Whether you’re a veteran turkey hunter or new to the sport, public land turkey hunting can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have a successful hunt. Here are 10 tips to help you have a successful public-land turkey hunting trip:
1. Do your homework – research the area you want to hunt and be familiar with the regulations.
2. Get to know the terrain – learn about the lay of the land and what cover and habitat the turkey population is using.
3. Scout potential hunting sites – look for areas with good turkey Sign, such as tracks, droppings, feathers, and scratches on trees.
4. Set up your decoys and blinds well in advance of the hunt – this will help you be more stealthy and avoid spooking the birds.
5. Be patient and persistent – don’t get discouraged if you don’t see or hear any turkeys at first. Keep at it and you’ll eventually be rewarded.
6. Be quiet and stay still – turkeys have keen eyesight and hearing, so it’s important to remain as undetectable as possible.
7. Use turkey calls sparingly –
1. Pick the Right Spot
Public land turkey hunting can often be a game of patience and lurking, which is why it is so important to pick the right spot. Try to find an area where there are lots of trees and shrubs for the turkeys to hide in, but also enough open space for you to see them. It is also a good idea to scout out the area ahead of time to find the best places to set up your blind or decoys.
2. Get Some Decoys
Decoys can be a great asset when turkey hunting on public land. They can help draw the turkeys out into the open, and also give you something to focus your attention on while you are waiting for a tom to show himself. Be sure to set up your decoys in a strategic spot, such as near a clearing or in an open spot where the turkeys are likely to come out.
3. Be Patient
One of the most important things to remember when turkey hunting on public land is to be patient. The turkeys will not always cooperate and come out into the open right away, so you need to be prepared to wait them out. It can often take several hours of waiting before you finally get a chance to take a shot, so be patient and stay focused.
4. Make Some Noise
Another good way to draw the turkeys out into the open is to make some noise. You can do this by calling to them with a turkey call, or by banging on a pot or pan. The noise will help to attract the turkeys and get them to come out into the open.
5. Be Stealthy
Finally, remember to be stealthy when hunting on public land. The last thing you want to do is scare the turkeys away by making too much noise or by moving around too much. Stay hidden and be as quiet as possible, and you should have no problem getting a shot at a tom.
How do you hunt pressured turkeys on public land?
When looking for a good spot to find wild turkeys, look for public land that is surrounded by private land on three sides. This will give you a good chance of finding turkeys in the area. Another good option is to look for a ridge near the river with old-growth trees. This is a good place to find turkeys because they like to roost in these trees.
Turkey decoys can be very effective in drawing in turkeys, but you need to be careful when using them on public land. Other hunters may be drawn to the decoys if they are placed too far away or if the turkey is gobbling too loudly. It’s best to use decoys sparingly and only when you are confident that there will be no other hunters around.
How do you attract Tom turkeys
Turkeys are omnivorous birds that will gladly sample a wide variety of foods. If you want to attract turkeys to your yard, you can provide them with a large ground feeding station containing cracked corn or mixed birdseed. Additionally, turkeys will typically clean up any spills that occur under hanging bird feeders. By offering turkeys a variety of food options, you can entice them to visit your yard on a regular basis!
In order to find areas that hold mature flocks of turkeys, scouting should start in January. Observations made during January and February can help to narrow down the search area, and these observations can be applied to scouting in March and April. By paying attention to the patterns of mature gobblers, hunters can be more successful in their efforts.
What should you not do when turkey hunting?
1. Standing when you should be sitting- this will make you more likely to be seen by the turkey and make it harder to shoot when the turkey is coming in.
2. Patience kills turkeys- if you are patient and wait for the right opportunity, you are more likely to be successful in getting a turkey.
3. Walking when you should be leaving- if the turkey is getting away, you need to go after it or you won’t have a chance to shoot it.
4. Calling when you should be shut up- sometimes turkeys will be spooked by calls and you won’t get a chance to shoot if you keep calling.
5. Shutting up when you should be calling- if you stop calling, the turkey may think you’ve left and it will be harder to get it to come in.
6. Shooting when you should be waiting- if you shoot too early, you may miss the turkey or only wound it.
7. Waiting when the turkey is leaving- if you wait too long, the turkey will be out of range and you won’t be able to shoot it.
If you’re not getting the results you want from turkey hunting, try deer sausage instead. Deer sausage is a great alternative that can be just as effective in bringing home a meal.
How many decoys is too many?
One hunter shouldn’t attempt to carry more than 18 standard, rigged decoys in a backpack. You might physically carry more than this, but too many decoys (plus shotgun, shells, etc) lugged through marsh or muck can be a killer. By limiting the number of decoys, you can make your hunting trip more enjoyable and less physically strenuous.
Turkeys love acorns and pecans, as well as dogwoods, huckleberries, blueberries, and other fruits found in the understory. Planting food plots is a great way to supplement their natural diet and provide them with the nutrients they need. Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Choose the right location: Food plots should be situated in areas that have good sunlight exposure and are accessible to turkeys.
2. Prepare the soil: The soil should be loose and well-drained so that the plants can take root easily.
3. Sow the seeds: Plant the seeds in early spring so that the plants have enough time to grow before the turkeys arrive.
4. Use turkey-friendly plants: Some good options include sunflowers, millet, and sorghum.
5. Keep the plot clean: Remove any weeds or debris so that the turkeys can access the food easily.
By following these tips, you can create food plots that will attract turkeys and help them thrive.
What is the best thing to bait turkeys with
Wild turkeys are a ground-feeding type, so they are attracted to cracked corn and seeds. Nuts, such as acorns, are also a favorite food source for wild turkeys.
When scouting for a high-percentage strut zone, look for an area with plenty of footprints and wing drag marks. These are usually near areas with lots of cover, like bushes or trees, where the birds feel safe to strut their stuff. Another good indicator of a strut zone is an area with lots of droppings. Toms love to mark their territory with droppings, so if you see a lot of them in an area, chances are good that it’s a strut zone.
What color should you avoid turkey hunting?
If you don’t want to be mistaken for a turkey, it’s best to avoid wearing colors that could be confused for male turkey feathers. Red, white, blue, and black are all colors that could be easily confused, so it’s best to wear something else while turkey hunting.
Many hunters are in the woods before dawn, and most turkeys are killed before 8 am. However, turkey hunting after 8 am can be rewarding. The time of day can make a difference in your success in turkey hunting.
What time of day are turkeys most active
As a general rule of thumb, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions including wind and rain. During extremely wet and rainy days, turkeys are neither vocal nor very active.
Turkey hunting can be a challenging and rewarding experience. The fact that birds gobble and their location is known takes some of the guesswork out of it. Again, mornings generally provide faster and hotter action with vocal birds, making it the preferred time to turkey hunt.
What to look for when scouting turkeys?
Turkey tracks are the number one thing you can find in the wild. They are a great way to identify where turkeys have been and what they have been up to. Look for them in mud, sand, or snow.
It turns out that mid morning is the best time for hunting deer. This is because they are up and moving around during this time, looking for food. Late morning is also a good time, as they are still moving around but not as much as in mid morning. Early morning is not as good a time because they are not up and moving around much at all.
How long should you sit in one spot turkey hunting
If you’re in a good spot, make sure to stick it out for at least 30 minutes before deciding to leave. It’s always better to err on the side of staying longer rather than leaving too soon.
To ensure your turkey is cooked properly, Pull it out as soon as the temperature hits 165, or even a little lower. The amount of resting time depends on the size of the bird, but at least 20 minutes is needed. A large bird can wait up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on the temperature of the room.
Wrap Up
1. Plan your hunt around a roost. Look for places where turkeys like to roost and set up your blind or ground blind nearby.
2. Get out there early. Turkeys are most active in the early morning, so you’ll have the best chance of success if you start your hunt early.
3. Be patient. Turkeys are notoriously shy, so it may take some time for them to warm up to you. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see any birds right away – keep at it and eventually you’ll get lucky.
4. Make some noise. To attract turkeys, you can use a calls or decoys. Some hunters like to use recorded turkey calls, while others prefer to use mouth-operated calls. Either way, make sure you know how to use your calls before heading out into the field.
5.Be still. Once you’ve got a turkey’s attention, it’s important to stay still. If you move too much, you’ll scare the bird away.
6. Take your time. When you finally get a shot at a turkey, take your time to line up the perfect shot.
1. Get an early start. The early bird gets the worm, and that includes turkeys. Get out to your hunting spot before daybreak to increase your chances of hearing a tom gobble.
2. Do your homework. Learn as much as you can about the area you’ll be hunting. Contact the local wildlife agency to get information on the best places to hunt.
3. Stay quiet. Take extra care to be as silent as possible when you’re hunting turkeys. Any noise you make can scare them off.
4. Be patient. Don’t expect to see a turkey right away. It can take some time to find one, so be patient and keep looking.
5. Be prepared. Make sure you have the proper gear and clothing before you head out to hunt.
6. Be safe. Always follow the safety rules and regulations for hunting.
7. Don’t give up. Even if you don’t see any turkeys the first day, keep trying. You might have more luck the next time.
8. Be patient. It can take some time to learn how to hunt turkeys, so don’t get discouraged if