Where To Go Turkey Hunting?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Lake County

is now considered one of the top wild turkey areas in the state. The Cache Creek Wildlife Area in eastern Lake County is prime turkey country. The BLM land called the Payne Ranch also has a large turkey population. The Mendocino National Forest from Upper Lake to Lake Pillsbury is excellent for turkeys.

How much does it cost to hunt a turkey?

You can find a wild turkey hunt for

as low as $250-$300

, but that would most likely be a fall hunt, often a semi-guided one. Spring season hunts in the USA are typically within $700-$1,000 range. Expect to pay $2,000-$3,000 for a more exotic species like Gould’s or ocellated turkey.

What state can you harvest most turkeys?

1.

Missouri

. Home to more than 317,000 Eastern turkeys, hunters harvested 47.603 of them. That’s more than any other state despite the fact that hunting ends at 1 p.m. daily.

How do you know where to hunt turkey?

What time of day is best to hunt turkey?

General Weather Conditions: 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.

Where do turkeys hang out?

Turkeys may use

traditional roost sites

night after night but they generally use different sites and move from tree to tree. Turkeys usually select the largest trees available and roost as high in them as they can comfortably perch.

Is Turkey Hunting expensive?

Turkey Hunting is a sport that anyone can take part in. You do not have to have the most expensive gear, the best camo on the market, or even the farthest shooting shotgun.

How can I get better at turkey hunting?

  1. Play it safe at first. …
  2. Call aggressively to roosted toms. …
  3. Find turkeys by scouting for acorns. …
  4. Look for the lone gobbler. …
  5. Switch it up on tough toms. …
  6. Have a plan before you call. …
  7. Bring a backup. …
  8. Try gobbling to a gobbler.

Where can I find public hunting land near me?

Start with your state wildlife agency website, which will usually have a page for public lands. Narrow your search down to your area of interest. Also try national forests, county lands, or regional parks. If nothing else, pick up the phone and reach out to your nearest agency office to get some feedback.

What state is the hardest to turkey hunt?

Tyler Jordan |

Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi

“Toughest three turkey hunting places to turkey hunt and why? Not hard to answer for me!” says Realtree’s Tyler Jordan. “Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Easterns can be so tricky to hunt at times in general.

Do male or female turkeys gobble?


Only males gobble

There’s a reason that male turkeys are called “gobblers” — they’re the only ones that make that noise! Each gobbler has a unique call that he uses to attract females during breeding season. Female turkeys also make distinct noises, but they sound more like chirps and clucks.

How many wild turkeys are killed each year?

Like chickens, the estimated

245 million

turkeys raised and killed for their flesh every year in the U.S. have no federal legal protection. More than 46 million of them are killed each year at Thanksgiving alone, and more than 22 million die at Christmas.

Where can I hunt turkey in the evening?

Hunt the Food One prime place to set up for an early evening hunt is

a good feeding area, preferably one that’s within easy traveling distance of a roosting site

. I like hunting feeding areas now because turkeys can be less paranoid here, where they’re farther back from their roost.

How do I get my turkey to come?

  1. Start Early. You wouldn’t get to your morning spot late. …
  2. Give them Room. Don’t hunt directly under roost trees. …
  3. Build a Hide. Get set for a long wait. …
  4. Pipe Down. Hens and gobblers alike often aren’t much interested in breeding—or talking about it—late in the day. …
  5. Run an Interception.

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.

How long should you wait between turkey calls?

I think a good rule of thumb is

at least 10-15 minutes

. This will seem like hours. If he is gobbling a lot, I will call more. If you can tell he is coming, by closer gobbles or visual, don’t call, let him come.

How often should you call turkeys?

Call

every few minutes

, and act like a disinterested hen going about her daily routine. Moving also helps in such situations, because turkeys rarely sit and yelp in one place for long.

Where do turkeys go in the middle of the day?

If you can legally hunt past noon—or simply want to scout—midday is the time to sneak toward

loafing areas

. Preseason scouting likely uncovered a few select, shady areas adjacent to field edges and feeding zones. Turkeys congregate here to escape the midday heat. Turkeys also spend the midday hours dusting.

Where do turkeys go in the woods?

If an area is devoid of acres of fields, turkeys live in the woods. But they still gravitate to edges of openings like cleared power lines and blueberry barrens, and are often found lingering in

selectively cut parcels and woodlots that are still relatively open

.

How do you find a turkey in the woods?

  1. Proximity to water. The old hunter’s adage suggesting, “Turkeys love to roost where they can hear their droppings hit water,” rings true here.
  2. Heavy, mature timber. …
  3. Open areas. …
  4. Evergreens. …
  5. Shelter sites. …
  6. Look for sign. …
  7. Use your ears. …
  8. Use your eyes.

What kind of areas do turkeys like?

Turkeys prefer an

open forest floor covered in leaf litter

for easy forage. Creating openings: Turkeys like open, brushy space and grasslands rich in forage. Grass-rich areas also provide safer nesting sites. These can be created by clear-cutting one- to five-acre patches through the forest.

Where can I hunt Gould turkey?

Gould’s turkey hunts at

Tall Tine Outfitters in Sonora, Mexico

are conducted on several different ranches totaling over 60,000 acres. The hunting area ranges between 4000 and 6500 feet in elevation. All hunting areas are easily accessible by motor vehicle. This hunt is not physically challenging.

Can you hunt Gould turkeys?

Gould’s turkey hunting is a rare achievement and a unique experience but, between access to private land and tons of paperwork required to legally enter the trophy into the country, is nearly impossible without an outfitter.

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

.

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.

Do you need decoys to turkey hunt?

Many modern hunters prefer to hunt from a pop-up blind in an open area. In such circumstances,

decoys are almost a must

. When you call to a turkey that’s visible from your setup, the bird instinctively knows it should be able to see the source of that calling. That is, it wants to see another turkey.

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.