Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Where's everyone hunting this year? and when does it start?

Know Squidd got it done in FLorida (congrats!).

Starting on Maryland 4/18.

Hop over to NJ 4/29 for 3 or 4 days.

Then up to MA 5/7 for 3 or 4 Days - Maybe New York if I score early.

Never hunted outside of Maryland so this should be an interesting little year for me.

Tennessee starting 4/13 and then South Dakota 5/3-5/7


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Scouting in GA this weekend and hunting after Easter - hens are already getting bred

Plymouth, MA 4/29: The Glorious 29th!

Quote from: Zobo on March 15, 2024, 09:54:20 PM
Plymouth, MA 4/29: The Glorious 29th!

Excellent...drop me some pins  :angel9:

SC starts 22nd and in NC on the 13th-16

Got one to fire off once in GA this morning and backed out. 

Hope there's enough hens to keep him around for a few weeks!!

We start in Louisiana on 4/6. Unfortunately, on Forest Service land (which is what I hunt) we only have a couple of weeks. I better get busy once it opens!!

Quote from: ruination on March 16, 2024, 12:24:11 PM

Quote from: Zobo on March 15, 2024, 09:54:20 PM
Plymouth, MA 4/29: The Glorious 29th!

Excellent...drop me some pins  :angel9:

The only pins I know how to drop are ten-pins, candlepins and sometimes duckpins. Not with any consistency however .:toothy12:

I killed a bird on public in South Florida on 3/6.  Oldest son killed one on youth day here in SC last weekend.  The game begins for me again tomorrow in SC.  Plan to head to Texas mid April.  Will see if a Western swing materializes late.  Lets go!!

Quote from: Zobo on March 21, 2024, 09:25:38 AM

Quote from: ruination on March 16, 2024, 12:24:11 PM

Quote from: Zobo on March 15, 2024, 09:54:20 PM
Plymouth, MA 4/29: The Glorious 29th!

Excellent...drop me some pins  :angel9:

The only pins I know how to drop are ten-pins, candlepins and sometimes duckpins. Not with any consistency however .:toothy12:

Err.  What's a candle pin?

I'll be more west anyways, I believe.

I'll be hunting my home state of KY. We kickoff April 13th for regular season. Taking the kids out the first weekend of April for the youth season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: ruination on March 21, 2024, 09:47:32 AM

Quote from: Zobo on March 21, 2024, 09:25:38 AM

Quote from: ruination on March 16, 2024, 12:24:11 PM

Quote from: Zobo on March 15, 2024, 09:54:20 PM
Plymouth, MA 4/29: The Glorious 29th!

Excellent...drop me some pins  :angel9:

The only pins I know how to drop are ten-pins, candlepins and sometimes duckpins. Not with any consistency however .:toothy12:

Err.  What's a candle pin?

I'll be more west anyways, I believe.

They are bowling pins. I'm just joking, I don't normally use pins and navigation and mapping tools in the woods.  I certainly would give them to you if I did, good luck out there and be safe.

Been hunting a WMA that typically produces less than five birds a year and mainly for a challenge.  I think one bird has been taken so far this year.

Have seen one hen and called in two other single hens. No gobbles or any turkey sign anywhere, but will keep on trying one more weekend.

Have seen lots of hogs, deer, quail and coyotes, oh and other hunters, horseback riders, sightseers and farm workers on the other side of the WMA fence.

Best part of not seeing turkeys is the exercise!!!

GA 2-yr old bird that scores 48.5 - bought a scale but left it at home.

Awesome drumming/spitting while hunting from a blind with a Buddy!!

Went to a new WMA in central FL. Only two hens and birds were quiet. Beautiful place and will need to go again before season closes this weekend!

Go get 'em Squidd! Good luck on those tough FL birds. Have fun! Be save!!!!

Still trying - three hens and a few heard that I couldn't get to commit - no gobbles at all

Well Maryland started up.

Wasted the first day with a piss poor plan, barely found myself in the game briefly.

Today was better.  Had a long beard strutting away at 80...almost talked myself into shooting a few times (I think, low light woods hard to tell, I just ordered a range finder after this.)

His hens were hanging out close, so I thought it was only a matter of time, but they eased off and he strutted parallel slightly out of range (I think).

Thinking of making the wife unhappy tomorrow and sneaking in hopefully close.

Quote from: ruination on April 20, 2024, 07:09:10 PMWell Maryland started up.

Wasted the first day with a piss poor plan, barely found myself in the game briefly.

Today was better.  Had a long beard strutting away at 80...almost talked myself into shooting a few times (I think, low light woods hard to tell, I just ordered a range finder after this.)

His hens were hanging out close, so I thought it was only a matter of time, but they eased off and he strutted parallel slightly out of range (I think).

Thinking of making the wife unhappy tomorrow and sneaking in hopefully close.

Quote from: ruination on April 20, 2024, 07:09:10 PMWell Maryland started up.

Wasted the first day with a piss poor plan, barely found myself in the game briefly.

Today was better.  Had a long beard strutting away at 80...almost talked myself into shooting a few times (I think, low light woods hard to tell, I just ordered a range finder after this.)

His hens were hanging out close, so I thought it was only a matter of time, but they eased off and he strutted parallel slightly out of range (I think).

Thinking of making the wife unhappy tomorrow and sneaking in hopefully close.

Excellent, you're getting a good fix on them. Just a matter of time, wife will forgive. Tell her you're doing it for the team:TooFunny:

Glad it is starting up north as FL is over this weekend. Last hunt on Friday resulted in el zippo except for another hunter scaring the crap out of me with a crow call.

Back to GA to see if they are still around??

"Today was better.  Had a long beard strutting away at 80...almost talked myself into shooting a few times (I think, low light woods hard to tell, I just ordered a range finder after this.)

His hens were hanging out close, so I thought it was only a matter of time, but they eased off and he strutted parallel slightly out of range (I think).

Thinking of making the wife unhappy tomorrow and sneaking in hopefully close."

Well as fate would have it, my wife got deathly sick and it was 6 days before I could get back on him.  I went in early and went to the edge of where he was strutting knowing I could be spinning my wheels.

Gobble time comes and he fires up about 200 away.  He responds to a few calls but goes silent quickly on fly down.  I know he's  got hens and I felt too far away to wait it out, which was probably completely false in hindsight.  But frustrated I decided to make a move to try and circle behind him. 

The thing about these woods though is they are super flat and super open.  Turkey can easily spot you from 200 away.  I was unable to re-establish contact.  I knew I made a mistake.  Walked around a bit trying to strike up another one but knew it was mostly pointless.  Mid morning a large group of bird watchers came through so I called it and hopped over to a different spot.  Didn't have any luck, but did stumbke across multiple turkeys and the sign was thick.  The reason this spot is one of my favorites.

I debated for the rest of the night and even on the drive this morning what to do.  At this point I knew if I wanted to hunt this area it was a sit and stay hunt.  I decided to give this bird one last go.

For an overcast morning the turkeys were surprisingly fired up.  I found myself probably 125 yards from my target bird and had a bonus bird 250 or so to my left.

Gobbler hits the ground and answers calls, but in a delayed fashion.  I know he's got hens again.  He's somewhere in front of me, little over hundred.  I figure he's probably strutting down an old access trail there and watching him mosey around a week ago, know hes prob still there despite going silent.

I pull out my slate for some soft work.  Couple clucks a few aggressive purrs.  2 minutes later one of the two hens comes running in at a full sprint.  The second coming in at a fast walk behind her.  That confirms it for me, same birds as a week ago.

Ambling behind them about as slow as possible is ye old Tom.  Hens are about 5 yards away from me now.  I'm sure this old fella is going to strut all the way in right behind them. 

Well no.  He struts about 60 yards away.  This goes on for a good 15 minutes before the hens move across my face and start moving away.

Finally out gobbler starts moving towards me but also across my face.  Dude is strutting the whole time.  I'm really not confident at the distance but I'm pretty sure he's 40 yards...45 at the most.  Easily within my range with a 12 gauge and TSS.  He goes behind a tree, I raise my gun, pops out the other side, give him two cuts to get him to stretch his neck a little and a bang.

Bird drops stone dead no flop.

Range finder tells me the bird is actually 30 yards. 

Sure glad I decided to chase him one more time even if I'm not a huge fan of that patch of public.

Heading up to NJ for a couple days tomorrow.  We shall see how it goes.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Nice story, patience kills no doubt about it. RIP Ye old Tom, good luck in Jersey!

Congratulations Ruination! Great Tom! My area of MD is hunted hard with low population, tough hunting, safe travels and good luck in Jersey.

Quote from: ruination on April 27, 2024, 10:31:15 PM"Today was better.  Had a long beard strutting away at 80...almost talked myself into shooting a few times (I think, low light woods hard to tell, I just ordered a range finder after this.)

His hens were hanging out close, so I thought it was only a matter of time, but they eased off and he strutted parallel slightly out of range (I think).

Thinking of making the wife unhappy tomorrow and sneaking in hopefully close."

Well as fate would have it, my wife got deathly sick and it was 6 days before I could get back on him.  I went in early and went to the edge of where he was strutting knowing I could be spinning my wheels.

Gobble time comes and he fires up about 200 away.  He responds to a few calls but goes silent quickly on fly down.  I know he's  got hens and I felt too far away to wait it out, which was probably completely false in hindsight.  But frustrated I decided to make a move to try and circle behind him. 

The thing about these woods though is they are super flat and super open.  Turkey can easily spot you from 200 away.  I was unable to re-establish contact.  I knew I made a mistake.  Walked around a bit trying to strike up another one but knew it was mostly pointless.  Mid morning a large group of bird watchers came through so I called it and hopped over to a different spot.  Didn't have any luck, but did stumbke across multiple turkeys and the sign was thick.  The reason this spot is one of my favorites.

I debated for the rest of the night and even on the drive this morning what to do.  At this point I knew if I wanted to hunt this area it was a sit and stay hunt.  I decided to give this bird one last go.

For an overcast morning the turkeys were surprisingly fired up.  I found myself probably 125 yards from my target bird and had a bonus bird 250 or so to my left.

Gobbler hits the ground and answers calls, but in a delayed fashion.  I know he's got hens again.  He's somewhere in front of me, little over hundred.  I figure he's probably strutting down an old access trail there and watching him mosey around a week ago, know hes prob still there despite going silent.

I pull out my slate for some soft work.  Couple clucks a few aggressive purrs.  2 minutes later one of the two hens comes running in at a full sprint.  The second coming in at a fast walk behind her.  That confirms it for me, same birds as a week ago.

Ambling behind them about as slow as possible is ye old Tom.  Hens are about 5 yards away from me now.  I'm sure this old fella is going to strut all the way in right behind them. 

Well no.  He struts about 60 yards away.  This goes on for a good 15 minutes before the hens move across my face and start moving away.

Finally out gobbler starts moving towards me but also across my face.  Dude is strutting the whole time.  I'm really not confident at the distance but I'm pretty sure he's 40 yards...45 at the most.  Easily within my range with a 12 gauge and TSS.  He goes behind a tree, I raise my gun, pops out the other side, give him two cuts to get him to stretch his neck a little and a bang.

Bird drops stone dead no flop.

Range finder tells me the bird is actually 30 yards. 

Sure glad I decided to chase him one more time even if I'm not a huge fan of that patch of public.

Heading up to NJ for a couple days tomorrow.  We shall see how it goes.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Nice job, congrats. Thanks for sharing!

Well, got in late to NJ due to a wedding going longer than expected and got zero scouting done.  The following morning was not a gobble day so I knew I was in trouble.

Going off old information I made my way to a small area I found birds when I went to buy my tags.  It was very quiet.  I was struck by the fact that NJ does indeed smell like flowers in this area, garden state indeed.  After nothing gobbles in the morning I moved around a bit to look for an area to perhaps set up...bumped a bird, oops.

Set up, got a gobble, but he was across a marsh and creek.  Super rough first day, but that was to be expected without a little luck.  Went back to camp, took a 2 hour nap, headed out and scouted.  I found a place I was confident was loaded with turkey and not over pressured.  But then I found a strutter in a public field.  At about 5pm.  Watched him for a bit to see if he would roost on the field.  But then he all of a sudden tucked tail and hid on the side of the field.  It was interesting, I could barely make him out hiding in half strut on the side of the field, blended in real well.  And over on top of the field comes two more gobblers.  Clearly bullies.  They went into the woods about an hour before fly up so I knew they could put some distance in, but having a confirmed live Tom seemed valuable.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Day 2

Set up in the field where I saw the gobblers.  Not my normal MO, but I was ready to be patient.

Pair of gobblers start sounding off 300 yards away.  Not too surprising, but further than I hoped.  They acknowledge my presence, but not much else.  They start working away.  That's okay, I'm in it for the long haul.

An hour and some soft yelping later a turkey sounds off 150 yards behind me.  I give a few more soft yelps and he cuts me off.  No joke this turkey proceeded to gobble with 1 second intervals for the next 150 yards.  It took about 5 minutes, you do the math.  If the gobbles weren't enough I eventually could hear him spit in-between every gobble.  There was very little surprise when he joined me in the field.  He immediately stuck his head up as high as it  would go and I decided the game was up.  Dropped him at 25 yards.  1lb less and a broken spur means he isn't scoring higher.  But a nice bird with a double beard none the less.  This would be my first season with multiple birds and my first out of state bird.


Jersey has zones and my two tags were for two different zones unfortunately.  So back to scouting in the afternoon.  Managed to roost some birds for the next day right on the edge of private on a small piece.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240502/2dd3f29922452b229a48b7f14a9c960d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240502/6e35236354f5dc3be2a9aa30a4506146.jpg)

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

You gotta love a fired up, hell bent, noisy gobbler!!! Nice going on the double beard too! 👍
New Jersey is probably one of the most misunderstood states. Some of the state is truly beautiful. I lived in Princeton for a few years, really nice area.
Congrats!

Congrats ruination on your fist out of state Tom, now get out of my state... :TooFunny:  :toothy12:  :TooFunny: Good luck with the Jersey drivers...

Quote from: JeffC on May 02, 2024, 07:56:31 PMCongrats ruination on your fist out of state Tom, now get out of my state... :TooFunny:  :toothy12:  :TooFunny: Good luck with the Jersey drivers...

Lol Jeff.  I'm in Caroline, not exactly a load of turkeys here either.  NJ is about as close as southern shore MD, but can't say I'm a big fan of the NJ people population, even though for the most part they gave courtesy when I was first to spots.

Day 3

Set up splitting a few gobblers on private from the public land line.  All of them responded willingly, few budged.

Big old gobble at 50 yards...out steps two Jakes.  Day before I would let em have it.  They hung around at 10 yards and gobbled a few times.  They were pulling a friend in.

Then all of a sudden the friend gobbled from a ways off again... interesting.  Until I heard the worst yelp cadence I have heard in awhile.  Honestly thought it could've been a crow too until he started "cutting".

Knowing that the game was up I went back to the truck to try another property.  Unsurprised to see PA tags on my way out, sorry for any PA fellers out there, but you guys really earn your reputation, well some people do for you anyways.

Drove 1/2 down the road to an empty lot.  Walked 20 yards from the truck, cut, gobble!  Game on.  Quickly repositioned and gave some soft purring and clucks.  In sprints 4 more Jakes.  Seriously considered filling my last NJ tag but just didn't feel right.

Still, another nice day.

Off to see Zobo on Sunday.  Wish the weather was looking nicer.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Quote from: Zobo on May 02, 2024, 03:44:46 PMYou gotta love a fired up, hell bent, noisy gobbler!!! Nice going on the double beard too!
New Jersey is probably one of the most misunderstood states. Some of the state is truly beautiful. I lived in Princeton for a few years, really nice area.
Congrats!

Still too many people on too tight an area.  But yes, it was beautiful where I was and they do right by their public lands.  Besides letting mute swans propagate like I've never seen.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

The areas I hunt, Jersey "road hunters" are the biggest problem. If they havent shot at, killed or heard a Tom by 7am, they get back in truck and road hunt, if they see strutter in field, hunt is on.  Safe travels and good luck.

Just shot my first Merriam in SD. It's a nice one, 8 in beard and 1 1/8 spurs. I'd post pics if I could using this iPhone on Tapatalk


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Jwall on May 04, 2024, 01:49:03 PMJust shot my first Merriam in SD. It's a nice one, 8 in beard and 1 1/8 spurs. I'd post pics if I could using this iPhone on Tapatalk


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's awesome JW,
Congratulations!!! I hope you're able to post it up on the scoreboard. If you need help let me know, I'm here to help!
(And, of course, lament my shortcomings)🙄

Nicely done in SD - looking forward to seeing the pics!!

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240505/76dad4488cab17942a52f1104afb78f7.jpg)
First merriam. Had to delete the app and reinstall it for it to allow me to post photos. I'll get the rest posted on the scoreboard today. Pretty cool story with the hunt to that I'll share with y'all later.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats!! Love those white feathers!!

Nice Mariam J!

Killed a little 2 year old in mass today. 

Fun fact, Massachusetts installed stone walls on all their land to make turkey hunting harder.

Little guy had me spinning like a top as he made his way through the holes in the wall.

Maybe a boss tomorrow.

Absolutely beautiful country.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240506/4248b26f41dd2ea82b3322fcc9638456.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240506/188527afee5205850bb5e96691f74425.jpg)

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Nice one, you're doing better than I am! Great picture too!

Season is over for me with nothing seen or heard on the last two days in GA. Wasn't even finding tracks on the roads. With the temps increasing during the day, I should have been hunting the swamps vice pines.

Good luck to those still hitting the fields and woods!!

Congrats on finding a Salamander!  :goofball: Congrats on the Tom also.

Quote from: JeffC on May 09, 2024, 08:13:57 AMCongrats on finding a Salamander!  :goofball: Congrats on the Tom also.

It was my first morning there and thought it was unique, turns out they are actually everywhere, lol.

Spent my last 3 days tangling with a hard gobbling turkey.  Must've heard him gobble over a thousand times. I blew multiple opportunities to kill him under 40 yards and as close as 20 because he had a jake with him and I wanted to be sure I was shooting the long beard.

Anyways, fun trip.  One, maybe two or three more turkey hunts left this year. Going to take a friend who has never been before tomorrow so we shall see.

If its going to rain on the 18th...I do have a zone 20 E tag burning a hole in my pocket...

Good season regardless.

Good luck, always seems birds just dont want to play the last 2 weeks over there, I will let you know tomorrow nite.

Zobo is on the board

Got him with the Lumma yelper, higher pitched, drove him crazy!

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Quote from: Zobo on May 10, 2024, 03:00:50 PMZobo is on the board

No pictures or story...Dont Count!!

Quote from: JeffC on May 10, 2024, 03:24:40 PM

Quote from: Zobo on May 10, 2024, 03:00:50 PMZobo is on the board

I'm not sure I can post pictures anymore, since the "upgrade" sorry OG

No pictures or story...Dont Count!!

Quote from: Zobo on May 10, 2024, 05:59:58 PM

Quote from: JeffC on May 10, 2024, 03:24:40 PM

Quote from: Zobo on May 10, 2024, 03:00:50 PMZobo is on the board

I'm not sure I can post pictures anymore, since the "upgrade" sorry OG

No pictures or story...Dont Count!!

Oh, it will count, patience my friend, patience. I will use AI if need be! 🤣🤣🤣

Testing,1 2,3

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Congratulations , when you sober up you owe us a story!! Great picture!! :you_rock:

These birds have been tougher to fool this year.

Been hearing good early morning gobbling but then as usual they quickly hen up. I think there are too many hens on this property I hunt. I don't shoot hens in the fall so I've only ever shot one hen on this property by accident years ago, a bearded hen.

Anyway, this was the third time hunting the area this season, so I decided to be more aggressive and get as close as possible to a late day strut zone, at the risk of bumping, before setting down.

I also didn't go out until 9:00, gave me time to relax eat breakfast,let the Hanover wear off, etc😆

So, I sit down close to this area I know the big guys like and start some high pitched short yelps, and sharp cuts on my brand new cane yelper. Awesome little yelper Steve Lumma made for me. Thanks again Steve!

I get no response for a while but I know they are present, so over the next hour I use patience and judicious yelper noises to finally elicit the lamest little Jake gobble.

In next to no time,  in comes three distinguished gentleman, not jakes!

So, of course, I rush the shot and kill the smallest one in the group👌

Typical Zobo.🙄

Hey you know what, I'll take it! 👍 🤣

Congrats again, good to let one grow into a monster bird, hope you get him next year.

That's what I keep telling myself, I'm not a bad shot, I'm a conservationist!  :funnyturkey:

Nicely done Zobo and funny looking bow in your lap!!😜