Throwing this out there. Not for any controversy, just to get opinions on how much space do you give fellow hunters. Scenarios are pulling up to park and seeing/hearing another hunter in the woods. This is my guidelines:
If I pull up to a spot and there is another vehicle there, I keep going. I always have plan B, C, and D. I'll spend the month of March locating birds in my areas allowing me to avoid crowding.
If I come up to another hunter in the woods on public and they engage in conversation, I'll see what their up too. If they plan on staying, I'll relocate. If they say they are heading out, I'll continue hunting that spot. One season, this happened to me and an hour later I harvested a Tom. I'll never get into a heated confrontation, it's not worth it. Calm communication always works for me.
Finally, I believe at least a 1/2 mile or so is a good buffer between hunters. This is a guess of mine, fortunately I find enough spots to keep me away from hunter conflicts. Be safe, love to see you thoughts here....
I'm with you Tom. I move on if I get beat to a spot, but I never get beat, lol. If someone wanders in on me, I assess the situation and act accordingly. Too much space to waste time arguing about it. If I have my wife with me, its easy. We just relocate, she is non confrontational and if I stand my ground it will wreck her day/hunt. But I do file things away for future use, lol. Have fun, be safe. Z
If someone beats me to a gate I don't dare intrude. Cut my losses and relocate. It's just common courtesy that has slipped away from a lot of the new hunters these days
Agree with the above. The exception would be that I do think the size of the ground behind the gate matters. I can think of a couple places I hunt where there are 10,000+ acres beyond the gate. More than enough room for more than 1 guy.
I normally know the guys that hunt in there so I have a good idea of where they hunt, so I just stay away.
i'm in the same boat as Mr. Z. I get there three hours early and never worry about getting beat.
Agree with the comments above. Also sometimes later in the morning you can drive back to plan A and possibly that person has already left ... Some of the best turkey hunting is mid morning until afternoon if you can hunt all day in that state.
If lunch is stopping time always have several plans ... A B C etc.. Also if you get a chance to have a conversation with the other person who's already parked maybe you both can share the woods in that location.
It all depends on you, if your second to the spot ... IMO
I agree Tom. Id never pull to hunt in a spot with another guy there. I dont even pull into lakes with 1 boat on it.
Good question for discussion, Tom. :icon_thumright:
First off, I agree...get there first and you should not have to worry about it...assuming that the guy(s) that show up after you understand that principle...which is not at all guaranteed in today's turkey-hunting world. In addition, more and more, hunters are "reserving" spots by sleeping at gates or camping underneath roost sites. Being there several hours in advance is not necessarily soon enough.
As I usually state in most discussions of this sort, it depends on the situation and circumstances for me. Fundamentally, if the area is not big enough for multiple hunters to spread out and not interfere with each other, there is no question...move on, and if there are no other alternatives, wait until the other hunter(s) leave the area. Even if the area is large enough for multiple hunters, however, there is always the question of where those other hunters are IF you decide to go ahead and enter...and that is always going to be a dilemma in those situations.
Not going into an area is a tough pill to swallow at times, especially if a guy has travelled a long way to get there and is on limited time...which is why I never travel to a location where I don't have several/many options on where to hunt (public areas, that is). Personally, I will choose a large public area with fewer turkeys over a small area with lots of turkeys...and the chance of having other hunters there...every time.
My rule of thumb in the areas I hunt regularly is that if someone is parked at a location, I will move a minimum of the distance needed to get out of earshot of any gobbler he might be able to hear from his location. Where I hunt mostly, that is usually a minimum of about a mile or so. Simply put, any gobbler I hear that I think the other hunter might be able to hear and head towards is generally off limits for me...except in those rare cases where I am absolutely certain that (or another) hunter is not engaged with that gobbler.
If there is any doubt, I just move on. Of course, I have the luxury of hunting in a region where the above is always possible. I feel for you guys that hunt places where it is not and the kind of decisions we speak of here must be made.
Great feedback! Thank you.
I don't get beat in the mornings but if I pull into a parking area late morning, mid day, evening, etc... and there is a vehicle there I keep going to a new spot. Unless there is a barrier I can put between us that I know they wont cross (river, clear cut, etc...) I will try to find access on that other side and hunt my own "area". Other than that, people walk way more than most think these days - not worth having a hunt ruined because I want to hunt a specific place. I will keep moving. Maybe I am a weirdo but I like to put myself in places where I feel like my boots are the only ones that have been there in a while even if the property is "worse" for turkey hunting than more popular areas. That is rarely if ever the case but it does make you perk up a bit when you pull into an area with no tire tracks or boot prints...
If it's a large piece of ground I'm not opposed to stopping and asking how many guys are in the truck and what direction your going. Case in point is a lot of walk in only areas around where I hunt and both sides of the county road are public. You might have 2-3 miles of closed road on both sides. If someone is walking in say a mile deep to the north side the south is still "open for business". In short if you are in doubt don't, be courteous and respectful of others.
I wish the clowns I run into on public had the same attitude as the folks here! If someone is there I will generally stop for a chat, even if I do not hunt there I try and see what there plans are.
I rarely hunt an area with others in it, but if I talk to a guy and he says he is going to somewhere specific I may enter at the same place and hunt an entirely different area.
On smaller tracts of public I will more likely just roll on by though.
I once parked at a spot with zero others there, came out early after being interrupted by some clown, walked the road back and there were 6 vehicles between me and mine, maybe a mile distance.
I have two mindsets. If it's on most of our WMA's, 200 to 500 acres, I'll drive on. We have a couple WMA's that are 8,000 acres, spanning several counties with multiple parking areas, in that case, I'll move on to a different parking area. On our national forests areas, most are 6k+ acres with multiple areas to park as well, I'll move on to a different parking area.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Dtrkyman on January 30, 2026, 02:21:58 PMI once parked at a spot with zero others there, came out early after being interrupted by some clown, walked the road back and there were 6 vehicles between me and mine, maybe a mile distance.
Opening day a few years ago, I got to the gate first (really only enough space for 1 truck) Had a guy come in and blow a bird off the limb. Walked out and found 4 trucks parked in ditches and basically behind me (I managed to wiggle my way out) To say I was angry is an understatement.
If I pull up to my spot and another vehicle is there.... it's on my property. It'll be getting moved somewhere VERY inconvenient by a big orange tractor. :TooFunny:
On a public tract, I'll give another guy all kinds of space. Been sneaked in on too many times. "Oh, sorry !! I thought you were a turkey." ::) I don't need shot on any given day.
I agree with the mindset of everyone here. But in recent years, I am over and over being the first person there and having folks come in later and walk all over me repeatedly no matter how much I move trying to get away from them that morning. Getting there between 3-4 am and sitting around in the dark on the mtn til fly down time around 7 am and then having folks still crash the scene with regularity that got there two plus hours behind me kind of leaves me scratching my head. I have not had a bad run in in a long time. I know most of the places I hunt well enough that most times I can just drop off the back side of the ridge (I hunt mtns) and move if I hear them closing in (you almost always hear them before seeing them) to try and avoid trouble.
The crazy thing, these guys are not killing turkeys as I have not heard a gun shot anywhere close to me at all in over five years. But they are professionals at flushing turkeys and making it harder for others to be successful even though by the grace of God I have continued to tag out yearly.
I've never parked beside another truck turkey huntin' but I can't say that the courtesy has been reciprocated.
The public land that I hunt is 43000 acres but only has a couple of access points. To make matters worse it is a multi-use area so vehicles that are parked may or may not be hunting. I have encountered hikers, geo-cashers and horse riders during hunts in the area. With that said I have avoided walking in because of vehicles parked in the parking area. I enjoy the tranquility of hunting by myself and do not enjoy when others are around. The other land I hunt is private and it I encounter someone I would head down to get the owner, actually one of the reasons I can hunt there as a land monitor.
I was "that guy" last year. Got to a spot and a truck was parked there. I knew the guy, not real well but turkey camp acquaintances.
I told him where I was going, he questioned whether it would interfere with his spot. I assured him I would be a mile of so in while he was going about 3-400 yards in.
My path was convoluted and I was wrong on how far in I would go, so we wound up in the same area. I guessed way deep, he guessed somewhat shallow.
Three gobblers in there, we didn't get one but I don't think we hurt anything or each other.
After, I apologized and found another spot.
I don't like being "that guy", but I was certain I wouldn't be...until I was.
How much space do we need? A lot more space that is out there.
We need more turkeys!
Room, we have. A 1 turkey per acre population density would help a lot.
This thread is exactly why id prefer driving 5hrs hunt if need be to actually hunt without interference.
The next part bothers me a little. Way back when no one would tell you anything.
Most guys would prob sit where they saw them deer season and quit after a short spell of unsuccessful hunting.
Today the old school guys have shared good info in order to pass it down.
Idk if we just havent expressed how valuable the info is and to be respectful and courteous to other hunters or if the newer guys just feel entitled. Theres no reason for a calling contest be it ducks, turkey, etc and the safety factor should be considered.
Fellas we need to relay this info to our mentees even on here.
Most the guys posting about this have been at this a long time.
Id be interested to see some 10yr or less experience hunters thoughts. Its not the old school guys screwing you. And I will say in vast areas i see the reasoning for talking to another guy at a gate. Myself id just never be there late as someone else. I can remember exactly one time in over 40 years someone asked what part of a piece i was going to. It was youth day, thats why i was later. Getting little girls up is tough.
I was walking in to a 50acre piece of federal land that was sandwiched between private property.
He asked "what part i was going to?"
What part of 50 acres?
Told him i didnt wanna have a call contest with him. If he was going in id leave but id not do that to him. I had birds roosted there and another spot. If he decided to go id tell him where other birds were. I did he left. My oldest daughter killed a bird. We prob could had a double. Idk how the other guy made out but ill never get why someone asks "which part of the 50 acres?"
I can tell you the guys that roll up late, don't care!
They have 100% intentions of hunting at that spot regardless.
Our private hunting club is hard. Lots of acreage but lots of ways to get to it. First week or two can be rough as far as interference.
I will say my answer to the question "Where you going" has always been the same. Where the turkey gobbles.
I rarely keep track but when a friend came out to hunt with me, we hunted two states for 5 days, he tracked us and we covered 79 miles on our feet, and a lot more than that in the vehicle, so I need lots of space!
I have covered over 20 miles in a day on foot many times.
I like this topic and all the information that has been shared. I never double park. The only way I see it acceptable to double park is if you communicate with each other about where you two will be. I've had plenty of people park next to me and walk in. You can tell right away when that happens. I always give a horrible sounding crow call or owl hoot to let them know my location. Safety is the number one thing to me. And spring turkey hunting is all about going to the gobbling bird. This can quickly turn into someone pointing their barrel right at you. Ive witnessed some scary gun safety out there.
Lots of hunters that never really turkey hunted took up the sport during Covid.
They do not know the ethics to the sport. Have had no one to teach them. We must patiently try and help them...
Patience has never been one of my virtues. Except for setting behind a gun. But honestly, a lot of these guys only have the hunting public to teach them.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on January 31, 2026, 12:57:39 PMI was "that guy" last year. Got to a spot and a truck was parked there. I knew the guy, not real well but turkey camp acquaintances.
I told him where I was going, he questioned whether it would interfere with his spot. I assured him I would be a mile of so in while he was going about 3-400 yards in.
My path was convoluted and I was wrong on how far in I would go, so we wound up in the same area. I guessed way deep, he guessed somewhat shallow.
Three gobblers in there, we didn't get one but I don't think we hurt anything or each other.
After, I apologized and found another spot.
I don't like being "that guy", but I was certain I wouldn't be...until I was.
Let's face it. There is always that "gray area" when hunting a place where there are other hunters...which is pretty much everywhere anymore...where even someone with the best of intentions might unknowingly interfere with another hunter who is working a bird. "Unknowingly" doing it does not fall into the same category as knowingly doing it...in my book, at least.
I suspect most of us that have hunted for very long have had both situations occur. You're working a gobbler and someone else hears him from a distance away and naturally starts to move in on him. There is a point where that person should realize..."Oh, there is someone else already working this gobbler"...and immediately backs out. That "realization" can only occur, however, if the guy that is there first somehow lets the other guy know he is there.
On the other hand, I also suspect many of us have gone to a gobbler that was announcing his presence, attempted to verify that nobody else was around, felt confident nobody else was there first, then set up and began working that bird...and maybe even killed that bird...only to have some guy that you had no idea was around show up. I suppose my point is that anybody that is working a gobbler should have some method of clearly making sure another approaching hunter realizes he is there.
If a guy does that...and the intruding hunter STILL continues to interfere...that falls into a totally different category.
Each of you are SPOT ON and have expressed some Great Comments and Concerns. For me, it's about Hunter Ethics and CONSIDERATION! Since most of us understand that Scouting and using your two feet to turkey hunt is Top Priority, it blows my mind how many people don't have more CONSIDERATION when they turkey hunt. If you get beat to a spot, move somewhere else, period. If someone is working a bird or you accidently walk in on someone, have the consideration to offer a Heartfelt apology and head away from that area immediately. No excuses, just apologize and leave the way you came in. And one last thing, I've had more hunts blown by people that think you Road Hunt turkeys in vehicles. Scout them early and often and use your legs to get to them. Great thread and posts Gentlemen.
If there is a truck there, I'm moving on. As John Wayne once said "I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same of them."
About 20 years ago, long before social media, I was on a 8-mile long stretch of 'strike a chalk line straight,' out of state ridgetop state forest road. I roosted a gobbler about 200 yards down the sidehill that night, as I'd worked him and a couple satellite gobblers earlier that morning across the valley.
Next morning, I parked on that dirt road long before daylight, and crept to 75 yards of the tree. At daylight he fired up on the roost gobbling like crazy.
Above me I heard a truck crunch the gravel and stop about where I left mine...you can see about 1/2 mile in each direction...guy opens door, and hears this bird gobble. He owl hoots few times, does a cackle, and proceeds to slam truck doors and get dressed. He starts down over sliding though the leaves.
I wave an orange strip of cloth to get his attention. He sees me, turns his controlled fall, and slides straight to my tree.
He leans in to whisper to me... "You hear that gobbler?"
"Yeah."
"You gonna hunt that bird?"
"What do you think, genius, I'm in camo with a shotgun."
He stands up, and walks back up to the road making as much noise as possible. Never did hear that bird again.
If there is a truck there, I move along. Wish others extended that same courtesy.
Everyone is nice and courteous till the gobbling starts, then the gloves come off.
I swear the harder the gobbling the less blood flows to hunters brains. At my age safety is my biggest concern..
I might arrive at after 9am if beat/tired. By then there will be vehicles belonging to Hikers,Bikers,Dog Walkers.
I park and walk on in.
If someone's there before me I just always keep moving there's always more spots. No point in racing people for birds. I'm young enough and smart enough to know there's more birds to be killed.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: quavers59 on February 03, 2026, 04:01:56 PMI might arrive at after 9am if beat/tired. By then there will be vehicles belonging to Hikers, Bikers, Dog Walkers.
I park and walk on in.
This is an issue that is increasing from what I have seen, as well. Other recreational users of our public lands tend to make the decision to hunt somewhere a bit more complicated than it once was when there were significantly fewer of them about during turkey season. I am always evaluating whether I can hunt gobblers that might be close to folks that are camping...or hiking, or antler gathering, or whatever it may be.
In our hunting group, we are always debating whether or not the camp or vehicle we encounter in an area is likely just somebody doing their own thing rather than turkey hunting. Most of the time, that debate is settled by the presence of camouflage and guns...or the lack thereof. ;D