within 3 hours due to crowds??
My standard drive to hunt (as I live where turkeys don't exist) is 3 plus hours away. However I drive it for single day hunts when that's all I have! I drove 6 hours to hunt one morning this year.
Sometimes you either want it or you don't.
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I'm in central KY, the public ground around me is in the northern, north eastern, or eastern part of the state for the most part. The closest place i have to go is an hour, the farthest place I've been is 2 hours and 40 something minutes almost in TN. Not quite 3 hours but close enough in my book. And every piece of public land that I've ventured to this year has had a massive increase of OOS hunters this season spanning from northern Ky to as far south East as you can get. And I'm not the only one noticing it. Opening day, I went out for an afternoon hunt, from 12:30 until around 2:30 I was driving trying to find a place that didn't have multiple vehicles at every gate, I found one gate that was empty and went in, had a bird coming in silently strutting, and here comes two guys walking through and go past me at 50 yards. Back to the truck and driving, spent until fly up doing the same thing I did since 12:30. Put over 400 miles on the truck and spanned 7 counties to find one public gate open. The next day I drove from 3am until 9 am to find a spot that I knew likely didn't hold birds, someone shot a turkey off the side of the blacktop road with me watching, back to driving. It's been the common theme this season. That's unfortunate that you have to travel that far, are you at least getting the opportunity to hunt when you get there?. Myself and other locals of these areas are not. Unless we just pull in behind them and give them the same courtesy that we've received.
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I hunt the common southern states with early openers, so yea there's plenty people. However I do pretty well still.
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A short summary of what's been said or will be said on every thread about traveling turkey hunters.
-"You just suck at turkey hunting, it not as crowded as xyz state so you can deal with the pressure"
Cool, just because you're good at killing turkeys where there's limited numbers doesn't mean the resource should suffer at your expense.
-"If I don't buy a tag and hotel room your states economy will crash"
These places were doing just fine before some guy with a gopro strapped to his head made everyone want to go there.
-"Get a lease, join a club, or pay a guide you poor bastard"
Keep that cancer where you live, some of us still enjoy permission with a handshake instead of market hunting.
-"Take it away and you'll never get it back"
Maybe so if turkey numbers don't go up. But all of these states didn't start with high numbers of birds and high limits. If a state feels the resource can handle more harvest they're not going to let that potential revenue die of natural causes
Nobody wants an all out ban on NRs. What they do want is a cap on sales. This avoids drastic increases in pressure and keep hunting enjoyable. Just because you're used to combat hunting 2 gobblers on 1k acres of public with 20 other people doesn't mean everyone should have to deal with that. This is a problem that has crept up state by state from the southeast. Their state goes to crap, changes are made too late, they move on to the next state and the cycle continues. There needs to be proactive, not reactive changes to regulations.
I hunt other states because I know how to kill turkeys and don't want to quit hunting after as many days as number of birds I'm allowed.
I suggest you read the new post about Kansas Changes ...
It is easy to see who hunts multiple states and who doesn't. There may be room for compromise on this issue but it is quickly fading. I can't even imagine completing a FL a season on April 23rd and then sitting around until next March because "hunters" from other states are concerned I may race them to a public land gate. Be assured I'll be somewhere in mid May. You won't see me and your secret spots will be secure. Betting several of you will be streaking south on I75/I95 next March to overload south Florida to seek the wiley Osceola. Hypocrites.
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 27, 2023, 09:47:50 AM
Y'all can say what you want BUT IN NO REASON should ScottTaulbee have to drive around for hours in his own state to trying and find a place to hunt on public ground because of the number of OOS travelers. As a resident of his state he should have priority over OOS travelers. They should only allow or allocate a certain number of OOS travelers tags per 3 day hunt ...
I disagree. This is America. It is called PUBLIC LAND for a reason. No one person should have priority over anyone else on PUBLIC LAND in the United States. If you don't like fighting the crowds, do like another poster said and try to find some PRIVATE LAND.
Quote from: Louisiana Longbeard on April 27, 2023, 04:54:36 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 27, 2023, 09:47:50 AM
Y'all can say what you want BUT IN NO REASON should ScottTaulbee have to drive around for hours in his own state to trying and find a place to hunt on public ground because of the number of OOS travelers. As a resident of his state he should have priority over OOS travelers. They should only allow or allocate a certain number of OOS travelers tags per 3 day hunt ...
I disagree. This is America. It is called PUBLIC LAND for a reason. No one person should have priority over anyone else on PUBLIC LAND in the United States. If you don't like fighting the crowds, do like another poster said and try to find some PRIVATE LAND.
Everyone has opinions, thanks for sharing your ... Good luck this season...
So im trying for my grand slam and I hunted Florida this spring. Should I not complete my grand slam ? Should I just stay in PA and not complete my dream?
Joey I was in your neck of the woods for my Osceola so if you want to hunt easterns in PA let me know we have plenty of birds for everyone. I will hook you up.
Of course you should complete your slam. My comments were directed to those so overly worried about OOS intrusion into their states. Florida has been an experience. Took some getting used to seeing half the trucks in a camp or parking area with out of state plates. Good luck and keep that PA a secret.
Quote from: arkrem870 on April 27, 2023, 08:23:43 AM
Wish we could put the genie back in the bottle and these YouTube and social media idiots wouldn't have put our public land turkeys on blast. We wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm thoroughly pissed off. Public turkeys and turkey hunting has been bastardized for profit and ego. And for every dollar made and ego stroked the turkeys and public land hunters pay x10 in loss of hunting opportunity
This is pretty accurate.
Quote from: dirtnap on April 27, 2023, 09:47:08 PM
Quote from: arkrem870 on April 27, 2023, 08:23:43 AM
Wish we could put the genie back in the bottle and these YouTube and social media idiots wouldn't have put our public land turkeys on blast. We wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm thoroughly pissed off. Public turkeys and turkey hunting has been bastardized for profit and ego. And for every dollar made and ego stroked the turkeys and public land hunters pay x10 in loss of hunting opportunity
This is pretty accurate.
I agree to. I've watched there shows and the first thing that comes to my mind is, won't these guys go get a job and actually do something to contribute to society instead of rambling on YouTube how your the greatest YouTube Turkey hunter ever. Makes my stomach turn thinking about it.
I get tickled how a resident hunter has paid for the states public hunting areas and should have first dibs when they just bought their first or second hunting license . I have put a lot of money in Texas non resident deer and turkey license and never once went public . Never once used an outfitter . I saw nonresidents this year fill their turkey tag and leave and two weeks later I am still trying here at home .I enjoy going to other states state parks and camping or hiking , man I hope they don't start raping me because I live across a line and didn't fund those parks . Beach , mountain or federal forest trips would be shot . I am struggling to think of anything other than hunting or fishing that I paid a higher amount because I reside in another state . Land of the free , like the other poster stated , be careful what you wish for .
A lot of stuff to get real about. I agree at least in part with everyone. But it's not just a OOSer deal; it's a HUNTER deal. Too many from anywhere and everywhere. A shot doesn't have to be fired in order for pressure to exact a toll. I complain and complain but truthfully every other booth in Nashville had tech making it easier for "anybody" to kill a gobbler. Our states allow baiting that makes it easier on "anybody" to kill gobbler(s). If it got harder again a lot of these FaceBook 'kill as' would stay in bed or at the very least limit their time in the woods. Not going to see it because too much $$$ being spent by the masses. Being from Mississippi I can certainly get the whole OOS deal but I also know these are usually dubbed NATIONAL Forests.... Rudeness knows no state lines. Opening myself up to ridicule but imho? Go backwards to older ways and a good many of these folks will go fishing or something....
The good old days are long gone. It may be time to limit hunter numbers in many states through quota hunts. Florida certainly does and the system is a problem in itself. It takes at least five years of preference points to draw a good Florida WMA. I live within 5 miles of a WMA. I drew it the first year it opened and killed a nice bird. I won't draw it again for years. I'm 76 so the system may beat me.
I'm still of the opinion when you limit NATIONAL FOREST to only residents you are asking for trouble and some federal judge to step in and say "no no" that's discriminatory. Surprised it hasn't happened yet. Bet it's coming. As I've already posted Land Between the Lakes in KY/TN does it right on this issue. They have quota hunts but the draws are fair to all. Residents of KY/TN don't get priority. As a Floridian if I draw a hunt there I still get hosed buying a state tag but the required extra LBL Hunter's Permit cost me the same as anyone else. It isn't called a National Recreation Area for nothing.
When over 67,000 attended the NWTF gala you knew there was a big hunter numbers problem coming. It's here and residents and OOS aren't going to be happy with the obvious solutions. Those that think screwing the OOS guy is going to work magic are in for a rude awakening. I'm guessing that in some states the amount of resident hunters has doubled in the last few years. That's the real problem.
This is a complicated issue. Decoys, blinds, better chokes, more lethal turkey loads, game cameras, significantly better and readily available information on turkey hunting and more and more hunters all are part of the issue.
Also, drought in some areas, increasing numbers of nonhuman predators, and continued loss of habitat as our population grows are all major issues affecting turkey numbers.
I live in SC which does host a good number of OOS hunters and fishermen. The turkey regs have changed recently. It has long cost a lot for an OOS hunter to hunt in SC. Recently, the laws were changed allowing only 1 bird the first 10 days of the season for all hunters. NR hunters are limited to 2 tags costing an additional $100 compared to 3 tags at 5$ for residents.
Are any of these changes going to have a real effect on the SC turkey population? I don't know, but I know there are more and more residents hunting turkeys.
Does anyone have any data showing the percentage of turkeys killed by NR hunters in their state? Does anyone have data on man days hunting for turkeys by NR/R in their state? I'm sure that is available somewhere.
While NR hunters on public land certainly may affect the quality of the hunt and increase kills, is that really the main issue rather than simply more overall hunters, less habitat, more animal predators and much more efficient hunting methods?
I began hunting OOS in AZ/NM more than 30 years ago. AZ has a 10% tag quota for NR.It's a 1 bird state. NM is over the counter and 2 tags. I do not mean to disparage the hunters of AZ or NM, but I've witnessed many times the locals 3-4 to a truck cruising up and down the logging roads with the passenger side guys locked and loaded and ready to shoot. I've come up on recent kills done in just this manner and even witnessed a guy get out of his vehicle to shoot a gobbler off a blacktop road.
I've been fairly successful over the years doing it the right way.
If quotas are instituted by more and more states, the residents will pay more and may themselves find it difficult to draw a tag.
I'm open to discuss anything to help preserve access to this great sport, but before we demonize OOS hunters, we need the help of biologists to insure the focus is on the right target.
Quote from: howl on April 27, 2023, 07:36:14 AM
An area I hunt was promoted by NWTF, because NWTF put in a half acre food plot on national forest. The population was in decline. There weren't a whole lot of birds left. The next year the harvest in the area skyrocketed. DNR published and bragged in the magazine. I had people waiting by my jeep for me to come out so they could go in. Waiting in line! The next year the bottom dropped out of the harvest numbers while pressure continued. The birds we locals were killing were mostly at end of season and limbhangers.
The pressure finally dropped off this year, I would guess because published harvest data showed no birds. The point I'm trying to make is turkeys cannot withstand that level of pressure. It isn't a question of fairness to the hunter. It's that turkey populations can't take the pressure.
Also one of us needs a new job before life passes him by.
This is a great point!
As turkey numbers decline, people move to more populated areas (populated with turkeys) and those areas are decimated. Then they move to the next area. Sooner or later, there will be nowhere to move to.
The leasing thing, to me, is a scourge.
We have an outfit here up north that is trying to capitalize on it. They're setting themselves up to profit from brokering between you, the hunter, and the farmer. They're nothing more than leeches.
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Demonizing OOS hunters is a fools game. For my last few OOS trips if I rented a vehicle I always requested one with the local state's tag. I may have been at someone's secret spot and was incognito. That is said tongue in cheek but is a good tip for any OOS hunters. That and always buying the damage waiver.
Amen to that! To the guy whining about work, kids, wife, gas, vacation time and everything else... no one cares!
You should have deleted that post awhile ago.
Im only skimming this cry baby OOS threads and not reading every whiny bc its all a little ridiculous. SMH
Quote from: AndyN on April 27, 2023, 12:57:13 PM
Nobody wants an all out ban on NRs. What they do want is a cap on sales. This avoids drastic increases in pressure and keep hunting enjoyable. Just because you're used to combat hunting 2 gobblers on 1k acres of public with 20 other people doesn't mean everyone should have to deal with that. This is a problem that has crept up state by state from the southeast. Their state goes to crap, changes are made too late, they move on to the next state and the cycle continues. There needs to be proactive, not reactive changes to regulations.
I totally disagree with that statement. Many do actually want a total ban on some areas. This is what we have seen in Arkansas with duck hunting and the new regulations on NR has proven to be a total nightmare.
On state land, NR cannot hunt two of the splits. The second split this year was an all out crap show. During the shortened NR hunting periods, the amount of hunters quadrupled, boat ramps were blocked 3 days before opening, all out CHAOS.
As an AR duck hunter, regulating NR is like opening pandora's box. You may think it's a great idea at first, but you have to really think beyond your narrow experiences to see what the potential fall out could be. I think MS may have gotten something figured out with the way their system is laid out though. The only problem that I have heard of is that they saw a huge uptick in NR when they were totally opened up. Many more than was typical when it was just open to everyone on the same date.
All I am saying is to be careful with what you wish for, it did not turn out well for AR duck hunting and I don't see it going away any time soon.
I'm going to drop out of these OOS discussions. They have long entered the dead horse category. I checked with some long established contacts and have my 2023 OOS just about in the bag. The days of posting pictures and mentioning locations has ended. Too bad. It was fun - at times.
Quote from: sixbird on April 28, 2023, 10:59:34 AM
As turkey numbers decline, people move to more populated areas (populated with turkeys) and those areas are decimated. Then they move to the next area. Sooner or later, there will be nowhere to move to.
This here is the bottom line... Many hunters with the attitude "I like to turkey hunt, there are no more turkeys where I live, I am going to travel to where there are some to hunt." More and more areas get over-hunted, no increase in bird numbers, and that cycle continues.
As turkey numbers decline, hunters are looking for birds to hunt. Hunting by nature is a fairly selfish activity, which can easily be seen by many of the posts on this thread.
Best solution is to improve habitat to produce more birds and wildlife in general. Programs to CRP where private land-owners are incentivized (financially) to keep ag lands fallow, or to implement habitat improvements on non-ag land.
Takes money... Lot's of it. It will have to come privately from hunters and hunting organizations... And most people will not get to hunt the areas that have been improved, cause they are privately owned.
As the population increases, and the access to land decreases, hunting will follow the path of European countries with hunting becoming more and more of an elitist activity... Not sure I see a solution to that?
Quote from: sixbird on April 28, 2023, 10:59:34 AMThe leasing thing, to me, is a scourge.
We have an outfit here up north that is trying to capitalize on it. They're setting themselves up to profit from brokering between you, the hunter, and the farmer. They're nothing more than leeches.
Just like with anything else, there will be a-holes... If it is a scam, with the Internet, word will get around, people will stop paying. If people are having good hunting experiences, and the land-owners are making money, it will continue.
And...
As far as the Internet, I have watched the "
Hunting Public." For the most part, they attempt not to spot burn, and post up fairly ethical hunting situations, using reasonably good hunting strategies. Yes, some people have seen this and think "Hey, I could do that too!"
But (outside of decreasing turkey numbers), by far and large one of the biggest factors leading to the increase of "traveling hunters" are apps such as
OnX or
Gaia. Apps that tell you where you can hunt, and give you a layout of the topography... With directions on how to get there. And everyone has access to these. They are wonderful apps... But with them, there are no longer the secret spots that were hard earned through hours if not years of scouting and investigation. These apps also have private landowners getting hit up by anyone and everyone to get access on their land to hunt.
The Internet and social media is undoubtedly causing some serious issues in our society... The changing attitudes and entitlement seen in hunting is a very small scale of what is generally happening in society, and falls pretty far down the list of concerns for me currently...
We have drag queens dancing for young children, and it is being advocated for boys to play in girls sports and use the girls locker-room, and we are complaining about how the Internet is ruining hunting?
Quote from: Marc on April 29, 2023, 10:39:49 AM
Quote from: sixbird on April 28, 2023, 10:59:34 AM
As turkey numbers decline, people move to more populated areas (populated with turkeys) and those areas are decimated. Then they move to the next area. Sooner or later, there will be nowhere to move to.
This here is the bottom line... Many hunters with the attitude "I like to turkey hunt, there are no more turkeys where I live, I am going to travel to where there are some to hunt." More and more areas get over-hunted, no increase in bird numbers, and that cycle continues.
As turkey numbers decline, hunters are looking for birds to hunt. Hunting by nature is a fairly selfish activity, which can easily be seen by many of the posts on this thread.
Best solution is to improve habitat to produce more birds and wildlife in general. Programs to CRP where private land-owners are incentivized (financially) to keep ag lands fallow, or to implement habitat improvements on non-ag land.
Takes money... Lot's of it. It will have to come privately from hunters and hunting organizations... And most people will not get to hunt the areas that have been improved, cause they are privately owned.
As the population increases, and the access to land decreases, hunting will follow the path of European countries with hunting becoming more and more of an elitist activity... Not sure I see a solution to that?
Quote from: sixbird on April 28, 2023, 10:59:34 AMThe leasing thing, to me, is a scourge.
We have an outfit here up north that is trying to capitalize on it. They're setting themselves up to profit from brokering between you, the hunter, and the farmer. They're nothing more than leeches.
Just like with anything else, there will be a-holes... If it is a scam, with the Internet, word will get around, people will stop paying. If people are having good hunting experiences, and the land-owners are making money, it will continue.
And...
As far as the Internet, I have watched the "Hunting Public." For the most part, they attempt not to spot burn, and post up fairly ethical hunting situations, using reasonably good hunting strategies. Yes, some people have seen this and think "Hey, I could do that too!"
But (outside of decreasing turkey numbers), by far and large one of the biggest factors leading to the increase of "traveling hunters" are apps such as OnX or Gaia. Apps that tell you where you can hunt, and give you a layout of the topography... With directions on how to get there. And everyone has access to these. They are wonderful apps... But with them, there are no longer the secret spots that were hard earned through hours if not years of scouting and investigation. These apps also have private landowners getting hit up by anyone and everyone to get access on their land to hunt.
The Internet and social media is undoubtedly causing some serious issues in our society... The changing attitudes and entitlement seen in hunting is a very small scale of what is generally happening in society, and falls pretty far down the list of concerns for me currently...
We have drag queens dancing for young children, and it is being advocated for boys to play in girls sports and use the girls locker-room, and we are complaining about how the Internet is ruining hunting?
Hey now!!! Leave GAIA out of this...don't want that lil secret out to the masses. :TooFunny: :-X :-X :-X
I have a different theory behind the competitiveness behind turkey hunting now though. I think it is the big BIG BIG names. Primos, MADD, Realtree, etc. Those are the hooping/hollaring, face painters, reaping, and social media OGs (not Oldgobblers). They post pics with half a dozen birds in Kansas/Texas with a reaping decoy and brag about 70+ yard shotguns. You don't see that with the big names in YT.
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 27, 2023, 12:31:07 PM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 27, 2023, 12:02:51 PM
Scott, where do you live that you can't find hunting within 3 hours due to crowds??
My standard drive to hunt (as I live where turkeys don't exist) is 3 plus hours away. However I drive it for single day hunts when that's all I have! I drove 6 hours to hunt one morning this year.
Sometimes you either want it or you don't.
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I'm in central KY, the public ground around me is in the northern, north eastern, or eastern part of the state for the most part. The closest place i have to go is an hour, the farthest place I've been is 2 hours and 40 something minutes almost in TN. Not quite 3 hours but close enough in my book. And every piece of public land that I've ventured to this year has had a massive increase of OOS hunters this season spanning from northern Ky to as far south East as you can get. And I'm not the only one noticing it. Opening day, I went out for an afternoon hunt, from 12:30 until around 2:30 I was driving trying to find a place that didn't have multiple vehicles at every gate, I found one gate that was empty and went in, had a bird coming in silently strutting, and here comes two guys walking through and go past me at 50 yards. Back to the truck and driving, spent until fly up doing the same thing I did since 12:30. Put over 400 miles on the truck and spanned 7 counties to find one public gate open. The next day I drove from 3am until 9 am to find a spot that I knew likely didn't hold birds, someone shot a turkey off the side of the blacktop road with me watching, back to driving. It's been the common theme this season. That's unfortunate that you have to travel that far, are you at least getting the opportunity to hunt when you get there?. Myself and other locals of these areas are not. Unless we just pull in behind them and give them the same courtesy that we've received.
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I'm in central Kentucky too. I'm a native hillbilly but now I'm just outside Lexington. We probably know some of the same public spots. There's one in particular about 20ish minutes from my house that used to be a pretty good spot and I've hunted it for many years but at this point it's just not worth my time. I've been in this area for a good while and the turkey hunters I know, myself included have all been amazed at how bad it's been the past few years and especially this year. Public land is overcrowded with oos hunters and when some of those folks aren't having luck on public they start cruising the backroads real slow with the windows down. At this point I'm either driving a few hours back to the mountains to hunt private or an hour and a half plus to hunt public that is so rough and god forsaken that few people venture there. It's the type of place you take a backup gun for your backup gun.
Always enjoy the threads with the implied threats. That's a law enforcement problem. We've had a few during this series of post mentioning trucks being vandalized. A little felony well worth protecting an area open to all. Pfttt!
Marc, I enjoyed reading your post. I agree.
I have said for many years, many years. That turkey hunting was too commercialized, it's pretty obvious now.