Help me gameplan new property

[northms]

I have a friend from church who has some land he bought with a few other fellas a couple of years ago.  They deer hunt it but don't turkey hunt.  I expressed interest (naturally) about being happy to take him out this season and see if we had any luck.

I've never laid eyes on the property but plan to go out and listen with him this weekend if the weather is good.  The red outline is his property line.  The two blue dots are the access points.  He tells me it is mainly cut-over, thick underbrush, with lots of fire lanes and roads.

You'll also see one or two pretty good fields with some lesser sized fields mixed in.  On the very right side of the property (east side) there is a gas line that he says runs all the way north and south.  I figure this is a great strutting area depending on the height of the grass.  This seems like an obvious choice, along with the handfull of fields.

He has been told the northern edge of the property, where you'll see a very large field just outside of the property line, has some turkeys around it.  The property itself has been described to me as quite hilly.

We are going to go listen and obviously if we hear something we will plan accordingly for when we come out there to hunt.  But if you were going out to this property the first time, where would you start.  In total, it's about 500 acres.

I know what I would do, but want to hear opinions from the board.  Most importantly, where would you go to listen at first light?  Note the access points only being on the south side of property.

Edited to add: He told me earlier today that it was cut over about 4 years ago but there are still spots with good timber.  (for roosting)

Thanks

[AC HAMMER]

I think the obvious thing to do would be to scout the open fields in the middle of the property. If the property is mostly thick brush the gobblers will go to the open field to strut and look for hens. Since its mostly woods you will need to know where they roost at. That way you don't bump them on the way to the open field to set up early in the morning. Good luck. Scouting is always key on new hunting property.

[tomstopper]

If the pipeline has woods on each side, I would be focused on it. I love hunting pipelines in the morning because not only is it a good strutting area but also lets them feel safe as they can see a long way and provides them the opportunity to "bug" in the morning where sometimes a lot of hens will be doing just that after flydown. Just my 

[northms]

The pipeline has woods on each side and is about a mile long through his property.

[Spitten and drummen]

I would try to go to the highest point possible on the property. at higher elevations you should be able to hear most likely anything on that 500 acre tract. with the thin folage , sound carries a good ways. also it will minimize wandering all over the area and making your presence known. this is just what I would do.

[SteelerFan]

Looks like a nice property. Getting the definition of "mainly cut over" will be key. Are there any sections of timber left that could roost birds? Have they ever seen or heard turkeys while deer hunting? Depending on how "hilly" the terrain actually is, that gas line to the east looks like a nice quiet way to travel the distance of the property looking and listening. I'd start there, and cruise the distance, not stopping too long on any particular gobbling bird. With any luck, you'll hear gobblers in several locations and / or see some sign of turkeys.

For me, I'd treat it with a 2 stage approach: 1. Are there turkeys on the property / can it hold turkeys? 2. Where are these birds hanging out, and how do I get there from here? Good luck, have fun!

[OldSchool]

I would try to go to the highest point possible on the property. at higher elevations you should be able to hear most likely anything on that 500 acre tract. with the thin folage , sound carries a good ways. also it will minimize wandering all over the area and making your presence known. this is just what I would do.

Same here if you can get to it without having to walk through everything to get there. Otherwise, some other high spot closer to one of your access points.

Bob

[Dr Juice]

I think the obvious thing to do would be to scout the open fields in the middle of the property. If the property is mostly thick brush the gobblers will go to the open field to strut and look for hens. Since its mostly woods you will need to know where they roost at. That way you don't bump them on the way to the open field to set up early in the morning. Good luck. Scouting is always key on new hunting property.

X2 - AC Hammer just 'hammered' it out of the park!

[northms]

Agree on looking for the high ground that doesn't kill us trying to get to it at first light.