So, I went out this morning and checked out a few fields in some state forest. The first field was already starting to get some green, and had plenty of deer tracks, as well as some turkey tracks. The second and third fields that I checked out had plenty of deer tracks, but did not see any turkey tracks (I did not walk through the entire fields, though). The woods close to the first field were just burned (still smoking). If I am not mistaken, recently burned woods are a great place to find turkeys?
So, what should be my next step in hunting these spots? The season does not start until April 1st. Should I expect everybody and their brother to be out there opening day, since it seems to be a good spot to find turkey?
I would expect company. I live in NJ the most populated state in the nation. My area is rural but that means lots of locals hunt n the city people come there to hunt.
I very rarely see anyone.
Climb a hill, cross something-swamp, river, whatever or just out walk them distance wise. Oh n leave the field birds alone on public property. Woods birds are easier imo
Quote from: Bowguy on February 01, 2017, 01:01:59 PM
I would expect company. I live in NJ the most populated state in the . My area is rural but that means lots of locals hunt n the city people come there to hunt.
I very rarely see anyone.
Climb a hill, cross something-swamp, river, whatever or just out walk them distance wise. Oh n leave the field birds alone on public property. Woods birds are easier imo
I was actually going to ask if I should not mess with decoys on public land, due to people possibly shooting them...
As the season gets closer the birds will be in there normal roosting areas. This would be a better time to scout. You may need 2 or 3 good spots. Don't get hung up on one area. Hens and hunters can change the game. I use decoys on public, Spring and Fall. Good luck
Have killed a number of birds of public land, at home and traveling to other states. Very little pressure at home and have access to a few little known spots that produce. When traveling I normally do a few things, first get away from the crowds I'll scout a bit from the truck to locate some bird and get away from others (don't mind walking to get away). Have always found a spot and had great success, but don't rely on one spot. I sometimes will arrive a day or two early of my hunt for scouting and go from there, talking to some locals has been good too, gas stations or find a delivery person or a school bus driver, these people see birds everyday and may lead to those hidden spots.
MK M GOBL
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 01, 2017, 01:09:56 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on February 01, 2017, 01:01:59 PM
I would expect company. I live in NJ the most populated state in the . My area is rural but that means lots of locals hunt n the city people come there to hunt.
I very rarely see anyone.
Climb a hill, cross something-swamp, river, whatever or just out walk them distance wise. Oh n leave the field birds alone on public property. Woods birds are easier imo
I was actually going to ask if I should not mess with decoys on public land, due to people possibly shooting them...
I wouldn't worry about decoy usage on state land causing them to be shot the bigger concern is setting them so you can see anyone coming n they don't shoot you. Turkey hunting unfortunately has accidents every year.
Learn some other ways besides the dekes, it'll give you more options than camping out in a field.
All are great answers and help.I have found out best time to hunt public is weekdays most people are working. :anim_25:
Weekdays, hunting farther from the road and harder to access areas, hunting mid to late morning when the other hunters are at Hardees eating biscuits and gravy and whining about not killing a gobbler have all worked for me. Plus, get out early and listen for gobbles. Put some miles on a good pair of boots. Nothing beats time in the woods! Good luck!
Well did you walk anything other than the fields? It's good to know where the fields are, but you also want to be familiar with the woods - terrain changes, thickets, old fences, property lines, etc. you will more likely kill a gobbler in the woods than the field, although fields are a good place to check for birds if you can do so without getting busted.
Turkeys do love burned areas too so that is a plus.
You want to know a good place to listen (preferably higher elevation) and you want to know the lay of the land as well as you can so you can use it to your advantage setting up on a gobbler.
Let's say you've got a strutter in one of the fields, but he has hens and won't come to your call. You hear another bird in the distance gobbling quite a bit, off in the woods somewhere. He's hot and probably very killable. But you know there's an old wire fence about 100 yards in his direction that you found while scouting, and he won't likely cross it...so you know you need to get around it to call him in from a better angle. This is where scouting helps you the most - turkey tracks tell you there are birds there, but won't tell you where exactly the birds will be come April 1st, because they could be literally anywhere. You want to find the turkeys when you hunt, and know the land as best as you can.
Oh and another thing, don't get mad when someone else sets up on "your" bird. It's part of public land hunting. Just make sure you know enough area to move around if the hunting pressure is bad. And stay later into the day if you can, it can be good hunting when people get hungry and go home to eat lunch.
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I only hunt public land in Louisiana it can be frustrating at times ,a lot of people low bird numbers very few hunters that know what there doing .But I've learned over the years most people aren't killing anything there just spooking and educating the birds ,it makes them harder to kill bit it can be done. Patience and learning to call pressured birds (I'd have to write a book to explain how lol)
I like to find places with tough or distant access, I have hunted a heavily pressured place in Indiana a couple season and have yet to run into another hunter.
I use a hen decoy often and once in a while a jake but only in a field situation. Killed a limbhanger over a jake decoy in Missouri on public last year, he was standing on the back of my decoy when I shot him.
Find good spots a quarter mile or more from those fields and easy access areas. The turkeys will get knocked back in there as soon as the season begins. I don't use decoys (for many reasons) but mainly cause they not needed.
You don't have to be a mile from the road to kill a turkey. Yes some certain areas will get hit hard, and birds pushed off the area. But sometimes there can still be a gobbler looking for love right next to the road. You never know when one may fire up, and you should be willing to cover lots of ground if the birds don't seem to be there.
I like to hunt these areas about 11 or noon after most go home. Have killed gobblers within 100 yards of parking that had a half dozen trucks at daylight. I have hunted turkeys and made huge circles to be opposite them when the road hunters poured it on early.
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Be willing to either work harder or be more patient then other hunters. That isn't very hard to do these days. I spend at least half my time on public land and I have yet to see a hunter in my favorite areas. I can hear them flailing away on their box calls down below me but not one has climbed the mountains yet to get to where I like to start my day out. I just get further away from them as the day goes on. This is harder to do on flat ground but there are still terrain features the detain a lot of people. A few fellows I know are decent at killing birds close to the parking areas everyone hunts. I can't sit in one spot and cluck softly and scratch in the leaves for hours at a time though so I go the other route. Both methods work just fine though. I am an explorer by nature and love slipping through areas most will never see. I also like to find chucks of public ground landlocked by private. The only way in being a lot of walking. Usually some farmers fields that attract birds butting right up against public ground. I won't trespass on anyone's property for any amount of money. But I am not against calling a turkey over to where he is fair game.
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Quote from: Happy on February 02, 2017, 06:08:31 PMUsually some farmers fields that attract birds butting right up against public ground. I won't trespass on anyone's property for any amount of money. But I am not against calling a turkey over to where he is fair game.
I use this tactic very often on public land. Call em across the property line. Bird is fair game if you can get him to play the game.
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This is a great thread. I hunt public alot and rarely have problems, well worth the effort. Pre scout the couple weeks before season, listen and make mental note of direction they generally head. Get in early and set up in the timber on one before flydown, if that doesn't work, move and call until you strike another gobbler and work him. By mid morning I'd put your hen deke in a good location back on that burn and sit. I won't use male dekes on public. No way. :fud:
Take a lunch with you and stay all day if your state allows it.
Don't waste your time scouting or hunting at daylight on opening day. I drive around and see where others are parking, assuming they have done the scouting for me. I bookmark their vehicles and then sit and look at the forest types at each parking spot on Google Earth from my iPad. Later in the morning I then drive to the most promising spots and if the vehicles have left, I then go hunting. On following mornings I try to be the first parked at one of the most promising locations.
Quote from: M22 on February 01, 2017, 08:52:12 PM
All are great answers and help.I have found out best time to hunt public is weekdays most people are working. :anim_25:
I'm retired and that's when I hunt.
If you cam a boat can get you farther away from others as well. More than once while at home and away I will motor up in a cove and listen
Quote from: ilbucksndux on February 03, 2017, 04:14:03 PM
If you cam a boat can get you farther away from others as well. More than once while at home and away I will motor up in a cove and listen
around here lots of people go "bass fishing" in camo with their shotgun and do the same thing.
Quote from: silvestris on February 03, 2017, 12:43:47 PM
Don't waste your time scouting or hunting at daylight on opening day. I drive around and see where others are parking, assuming they have done the scouting for me. I bookmark their vehicles and then sit and look at the forest types at each parking spot on Google Earth from my iPad. Later in the morning I then drive to the most promising spots and if the vehicles have left, I then go hunting. On following mornings I try to be the first parked at one of the most promising locations.
Are you serious? Thats got to be the laziest way to hunt Turkeys I've ever heard of. Then you try and beat the guy to a spot he found on another day? Why not just sit in your truck wait till the guy kills one then rob him at gun point when he comes back to his truck at least he will have got a hunt in lol. That mentality is what's wrong with public land hunting
That was sarcasm I believe. That's how I took it anyways. However unfortunately that is a common theme you will deal with when hunting public ground. Lot of lazy people these days with no respect for anything. That's why I am nowhere near my truck when I hunt. :D
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The turkeys that you found tracks of in the field may be roosted several hundred yards or more from the field. I'd scout and see if I could cut them off before getting to the field. It's really hard to say what time of day they left those tracks. By finding where they roost you might be able to avoid everyone else and get first crack. Always have more than one option.
Quote from: C. Brumfiel on February 04, 2017, 12:46:52 PM
The turkeys that you found tracks of in the field may be roosted several hundred yards or more from the field. I'd scout and see if I could cut them off before getting to the field. It's really hard to say what time of day they left those tracks. By finding where they roost you might be able to avoid everyone else and get first crack. Always have more than one option.
Finding out what time they were there was one reason I wanted to put out a camera. Also, this spot is about 100 yards south of a creek/oaks. I am thinking this is going to be a good area.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on February 04, 2017, 12:05:41 PM
Quote from: silvestris on February 03, 2017, 12:43:47 PM
Don't waste your time scouting or hunting at daylight on opening day. I drive around and see where others are parking, assuming they have done the scouting for me. I bookmark their vehicles and then sit and look at the forest types at each parking spot on Google Earth from my iPad. Later in the morning I then drive to the most promising spots and if the vehicles have left, I then go hunting. On following mornings I try to be the first parked at one of the most promising locations.
Are you serious? Thats got to be the laziest way to hunt Turkeys I've ever heard of. Then you try and beat the guy to a spot he found on another day? Why not just sit in your truck wait till the guy kills one then rob him at gun point when he comes back to his truck at least he will have got a hunt in lol. That mentality is what's wrong with public land hunting
No, robbing him would be doing what they do to me all too often, going in on top of him and ruining his hunt. I may see twenty vehiclves parked, usually one in any spot you can park. I sit on my toolbox and determine which spots deserve further scrutiny. Anyone who hunts public ground and doesn't watch where others are hunting is....... What I don't do is intentionally barge in where and when another is physically hunting.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on February 04, 2017, 01:19:37 PM
He used "I" a lot in his post ,I don't think it was sarcasm.Its bad enough to do such things but trying to infect others with the disease is shameful.
I could have used "me" instead of "I", but then it would appear that I was from Louisiana, which "me" am.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 04, 2017, 01:15:09 PM
Quote from: C. Brumfiel on February 04, 2017, 12:46:52 PM
The turkeys that you found tracks of in the field may be roosted several hundred yards or more from the field. I'd scout and see if I could cut them off before getting to the field. It's really hard to say what time of day they left those tracks. By finding where they roost you might be able to avoid everyone else and get first crack. Always have more than one option.
Finding out what time they were there was one reason I wanted to put out a camera. Also, this spot is about 100 yards south of a creek/oaks. I am thinking this is going to be a good area.
In certain situations trail cameras will help you kill a turkey. Plotwatchers are the best camera for this tactic however. Set the camera on the opposite field edge (if the field is relatively small) or if the field is larger set it in the middle of the field facing back toward the sign. In order to set it in the middle of the field there will need to be a tree or power line or similar to place it. The object with this tactic is to know where the turkeys travel routes are and the areas that they want to be. It also gives you some intel on your competition.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on February 04, 2017, 01:36:55 PM
2 bit hack
You are from Louisiana and if you hunt Kisatchie you have to hunt where someone else has hunted. Now, I may be 69, but calling me a 2 bit hack to my face could cause me some injury, but at a cost. I am going to forget that you posted that.
Hunt mid/late mornings and afternoons. I don't like large fields but small openings, loging roads, and such. I mostly run and gun and decoys are just excess weight so I usually don't use them. I do however use the terrain to funnel the birds into range. Sitting up just 30-40 yards past a small rise is a good example. Lastly I use satellite views on my phone for on the go scouting while I'm hunting. It can save some long walks.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 04, 2017, 01:15:09 PM
Quote from: C. Brumfiel on February 04, 2017, 12:46:52 PM
The turkeys that you found tracks of in the field may be roosted several hundred yards or more from the field. I'd scout and see if I could cut them off before getting to the field. It's really hard to say what time of day they left those tracks. By finding where they roost you might be able to avoid everyone else and get first crack. Always have more than one option.
Finding out what time they were there was one reason I wanted to put out a camera. Also, this spot is about 100 yards south of a creek/oaks. I am thinking this is going to be a good area.
doesn't matter what time of day they're there right now. They will change a lot between now and season. They will fight, break up, spread out, hens will look for nesting sites, and toms will move around looking for or staying with hens. All you need to know is you have turkeys there, which you do, and you want to know the property as well as you can so you know how to move around effectively to set up on gobbling birds, or check fields without getting busted.
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The two types of areas I look for to avoid competition when hunting public land.
Areas that are more trouble to find or get to than most hunters are willing to work for. Sometimes these areas are just a bit more trouble, sometimes a lot more trouble and work.
Or areas that seem so close and obvious that nobody will hunt.
I like to find where people park a lot on public land so if I know there is a hot bird there, I scatter some feathers from a prior bird after a mornings hunt. Then they find them and think that bird is dead and move on.
LOL
I hunt public a lot and the best advice I have read here is about perseverance. Places that are packed early on thin out as the season goes on. Get there early and stay later. Trek a long way in (just make sure you don't do what a friend of mine did and walk a long way in only to realize you have walked across the creek to a parking spot down a different road that about a dozen trucks were parked at.....and by friend of mine, I mean me).
Quote from: g8rvet on February 08, 2017, 08:04:51 PM
I hunt public a lot and the best advice I have read here is about perseverance. Places that are packed early on thin out as the season goes on. Get there early and stay later. Trek a long way in (just make sure you don't do what a friend of mine did and walk a long way in only to realize you have walked across the creek to a parking spot down a different road that about a dozen trucks were parked at.....and by friend of mine, I mean me).
Yup,...for the average turkey hunter that has a modicum of hunting skill and knowledge, it's all about perseverance.
....And as for thinking you have walked to the middle of nowhere only to find that you have walked to the other side of nowhere,...been there, done that, too!
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 04, 2017, 05:46:11 PM
Hunt mid/late mornings and afternoons. I don't like large fields but small openings, loging roads, and such. I mostly run and gun and decoys are just excess weight so I usually don't use them. I do however use the terrain to funnel the birds into range. Sitting up just 30-40 yards past a small rise is a good example. Lastly I use satellite views on my phone for on the go scouting while I'm hunting. It can save some long walks.
Great advice, I look at the satellite views on my phone as well really helps when trying to figure out the best way to get to where you think a bird is. Also, I look at topo maps of the area before hand. National Geographic sells maps of all national forest and recreation areas that have topography and every trail, gate, and parking lot marked as well. These are the most helpful when trying to figure where other hunters may be.
Have not read all the replys but field birds on public land can be tough get in the woods call soft and make them come looking for you. Fields beyond opening day can be a challenge unless you have them patterned very well.
My advice is to first and foremost be safe no turkey is worth getting shot over. Public land hunts you have to expect someone is going to be there because it is their right just as much as yours. That being said for the best success on public land. I like to get deep into a large public area and be patient if I see another hunter I look to move spots because calling to the same bird never works out. I prefer to hunt during the week because most hunters only hunt on weekends at least more than usual. Also public land birds most likely have been called to, so be subtle and have your gun patterned well out to 60 yards. Public birds hang up further away (most times not always) because they are more educated and wait for that hen or expect to see her. I tell you what though it is rewarding when it comes together on public land. Good luck to you and everyone else this season!
Thanks,
Justin
Everyone pretty much hit all the good points. When I don't have permission for private, I hunt public. The best advice I can give is get out about 2 weeks before season before dawn and sit and listen. Don't move around, do it just like you were hunting them, know the lay of the land and don't bump them. I think the 3 most important pieces of knowledge to take away from this is woodsmanship, patience and get away where you're average guy won't bother to go to. Good Luck!
Quote from: Bowguy on February 01, 2017, 01:01:59 PM
. Oh n leave the field birds alone on public property. Woods birds are easier imo
I'm not very experienced, but I agree! Saw these three toms three days in a row but couldn't get them in range. The 3rd day I had one come right up to the edge of my range, with a small bit of shrubbery in the way. I could have taken a long shot at him, but knew it would only be throwing up lead and didn't want my first shot at a turkey to be unethical. He was probably only 50 yards, and I felt my heart beating hard as I could see the white top of his head! The fan went up and then back in. I had a cheap foam decoy and it was the last week of the season, so I know he'd been hunted before(popular public spot). He hung up for about 5 minutes, and then slowly walked off to meet up with his buddies in the middle of the field. Later that day I snuk around to the other side of the field to get closer to the 3 toms. I was in a bad spot as far as sitting down, so I just made a call from 10 feet inside the tree line where my presence was concealed. I heard a loud gobble right behind me!!! Needless to say I'll never turkey call without finding a suitable setup again! Busted all around, but it was my rookie year hunting turkey tom, and no mentor, so I just learned from my mistakes and moved on.
Quote from: warrent423 on February 21, 2017, 05:32:10 PMSpoken like a true googan. Not ethical or good enough to call one to within 40 yards, so lets cripple them up at 60. Pathetic.
easy Cow I would have said it a little nicer than that.
If your pattern is good at 60 then shoot them at 60, but that's a stretch for most turkey guns. My farthest shot was 50 and that was luck that it killed with my setup. And that was a fall bird that I walked up on. Most of my public land kills are inside 30, so you can definitely get the birds in close even on heavily hunted land. Just hunt thicker woods where they have to come closer to see. If they always get hung up at 60 then you're hunting a too wide open space. Terrain also helps them come in closer if you set up right.
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I'm guessing I should stay away from easy access areas from the main road? Basically, open woods where I can park and walk right in, no problem?
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 26, 2017, 01:35:04 AM
I'm guessing I should stay away from easy access areas from the main road? Basically, open woods where I can park and walk right in, no problem?
Again, I cannot emphasize the value of maps enough in situations like you are talking about. Simply spending a bit of time on-line and looking at an area on Google Earth, as well as any other map resource of the area you plan on hunting will provide much insight as to where you should be hunting. Often you can make printed copies of on-line map sources and then make your own detailed, marked map showing all the important information like boundaries, land status, road system, access points, and other pertinent info. By doing that, you can often come up with a mental picture of where you should start looking to hunt.
In terms of where you can "park and walk right in", that depends on the public area and if there are restrictions in where you must park/walk in to access the area. If you are unfamiliar with the area, always refer to the rules and regulations specific to the area you plan to hunt.
If this dude would have taken about 6 more steps, he would have been between me and my truck which was parked about 70 yards away at a trailhead on public ground. I'd have had to let him walk. BTW, he was a midmorning bird. My buddy killed his partner about 1/2 hour later when we looped around and set up on him for the 2nd time. You just never know. Get out and hunt.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 26, 2017, 01:35:04 AM
I'm guessing I should stay away from easy access areas from the main road? Basically, open woods where I can park and walk right in, no problem?
no, you should hunt wherever you find birds while trying to stay away from other hunters. I've killed them close to the road before, and I've killed them far from the road. Just learn the land you are hunting.
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I don't do much preseason scouting, certainly none more than a couple weeks before season opens, anyways. The birds in my neck of the woods are still in winter flocks and spending most of their time back in the timber. They will be busting up and shifting around a bunch the next few weeks and will start showing up in new places you might cross off your list right now.
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