re: Calling all Turkey Hunters

Oh I'm in this bitch.


I'm gonna try and make a trip to scout in the next week or so.

Can't wait for the first morning on top of the listening hill to try to place that first gobble in the distance. I love being in the woods that time of year, even a "bad" morning of turkey hunting(if such a thing even exist) is worth it to just look at everything coming alive as spring creeps in.

IN.

i will start in AL on the 15th and then to LA for opening wknd on the 22nd. Then i will alternate weekends between bama and LA

March 15th here. Hoping to fill both my tags here in FL but worry that the peak of the season will be over before we can hunt. I'm seeing strutters and hearing gobbling already in the areas just North of Tampa.

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Was wondering when you were going to pop in. I went to the woods this past weekend and heard a few gobblers as well. I just hope the people don't get in my way

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I've been on the road for the past few days and havent been able to get online very much. I expect it will be an interesting season this year for some areas. Lots of snow now and flooding seems inevitable as Spring rolls around.

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What is your scouting routine pre-season?

Do you focus on creeks and try to locate with a crow/owl call or maybe find an open field with good sign?

Interested to see what y'all do to locate the birds.

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Lots and lots of worn out shoe leather. Scouting much more than a week or two before the season really doesnt do much as the turkeys are breaking into bachelor groups and even the hen groups are breaking into smaller units as the weather warms and the season draws closer. If you scout too early the turkeys are likely to have dispersed a bit. My experience has been that where you found turkeys last season is typically where you'll find them this time around.

I usually make a morning or two out of scouting in the days leading up to the season. I will typically find the highest ground I can find and listen for gobbling. I'll then do lots and lots of walking. A lot of folks get worked up about bumping turkeys and using calls in the pre-season.

I tend to agree with not calling in the pre-season but bumping birds is going to happen and I really think its of little or no consequence. The birds brain is smaller than a field pea and I believe we are guilty of overestimating their intelligence. Scouting in the afternoons can be good too as it can give you an indication where the birds tend to feed and roost.

Finding tracks or dusting areas and wing dragging marks are all great signs; but, just like hunting a fresh scrape or buck rub it doesnt mean you are going to get that gobbler.

Hope this helps..

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Lots and lots of worn out shoe leather

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This. I usually just locate them when scouting. Once I hear a yelp or gobble, I back off and scout another area. Turkey's don't migrate much. They are very territorial animals. They will stand their ground until you lay the BOOM on them.