Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

    Anyone here ever arrive at a Public Hunting Area Parking Area just a bit after the first 1 or 2 Vehicles and more or less- just get a Look that says- Don't  Park Here. And some  will be more vocal.
   Now we are talking Woodsroads and Trails that can lead  up to 1 1/2 miles in to the center of the Public Land from the large parking area.
    I remember one Morning a Vehicle pulled in right before me literally.  Both Sides of this Road could be hunted. So,I said - Which side of the Road do you want? I will take the other side. 
  Another time,I asked how far in are you hunting. A good 1/2 mile. Ok,I will walk in a mile.  Usually  this works out.  But sometimes, I won't  get an answer.  In that case,I will just walk in a good 1 1/4 miles in as quick as ,I can before they start Gobbling.
    About 95% of the time,I am parked first anyway and willing to work something out with another Turkey Hunter who pulls up before,I walk in. Never a problem.
     

If I'm beat, I'm gone to the next spot. I hate when people step on my toes, even if they only plan on going in a 1/2 mile and I plan on going in 1+. There's likely a reason they were giving you those looks you talked about, especially when you're going past them. What if they went in that half mile then heard a bird the direction you just went? I doubt that, had you not been there, they would say "eh, I don't want to go that far anyways." Always have a plan B or don't sleep in

If you beat me it's yours, I am not pulling in on a man. People do it to me all the time , sometimes they just start telling me.where they are going, others will ask where are you hunting. I always have the same answer , " wherever one gobbles". That's the reason I never pull in on anyone , a bird gobbles you can hear them for quite a ways. Just proper hunting etiquette to me, you beat me, I am moving on.

Quote from: Turkeyfever on March 07, 2024, 08:57:29 AM
If you beat me it's yours, I am not pulling in on a man. People do it to me all the time , sometimes they just start telling me.where they are going, others will ask where are you hunting. I always have the same answer , " wherever one gobbles". That's the reason I never pull in on anyone , a bird gobbles you can hear them for quite a ways. Just proper hunting etiquette to me, you beat me, I am moving on.

This. And i've had several folks get angry when I give the answer "wherever one gobbles". If they want to be a butt and come in on me and the bird i'm on anyways, I make sure they don't kill the turkey.

So if you guys arrive 1st to a 1000 acre piece of public land with only one access then you consider it yours for the day? Asking for a friend

Quote from: jb1069 on March 07, 2024, 10:09:38 AM
So if you guys arrive 1st to a 1000 acre piece of public land with only one access then you consider it yours for the day? Asking for a friend

I don't consider it mine, but just as I would drive away if someone was already parked there, I hope they do the same for me. Safety aside, if a bird fires up, I don't know where the other hunter is and I run the risk of ruining it for the both of us.

It has nothing to do with thinking you own the piece of ground and everything to do with respect. If you want to hunt there so bad, get up earlier and be the first one there.

If there is a truck there first, I'm not pulling in. I don't care if it's 100 acres or 1,000 acres. They beat me today, I'll be earlier tomorrow. It's all about courtesy. Opening day here last year, I took my dad on his farm that morning, I left there around 9 or so and decided to hit some public I typically hunt. Long story short, I made a 400 mile round trip across several counties and several WMA's and national forest land and only found one spot that didn't have a truck parked there, I went in to hunt and about an hour in, a couple guys walked in on me. I went home. Sadly, it's becoming an ever increasing part of the game here.


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If it's a 1000 ac or more and one person is parked before me, I'm going hunting...  Sorry ... I didn't drive all that way just to keep driving around.

Quote from: quavers59 on March 07, 2024, 07:45:05 AM
   
    I remember one Morning a Vehicle pulled in right before me literally.  Both Sides of this Road could be hunted. So,I said - Which side of the Road do you want? I will take the other side. 
 

  I would respectfully approach if this was the case... and let them pick as you did. I would hope we can all get along and share 5k acres to hunt.
If I did get some push back, I'd move along and go with plan B.. or C.

I never said that I expect the land to myself it's public land, I never argue with anyone. I am  just telling what I do in those situations, I move on. I am not getting on the same gobbler with another person nor putting myself or someone else at risk that I don't even know. Again that's just me , I usually also leave if I am there first unless I get a really good feeling about someone. I am real easy to get along with in other words!

I always try and talk to anyone I see entering a property where I intend to hunt, if they beat me there it is their spot for the day.

However often times we are able to hunt from the same parking area and not interfere with one another, happens more often than not on many places, now some spots are obviously limited and I would simply move on.

I killed a bird in Missouri a couple years ago, got to the paring spot and there was a car there, property is either side of the road, chatted with the young man for a few minutes and he said he was just sitting there trying to decide where to go, he asked if I had hunted there before and I said I was on birds the day before, he said it's all yours and went to another spot.

I told him it was his call as he was there first but he insisted and moved on.

It is pretty simple, don't be a D--K!

The public land here generally has a limited number of parking and access points and not many people want to mess with the places I usually go anyway. If someone is there before me or pulls up after me I'll be polite and ask which way they're headed. If they want to play coy that's fine. I'll just proceed as usual. I've found only a very small percentage of hunters go as far in as I do anyways. Most go a about a quarter mile in and sit down. I'm also surprised at how many grown men are afraid of the dark and will hang around the the parking area until day starts breaking.

Quote from: Greg Massey on March 07, 2024, 10:30:04 AM
If it's a 1000 ac or more and one person is parked before me, I'm going hunting...  Sorry ... I didn't drive all that way just to keep driving around.

.      ^ THIS

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 07, 2024, 11:21:01 AM
The public land here generally has a limited number of parking and access points and not many people want to mess with the places I usually go anyway. If someone is there before me or pulls up after me I'll be polite and ask which way they're headed. If they want to play coy that's fine. I'll just proceed as usual. I've found only a very small percentage of hunters go as far in as I do anyways. Most go a about a quarter mile in and sit down. I'm also surprised at how many grown men are afraid of the dark and will hang around the the parking area until day starts breaking.

The boys in my neck of the woods that come from out of state must be track stars or better at reading maps than me because I run in to tracks and trash 4 or 5 miles from the only parking spot I know of on some national forest I run around on. I've got a little something for them boys this year though, every other morning I get up at 4 am and strap 35 to 55 pounds on my back and go hike anywhere from 5 to 12 miles. Come turkey season, ain't nobody out walking me for a bird.


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Quote from: Greg Massey on March 07, 2024, 10:30:04 AM
If it's a 1000 ac or more and one person is parked before me, I'm going hunting...  Sorry ... I didn't drive all that way just to keep driving around.

I'll hunt in that situation. I guess this goes back to the Rangefinder/Binocular thread. I always have a pair of binoculars with me so I can check out any movement in the distance just to be sure somebody isn't moving in on me so I am on the safe side.

If there is a truck I move on. I don't care if it's 1000 acres you will both be on the same turkey at daylight more than likely.   Not worth it. I don't want to be near anyone else if I can help it.

It's not always about guys sleeping in or being lazy. For the past 12 years I've been taking my kids to school every morning so I often can't even get to spot until 9am or later. I became a 10am-noon killing machine. LOL
I'm not putting in the effort and driving to a location, finding another guy there because he has a different schedule than I do, and turning around to go home. If my options are hunt there or go home, I'm hunting.
I don't purposely try to cut anyone off and I'll actually avoid them as much as possible. If they are working a bird, I'm not trying to pull that bird away, but the moment that bird loses interest and moves off....that resets the game for me.
I've killed more than one bird sitting in silence and playing off what the other hunters are doing. If they were there first, they get the first try at him.

It's been a long time since I've run into any trouble on public ground with turkeys. Most guys are happy to talk shop for a bit and then part ways.

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 07, 2024, 11:41:17 AM

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 07, 2024, 11:21:01 AM
The public land here generally has a limited number of parking and access points and not many people want to mess with the places I usually go anyway. If someone is there before me or pulls up after me I'll be polite and ask which way they're headed. If they want to play coy that's fine. I'll just proceed as usual. I've found only a very small percentage of hunters go as far in as I do anyways. Most go a about a quarter mile in and sit down. I'm also surprised at how many grown men are afraid of the dark and will hang around the the parking area until day starts breaking.

The boys in my neck of the woods that come from out of state must be track stars or better at reading maps than me because I run in to tracks and trash 4 or 5 miles from the only parking spot I know of on some national forest I run around on. I've got a little something for them boys this year though, every other morning I get up at 4 am and strap 35 to 55 pounds on my back and go hike anywhere from 5 to 12 miles. Come turkey season, ain't nobody out walking me for a bird.


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I'll do the same. I'm not finding too much sign of people as far back as I'm going on the NF land I hunt but I'll pack a day pack and start hiking at about 4am to get as far as I can and stay as long as I can. There's been a few times I've hiked in and cold camped out of my hammock.

   The area,I am talking about is close to 7,000 Acres. The 4 main parking areas get crowded  by 4.30am. If 1 Man is there ahead of me,I am definitely going in.
   Usually though 95+% of the time,I am first . Back in the 1990sto around 2010 or so- it was feasible to find another parking area if you were late .
   Now Spring Turkey Hunting has grown in popularity so much- you might as well stay with that first parking area as the next one will just be getting Crowded as well. And no one wants to drive that 15miles home without even attempting  to Turkey Hunt.

I am ready for this, I have plans, B,C,D. I will get to plan A so early, if by chance someone is there before me, (they camped there), I'll have hours to shift gears.  I hunt Solo most of the time and want to avoid people. I'll just move on so I can enjoy a problem free pursuit of a Wiley old Gobbler.....

too many variables. i hunt a 4500ac spot with one access. plenty of room for more than one. another spot i go is controlled access with about 10 tags issued and only 8 parking spots. so in theory if they are all full some of you expect to just leave and go home? when hunting the controlled access area, there is no other spot to go. that tag is site specific. i have had many conversations in the morning and never had a problem working it out with other hunters

A crowded wma parking spot, or gate, to me, means turkeys. I'll come back around 2, and have the whole place to myself most times.

Let's look at this from another scenario, lets say this is a WMA draw hunt and from previous intel, this place has a bunch of gobblers and only 2 access parking areas with 10 permits allowed. As you pull up someone is already parked at one of the access points and left his vehicle, so are you leaving and going to the other access point where other vehicles are parked.  Are you driving back home or are you going to hunt?
                                                                                                     
This is a 3 day hunt and you have one of the 10 permits

Quote from: Greg Massey on March 07, 2024, 02:12:41 PM
Let's look at this from another scenario, lets say this is a WMA draw hunt and from previous intel, this place has a bunch of gobblers and only 2 access parking areas with 10 permits allowed. As you pull up someone is already parked at one of the access points and left his vehicle, so are you leaving and going to the other access point where other vehicles are parked.  Are you driving back home or are you going to hunt?

If it's a get drawn once in five years good for a couple days specific draw hunt and I'm 200 miles from home, I'm hunting. If it's the usual 40 or 50 miles from home and it's good for all season, I'm going else where and coming back later. There is absolutely nothing that I enjoy more than turkey hunting, on the same token, there is absolutely nothing that makes me as mad as the new breed of turkey hunters with no respect for the birds or other hunters. If I can avoid the headache and the others by going 20 miles up the road to a different patch of ground until they clear out, I'm doing it 100% of the time.


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Unfortunately or fortunately for me, I hunt mostly private. I avoid public, especially crowded public, I have no interest in competing against other hunters, especially Turkey hunters. Our sport is a one-on-one confrontation between us and him. I don't wish to add competition with other hunters into the mix. Safety is always on my mind, whether it's walking in to a roosted Tom in the dark, or setting up on a gobbling turkey. Just the way I choose to hunt, I realize others enjoy the public grounds and I have the utmost respect for those who do.....

Let's face it, humans are bad animals. Have a plan B/C/D if you are hunting public land. We dont have draw hunts up here, all unposted land is accessable. Just be courteous and respect the land owners. We run into" slobs" as well. Show up 5 minutes before flydown, when we have been there for an hour, and trash the place. We had the same 2 guys drive by a spot, open to the public, and park and rev their engine because we beat them there. Easy remedy is get out of bed, lol. We shot birds there both days they thought thy were harassing us. It just made the birds gobble and we pinpointed them with no calling or effort from us, other than getting out of bed early. My idea is that I won't let a " slob" ruin my day.  :z-twocents: Z

Not all parking areas, not all 1000 or 7000 acres tracts are created equal and it all varies based on access, turkey population, creeks or rivers, hills or mountains, etc.  I would say 95% of the time, we know if we are crowding someone or being crowded by someone.  People that don't care or justify their actions are the same type of people that cut you off in traffic, crowd you when fishing, etc.  Treat people with the same respect you want and you will most likely be fine.  If their momma and daddy did not teach them, it is highly unlikely you will. 

That's really tough.  Depends on overall access to the property, how lard it is, how many areas are even huntable. 

During covid one of my main spots got absurdly crazy.  10 vehicles per gate, crazy.  Not sure how that piece of public got blown up that much.  Drive another 45 minutes to get away from crowds, still expect at least one other opening day.


After opening week I will try to find a gate to myself.

Find another p-spot unless I see the individual getting gear ready. 

If I do run into someone heading in the same direction, will discuss and go a different direction with backup areas in mind. 

60K-acre romp-n-stomp to hunt if I do not draw a permit; even if I do find a p-spot to myself, I still see more hunters than turkeys.

If I do hear a gobble within a few hundred yards, will try to maneuver.  Otherwise, I'll sit tight to see if anything further out will come in or someone else bumps him my way.

I'm sure my calling is not the best, but already this year, I have had five hunters walk-in to my area in the last two hunts.  TSS to the face would suck!!

First of all, I haven't hunted anywhere where I have had or seen this kind of problem, so the whole concept is foreign to me. Again, my condolences to folks that are faced with these kinds of circumstances.

As others have stated, there are lots of variables to consider, though. Obviously, a primary consideration would be the number of vehicles in the parking lot relative to the size of the area.  Another would be the number of other options/areas available to hunt within a reasonable distance...or even the number of options available in terms of trails or directions one might go from a parking lot.  These are just a couple of considerations that come to mind.

If this destination required a long-distance trip with limited time and limited hunting options, I think I would consider just entering the area simply with the intention of making sure I did not interfere with any other hunter while at the same time evaluating the area for its potential for another time.  Entering an area at daybreak knowing that it might be saturated with hunters and inconspicuously listening for gobbles and evaluating sign without actually hunting would be something to possibly consider in those sorts of situations.

100% agree that where you live tends to dictate your outlook on all things turkey hunting. When those of us that live in the south leave we typically find fewer crowds and turkeys that are easier to kill vs the ones back home. Of course the crowds and turkeys are changing rapidly with the new fangled loose lip policies supported by turkey hunters.

Having started out my turkey hunting career on large FLA WMA's, I scouted out multiple areas. When I happened to get beat to a parking spot, I would walk over and ask where they were hunting. Sometimes they'd be polite, other times they would be nasty as if I were invading their private hunting lease. Having my hunts ruined many times by those that got their late, I would always try to avoid others.
But, the way I see it, it's PUBLIC land and not a private lease. You're going to have to deal with jerks, new hunters that don't know better, and people that just don't care. And you're also going to have fantastic hunts despite the odds. Such hunts make it all the sweeter when you score.
With that said, I avoided small WMA's where the odds were that your hunt was likely to get ugly. Likewise I avoided parking areas that only accessed small areas to hunt. Instead, I sought out parking areas that offered many directions to go and thousands of acres to hunt. Finally, most guys don't call that well and it's obvious that they aren't a turkey, owl or crow. So when I heard or saw another hunter, I went off in a different direction.
I've been walked up on many a time, I've had my decoys stalked and even shot, and I've had hunters not care and come into my setup and ruin my hunt.
If you're gonna hunt public land, you can expect to run into those kinds of people. If you don't like it, shell out the money for a lease. But don't expect for others to go somewhere else because you want to treat public land like your personal lease.

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This is all I am going to say.

Most of the attitudes here should not be disappointed in one bit when someone blows their hunt.

    A diversity of replys for sure. Personally, I live 50 miles from New York City.  So all areas can get Crowded right quick. Usually  Hunters spread out pretty good on these Public areas.
    Plenty of times,I will Park at 3.30am. Yup- that is my usual time to Park in a Public Parking area and have my Coffee. When,I walk out,I usually  have a good 6 or 7 Trucks parked all around my 20 year old Suv.

A great post here. I know of one piece of property I hunt out of state. It covers 1300 acres with one very small parking area. I've yet to have this happen but if someone beats me there and he/she is there when I pull up...I'm asking if he wants the left or right side. If he's familiar he will know. If he's not feeling it, I'll move on. 1,300 acres is more than I would ever walk in one hunt.

There are a lot of public areas I hunt that are just a few hundred acres and one lot. I see a vehicle there. I'm moving on down the road. It's a courtesy move. I'm also very easy to get along with and would be willing to work with someone if they pull up and the vibe is right. Especially if they are on this board lol.

If I'm ever knowingly sharing public. As in you take this half, I'll take the other half...I'm not moving in on a bird in his half and I would trust him to do the same for me. But that would be a gamble and luckily I've not had to do that because I know of plenty other spots to roll to.

One example...last year, I was out of state hunting public and no cars in the main parking area. There was no gate. This was mid morning. I get out. Walk a few hundred yards and see a blind in the edge of a field with a truck parked right beside it. Literally right beside it. I assumed and hope it was a handicap hunter. I backed out and found another spot.

Everyone stay safe out there this year. I can't wait for April!

The relatively small tracks of public land I hunt I always try to have plan B,C,D,E, etc if you beat me to it. If we meet up same time I'll friendly access the situation face to face. Just not enough ground for 2 hunters on the state areas I hunt.

I hunt the same 3 pieces of private land every year, so if I see another truck or hunter, I'm calling the game warden.

Quote from: Turkeyfever on March 07, 2024, 08:57:29 AM
If you beat me it's yours, I am not pulling in on a man. People do it to me all the time , sometimes they just start telling me.where they are going, others will ask where are you hunting. I always have the same answer , " wherever one gobbles". That's the reason I never pull in on anyone , a bird gobbles you can hear them for quite a ways. Just proper hunting etiquette to me, you beat me, I am moving on.

This is how I am as well.

Turkey etiquette varies across the US obviously according to these responses.  I try to treat people like I want to be treated in all aspects of life.  It keeps drama to a minimum.

I don't care how big the piece of property might be or how difficult it might be to find another access point, if someone is parked there when I pull up I am leaving and going somewhere else. It is the same thing I would want them to do for me. Yes, the property may be big enough to allow multiple hunters but when you are starting from the same spot, your odds of running into them go way up. If it is the only public in the area, I will walk the perimeter to another access or drive to the other access if possible.

I may not end up in the ideal spot but I very rarely see another hunter when afield, even when I know they are there.

Find another spot, simple as that. If you don't wake up earlier than the guy that got there first that's your fault. Snooze you lose

That's our biggest problem here in Virginia especially from PA hunters they see you parked there and still pull in and park even though there are 2 guys there then there buddy shows up the first time they said hello and walked right in on us so it got verbal next morning they did it again this time it went from verbal to picking himself up off the ground I try to get along with everyone if someone is parked there I'm not stopping but Pennsylvania hunters definitely are the rudest group of hunters I ever delt with

Quote from: sippy cup on March 18, 2024, 08:38:21 PM
That's our biggest problem here in Virginia especially from PA hunters they see you parked there and still pull in and park even though there are 2 guys there then there buddy shows up the first time they said hello and walked right in on us so it got verbal next morning they did it again this time it went from verbal to picking himself up off the ground I try to get along with everyone if someone is parked there I'm not stopping but Pennsylvania hunters definitely are the rudest group of hunters I ever delt with

You should try trout fishing with them...its like take your kid fishing day


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Did they have on the orange hats on?

I move on. 99% of the time for me, I don't know exactly where the bird is ( willing to bet this is true 99% of the time). I'm going to the gobble. If by some one in a million chance you arrive just as two birds sound off in different directions then happy to work it out but really what's the chance of that? If you walk in behind me citing the ol "it's public" mantra then don't get your feelings hurt when I'm hunting the gobbler too. Now what we have to understand is that on a clear day you may can hear a bird 1000yds- that's a lot of territory using a parking spot as the center- so it's not safe to assume that the other guy parked 750 yards down the road from you hasn't heard and is not currently maneuvering on the same Turkey. This is where intelligence comes into play. Don't stalk Turkey sounds. Move in , set up, call. If dude does the same then it becomes what the turkey chooses to do. Be courteous. If you arrive on the scene and another dude is already there he probably didn't " park behind you and follow you in".

Well, I know I am very blessed, because I pull up unlock the gate to 1,000 acres and then lock it behind me. There is no other easy access and it's all private. Even my best Out of state spot is behind locked gates and several hundred acres of high fence. When I do hunt open public, i usually move on if even a single vehicle is there. If some one is at the vehicle I stop and talk. If they are pleasant I ask if we can spit up the area (assuming it's a big area). I feel comfortable saying 80% of the time it works out. I believe in the goodness of people and most hunters are good reasonable people.  There's always an arsehole, I agree some areas are more densely populated with a-holes. I just move on. It never hurts to talk.

Saturday late morning I drove around an area and checked it for vehicles. A couple access spots lead into the same big block. Everyone had left for the morning so I unloaded my bike and proceeded. I got in the area I wanted to start and fired up a hen right off. Within seconds a gobbler hammered. I saw him through the woods out in front of me. He started skirting me to the right. When he got in a bunch of brush I repositioned. I got a glimpse of him at about 40 yards. He then went back left. And was well in range just in a bunch of junk and I was catching glimpses. I had a window and took the shot at about 35 yards and stoned him. I looked up through the woods about 120 yards away....At my 10 o'clock and another hunter was walking away. I was met at my truck by the hunter that dropped off the other hunter in the area and I took a cussing over the close call.    No way I could know the other hunter was there.....if a vehicle was there I would have moved on.

Quote from: arkrem870 on March 19, 2024, 09:14:23 AM
Saturday late morning I drove around an area and checked it for vehicles. A couple access spots lead into the same big block. Everyone had left for the morning so I unloaded my bike and proceeded. I got in the area I wanted to start and fired up a hen right off. Within seconds a gobbler hammered. I saw him through the woods out in front of me. He started skirting me to the right. When he got in a bunch of brush I repositioned. I got a glimpse of him at about 40 yards. He then went back left. And was well in range just in a bunch of junk and I was catching glimpses. I had a window and took the shot at about 35 yards and stoned him. I looked up through the woods about 120 yards away....At my 10 o'clock and another hunter was walking away. I was met at my truck by the hunter that dropped off the other hunter in the area and I took a cussing over the close call.    No way I could know the other hunter was there.....if a vehicle was there I would have moved on.

That is one of those cases where the only way to look at it is that "sh*t happens"...
Moral of the story:  If someone doesn't want someone else to accidently come in on them when hunting somewhere, that someone best make sure it is obvious that he is there to start with.   :icon_thumright:

If I was there you'd have known it. I would not spook your gobbler if I could help it and I am ok with you killing him if he comes to you, but I am totally against getting shot (once in a life time is enough). I would have owl hooted, made a really bad people noise like coughing, whistled or something soon as I heard you call or seen you. Push come to shove I would have just snuck off and let you have at it. If I had been there that long and not killed him, that's my fault. I have no issue with competing hunters killing a bird legitimately. If the guy cussed you for what he believed to be a safety issue then take and and apologize. If he's just sore over a turkey then it's his problem, quietly get in your truck and leave.

Quote from: arkrem870 on March 19, 2024, 09:14:23 AM
Saturday late morning I drove around an area and checked it for vehicles. A couple access spots lead into the same big block. Everyone had left for the morning so I unloaded my bike and proceeded. I got in the area I wanted to start and fired up a hen right off. Within seconds a gobbler hammered. I saw him through the woods out in front of me. He started skirting me to the right. When he got in a bunch of brush I repositioned. I got a glimpse of him at about 40 yards. He then went back left. And was well in range just in a bunch of junk and I was catching glimpses. I had a window and took the shot at about 35 yards and stoned him. I looked up through the woods about 120 yards away....At my 10 o'clock and another hunter was walking away. I was met at my truck by the hunter that dropped off the other hunter in the area and I took a cussing over the close call.    No way I could know the other hunter was there.....if a vehicle was there I would have moved on.

We had that happen a lot down here last year, the out of state hunters would come in a group, with different vehicles and one would leave a tent popped up at a gate, one would leave a vehicle at another gate, and then both of those would get in a separate vehicle with someone else and go hunt a different area. They would have you believe someone was there when in fact, they would be miles down the road. Or they'd load 3 or 4 deep in a vehicle and drop guys out at gates while the driver was going elsewhere and you'd never know they were there


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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 19, 2024, 11:39:34 AM
We had that happen a lot down here last year, the out of state hunters would come in a group...load 3 or 4 deep in a vehicle and drop guys out at gates while the driver was going elsewhere and you'd never know they were there

As a travelling turkey hunter myself who most often goes with multiple other hunters in a single vehicle, that is a common approach for us.  Unless we are all hunting together...which is a counter-productive strategy in most cases...we will almost always do what you are talking about.  While I agree that it can create problems for folks not knowing that someone else is around, it is unfortunately a fact of life in those situations. 

Quote from: sippy cup on March 18, 2024, 08:38:21 PM
That's our biggest problem here in Virginia especially from PA hunters they see you parked there and still pull in and park even though there are 2 guys there then there buddy shows up the first time they said hello and walked right in on us so it got verbal next morning they did it again this time it went from verbal to picking himself up off the ground I try to get along with everyone if someone is parked there I'm not stopping but Pennsylvania hunters definitely are the rudest group of hunters I ever delt with

Pennsylvania is a dump with nothing on it but jerks and a couple turkeys. Definitely don't ever hunt Pennsylvania!

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 19, 2024, 11:39:34 AM
We had that happen a lot down here last year, the out of state hunters would come in a group, with different vehicles and one would leave a tent popped up at a gate, one would leave a vehicle at another gate, and then both of those would get in a separate vehicle with someone else and go hunt a different area. They would have you believe someone was there when in fact, they would be miles down the road. Or they'd load 3 or 4 deep in a vehicle and drop guys out at gates while the driver was going elsewhere and you'd never know they were there

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That's not just an out of state practice.  I know quite a few guys in multiple states that use this practice. 

Saves gas = saves money.  Certainly does make it harder to know where others are, but I can't recall it ever being an issue with me.  If we run into each other, we just give a wave and a nod and move on. 

There is a ton of information missing from the OP, but I will take a 'general' swing at the situation:

There is a HUGE problem with how turkey hunting has shifted IMO.  The phrase "it's public" is used as some kind of permission slip to be a jerk in most situations (not all), but I do tend to agree with limitations.

Here is how I take on that situation.  There is only one...and I mean ONE...situation where I may interact with a person who beat me to a gate.  If I roosted a bird and got beat, I would show them on a map where I roosted and ask them if they mind if I go in for a roost only hunt.  If the bird gives me the slip, I will be out of the area as quietly and quickly as possible to not spook the bird or ruin their hunt.

If they don't like the idea, then I move on.  End of story.

As a general comment though, there have been several guys who question the 1,000 acres behind the gate.  As most turkey hunters know, that really ain't that much real estate in the turkey woods unless you have a flock pretty much drilled down to a certain location or some previous history in that exact area.  If that much acreage seems like a large area to you, then you must hunt way differently than I do, as covering 10-15 miles happens more often than I care to think of.

Also, I have had guys try the "I will hunt one side of the road" before and when I was young, I agreed to that nonsense a couple of times.  Got burned on both occasions by seeing a silhouette of a man walking away from a tom that just busted out of a tree.  If I can prevent that, I will ask to be left to my own devices and they can try to beat me the next morning.

It may be upsetting to some, but there needs to be some honor amongst us.  The first guy at the gate runs the show.  He is the one who sacrificed his sleep, planned him routine, and worked harder than you.  It was you that decided to sleep in and stop for coffee that prevented you from achieving your goal, therefore, you are owed nothing more than respectfully being declined.

Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

Good answer, Spurs and I agree here. First there hunts. If you drive a long way to hunt and still got "beat" that is still your problem. As a flip side, if I live across the street from the access, it does not give me any additional "rights" so flipping and saying you drove a long way like it means something to anyone else is kinda pointless.I don't mean anyone disrespect- it's just my opinion. Obviously, the " it's public, open for everyone " will carry the day but it's just a respect thing for me. Just my opinion and perhaps not a popular one but it's how I feel.

Quote from: eggshell on March 19, 2024, 08:20:33 AM
Well, I know I am very blessed, because I pull up unlock the gate to 1,000 acres and then lock it behind me. There is no other easy access and it's all private. Even my best Out of state spot is behind locked gates and several hundred acres of high fence. When I do hunt open public, i usually move on if even a single vehicle is there. If some one is at the vehicle I stop and talk. If they are pleasant I ask if we can spit up the area (assuming it's a big area). I feel comfortable saying 80% of the time it works out. I believe in the goodness of people and most hunters are good reasonable people.  There's always an arsehole, I agree some areas are more densely populated with a-holes. I just move on. It never hurts to talk.

This about sums it up for me. The last thing I will do is have an altercation in the woods with guns fighting over a turkey. I myself can beat anyone to a spot if I had too, I used to show up to work an hour early everyday. I just am not a "minute man". I have only met a few hunters (you can count them on one hand) in the woods while turkey hunting. Three of these hunters are now close friends. We worked out where/when we might cross paths, and it worked out great. One of the clubs I belong too has only 2 turkey hunters. It primarily is a Deer Club. The other hunter is 80 years Old. He is my dear friend, battling cancer. He loves to set up decoys on a power line where there is always birds. I will not go anyway near this spot, It is his, close to his car, he loves it. He couldn't hunt last year due to treatments, I never walked near this area out of respect. I gave him one of my turkeys, he loves to eat wild game. I wanted to share this to show that confrontations can lead to a positive ending, there are good people in our fraternity. Life itself nowadays is a battle, turkey hunting is our retreat from this difficult grind. I pray that all of us here enjoy the turkey woods now and for many years to come. Be safe.....

Hunted a WMA for the first two days.  Had a plan A and a plan B.  Headed to plan A.  Went in and there was a guy where I wanted to hunt, turned around and went to plan B. Guy was parked on the other side of the road (which means to everyone that has ever hunted there) that he was hunting the side of the road he was parked on (different zone - illegal to cross road and hunt).  I pulled in and got out to talk to him.  He said he was hunting where I was going and was already set up there (must have had a blind from the prior day before opener). I said no problem, you pulled in here first so you got it, but everyone is gonna think you are hunting the other area, you should pull in here and I pointed to where I was parked.  He said there is nowhere to park there (umm, I was parked there).  I said okay, do what you want.  I almost hope someone else walked in on him - any experienced hunter in the area would have thought he was hunting the other side.  I went to Plan C, heard nothing and went to Plan D and worked our way to a bird. 

   I can see it is different  in many States as far as how many will access Public Lands.  Public Lands are crowded in South Eastern New York State. It is what it is.   You have to get out there. Staying Home is no option as Tomorrow  will be Crowded also.

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 08:45:37 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Really I was just joking.

I don't think I've ever been 2nd to a gate.

But it could take someone who lived further away with two toddlers a lot more work to get to the spot as say someone who is retired and lives down the road.  So work hardly factors into it.

I think everyone would like to have the property to themselves.  But I think there's a whole bunch of states where that's just not a reality.

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Quote from: arkrem870 on March 19, 2024, 09:14:23 AM
Saturday late morning I drove around an area and checked it for vehicles. A couple access spots lead into the same big block. Everyone had left for the morning so I unloaded my bike and proceeded. I got in the area I wanted to start and fired up a hen right off. Within seconds a gobbler hammered. I saw him through the woods out in front of me. He started skirting me to the right. When he got in a bunch of brush I repositioned. I got a glimpse of him at about 40 yards. He then went back left. And was well in range just in a bunch of junk and I was catching glimpses. I had a window and took the shot at about 35 yards and stoned him. I looked up through the woods about 120 yards away....At my 10 o'clock and another hunter was walking away. I was met at my truck by the hunter that dropped off the other hunter in the area and I took a cussing over the close call.    No way I could know the other hunter was there.....if a vehicle was there I would have moved on.

IMO that's on the other guy. If I see someone coming I'll get on the crow call or owl call and let them know I'm around. A little shave and a hair cut on the crow call and they'll get it. The fact the guy met you at your truck is pretty ballsy. That's not a good idea around here

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 20, 2024, 09:42:17 PM

Quote from: arkrem870 on March 19, 2024, 09:14:23 AM
Saturday late morning I drove around an area and checked it for vehicles. A couple access spots lead into the same big block. Everyone had left for the morning so I unloaded my bike and proceeded. I got in the area I wanted to start and fired up a hen right off. Within seconds a gobbler hammered. I saw him through the woods out in front of me. He started skirting me to the right. When he got in a bunch of brush I repositioned. I got a glimpse of him at about 40 yards. He then went back left. And was well in range just in a bunch of junk and I was catching glimpses. I had a window and took the shot at about 35 yards and stoned him. I looked up through the woods about 120 yards away....At my 10 o'clock and another hunter was walking away. I was met at my truck by the hunter that dropped off the other hunter in the area and I took a cussing over the close call.    No way I could know the other hunter was there.....if a vehicle was there I would have moved on.

IMO that's on the other guy. If I see someone coming I'll get on the crow call or owl call and let them know I'm around. A little shave and a hair cut on the crow call and they'll get it. The fact the guy met you at your truck is pretty ballsy. That's not a good idea around here

Exactly. I can tell you that if the guy met me at my truck after being that stupid to put himself in that situation to begin with and then tried to cuss me, he'd either think I was a drill Sargent or a sailor. He'd hear words that would make Samuel L Jackson blush.


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Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 08:45:37 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Really I was just joking.

I don't think I've ever been 2nd to a gate.

But it could take someone who lived further away with two toddlers a lot more work to get to the spot as say someone who is retired and lives down the road.  So work hardly factors into it.

I think everyone would like to have the property to themselves.  But I think there's a whole bunch of states where that's just not a reality.

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You are talking about personal decisions that no one can affect but yourself.  The guy with 2 toddlers made that decision and chose to be a father.  Also, that old retired guy put in his time.  If I get beat to a gate by a person, presumably in their 60s, you dang right I'm rolling to the next gate.  I have kids myself, but if they are the reason I got beat, then I move to the next spot. 

What you are referring to is what is wrong with so much of the world today.  Everyone thinks they deserve to have a ranking system that is dependent on their own good/bad decisions.  Just because someone made a conscience decision to walk a certain path does not give them some kind of special pass.  There is sacrifice in everything and those sacrifices need to be honored.

Quote from: Spurs on March 21, 2024, 07:55:09 AM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 08:45:37 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Really I was just joking.

I don't think I've ever been 2nd to a gate.

But it could take someone who lived further away with two toddlers a lot more work to get to the spot as say someone who is retired and lives down the road.  So work hardly factors into it.

I think everyone would like to have the property to themselves.  But I think there's a whole bunch of states where that's just not a reality.

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You are talking about personal decisions that no one can affect but yourself.  The guy with 2 toddlers made that decision and chose to be a father.  Also, that old retired guy put in his time.  If I get beat to a gate by a person, presumably in their 60s, you dang right I'm rolling to the next gate.  I have kids myself, but if they are the reason I got beat, then I move to the next spot. 

What you are referring to is what is wrong with so much of the world today.  Everyone thinks they deserve to have a ranking system that is dependent on their own good/bad decisions.  Just because someone made a conscience decision to walk a certain path does not give them some kind of special pass.  There is sacrifice in everything and those sacrifices need to be honored.

And the point went right over your head.  You're the one that said who ever put in the most work should have priority.  Maybe what you meant to say is "who ever got their first".  Work has little to do with it.

But again, you're talking circles.  You're trying to justify something that's nothing but a personal opinion.  "Honor sacrifices".  You can sacrifice more and still show up to the gate 2nd.  That's the point.

Personally, I don't want to share a gate, so I will move on. 

And it's my problem because that's what I believe, but it's not what the guy busting the roosted bird I was set up on believes.

Biggest reason not to stop and park:

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/hunter-shot-head-body-by-another-hunter-flagler-county-police-say/GEWNX425AZG5VETKAH5YI44TOM/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook

So, does everyone that says "if they show up first then the property is theirs for the day" or if they show up 2nd "they will just move on" apply this same practice to showing up at the boat ramp? And please don't tell me this is all about safety. Safety is just the excuse being used to want everything to yourself. Moving to a different spot is very courteous and respected but it isn't always an option for everyone. 

I hope you are joking ^

Please explain how you see the difference. ^

Wmas in different states are different sizes some are small and some are huge. I think that has to come into play some how.

Quote from: jb1069 on March 21, 2024, 12:10:44 PM
Please explain how you see the difference. ^

There are some situations that were described earlier in this thread referencing this.  I have been to places where there was literally 3,000+ acres behind a gate with a 4 mile long road that ended at private.  Sure, that situation would warrant multiple people.  The places I am referencing are not that. 

I had a guy just last year pull up to me at a gate on a small ridge that is less than a half mile long.  Had a bird there the morning before and I had to jet out early to make it to work.  Dude actually gave me attitude when I ask him to let me hunt it by myself.  This was on a Wednesday half way through season and I knew for a fact there were 4-5 more gates further down the road with twice as much territory behind them.  These are the guys I am referencing when I explain my disgust for laziness and some sort of entitlement plainly because it is public.

Quote from: ruination on March 21, 2024, 08:36:22 AM

Quote from: Spurs on March 21, 2024, 07:55:09 AM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 08:45:37 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Really I was just joking.

I don't think I've ever been 2nd to a gate.

But it could take someone who lived further away with two toddlers a lot more work to get to the spot as say someone who is retired and lives down the road.  So work hardly factors into it.

I think everyone would like to have the property to themselves.  But I think there's a whole bunch of states where that's just not a reality.

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You are talking about personal decisions that no one can affect but yourself.  The guy with 2 toddlers made that decision and chose to be a father.  Also, that old retired guy put in his time.  If I get beat to a gate by a person, presumably in their 60s, you dang right I'm rolling to the next gate.  I have kids myself, but if they are the reason I got beat, then I move to the next spot. 

What you are referring to is what is wrong with so much of the world today.  Everyone thinks they deserve to have a ranking system that is dependent on their own good/bad decisions.  Just because someone made a conscience decision to walk a certain path does not give them some kind of special pass.  There is sacrifice in everything and those sacrifices need to be honored.

And the point went right over your head.  You're the one that said who ever put in the most work should have priority.  Maybe what you meant to say is "who ever got their first".  Work has little to do with it.

But again, you're talking circles.  You're trying to justify something that's nothing but a personal opinion.  "Honor sacrifices".  You can sacrifice more and still show up to the gate 2nd.  That's the point.

Personally, I don't want to share a gate, so I will move on. 

And it's my problem because that's what I believe, but it's not what the guy busting the roosted bird I was set up on believes.

No, you just have the thought in your head that because someone has a different lifestyle, they should get some kind of brownie points if they show up late.  Turkey hunting is turkey hunting and life is life.  Trying to intertwine those two activities is what you seem to be over looking.

If someone puts in the work, gets up early, gets to the gate first, they when the day.  If someone else has a late night with the kids, hits the snooze 3 times, stops by the diner for an egg sandwich, and is 2nd...move it on down the line.  First guy put in the work that day.  Nothing else matters. 

Like I said previously, semantics...but it all boils down to work kills turkeys more consistently than any other thing out there.  Wake up early, go to be late, walk further, study maps, learn behaviors, read the weather, etc.  Nothing beats hard work in the long run.

So according to what I am reading here......There's 2 kinds of people in this world.......Givers and Takers. Which one are you?

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Quote from: runngun on March 21, 2024, 01:59:17 PM
So according to what I am reading here......There's 2 kinds of people in this world.......Givers and Takers. Which one are you?

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To me, that is an over signification.  There are always circumstances to weigh and conditions to mull over before making decisions.

The biggest take away is to have respect no matter who makes it to the gate first and understand that it is ultimately outside of your control.  All I can do is request that someone move on, but if they chose to hunt that area with me, I just have to do whatever I can to make my approach aggressive and be the one who walks out with a gobbler over my shoulder.

Absolutely. My statement was not intended to be a put down to anyone. Just trying to get folks to take a moment and think.

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I will introduce one more parameter to this discussion. Are we more concerned that someone will kill "our turkey" or at least mess it up or are we more concerned about safety? My personal opinion is that subconsciously losing the kill is what is more the concern here. I wonder if sometimes hunters don't confuse enjoying the hunt with killing as a litmus test to a good hunt. In my younger years I would be right there in the mix, because I wanted the kill more than the peace. Time has a way of teaching us to grow and be content in whatever we have. Jesus said, "blessed are the peace makers".  I tell young people all the time it is way more fun to live at peace than at war. So ask yourself before your next hunt, "am I killing or am I hunting". If your hunting then why even be concerned with that highly popular gate. Go on down the road and find a peaceful spot and enjoy your day in the woods, maybe you'll even find a gobbler. At the end of the day you go home way more relaxed. Decades ago an old sage told me I would rather have one gobbler to myself then compete with 10 hunters over 5 gobblers. I will kill the one more often then the many. Sure I hunt to call to turkeys, but not at the expense of my safety or happiness, I choose peace. Peace may mean politely making a deal at the gate or it might mean moving on down the road, but peace never has contention and anger as a partner, the two do not go together. Hunting should be what we do to get away from life's stress, why make it stressful too?

Eggshell at no point in my personal renderings did I advocate confrontation/ entering into a dangerous situation- but I would like to add that if you don't hold folks accountable in some way they believe it's the right way to act or even worse use anger, mean mugg attitude as a tactic to get their way. This applies in many subjects outside of the Public Land gate. However, you are absolutely correct in seeking peace- I will as well but sometimes peace comes because those that might not choose to cultivate peace know the consequences of messing with those that do.

I dunno, I find a lot of these new fellers amusing. Sometimes, if I get done early enough with my hunt, I like driving around and getting some good chuckles in.
Running around like they don't have a clue, 17 cameras stuck on them like they are a surveillance camera pole. You talk to them, and all they want to tell you is what states they have killed in. People have lost their minds trying to be liked and followed. It's sad but extremely amusing at the same time. It ain't about hunting turkeys for these folks. It's about hunting attention.
I will take a peaceful day in the woods with zero gobbles compared to running around elbow to elbow with those wackadoos

Good-looking and Platinum level member of the Elitist club

Prospector, I understand and I agree. I guess that's the problem with internet post and chats, true meaning is often lost in perception and lack of detail. In my mind I was thinking how I will react if I am not the first one to arrive or was not already hunting. I agree with holding people accountable for bad behavior, but I won't ruin  a day I meant to enjoy a little time away from life's stress over a jerk. I'm too old to get physical with anyone but they will know how I feel if they cross a line. I apologize if it seemed like I was calling anyone out....I wasn't. I was simply trying to say to me I am out to have an enjoyable day and I can do that without drama or killing a gobbler.

Quote from: Happy on March 21, 2024, 05:07:57 PM
I dunno, I find a lot of these new fellers amusing. Sometimes, if I get done early enough with my hunt, I like driving around and getting some good chuckles in.
Running around like they don't have a clue, 17 cameras stuck on them like they are a surveillance camera pole. You talk to them, and all they want to tell you is what states they have killed in. People have lost their minds trying to be liked and followed. It's sad but extremely amusing at the same time. It ain't about hunting turkeys for these folks. It's about hunting attention.
I will take a peaceful day in the woods with zero gobbles compared to running around elbow to elbow with those wackadoos

Good-looking and Platinum level member of the Elitist club

It's worth noting, not everyone who films wants "likes" and "follows".  I know quite a few people who have been filming hunts for years and have no desire to be a social media star.  I have been filming for years and all my videos are private.  Only close friends and family are able to see them. 

Point is, if you see someone with a camera, it doesn't mean they are a YouTuber. 

Eggshell, that is exactly what I am saying too.  I go to the woods to escape and think about nothing but what I'm hunting.  If I know that someone is in my block, I am constantly worrying about what they are doing and how are they going to mess me up. 

My personal litmus for a good hunt is just getting a tom to respond.  A successful hunt is walking out with one across my shoulder.  And a bad one is when someone messes me up.

There ain't a turkey in the woods gobbling that others don't know about, so claiming them is like claiming the wind. 

Quote from: Spurs on March 21, 2024, 01:24:05 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 21, 2024, 08:36:22 AM

Quote from: Spurs on March 21, 2024, 07:55:09 AM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 08:45:37 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 20, 2024, 04:53:34 PM

Quote from: Spurs on March 20, 2024, 03:45:35 PM


Now I do not do the mean mugging, I will talk to everyone with respect, and if there is another option, will discuss how we may tackle an area together/separately.  But if someone gets upset because they are asked to leave a public spot after getting beat, that sounds like a YOU problem and not a ME problem.

Kinda sounds like a you problem since you're the one asking someone to leave.

Work is relative, too.

I don't see how it's my problem as my plan worked out and you should be understanding.  Therefore, your problem to figure out what plan b is...which any public land hunting should have at a minimum 4-5 backups...so not really a problem per se, but a less desirable option.  But that's semantics.

No, work is not relative.  Personal life decisions does not factor in either if that is what you are referring to.  Nor does scouting, pop up blinds, grand pappy's old spot, or any other excuse on the day of the hunt.  Hunting is hunting and life is life. 

If you are working on a night shift, get off at 4, make it to the gate at 4:30, and that's your excuse....sorry, you should be have backups on top of backups.

If you walked that same road for a week straight for the opener, cleared out every twig off the train, did your duty and picked up trash...that was yesterday and you got beat. 

There is absolutely no excuse.

But I want to stress that I have and will NEVER tell someone to get lost or mean mug them.  I've been dog cussed, even when I was the first to the gate.  I treat everyone with respect.  I've had, on many occasions, people hear me out, just to come right in with me and screw me up.  That's all part of it though. 

Embrace the suck and be thankful that I wake up just to have the same conversation the next day.  :character0029::character0029: :character0029:

Really I was just joking.

I don't think I've ever been 2nd to a gate.

But it could take someone who lived further away with two toddlers a lot more work to get to the spot as say someone who is retired and lives down the road.  So work hardly factors into it.

I think everyone would like to have the property to themselves.  But I think there's a whole bunch of states where that's just not a reality.

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You are talking about personal decisions that no one can affect but yourself.  The guy with 2 toddlers made that decision and chose to be a father.  Also, that old retired guy put in his time.  If I get beat to a gate by a person, presumably in their 60s, you dang right I'm rolling to the next gate.  I have kids myself, but if they are the reason I got beat, then I move to the next spot. 

What you are referring to is what is wrong with so much of the world today.  Everyone thinks they deserve to have a ranking system that is dependent on their own good/bad decisions.  Just because someone made a conscience decision to walk a certain path does not give them some kind of special pass.  There is sacrifice in everything and those sacrifices need to be honored.

And the point went right over your head.  You're the one that said who ever put in the most work should have priority.  Maybe what you meant to say is "who ever got their first".  Work has little to do with it.

But again, you're talking circles.  You're trying to justify something that's nothing but a personal opinion.  "Honor sacrifices".  You can sacrifice more and still show up to the gate 2nd.  That's the point.

Personally, I don't want to share a gate, so I will move on. 

And it's my problem because that's what I believe, but it's not what the guy busting the roosted bird I was set up on believes.

No, you just have the thought in your head that because someone has a different lifestyle, they should get some kind of brownie points if they show up late.  Turkey hunting is turkey hunting and life is life.  Trying to intertwine those two activities is what you seem to be over looking.

If someone puts in the work, gets up early, gets to the gate first, they when the day.  If someone else has a late night with the kids, hits the snooze 3 times, stops by the diner for an egg sandwich, and is 2nd...move it on down the line.  First guy put in the work that day.  Nothing else matters. 

Like I said previously, semantics...but it all boils down to work kills turkeys more consistently than any other thing out there.  Wake up early, go to be late, walk further, study maps, learn behaviors, read the weather, etc.  Nothing beats hard work in the long run.

I do?

Lol.

Mighty fine strawman you built up there.

The only person that said the person who worked harder got the gate was you.  I was just pointing out that's not so.  I was merely pointing out there is not the fairness you've built up in your mind.  "Honoring sacrifice"...

The only person trying to control others and thinks their rules applies to everyone is you.

And I guess if another person in your bloc stresses you out, that is also your problem.

If your ethics don't line up, it's your problem.  I wouldn't of asked a guy to leave.  I would've just left myself.

Again, I agree with you.  But your trying to put fairness into an equation that's not fair. 


You win, first to the gate.

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If I'm beat to a spot I don't even hit my brakes when heading to another spot. I for sure don't talk to  or try to negotiate with the person already there.

That's where I am at. Treat others how you would like to be treated. It's a turkey, I love hunting them, but I ain't gonna fight idiots over them. If someone is in a spot, I move on. If I am there first, then I expect others to move on or work it out with me. It really ain't that hard.
I remember once having a fellow pull in as I was headed in. He was from out of state and asked where I was planning on going. I told him, and his face fell. He informed me he had roosted a gobbler there the night before. He was polite and respectful, and I told him to have at it. I was going to leave him to the bird and go further back in to hunt another area I knew well. He would just have to take my word that I would stay out of his hair. He agreed, and I went and had a good hunt myself and got to sit on a high ridge and listen to the gobbler he was on respond to his calls. I couldn't hear him calling, but it was fun to listen to things play out. He never shot, and I assume he didn't get the gobbler.
Point is, if a person is decent and respectful, then it goes a long ways. None of us own any of the turkeys, and it's good to keep that in mind. I am not a jerk, and I expect others not to be either. Otherwise they will see a different side of me and it ain't because of the turkey. It's about manners.

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When I am OOS for a week and I sleep at the gate, is that my private land for the week? :turkey2:

Quote from: Happy on March 22, 2024, 08:35:51 AM
That's where I am at. Treat others how you would like to be treated. It's a turkey, I love hunting them, but I ain't gonna fight idiots over them. If someone is in a spot, I move on. If I am there first, then I expect others to move on or work it out with me. It really ain't that hard.
I remember once having a fellow pull in as I was headed in. He was from out of state and asked where I was planning on going. I told him, and his face fell. He informed me he had roosted a gobbler there the night before. He was polite and respectful, and I told him to have at it. I was going to leave him to the bird and go further back in to hunt another area I knew well. He would just have to take my word that I would stay out of his hair. He agreed, and I went and had a good hunt myself and got to sit on a high ridge and listen to the gobbler he was on respond to his calls. I couldn't hear him calling, but it was fun to listen to things play out. He never shot, and I assume he didn't get the gobbler.
Point is, if a person is decent and respectful, then it goes a long ways. None of us own any of the turkeys, and it's good to keep that in mind. I am not a jerk, and I expect others not to be either. Otherwise they will see a different side of me and it ain't because of the turkey. It's about manners.

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Your right Happy. We make life way too difficult at times and I have had enough difficult in my life to make turkey hunting "just another hassle". I have killed my share, so good luck and have at it buddy. However, I do agree that if someone insist on being a jerk, they don't deserve my consideration. I'll still move on becasue a guy that desperate probably is unsafe to boot, but he'll know how I feel before I move on. I can honestly say in 50 + years of turkey hunting, my overwhelming experience has been 95% of all turkey hunters I have encountered while out hunting have been A1 people and very considerate. I can actually only think of 3 instances that I felt hunters i encountered were jerks. I have had many good discussions at forest gates and made all kinds of deals. Almost without exception people honor the deal they made. I share whatever I know about the area as well. An informed hunter is less likely to mess you up. I have even walked in with guys and told them, the first bird that gobbles is yours and I'll move on further in, rarely does anyone turn down that offer. I will just quit hunting when it simply becomes another hassle in my life.

I think we here would all agree that if someone else is there first, the best thing to do is to move on to another spot.  But, it seems to me that from some of this discussion that there must be some folks that hunt in places where those spots are so limited that there exists the possibility that all of the spots might have someone parked there.  (Once again, I am really glad I don't live in a place where that possibility can even remotely occur).

So, to me, the question becomes,...If there is no public hunting area that you have available to hunt when you go out that does not already have someone there, are you going to try to "fit in" somewhere where others are hunting,...or are you going to say "oh, well" and just go home?   

Furthermore, what if "home" is several hours drive away and someone has made significant time and effort to hunt this particular area?  It seems to me the question is a bit more complicated than it appears to be "on the surface".  That is not to say, however, that the general principle of "whoever is there first gets the gobbler" is not valid, but there may be extenuating circumstances that need to be taken into consideration in some (assumedly rare) cases...recognizing, of course, that deliberately interfering with someone else that got there before you is ALWAYS unacceptable. 

The goats are pretty smart

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I can't speak for everyone,but I hunt the northeast, and it can get pretty congested. However, I am lucky in that I have plenty of options. I know my areas pretty well and constantly explore. I can always find something to hunt, even if it means a little extra effort. Plus, I have private land options in two different states with a little over an hour drive. Bottom line, I still give people plenty of space and expect the same. I am a believer in work. If it really matters to you, then you are going to put forth the effort. If you only know one spot and hang your hopes on that, then "Bless your heart." Don't expect sympathy from the guys that put in the effort, though.

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Ruination: if it's legal and you're willing to sleep in your truck then I'll move on to the next gate

... but don't leave to go to the Quik-Stop bc I know there's a turkey there and my truck sleeps Great!!!????

Just like the POLITICIANS
YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE MORALITY!!!

RECKON THE SAME GOES FOR TURKEY HUNTING.

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Most of todays turkey hunters have no "manners". I won't park and come in on someone else, and I expect the same respect. You can come at me yelling, screaming, and cussing all you want, and I will act like you don't even exist. But get in my face, within reach of my extended fist, acting like a fool, and it would take a bullet to the head to get me off of you.

Quote from: Old Swamper on March 22, 2024, 12:44:41 PM
Most of todays turkey hunters have no "manners". I won't park and come in on someone else, and I expect the same respect. You can come at me yelling, screaming, and cussing all you want, and I will act like you don't even exist. But get in my face, within reach of my extended fist, acting like a fool, and it would take a bullet to the head to get me off of you.

Im not one to put my 2 cents in on everything that comes up but  You just hit the nail on the head. I have been saying this same thing for years now. I've always lived by if you leave me alone I will leave you alone. Not say everyone is that way but alot of the new age hunter is very disrespectful.

So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

I'm not gonna say what's right or wrong in a situation like that. But I can tell you I won't hunt there. The chances of someone messing up someone else is pretty high even if it's not on purpose.

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

I personally will not go in there. We have a spot like that here. It's a fairly narrow access to a large chunk of ground. I will not risk screwing someone's hunt up even if I have intentions of going in further than they are. Most places, I can access the large chunks of ground from the other side and keep a respectable distance from everyone. I always have multiple back up plans for those situations.




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Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

A place I hunt often is this exact scenario.  9 times out of 10, The other hunter and I can split that up and hunt safely and effectively.  I've actually met a few people that have become friends this way. 

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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When I've hunted public land, and for many years that's all I did, I've found that most hunters are lazy. If you hoof it in 1/2 mile from the parking area, you normally leave the vast majority of hunters behind. Then you have less pressured birds, less hunters and a more enjoyable hunt.

Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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From my experience with the public around my area, If a turkey gobbles, you're not going to be the only one after it unless you're the only one at the gate. It used to not be like that, in fact,from 2009 until 2020, I would argue our public land hunting was better than any private land hunting. But from 2021 on, i pray to god I see my turkey on the roost and he doesn't make a sound until I shoot him.  This is one tract of a 8500 acre WMA I've hunted since I was a kid. This was last year, roughly 4,000 acres total and this is only the parking lot on the upper end of it. 99% OOS since 2021. Are you risking your life to fight that army for a turkey or are you driving on?. This is every WMA and national forest pull off within 100 miles of my house the last 3 seasons.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240322/e76a798ad6d0206fe8028454bcd06f55.jpg)


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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 04:06:12 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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From my experience with the public around my area, If a turkey gobbles, you're not going to be the only one after it unless you're the only one at the gate. It used to not be like that, in fact,from 2009 until 2020, I would argue our public land hunting was better than any private land hunting. But from 2021 on, i pray to god I see my turkey on the roost and he doesn't make a sound until I shoot him.  This is one tract of a 8500 acre WMA I've hunted since I was a kid. This was last year, roughly 4,000 acres total and this is only the parking lot on the upper end of it. 99% OOS since 2021. Are you risking your life to fight that army for a turkey or are you driving on?. This is every WMA and national forest pull off within 100 miles of my house the last 3 seasons.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240322/e76a798ad6d0206fe8028454bcd06f55.jpg)


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Lol nope.

And I stopped hunting the WMA close to my house for the exact same reason.  I actually had to do a double take cause it looks so similar.

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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 04:06:12 PM
This was last year, roughly 4,000 acres total and this is only the parking lot on the upper end of it. Are you risking your life to fight that army for a turkey or are you driving on?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240322/e76a798ad6d0206fe8028454bcd06f55.jpg)

I wouldn't even stop. Way too many hunters, that's a ruined hunt waiting to happen.  :TrainWreck1:

Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 04:09:38 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 04:06:12 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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Quote from: ruination on March 22, 2024, 03:32:45 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 03:10:46 PM

Quote from: Vintage on March 22, 2024, 02:34:32 PM
So if there is a 10 car parking lot and 3 thousand acres to hunt if some one is there first you would drive on?

Personally for the way I hunt and common courtesy, yes I am. There may be 3 thousand acres there, and let's say there are 5 gobblers on that 3k acres. Of those 5, let's assume one is gobbling on a given day. If it's me and one other guy on the place and we both park and walk in from the same parking lot, chances are we are both going to hear that bird and wind up in the same spot.


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If there's only 5 gobblers on 3k acres I wouldn't hunt there regardless.  You think you're all going to hear the same turkeys 2 miles away?

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From my experience with the public around my area, If a turkey gobbles, you're not going to be the only one after it unless you're the only one at the gate. It used to not be like that, in fact,from 2009 until 2020, I would argue our public land hunting was better than any private land hunting. But from 2021 on, i pray to god I see my turkey on the roost and he doesn't make a sound until I shoot him.  This is one tract of a 8500 acre WMA I've hunted since I was a kid. This was last year, roughly 4,000 acres total and this is only the parking lot on the upper end of it. 99% OOS since 2021. Are you risking your life to fight that army for a turkey or are you driving on?. This is every WMA and national forest pull off within 100 miles of my house the last 3 seasons.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240322/e76a798ad6d0206fe8028454bcd06f55.jpg)


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Lol nope.

And I stopped hunting the WMA close to my house for the exact same reason.  I actually had to do a double take cause it looks so similar.

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It's bad around here buddy. If there isn't a truck at a spot and you pull in today, there will be tomorrow. Last year, on 3 different occasions I had OOS hunters cruise the road back and forth at a spot I was hunting until I went back to the truck, when I got there to leave they pulled in right beside me and I told them "yes sir, they are burning it up back there in that far holler, I don't know enough about turkey hunting to call one in, good luck to you boys" and sent them on a wild goose chase after nothing. 3 different groups of hunters. One from Michigan, one from Ohio and one from New York.


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Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 22, 2024, 04:16:21 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 22, 2024, 04:06:12 PM
This was last year, roughly 4,000 acres total and this is only the parking lot on the upper end of it. Are you risking your life to fight that army for a turkey or are you driving on?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240322/e76a798ad6d0206fe8028454bcd06f55.jpg)

I wouldn't even stop. Way too many hunters, that's a ruined hunt waiting to happen.  :TrainWreck1:

That's 98% of the public land within an hour and a half of my house since 2021. I've spent more time the last 3 seasons trying to find a place on public to stop and hunt than I have hunting


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I have a solution for that, go fishing

If you drive by because there is one car in the lot in my state you may as will just go home. Because there will be more than that in the rest of the Parking lots.

All this discussion makes me wonder how far everybody is willing to drive to get to a spot where this crowd problem might not be an issue?  My minimum drive time to get to the nearest turkeys is two hours...and other places I regularly hunt are four to six hours away.  Are there places in the country where a six-hour drive cannot put you in an area without the crowds?  ...Just curious...

Scott Taulbee uploaded the picture that describes many areas of New York State- especially within 100 miles of New York City.
      The practice of Hunters Sleeping next to the Gate for 1,2,3 or more Days seems to be increasing.  Often these are out of State Turkey Hunters  who don't  want to pay for Lodging in a Hotel with the added Benifit of Controlling Thousands of Acres of Public Lands.  Usually- there is more then 1 Man in a Big SUV with enough space to Sleep 2 Men .
      Personally, I think it is not fair to Sleep next to the Gate for 1 to 3 or 4 Nights . The Public Areas,I hunt- you arrive at 3.45am and you are late. Men are parking in all the Parking areas. Usually- about 3.25am puts me First 99% of the Time. Unless there is a Truck or SUV that has no inner lights on as 2 Men are Sleeping in a parking area as close to that Gate as possible.
      Do they get to control Thousands of Acres for Themselves for up to 3 or 4 days and Bag 4 Gobblers before hitting the next State.
    Back in the 1990s,I would drive on. 2000s- same. Since around 2015 or so- the explosion  of Spring Turkey Hunting sees more and more Spring Hunters out every year.
    I have a 2004 Clunker SUV. Just how far can,I drive on. Not far.  If there is 1 or 2 Vehicles there,I am parking and walking that 1 1/2 miles in.  But as,I wrote,99% of the time,I am first to Park.

I sympathize with anyone dealing with those crowds. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have what I have and to live where I do. There are no easy answers for overcrowding. It's the world we live in and the tension often leads to an atmosphere of contention. You can quit and find some other form of recreation. Like I said, I would just go fishing. I do have one question, does this pressure level stay on all through the season or does it fall off after the first week
I love calling in turkeys so I would consider taking a camera and calling in birds during closed hunting and have my fun that way, after all many of us claim it's not about the kill as much as the hunt. If you aren't willing to take up camera hunting then maybe it is more about the kill then we thought. Me I love calling to them all year long. I often have a call with me even when I am in the woods cutting firewood or just walking. If I encounter birds I am calling to them, I love that angle.

Quote from: eggshell on March 22, 2024, 07:46:04 PM
I have a solution for that, go fishing

Buddy, I used to fish all the time as a kid to spend time with my dad, but I'll be honest with you, fishing to me is about as exciting as mowing the yard with a pair of scissors.


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Quote from: GobbleNut on March 22, 2024, 10:35:55 PM
All this discussion makes me wonder how far everybody is willing to drive to get to a spot where this crowd problem might not be an issue?  My minimum drive time to get to the nearest turkeys is two hours...and other places I regularly hunt are four to six hours away.  Are there places in the country where a six-hour drive cannot put you in an area without the crowds?  ...Just curious...

I'm not sure but I'm going to find out this season. Any where within a hour and a half of home is way over crowded. I have some land I've been checking out about 3 1/2 hours west of me and some land about 2 hours east of me that I have been scouting. Fingers crossed they're my ticket. For the first time in 14 years, I'm not even going to fool with my childhood stomping grounds. There is no sense in it


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Quote from: quavers59 on March 23, 2024, 05:03:58 AM
Scott Taulbee uploaded the picture that describes many areas of New York State- especially within 100 miles of New York City.
      The practice of Hunters Sleeping next to the Gate for 1,2,3 or more Days seems to be increasing.  Often these are out of State Turkey Hunters  who don't  want to pay for Lodging in a Hotel with the added Benifit of Controlling Thousands of Acres of Public Lands.  Usually- there is more then 1 Man in a Big SUV with enough space to Sleep 2 Men .
      Personally, I think it is not fair to Sleep next to the Gate for 1 to 3 or 4 Nights . The Public Areas,I hunt- you arrive at 3.45am and you are late. Men are parking in all the Parking areas. Usually- about 3.25am puts me First 99% of the Time. Unless there is a Truck or SUV that has no inner lights on as 2 Men are Sleeping in a parking area as close to that Gate as possible.
      Do they get to control Thousands of Acres for Themselves for up to 3 or 4 days and Bag 4 Gobblers before hitting the next State.
    Back in the 1990s,I would drive on. 2000s- same. Since around 2015 or so- the explosion  of Spring Turkey Hunting sees more and more Spring Hunters out every year.
    I have a 2004 Clunker SUV. Just how far can,I drive on. Not far.  If there is 1 or 2 Vehicles there,I am parking and walking that 1 1/2 miles in.  But as,I wrote,99% of the time,I am first to Park.

Around here the distance doesn't seem to be a factor for these boys. I guess if they're brave enough to hike these mountains then they don't mind to walk. I've ran in to trash 4 miles deep on some of these places and there ain't but one way in and it isn't an easy one either.


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Quote from: eggshell on March 23, 2024, 07:52:45 AM
I sympathize with anyone dealing with those crowds. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have what I have and to live where I do. There are no easy answers for overcrowding. It's the world we live in and the tension often leads to an atmosphere of contention. You can quit and find some other form of recreation. Like I said, I would just go fishing. I do have one question, does this pressure level stay on all through the season or does it fall off after the first week
I love calling in turkeys so I would consider taking a camera and calling in birds during closed hunting and have my fun that way, after all many of us claim it's not about the kill as much as the hunt. If you aren't willing to take up camera hunting then maybe it is more about the kill then we thought. Me I love calling to them all year long. I often have a call with me even when I am in the woods cutting firewood or just walking. If I encounter birds I am calling to them, I love that angle.

In my neck of the woods, it used to fall off after the first 2 weeks. But with most of these guys doing that super slam deal, it's like this every day of the season any more with the exception of a very large, gale force winds, thunderstorm rolling through. As far as the video thing, We're not allowed to have a turkey call in our possession from March 1st until the opening day of turkey season here. Our season runs 23 days, typically until Mother's Day or there about. By that time, it's high 80's or 90° here and I doubt they want to do much talking.


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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 23, 2024, 11:36:48 AM

Quote from: eggshell on March 22, 2024, 07:46:04 PM
I have a solution for that, go fishing

Buddy, I used to fish all the time as a kid to spend time with my dad, but I'll be honest with you, fishing to me is about as exciting as mowing the yard with a pair of scissors.


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I understand, but I probably fish 250 days of the year. This time of year I may fish every day for 10 days straight. I missed Tuesday of this week, but went every other day and I'm loading up the boat in about an hour. We all have different interest and that's great. If i was given a choice between losing turkey hunting or fishing I would give up turkey hunting. Part of the reason for that is the hassle it has become to simply be able to go and enjoy it. I made a career working with fish, so it's been my life's pursuit. I was fishing when I was very young, it's always been my first outdoor love, but turkeys are big too.

I love the fact you fish 250 days a year. Thats amazing.

Quote from: eggshell on March 23, 2024, 12:09:52 PM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 23, 2024, 11:36:48 AM

Quote from: eggshell on March 22, 2024, 07:46:04 PM
I have a solution for that, go fishing

Buddy, I used to fish all the time as a kid to spend time with my dad, but I'll be honest with you, fishing to me is about as exciting as mowing the yard with a pair of scissors.


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I understand, but I probably fish 250 days of the year. This time of year I may fish every day for 10 days straight. I missed Tuesday of this week, but went every other day and I'm loading up the boat in about an hour. We all have different interest and that's great. If i was given a choice between losing turkey hunting or fishing I would give up turkey hunting. Part of the reason for that is the hassle it has become to simply be able to go and enjoy it. I made a career working with fish, so it's been my life's pursuit. I was fishing when I was very young, it's always been my first outdoor love, but turkeys are big too.

Nothing wrong with that at all. Different strokes for different folks buddy. My dad is the same way, he loves to hunt but that rascal will fish nearly every day. I on the other hand, live to turkey hunt and would give up any other hunting or hobby before I gave up the turkeys. I just about have anyway. But you're right, it's definitely a hassle to turkey hunt anymore.


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I'm putting a thumbs down on these limp noggins.

Home with a limit of walleye and no hassles with other fishermen..... ;D

I'm putting a thumbs down on fishing.

Quote from: High plains drifter on March 24, 2024, 12:09:20 AM
I'm putting a thumbs down on fishing.

:TooFunny: ;D
Ahhh, yes...the old fishin' or huntin' debate!  For me, there's an "and" between the two instead of an "or". 
Referring to my own personal history, I was a really avid fisherman, mostly in the spring...until turkey hunting came along.  Then, the "spring gobbler bug" gradually latched on and in a period of about five years, I went from dreaming about big trout and bass to dreaming about big gobblers.  Fishing became the afterthought, rather than the focus. 

I hate to admit it, but it got so bad that for a few decades, I rarely went fishing at all, even though I had a perfectly good bass boat and a smaller trout-lake boat sitting in the garage, and concentrated instead on my ever-increasing passion for spring gobbler hunting.  Only in the last few years has my interest in fishing returned. That is somewhat a function of the that bugaboo we have been discussing here...that is, the ever-increasing crowds in our turkey woods which, quite honestly, have decreased my enthusiasm for putting up with the nonsense that comes with those crowds.  Then again, "retirement", and the need to fill all the time that used to be consumed by that ugly beast we call "work" with something exponentially more enjoyable, might have had something to do with it.   :D

Recently, I have "dusted off" the tackle, drug the old trout-fishing john boat out of the forgotten heap in the back of the garage, and have again rekindled that fishing itch.  Frankly, I should never have stopped scratching it and found time for both.  I plan on doing what I can in my remaining time on the planet to rectify all those years of oversight.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I have no plans to give up spring gobbler hunting until all the joints finally freeze up for good, but in the meantime, I plan on scratching both itches quite a bit more...   ;D

Here is my perfect day, in May:

Out before daylight and kill a big old longbeard after a duel
Get him cleaned and put to soak
Tend a little garden and maybe pick some early straw berries or produce
Go fishing and catch a limit of Saugeye (hybrid walleye)
come home to a dinner of morel Mushrooms I found while packing out my gobbler
Then watch a good movie while having strawberries and ice cream.

Yes I have actually done this on more then one occasssion

Quote from: eggshell on March 24, 2024, 11:40:51 AM
Here is my perfect day, in May:

Out before daylight and kill a big old longbeard after a duel
Get him cleaned and put to soak
Tend a little garden and maybe pick some early straw berries or produce
Go fishing and catch a limit of Saugeye (hybrid walleye)
come home to a dinner of morel Mushrooms I found while packing out my gobbler
Then watch a good movie while having strawberries and ice cream.

Yes I have actually done this on more then one occasssion

It doesn't get any better than that!

I really hate hunting around other folks in turkey season. Deer season, a vehicle or two doesn't bother me in the least. But I know that with even one other vehicle, as sure as the sun shines there will be one gobbler back in there and before you know it we are both trying to put a move on him and work that bird. I just can't see a happy outcome. If I'm not first, I will keep driving. I wish others would be as courteous, though. I have been known to sleep in the truck and park "extra wide" in order to secure a spot, though.  :goofball:

Couple of years ago....I don't want to think about how long in actuality...Opening day of Turkey Season corresponded with opening day of Trophy rockfish (striped bass) season.

It was real easy to get away from people in the turkey woods, but you could walk across the bay on boats and planer boards.  You want to talk about stress.  Nothing like 4 boats trolling board to board and another boat trying to split you coming the opposite direction.

I think the removal of Trophy rockfish created an increase in Maryland turkey hunters, sadly.

I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Because you're sheltered.  Probably why you also care about getting blood on you.

Next question.

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Not everyone has the connections you do I guess. Gaining access to private land here in Maryland is extremely difficult. Most parcels are very small and the buildup of the area is making it even harder to find huntable areas.

Quote from: ruination on March 25, 2024, 02:51:51 PM

I think the removal of Trophy rockfish created an increase in Maryland turkey hunters, sadly.

100%. I'm in southern Maryland and have definitely noticed that.

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Some folks actually avoid farms and prefer to chase the birds in the mountains and hills/ big woods. Which is often public land. State forests/ game lands. I drive right past many farms on my way to the mountain to hunt. Sure, plenty of them have turkeys. Could probably get some permission if I tried.  I used to hunt some private farms some years back,but I truly love wandering in those endless mountains. Big woods hunting just FEELS different, to me.

Quote from: jakebird on March 25, 2024, 06:02:18 PM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Some folks actually avoid farms and prefer to chase the birds in the mountains and hills/ big woods. Which is often public land. State forests/ game lands. I drive right past many farms on my way to the mountain to hunt. Sure, plenty of them have turkeys. Could probably get some permission if I tried.  I used to hunt some private farms some years back,but I truly love wandering in those endless mountains. Big woods hunting just FEELS different, to me.

I couldn't have said it better.  I just don't have any desire to hunt field birds anymore. 

Quote from: CALLM2U on March 25, 2024, 06:18:12 PM

Quote from: jakebird on March 25, 2024, 06:02:18 PM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Some folks actually avoid farms and prefer to chase the birds in the mountains and hills/ big woods. Which is often public land. State forests/ game lands. I drive right past many farms on my way to the mountain to hunt. Sure, plenty of them have turkeys. Could probably get some permission if I tried.  I used to hunt some private farms some years back,but I truly love wandering in those endless mountains. Big woods hunting just FEELS different, to me.

I couldn't have said it better.  I just don't have any desire to hunt field birds anymore.

One of my farms is 800ac solid timber/ hills. I also hunt public ground too. But I am a stand up person and hardly ever ask permission on spots its usually an invitation by the landowner unlike some of these new hunters that just run around with onx begging to get permission.

 At least they are asking! I find that pretty sad when someone complains about people asking for permission.

Lol

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Quote from: ruination on March 25, 2024, 04:39:53 PM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

Because you're sheltered.  Probably why you also care about getting blood on you.

Next question.

Don't know what you call sheltered? Hunted over half of this country and I am not chasing the 49 or whatever that is called. Of course I care about getting blood on me I hope all the youths and newer hunters I take have success  with me too get them hooked on our fine sport. And just to let you know I watched 42 get blood on me just last spring.

Sheltered would be thinking the rest of the world works the same as yours.  Or just the country as in this case.

Not everyone lives in a large state with little population.

Quote from: ruination on March 25, 2024, 07:19:54 PM
Sheltered would be thinking the rest of the world works the same as yours.  Or just the country as in this case.

Not everyone lives in a large state with little population.

I have standing invitations to hunt some of the most populated states in the Northeast on private land. I know the people that complain about 10 trucks in a parking lot on public ground must not try at all to find other spots to hunt.

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 07:49:48 PM

Quote from: ruination on March 25, 2024, 07:19:54 PM
Sheltered would be thinking the rest of the world works the same as yours.  Or just the country as in this case.

Not everyone lives in a large state with little population.

I have standing invitations to hunt some of the most populated states in the Northeast on private land. I know the people that complain about 10 trucks in a parking lot on public ground must not try at all to find other spots to hunt.

Good for you.

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But we complain and laugh about people trying to be ethical and gaining permission the correct way, by asking...

Quote from: WV Flopper on March 25, 2024, 08:31:37 PM
But we complain and laugh about people trying to be ethical and gaining permission the correct way, by asking...

Nah, ya see.  The appropriate way to go about it is be a standup person and have connections.  And since these people know turkey hunting is your life they know what your angle is....er I mean they just invite you to hunt their land unprompted.

Simply asking permission is crass.

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 You have named yourself properly!

Quote from: WV Flopper on March 25, 2024, 08:48:38 PM
You have named yourself properly!

Twas sarcasm.

Still, I won't deny I am named appropriately.

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Man the picture with all the trucks makes me so sad. I feel so bad for y'all guys who are stuck with that. I mean my WMA's are covered up and there's trucks everywhere but I haven't seen a parking lot that bad. I think I feel sad because I know I wouldn't go. That would just take all the fun out of it.  If that many people will park in the same spot they'll probably set up on the same bird to. I guess I really feel bad for the turkeys. Dang. I'm amazed every year that any survive where I'm at.


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Quote from: aclawrence on March 25, 2024, 09:45:04 PM
Man the picture with all the trucks makes me so sad. I feel so bad for y'all guys who are stuck with that. I mean my WMA's are covered up and there's trucks everywhere but I haven't seen a parking lot that bad. I think I feel sad because I know I wouldn't go. That would just take all the fun out of it.  If that many people will park in the same spot they'll probably set up on the same bird to. I guess I really feel bad for the turkeys. Dang. I'm amazed every year that any survive where I'm at.


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On that particular WMA, from around 2009 until 2020 the average number of turkey taken was around 30 give or take a few. 21,22,23 it has been closer to 60 give or take a few. The pressure has tripled if not quadrupled. It's always been pretty crowded from the locals but up until 2021, it was a big even to see an out of state plate and you'd typically make an effort to talk turkey with that guy. 2021 on, 10 to 1 license plates are OOS on that WMA and every one of those guys are run n gunning, I don't know how long the turkeys can sustain that, and not to mention our DFWR put in the state magazine that it's the best WMA in the state for turkey hunting last year, because after 20 years they decided to do habitat work and want a pat on the back.


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Loose lips sink ships. Make sure to like and subscribe

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 26, 2024, 07:11:09 AM

Quote from: aclawrence on March 25, 2024, 09:45:04 PM
Man the picture with all the trucks makes me so sad. I feel so bad for y'all guys who are stuck with that. I mean my WMA's are covered up and there's trucks everywhere but I haven't seen a parking lot that bad. I think I feel sad because I know I wouldn't go. That would just take all the fun out of it.  If that many people will park in the same spot they'll probably set up on the same bird to. I guess I really feel bad for the turkeys. Dang. I'm amazed every year that any survive where I'm at.


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On that particular WMA, from around 2009 until 2020 the average number of turkey taken was around 30 give or take a few. 21,22,23 it has been closer to 60 give or take a few. The pressure has tripled if not quadrupled. It's always been pretty crowded from the locals but up until 2021, it was a big even to see an out of state plate and you'd typically make an effort to talk turkey with that guy. 2021 on, 10 to 1 license plates are OOS on that WMA and every one of those guys are run n gunning, I don't know how long the turkeys can sustain that, and not to mention our DFWR put in the state magazine that it's the best WMA in the state for turkey hunting last year, because after 20 years they decided to do habitat work and want a pat on the back.


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Ah you must be from Tennessee lol.  The double harvest numbers are scary. That seems like emergency level intervention is needed.

Also by the way my son has been practicing on the pot call you gave him last year. Thanks for that awesome gift.


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Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

In the early 2000s I could lock in 5 or 6 places just by knocking on doors and asking politely. Those days are long gone. Most of the old timers who'd let you hunt are either dead or sold their land to people who just aren't willing to let others hunt. In addition to land changing hands and attitudes changing hunting has become a big business in my state. A lot of the prime spots are now high dollar leases. There's a certain leasing company in my area that has gobbled up thousands of acres where they sell hunts to people who are willing to pay an arm and a leg. A guy working to keep a house over his head and feed his family may not be able or willing to dish out thousands of dollars just to hunt turkeys the few weekends he has free. Basically, around my area if you or your family doesn't already have land you can hunt or your not willing to pay top dollar for a lease your stuck with public land. Just for comparison, country club and greens fees are cheaper than most leases in my area. I do think this trend will subside. People are going to get fed up with the crowds and the hassle and hang it up.

Quote from: aclawrence on March 26, 2024, 07:41:24 AM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 26, 2024, 07:11:09 AM

Quote from: aclawrence on March 25, 2024, 09:45:04 PM
Man the picture with all the trucks makes me so sad. I feel so bad for y'all guys who are stuck with that. I mean my WMA's are covered up and there's trucks everywhere but I haven't seen a parking lot that bad. I think I feel sad because I know I wouldn't go. That would just take all the fun out of it.  If that many people will park in the same spot they'll probably set up on the same bird to. I guess I really feel bad for the turkeys. Dang. I'm amazed every year that any survive where I'm at.


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On that particular WMA, from around 2009 until 2020 the average number of turkey taken was around 30 give or take a few. 21,22,23 it has been closer to 60 give or take a few. The pressure has tripled if not quadrupled. It's always been pretty crowded from the locals but up until 2021, it was a big even to see an out of state plate and you'd typically make an effort to talk turkey with that guy. 2021 on, 10 to 1 license plates are OOS on that WMA and every one of those guys are run n gunning, I don't know how long the turkeys can sustain that, and not to mention our DFWR put in the state magazine that it's the best WMA in the state for turkey hunting last year, because after 20 years they decided to do habitat work and want a pat on the back.


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Ah you must be from Tennessee lol.  The double harvest numbers are scary. That seems like emergency level intervention is needed.

Also by the way my son has been practicing on the pot call you gave him last year. Thanks for that awesome gift.


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I'm glad he's liking it!. And I'm over in Ky.


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Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 07:55:18 AM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

In the early 2000s I could lock in 5 or 6 places just by knocking on doors and asking politely. Those days are long gone. Most of the old timers who'd let you hunt are either dead or sold their land to people who just aren't willing to let others hunt. In addition to land changing hands and attitudes changing hunting has become a big business in my state. A lot of the prime spots are now high dollar leases. There's a certain leasing company in my area that has gobbled up thousands of acres where they sell hunts to people who are willing to pay an arm and a leg. A guy working to keep a house over his head and feed his family may not be able or willing to dish out thousands of dollars just to hunt turkeys the few weekends he has free. Basically, around my area if you or your family doesn't already have land you can hunt or your not willing to pay top dollar for a lease your stuck with public land. Just for comparison, country club and greens fees are cheaper than most leases in my area. I do think this trend will subside. People are going to get fed up with the crowds and the hassle and hang it up.

You must not be far from me. It's the same here, hardly anyone will let you hunt, and I've noticed a lot of animal rights folks with land lately. And I bet I have a very good idea of what outfit you're talking about. I leased a farm once. 80 acres, leased it for turkey season only. 400$ thought I got a deal. I hunted it a handful of times, my dad hunted it a couple dozen times while I was working. We saw one hen on the whole place. I won't lease another.


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I'm in the northern part of the state and it is the same here. If you don't own land you basically don't hunt. Most landowners only allow family and good friends to hunt there land.

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 26, 2024, 10:10:43 AM

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 07:55:18 AM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

In the early 2000s I could lock in 5 or 6 places just by knocking on doors and asking politely. Those days are long gone. Most of the old timers who'd let you hunt are either dead or sold their land to people who just aren't willing to let others hunt. In addition to land changing hands and attitudes changing hunting has become a big business in my state. A lot of the prime spots are now high dollar leases. There's a certain leasing company in my area that has gobbled up thousands of acres where they sell hunts to people who are willing to pay an arm and a leg. A guy working to keep a house over his head and feed his family may not be able or willing to dish out thousands of dollars just to hunt turkeys the few weekends he has free. Basically, around my area if you or your family doesn't already have land you can hunt or your not willing to pay top dollar for a lease your stuck with public land. Just for comparison, country club and greens fees are cheaper than most leases in my area. I do think this trend will subside. People are going to get fed up with the crowds and the hassle and hang it up.

You must not be far from me. It's the same here, hardly anyone will let you hunt, and I've noticed a lot of animal rights folks with land lately. And I bet I have a very good idea of what outfit you're talking about. I leased a farm once. 80 acres, leased it for turkey season only. 400$ thought I got a deal. I hunted it a handful of times, my dad hunted it a couple dozen times while I was working. We saw one hen on the whole place. I won't lease another.


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I'm in the Lexington area. I lost a great deer hunting spot to some folks from California who raise alpacas and like to walk around in the buff [not worth seeing]. I don't know how they deal with the ticks and chiggers. $40 dollars an acre for a lease is not uncommon. 200 acres would run you $8k. By the time you get enough guys to go in on it with you to get the cost down you might as well just hunt public land

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 11:05:28 AM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 26, 2024, 10:10:43 AM

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 07:55:18 AM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

In the early 2000s I could lock in 5 or 6 places just by knocking on doors and asking politely. Those days are long gone. Most of the old timers who'd let you hunt are either dead or sold their land to people who just aren't willing to let others hunt. In addition to land changing hands and attitudes changing hunting has become a big business in my state. A lot of the prime spots are now high dollar leases. There's a certain leasing company in my area that has gobbled up thousands of acres where they sell hunts to people who are willing to pay an arm and a leg. A guy working to keep a house over his head and feed his family may not be able or willing to dish out thousands of dollars just to hunt turkeys the few weekends he has free. Basically, around my area if you or your family doesn't already have land you can hunt or your not willing to pay top dollar for a lease your stuck with public land. Just for comparison, country club and greens fees are cheaper than most leases in my area. I do think this trend will subside. People are going to get fed up with the crowds and the hassle and hang it up.

You must not be far from me. It's the same here, hardly anyone will let you hunt, and I've noticed a lot of animal rights folks with land lately. And I bet I have a very good idea of what outfit you're talking about. I leased a farm once. 80 acres, leased it for turkey season only. 400$ thought I got a deal. I hunted it a handful of times, my dad hunted it a couple dozen times while I was working. We saw one hen on the whole place. I won't lease another.


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I'm in the Lexington area. I lost a great deer hunting spot to some folks from California who raise alpacas and like to walk around in the buff [not worth seeing]. I don't know how they deal with the ticks and chiggers. $40 dollars an acre for a lease is not uncommon. 200 acres would run you $8k. By the time you get enough guys to go in on it with you to get the cost down you might as well just hunt public land

Shoot, $40 an acre is cheap for around here if it has waterfowl, which a lot of it does.  I have seen 50 acres deer and turkey leases approach $10k.  Why would anyone give a handshake deal when there is that much money to be made?

It's not even so much that they get hunted for Turkey, it's just the rights are usually gone for deer.

You should try having D.C. right down the road.

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 11:05:28 AM

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on March 26, 2024, 10:10:43 AM

Quote from: Kylongspur88 on March 26, 2024, 07:55:18 AM

Quote from: Hook hanger on March 25, 2024, 04:28:42 PM
I wasn't even going to make a comment about this but it amazes me the comments I read. A true turkey  hunter hunting his home state should have a few different private  farms to hunt. When I run into guys that say all I have to hunt is public ground I truly wonder why that is.

In the early 2000s I could lock in 5 or 6 places just by knocking on doors and asking politely. Those days are long gone. Most of the old timers who'd let you hunt are either dead or sold their land to people who just aren't willing to let others hunt. In addition to land changing hands and attitudes changing hunting has become a big business in my state. A lot of the prime spots are now high dollar leases. There's a certain leasing company in my area that has gobbled up thousands of acres where they sell hunts to people who are willing to pay an arm and a leg. A guy working to keep a house over his head and feed his family may not be able or willing to dish out thousands of dollars just to hunt turkeys the few weekends he has free. Basically, around my area if you or your family doesn't already have land you can hunt or your not willing to pay top dollar for a lease your stuck with public land. Just for comparison, country club and greens fees are cheaper than most leases in my area. I do think this trend will subside. People are going to get fed up with the crowds and the hassle and hang it up.

You must not be far from me. It's the same here, hardly anyone will let you hunt, and I've noticed a lot of animal rights folks with land lately. And I bet I have a very good idea of what outfit you're talking about. I leased a farm once. 80 acres, leased it for turkey season only. 400$ thought I got a deal. I hunted it a handful of times, my dad hunted it a couple dozen times while I was working. We saw one hen on the whole place. I won't lease another.


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I'm in the Lexington area. I lost a great deer hunting spot to some folks from California who raise alpacas and like to walk around in the buff [not worth seeing]. I don't know how they deal with the ticks and chiggers. $40 dollars an acre for a lease is not uncommon. 200 acres would run you $8k. By the time you get enough guys to go in on it with you to get the cost down you might as well just hunt public land

I'm about 20 minutes down the road from Lexington myself


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When I bought my place I was surrounded by old landowners. All that acreage amounted to somewhere in the neighborhood of 1400 acres plus what I own. I could hunt any of it any day I wanted with their blessing. I always shared game, berries and mushrooms with all them and it was a great place to live. Now all those landowners are dead and heirs have the land (the younger generation) and every single acre of it is leased by Out of state hunters that pay huge prices for it and no one better even come close to the line. That would be fine, but they systematically trespass and encroach on our land and all adjoining land. I got tired of asking nicely, now I just call the sheriff or game warden. They move their signs deeper across boundaries every year, yeah posting other peoples property. I had them try to run my friends off my property, that did not end well for the OOS leasers. Some of them call me the old Prick at the bottom of the hill, but I was here before they were born, deal with it. Thankfully most of my family refuses to lease our lands and I have plenty to hunt, but it's problem. The days of old england and the kings game are coming

Here is the real problem. Hunters are'nt satified with 1 gobbler per year. It is fill my tags in my state and travel to every state I can to shoot limits. This type of pressure will eventually cause more restrictions or possible closers! It already is starting to happen. Every state in the future will have limited draws and purchasing preference points. Many people say," This is America. I'll do what I want. It is legal." Have at it, just do'nt whine later.

Quote from: turkey stew on March 26, 2024, 12:09:28 PM
Here is the real problem. Hunters are'nt satified with 1 gobbler per year. It is fill my tags in my state and travel to every state I can to shoot limits. This type of pressure will eventually cause more restrictions or possible closers! It already is starting to happen. Every state in the future will have limited draws and purchasing preference points. Many people say," This is America. I'll do what I want. It is legal." Have at it, just do'nt whine later.

I agree. I've self imposed a limit of 1 a couple years ago. I've killed my fair share, probably more than my share. Another set of spurs and a beard in a box don't mean anything to me. It's playing the game with them. For every one I don't kill, that's an opportunity for a kid, or even my kids, to take one


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