In your experience what state in general has the hardest hit public land ?
Georgia, Kansas
Pennsylvania.
Prob south mississippi an alabama
Out of the 7 states I have hunted, most definitely Mississippi.
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on February 22, 2012, 10:13:48 AM
Pennsylvania.
Agree. Toss opening week in Maryland into the bucket with PA as well.
Florida.
The WMA's in western Oklahoma
Quote from: bird on February 22, 2012, 12:00:47 PM
The WMA's in western Oklahoma
Try Southeast Ok (Pushmataha, James Collins...)
MO. public gets pounded hard.
Definately Mississippi!!!!
Georgia. 90% of the time you have to bring your own tree to sit against and own turkey to shoot.
Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2012, 11:41:45 AM
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on February 22, 2012, 10:13:48 AM
Pennsylvania.
Agree. Toss opening week in Maryland into the bucket with PA as well.
Opening weekend of MD in green ridge is a crap show
Southern Half of Michigan.If you hunt state land you better plan on seeing more orange than you will see in a punkin patch come opening day of deer season.Turkey season ain;t quite that bad.
Quote from: Shellwaster on February 22, 2012, 02:58:32 PM
Georgia. 90% of the time you have to bring your own tree to sit against and own turkey to shoot.
Thats pretty bad ! LOL
Looks like we have alot of votes for Miss !
Quote from: redarrow on February 22, 2012, 03:12:52 PM
Southern Half of Michigan.If you hunt state land you better plan on seeing more orange than you will see in a punkin patch come opening day of deer season.Turkey season ain;t quite that bad.
That sounds like some of the public land in Louisiana for deer season !
Everywhere is hunted hard in Mississippi........
Homochitto National Forest in southwest Mississippi
I think any Public area with easy access and close to a major city gets hammered. I went to Mississippi State (Go Dawgs!!!) and I can tell you the college guys hit the National forests pretty hard all week long.
Mississippi gets a nod.
Florida Public gets it pretty good too. I was in line 2 hours before daylight to get a spot to kill an Osceola in 2001. Over 300 people begging to hunt and only about 150 allowed to enter. I swear I thought I was in line at a B.A.S.S. Classic!!!
It was worth it though!! Shot my Osceola on Public Land Baby!!!! :toothy12:
Mississippi IMO
Ive hunted VA its hit pretty hard especially by PA and MARYLAND hunters :OGturkeyhead: :funnyturkey:
The Black Hills of South Dakota. I can remember going there and only having 2 trucks in the hotel parking lot. Last time I was there no vacancy at any hotel. All turkey hunters.
Set up on birds to have other hunter walk up to the tree they were roosted in. It was worse than anything I have every experienced on any other public land.
Montana and Idaho, never saw another hunter.
New York is crowded also !!!!!
Saddle up for the first spring opener in the nation in the southern region of Florida, general hunt- no quota, then come talk to me. :whip2:
WHichever WMA in Arkansas that has ducks at the time. You just think public land is crowded until you experience this.
If you can Kill a gobbler on public land in Ms , I believe you can go anywhere and kill anything. It anit just the amount of folks hunting , its the type of local guy that is a 5th generation outlaw/woodsman that seems to watch where I park my truck and hunt the same birds I hunt. They are mean and dangerious, I can say that cause I was at at one time one of the worst offenders. We use to sit around in June and july and think of creative ways to mess the out -of staters up. ( now I anit proud, as a matter of fact I am sorry and ashamed) but this is an example of what a public land Ms turkey hunter is up against , and with cell phones and other tech. it has gotten worse.
Quote from: Beretta686 on February 22, 2012, 06:12:10 PM
The Black Hills of South Dakota. I can remember going there and only having 2 trucks in the hotel parking lot. Last time I was there no vacancy at any hotel. All turkey hunters.
Set up on birds to have other hunter walk up to the tree they were roosted in. It was worse than anything I have every experienced on any other public land.
Montana and Idaho, never saw another hunter.
I think it is about time you moved to another area in the Black Hills...We have made two trips over the past 5 years and have only ever encountered 1 other hunter actually hunting. And all he did was ride around blowing a crow call.
Quote from: Covehnter on February 22, 2012, 06:22:18 PM
Saddle up for the first spring opener in the nation in the southern region of Florida, general hunt- no quota, then come talk to me. :whip2:
Florida would be my second choice, and the 2 hunts I have been on were even quota hunts.. Outlaws (roost shooters) are bad there too.
The only reason I don't rank it ahead of Mississippi is that the Florida hunters where we have hunted aren't near as willing to get a mile off the road as the MS hunters are.
CA At lest the hunters in MS and AL know how to hunt. How would you like 1000's of guys stomping around the few pieces of public ground that have no clue how to turkey hunt except what they see on TV.
TRKYHTR
PA gets my vote, shot a gobbler on the first day several years ago and when it was done flopping there were 5 other guys standing around me.
What time of the season where you there? North Carolina game lands get alot of pressure. But I love to hunt them. Congrat's on getting your Osceola.
Quote from: K9Doc on February 22, 2012, 05:45:32 PM
I think any Public area with easy access and close to a major city gets hammered. I went to Mississippi State (Go Dawgs!!!) and I can tell you the college guys hit the National forests pretty hard all week long.
Mississippi gets a nod.
Florida Public gets it pretty good too. I was in line 2 hours before daylight to get a spot to kill an Osceola in 2001. Over 300 people begging to hunt and only about 150 allowed to enter. I swear I thought I was in line at a B.A.S.S. Classic!!!
It was worth it though!! Shot my Osceola on Public Land Baby!!!! :toothy12:
I know here in Missouri it gets ugly at some of the local conservation areas. I've been walked up on about a dozen times, as well as my brother and a guy i work with had his decoy shot right in front of him by two idiots listning to him call and walked up on his setup.
Another vote for MS. It may be public but somebody's got a claim on most of it and they'll let you know about it.
Quote from: Fullfan on February 22, 2012, 08:21:06 PM
PA gets my vote, shot a gobbler on the first day several years ago and when it was done flopping there were 5 other guys standing around me.
Sounds like a typical weekend hunt on public land here in MS. I've had people almost beat me to the bird rite after the shot because they thought their partner shot. All they were trying to do was surround the gobbler and if someone bumped him hopefully one of the other four in their group would get a shot...
MS gets my vote. Been to Arkansas and Mizzou and there were a few hunters around but NONE like these ruthless warriors here in MS. It just gets worse every year too!
Quote from: ncturkey on February 22, 2012, 08:22:51 PM
What time of the season where you there? North Carolina game lands get alot of pressure. But I love to hunt them. Congrat's on getting your Osceola.Quote from: K9Doc on February 22, 2012, 05:45:32 PM
I think any Public area with easy access and close to a major city gets hammered. I went to Mississippi State (Go Dawgs!!!) and I can tell you the college guys hit the National forests pretty hard all week long.
Mississippi gets a nod.
Florida Public gets it pretty good too. I was in line 2 hours before daylight to get a spot to kill an Osceola in 2001. Over 300 people begging to hunt and only about 150 allowed to enter. I swear I thought I was in line at a B.A.S.S. Classic!!!
It was worth it though!! Shot my Osceola on Public Land Baby!!!! :toothy12:
NCTurkey I was hunting the Green Swamp North and slightly east of LakeLand Florida. It was opening day of the season and only 150 or so were allowed to enter. They were lined up for a loooong ways to get into that gate. Warden at the gate counting heads and only allowing certain number of hunters. I have never seen anything like it!!!
Quote from: Shotgun on February 22, 2012, 06:29:36 PM
WHichever WMA in Arkansas that has ducks at the time. You just think public land is crowded until you experience this.
TRUE! And to add to that, there were not many ducks this year and BM was still a mad house.
But any public area I go to seems to have "those kinda guys"
After reading what you all have experienced on public land I'll never complain again! Every once and awhile i might run into somebody spring gobbler hunting on public land where I hunt but nothing like what you all speak of. Now deer season is a different story it seems to dominate in the part of VA I hunt. But it also seems after the fist week you don't see anyone out much turkey hunting except on weekends.
That is where I am hunting this year. Around the second week in April is when I will be there.
Quote from: K9Doc on February 23, 2012, 10:41:57 AM
Quote from: ncturkey on February 22, 2012, 08:22:51 PM
What time of the season where you there? North Carolina game lands get alot of pressure. But I love to hunt them. Congrat's on getting your Osceola.Quote from: K9Doc on February 22, 2012, 05:45:32 PM
I think any Public area with easy access and close to a major city gets hammered. I went to Mississippi State (Go Dawgs!!!) and I can tell you the college guys hit the National forests pretty hard all week long.
Mississippi gets a nod.
Florida Public gets it pretty good too. I was in line 2 hours before daylight to get a spot to kill an Osceola in 2001. Over 300 people begging to hunt and only about 150 allowed to enter. I swear I thought I was in line at a B.A.S.S. Classic!!!
It was worth it though!! Shot my Osceola on Public Land Baby!!!! :toothy12:
NCTurkey I was hunting the Green Swamp North and slightly east of LakeLand Florida. It was opening day of the season and only 150 or so were allowed to enter. They were lined up for a loooong ways to get into that gate. Warden at the gate counting heads and only allowing certain number of hunters. I have never seen anything like it!!!
Quote from: VA_Birdhunter on February 23, 2012, 11:50:07 AM
After reading what you all have experienced on public land I'll never complain again! Every once and awhile i might run into somebody spring gobbler hunting on public land where I hunt but nothing like what you all speak of. Now deer season is a different story it seems to dominate in the part of VA I hunt. But it also seems after the fist week you don't see anyone out much turkey hunting except on weekends.
x2 ! Yall got some horror stories ! :o
Why I prefer private :wave:
PA is bad but MD is worce.
Alabama WMA's are like a opening day dove hunt. You better be good at wing shootn. I live here so I can say it, I've seen some of the most rude and disrespectfull people I ever seen last couple of years.
I was brought up huntn public land and have enough curtiousy to treat others how I would like to be treated. Most of em these days dont play like that no more.Anyway theres my rant.
ROLL TIDE ROLL....................
I've only hunted Ga., S.C. and Fl. public land. Out of the 3 states Fl. public land was the worse. Didn't matter how far I went back in I would always find a boot print. Just couldn't get away from the crowd. However, I didn't hunt much public land in Ga. back then there was no leases and private land was very easy to get permission...not to mention there were very few spring gobbler hunters.
PS...forgot to mention Illinois...I've never seen another turkey hunter on the public land I hunt here. Shawnee National Forest...there's plenty that hunt it, but it's a real big place and you can get real far back in if physically able.
Alabama
Shane
Florida-on a couple places you need to park your car in line 2 days before the hunt, just to get in the gate to get in line at the next gate for the next days hunt,and only 200 get in the gate. I have seen it where they were still lined up at the gate at 10;00am the day of the hunt waiting for someone to come out and leave so they could get in and hunt.
Michigan, NC, and Colorado were all pretty pressured public land areas. Most of those areas though if you got a ways off the road or the beaten trail you could get away from people.
My first opening morning of rifle season in NC all I saw were trucks parked all over and orange in trees every 40 yards. It was horrible.
Quote from: REBELYELL on February 22, 2012, 05:39:48 PM
Homochitto National Forest in southwest Mississippi
thats the most pressured public land anywhere in the world
Alabama
Mississippi,seems now everybody went to walmart the night before got a call and in the woods,nonstop walking an calling. When I started if you told someone you were going turkey hunting they asked why? Man I sure miss those days.
I'm surprised there aren't more "Bama" responses here. But I guess that's to be expected since there ain't any birds down here. Plenty of hunters though, waiting for some birds to drift over from MS or GA... We may not have it quite as bad as some of ya'll but you can't go anywhere without somebody walking in and messing you up. Oakmulgee WMA is the worst I've experienced.
From where I've hunted it's about all the same on any public land in the south....Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas. Getting worse every year too.
Quote from: TRKYHTR on February 22, 2012, 08:06:47 PM
CA At lest the hunters in MS and AL know how to hunt. How would you like 1000's of guys stomping around the few pieces of public ground that have no clue how to turkey hunt except what they see on TV.
TRKYHTR
Yup. Lots of guys turkey hunting like they chase pheasants, minus the dogs. :drool:
Quote from: TRKYHTR on February 22, 2012, 08:06:47 PM
CA At lest the hunters in MS and AL know how to hunt. How would you like 1000's of guys stomping around the few pieces of public ground that have no clue how to turkey hunt except what they see on TV.
TRKYHTR
YA STALKING YOUR DECOYS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS! lol Bow hunters,junior hunters,and shotgun hunters all coming after the same fake turkey! lol I laugh but I shouldnt cause it sure can get dangerous really fast. A bunch of city boys and gals who got the hunting channel on cable think they know how....oh man Im glad I got my lil honey hole that everyone thinks its crappy since it doesnt have open feilds they can hunt like the primos guys. haha
Another vote for MS.
Went to Malmaison once and haven't gone back.
I stayed in the woods a total of 30 minutes. I didn't feel safe at all.
Got out of there and went to a private land I can hunt.
WMA turkeys in MS, you earn em :OGturkeyhead:
It's hard to really gauge from State to State, if you never hunted there? With that I've only ever hunted PA and Ohio, both states right along each border, and I can say without a doubt along the State line of PA and Ohio gets hammered.
How I can gauge that, not just saying that because I hunt there, and believe it gets a lot of pressure as compared to other areas? Well in my short 15 years of turkey hunting I had 3 close calls, where hunters snuck in on me and shot at birds I was working and all 3 were near misses. Once bowhunting and twice gunning, so i know this area gets pressured big time and can be down right dangerous with all the idiots.
Nothing more depressing to work field birds all morning and at the moment of thruth when I was actually pulling back on the bow on a strutting Tom, 2 idiots snuck in 70 yards away and shot right over my head 3 times. Actually heard the BB"s whizz by, before the guns. So I'd say a very good gauge for extreme pressure is, how many times have others shot at your setup, all most shooting you?
Having not hunted public land out of my state ( I have hunted private a few times) I can only speak for the Osceola Three Ring Circus. I have seen armies of flashlights on non quota openers, had folks set up 50 yards behind me then raise a big fuss when I got up to leave for messin' up "his" spot. I've shot birds only to have someone come sneakin' in 5 minutes later lookin' for the gobbler they heard even after I fired my gun. Add to the fact that the outdoor magazines seem to all mention the same WMA's as "best bets" and that our beloved Osceola has the smallest population and everybody who wants a slam has to show up on my doorstep so to speak. It's a wonder our little group of huntin' buddies do so well on the mostly non quota hunts we go on each spring. Steppin' down from my soap box now, carry on.
Quote from: TURKEYWHACKER on February 25, 2012, 11:13:55 AM
Having not hunted public land out of my state ( I have hunted private a few times) I can only speak for the Osceola Three Ring Circus. I have seen armies of flashlights on non quota openers, had folks set up 50 yards behind me then raise a big fuss when I got up to leave for messin' up "his" spot. I've shot birds only to have someone come sneakin' in 5 minutes later lookin' for the gobbler they heard even after I fired my gun. Add to the fact that the outdoor magazines seem to all mention the same WMA's as "best bets" and that our beloved Osceola has the smallest population and everybody who wants a slam has to show up on my doorstep so to speak. It's a wonder our little group of huntin' buddies do so well on the mostly non quota hunts we go on each spring. Steppin' down from my soap box now, carry on.
I agree 100%
Like the "best bets" listed a couple of posts above, I cringe when I see that about public land I hunt. You can instantly add a crowd quick, but that's public ground and part of the deal. One well known writer has been good about mentioning specific landmarks, etc. to hunt, probably of which he either never hunts or once every 10 years.
Homochitto National Forrest in Mississippi if you don't get shot when youget back to the truck you will be lucky if your truck tires ain't been cut or windows knocked out. Did not happen to me but someone I know. If it would have been me I would be in Parchmen (State Prison).
Have heard horror strories about Florida Public land as well.
Don't tell me that crap about going deep from the roads. You can only go half way, if you go any further you are only walking out!!!! :funnyturkey:
I've hunted the homochitto national forrest several times and it doesnt hold a candle to some of the pressure that some of the south alabama wma's get.
Quote from: TURKEYWHACKER on February 25, 2012, 11:13:55 AM
our beloved Osceola has the smallest population and everybody who wants a slam has to show up on my doorstep so to speak. It's a wonder our little group of huntin' buddies do so well on the mostly non quota hunts we go on each spring.
I have only hunted on public ground twice in Florida, but on our trips in several areas where we have found birds, the birds have been DENSE. A lot denser than they are here in MS on the public land and in several other states I have hunted. Take into consideration that you can't hear them as far in Florida either, and it is kind of crazy to me. Simply amazes me how many birds that thick jungle-like terrain can hold. It may not be like this on a lot of the public land there, but it definitely has been on the two WMAs we have hunted. I wish our birds were that dense here. Not saying all the ground there is dense with birds, as it is definitely not. We have had to do a ton of scouting to find them. But once you find them, :o . If the place you hunt is like that, I can easily see how your group does good.
Florida, all the way it is totally impossible to get back in far enough away from anyone. You can walk in the dark for two hours to get back in somewhere only to have a person with a disable permit drive up to you on and atv at first light. I can't say to much about them though I just hope I never have to get one of them permits. But I can say something about the_____hole that shot my decoy. I got my Osceola the second year down and I didn't think I would ever want to put up with that Zoo again. But I meet such a great bunch of guy down there that I know when I retire I will be fighting with that crowd each year and keep bitching about it, DON'T YOU JUST LOVE TURKEY HUNTING.
The total number of turkeys killed on Florida WMA's is about 700 gobblers-- That's the whole state for public hunting - there is some private...... good luck finding some ;) and the leases in central to southern Florida run no BS here guys , about $6500- $8000 per hunter and they all have the same rules , 2 gobblers max per lease holder and you have to share with the other guys on that lease
On the other hand we get about 900 new residents to the state of Florida each DAY - we are looking at reaching a population of 40 million people in Florida in 2-3 more decades
Some people will talk about it is hard to hunt the birds where they live in some other southern states , the big difference is that in 15 years time the other places will still have a place to hunt , we wont
Our Public in Iowa isn't pressured, because we basically don't have any ;D What we do have is well used by everyone from Horseback riders to Mushroom hunters.
Georgia can be pretty bad, but thankfully A lot of part timers give it up after the first few weeks. The birds however are pretty educated when they do give up., which amkes it that much more difficult. I have heard Florida is pretty bad as well, I ahve heard some absolute horror stories, but I have no first hand expierience on public ground down there.
Quote from: Jay on February 26, 2012, 05:18:48 AM
Our Public in Iowa isn't pressured, because we basically don't have any ;D What we do have is well used by everyone from Horseback riders to Mushroom hunters.
Very true.... Iowa ranks 49th in the nation for available Public Hunting Ground and damn can those mushroom hunters be a real pain to deal with. Many times I have seen them walk right up to your decoys or have them so close to you that you could almost reach out and touch them as they go walking by and they have no idea you are even sitting there. Some day a mushroom hunter is going to get shot by a hunter.
From personal experience, Alabama or Land Between the Lakes (KY/TN). However, I have also heard few hold a candle to Mississippi in this category.
I've never hunted it but I would have to think Florida would be the worst. Never been on a hunting trip before when everybody lines up at the gate before daylight and then some of them get to go in and some don't. Honestly don't think I'd be interested in going on a trip like that.
Quote from: Brent on February 26, 2012, 09:35:11 PM
I've never hunted it but I would have to think Florida would be the worst. Never been on a hunting trip before when everybody lines up at the gate before daylight and then some of them get to go in and some don't. Honestly don't think I'd be interested in going on a trip like that.
It has been like that since 1985! no kidding a line 1/2 mile long with trucks parked in it - people would park their truck and leave it in line then walk back to camp to go to sleep
but again , it wont be long ,the bulldozer and politicians will kill off all the turkey hunting in Florida soon enough --
OG for those who do get in what's the hunting actually like? When a turkey gobbles does everybody just go nuts and take off running at it or can you actually set up and work a bird? I've always complained about hunting Skyline WMA in Alabama but I guess I'm pretty lucky.
Quote from: Brent on February 26, 2012, 10:16:37 PM
OG for those who do get in what's the hunting actually like? When a turkey gobbles does everybody just go nuts and take off running at it or can you actually set up and work a bird? I've always complained about hunting Skyline WMA in Alabama but I guess I'm pretty lucky.
If a bird gobbles to much while coming into you I can guarantee in the area I was hunting someone will try and slip in-between you and the bird if there is enough room. It happened to me twice neither of us got the birds though, because of to much calling by the next guy trying to steal the bird. Most of the time they are not all that vocal, but it could have been what stage they were in or time of year.
Quote from: Brent on February 26, 2012, 10:16:37 PM
OG for those who do get in what's the hunting actually like? When a turkey gobbles does everybody just go nuts and take off running at it or can you actually set up and work a bird? I've always complained about hunting Skyline WMA in Alabama but I guess I'm pretty lucky.
I love to hear a bird screamin' from the roost as much as the next guy, but on our WMA's that just a recipe for disaster. I try to stay low key and don't mind waitin' on a quiet bird. Haven't noticed a difference in taste from a gobblin' to non gobblin' bird yet.
Many pressured areas from all the reads? But I'll still stick with my theory and expierences as PA gets the vote.
If you have never had hunters sneak into your set and shoot at whatever or a bird nearly missing you, a few times in your hunting career, your're not hunting pressuerd areas.
Heck, a few years ago in this area, a hunter snuck in on a guy calling and shot him in the back of the head. Never been shot, but 3 near misses due to "STALKERS" that don't call. That's why we have a law here, no stalking, must call birds, but guys still stalk, which makes it down right dangerous here.
Read all the post. Only saw OH mentioned once. That is because it always has a Monday opener. A week day opener will spread the pressure but the nit wits that set the rules seem to worry way too much about the tradition of a Saturday opener. A Saturday opener is a guarantee circus on public land. You listening KY?
my vote is louisiana.
its gotten progressively worse over the years but now its to the point the pressure never lets up. used to be first week was bad, now its all. i personally know 2 people who have been shot , in the face. one lost an eye from a hunter setup on other side of bird and the other was just walking and got shot ,again in the side of his head and face..........ever seen a turkey that tall, he is not a midget?
i have had a close call twice, both from people who came in behind me and shot past me, never called and never even were in range of the bird .
i love turkey hunting but consider it a dangerous sport these days , the only answer is go early, go deep and be very very careful.
Pennsylvania has 750,000+ licensed hunters and 250,000 to 300,000 turkey hunters. Bring your own tree.
Quote from: schuylkillspur on February 27, 2012, 12:55:24 PM
Pennsylvania has 750,000+ licensed hunters and 250,000 to 300,000 turkey hunters. Bring your own tree.
I agree, plus many idiots, that will "STALK' turkey sounds, and shoot at you too!
GA can be pretty bad after all the quota hunts are over. I have yet to see anything like public land Arkansas duck hunting wherever mallards are at.
I have hunted public MS all my life and public MO,KS,OK,NE,CO,and NM on my out of state trips. MS is the worst I have found by far.