Where Is The Best Place To Turkey Hunt?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Montana: Best State for Resident Turkey Hunters.
  • Nebraska: Best State for Archery Hunting.
  • New Hampshire: Best State for A Passing-Through Hunt.
  • Tennessee: Best State for ‘Turkeys in Every Field’
  • Wisconsin: Best State for Getting in the ‘Turkey Zone’

What state has the most wild turkeys?


Kansas

. — with Michael Waddell and Kris Kobach. North-central and northeastern Kansas continue to consistently have the most turkeys in the state and also provide abundant public hunting access. There are an estimated 300,000 wild birds, roughly half of which are Rio Grande turkeys.

Do turkeys prefer woods or fields?


Turkeys need open areas as well as woods

. Turkeys love these high-protein and high-fat foods and will feed on the tender leaves and leftover grains in areas that aren’t pressured too hard. Tip: Avoid tall, unharvested wheat fields. These may grow too high for turkeys to see well and could hide a coyote or fox.

What states offer over the counter turkey tags?



Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

are three beautiful states with over-the-counter tags and lots of birds,” Budz says. “There aren’t as many acres of public ground to hunt, but there are plenty if someone really wants to go.”

How early should I be in the woods for turkey hunting?

Most states allow hunting

a half-hour before sunrise

so be in the woods early. How early? Get to your setup site at least 30 to 45 minutes before shooting light.

What state has no wild turkeys?

They can be found in 49 U.S. states, with the only exception being

Alaska

, Hughes said. In total, about 7 million wild turkeys live in the United States; prior to 1500, an estimated 10 million turkeys existed, he added.

Do turkeys keep snakes away?

Do turkeys keep snakes away?

Yes, turkeys keep snakes away

. If you have a lot of turkeys in your yard, they will kill the snakes there and other snakes will be scared of coming around your property.

What should you not do when turkey hunting?

  • Stand When You Should Sit. Patience kills turkeys, the old saying goes. …
  • Sit When You Should Walk. …
  • Walk When You Should Leave. …
  • Leave When You Should Stay. …
  • Call When You Should Shut Up. …
  • Shut Up When You Should Call. …
  • Shoot When You Should Wait. …
  • Wait When the Turkey Is Leaving.

Do turkeys like thick woods?

Big woods turkey movement seems more random than that of ag-land birds—but it isn’t.

Turkeys will always have preferred roost trees

and favorite spots to scratch up calories. This applies to all big woods flocks, from Mississippi to Minnesota.

How do you pick a good turkey hunting spot?


Locate concentrations of droppings and feathers beneath large trees

. Squeeze the droppings to assess their freshness. Chalky droppings indicate a retired roost, but moist droppings are a sign that it’s being used and may be a good spot to hunt. Sometimes birds use the same roost daily.

How many acres do you need to hunt turkey?

Space: A good-quality habitat will support one bird per 30 acres (one flock per 640 to 800 acres). But because turkeys need a lot of living space, they may not remain on your property year-round unless it’s

1,000 acres or more

.

Can you hunt turkey all day?

For some states, it’s the only

time you can hunt mandated by state

game laws. But for those that are turkey hunting all day in the spring, the success can be great in the afternoons.

What is the hardest turkey to hunt?

1. Easterns: Hunter pressure in tight habitats make this subspecies the most difficult in the country. More turkey hunters roam Eastern states than any of the others. An

Alabama Eastern three-year-old longbeard

might be the most difficult turkey of all.

What time of day are most turkeys killed?

Time of Day

Many hunters are in the woods before dawn, and most turkeys are killed

before 8 a.m.

However, turkey hunting after 8 a.m. can be rewarding. Most people leave the woods by 10 a.m. If you have the patience to stay late, there are fewer hunters in the woods competing for available birds.

Is it better to hunt turkey in the morning or evening?

Again,

mornings

generally provide faster and hotter action with vocal birds making it the preferred time to turkey hunt. The problem with mornings is they fade away and turn into afternoon and afternoons don’t always provide the same scenarios.

What colors should you not wear while turkey hunting?

  • Never wear red, white, blue, or black, the colors of a male wild turkey. …
  • Never stalk turkey sounds or attempt to sneak up on wild turkeys. …
  • Avoid using gobble calls that might attract other hunters to your location.
  • Avoid using tail-fanning techniques.
Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.