I'm trying to set up a turkey hunting trip with my son for his graduation. We're looking at Alabama or any other state that's open the first week of April. We have 4 days to hunt till he needs to b back for baseball. We can do public or outfitter. Don't really mind either one. Any recommendations? Thanks Ryan.
Would you care to adopt a plump turkey hunter?
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Thinking an outfitted Texas Rio hunt would be a blast !!!
If a little extra travel is doable, a Texas Hill Country Rio hunt with a good outfitter should provide some excellent turkey fun.
Anywhere you take your son will be a great graduation present. Way to go dad!
On another note.
I would think you should take somebody like me along to record all your activities and take photos etc as a keep sake. It may put me out a little but I'm sure i could free up some time if you want to take me along to document his graduation hunt.
Oh by the way my birthday is coming up in May!
This will be a great graduation gift. Excellent idea!!
Most will probably say Texas. I've been there done that, won't go back. However, it's worth it once.
I'd say stick to Alabama or Florida. Georgia is good too. I hunt Georgia most years on their opening weekend and have a blast.
Make a decision tho soon and get to planning. I'm sure outfitters are getting full. Northeast Georgia has some good public land that I've hunted in years past.
Keep us posted and best of luck when the time comes!
That time of year I'd go Texas
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Id do Florida if you have to stick to that week. Georgia public land is no longer open the first week in April but private is. Me and a buddy hunted with a great outfit down there twice and both of us killed on the first day (both trips). If interested shoot me a PM and ill give you the guys contact info.
Thanks for the info guys ! I'm not totally sure where we'll go but I don't think we'll have enough time to travel to Texas So I think it'll b Alabama or Georgia most likely. Gonna dig through as much info as I can find and decide from there. One thing I like about a private place is a lot of those places have fishing available as well. He loves to fish almost as much as hunting. Ryan
Do you live in Alabama? I'd literally look at a laundry list of states to travel to and hunt turkeys before Georgia or Alabama, and I live in SC. Hope you guys have an awesome time wherever you decide.
Not in Alabama, we live in northern Indiana. Trying to stay within 12 hrs drive of here. We have a short window of time between baseball games while he's on spring break. So we basically have April1-4 open. Obviously we're stuck with whatever states have an open season. As of right now the best close places are Illinois, Alabama and Georgia.
The limiting factor is the timing, there is only a short list of states that are open. I think my plan if in your shoes would be to look for a reputable outfitter in my price range with openings in your time slot than worry about the state unless you plan to dyi or public. There's good hunting in every state if you're on the right property
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Quote from: Hersh on December 27, 2022, 09:47:32 PM
Not in Alabama, we live in northern Indiana. Trying to stay within 12 hrs drive of here. We have a short window of time between baseball games while he's on spring break. So we basically have April1-4 open. Obviously we're stuck with whatever states have an open season. As of right now the best close places are Illinois, Alabama and Georgia.
How about western or southern IL?
Quote from: 76chevy on December 30, 2022, 07:55:30 PM
Quote from: Hersh on December 27, 2022, 09:47:32 PM
Not in Alabama, we live in northern Indiana. Trying to stay within 12 hrs drive of here. We have a short window of time between baseball games while he's on spring break. So we basically have April1-4 open. Obviously we're stuck with whatever states have an open season. As of right now the best close places are Illinois, Alabama and Georgia.
How about western or southern IL?
Southern Illinois opens on the 3rd tho. He wouldn't be able to max his time. But if chooses Illinois..he will need to go ahead and apply. I've got my application in for northern Illinois.
I just checked, I think Illinois would be an option. We can hunt April 3-5 and mayb a the morning of the 6th. Any good turkey outfitters down there or mayb we could do Shawnee National forest. I'm gonna do some more research on that this weekend.
Based on my experience hunting unseen and unscouted out of state public lands on a very short schedule, I would definitely go with an outfitter. In my experience on 2 out of state hunts, it took me must of the week to get oriented and locate some birds to hunt. In both cases I came back with hardly any sightings and an empty game bag.
This graduation is a huge milestone in his life. You most definitely want him to have the best chance possible to see birds, interact with them, and of course bag a nice gobbler. This would make for a lifetime hunt that you both would remember forever. With a short 4 day trip schedule, you really do not have much time to explore new territories, locate birds, and pattern their travel patterns. IMO... Your best bet to get into some nice birds and action and have a chance for your son to bag one is with an outfitter.
Now..with all that said.... I know that the outfitter route can be expensive. When I was growing up, we did not have money to blow on guided hunts or fishing trips. So I, like many others on this forum, learned to get satisfaction and cherish memories with my Dad based on just being outdoors and in the woods with him. We did not have to make a harvest to have a great day in the woods together. Maybe that is where you are with your son.
I commend you for choosing this as a graduation gift for him and wish you both the best of luck.
Bent Creek Lodge in Alabama would be fun.