2024 Spring Turkey Hunting Thread

[BigCountry14]

Since there have been multiple turkey related posts, I figured I would go ahead and start my annual Turkey Hunting Thread.

My local birds have more or less disappeared this winter. Haven't seen one since November. Starting to shift the trail cams into the Turkey locations.

 

[dannyp]

where i hunt is the same , they wax and wain , you'll see ten or twelve and then none for weeks . have no idea where they go , maybe on vacation ?

 

[PEEJAY]

Since there have been multiple turkey related posts, I figured I would go ahead and start my annual Turkey Hunting Thread.

My local birds have more or less disappeared this winter. Haven't seen one since November. Starting to shift the trail cams into the Turkey locations.

do they normally stay in the same area all year long in your spot? i notice they move depending on weather and food sources just like deer will. maybe more. especially if its windy and they need better roosting spots. or predators are bothering them.

 

[Archeryrob]

I have not been looking for turkeys but I had a flock of 25 around me when I shot my last buck the first Saturday of late muzzle loader. This is west of Boonsboro. I saw at least 6 gobblers in the group, but got distracted by the 8 point trying to sneak through. All turkey observations we terminated when I unloaded the gun on the buck.

When I don't see them hunting, I typically do not see them a lot. They are rare in the fields and seem fairly quiet

 

[Doco Overboard]

I have a couple spots picked. Some old, one new I'm interested in trying out.
I used to be really really big into turkey hunting but not so much any more but Ill still go.
I think up until last year, the two prior I may not even have gone of if I did it was very seldom.
I went one time last year and killed one right off and that was it for me.
I tried to video the shot but couldn't hold the gun an my phone at the same time.
It wasn't like I was driving or something which would have been much easier I think.

 

[BigCountry14]

do they normally stay in the same area all year long in your spot? i notice they move depending on weather and food sources just like deer will. maybe more. especially if its windy and they need better roosting spots. or predators are bothering them.

I generally don't see any hens this time of year, but the gobbler group normally passes through every few weeks.

 

[BigCountry14]

Starting to come back around again.

 

[cww]

Well I am still relatively inexperienced, lost my private spots that had birds last season so figure it would be good to go where there are more birds…..successfully drew tags in Iowa for this spring

 

[BigCountry14]

Well I am still relatively inexperienced, lost my private spots that had birds last season so figure it would be good to go where there are more birds…..successfully drew tags in Iowa for this spring

That's awesome. One of these years I'm going to take a week in March and hunt florida and georgia.

 

[BigCountry14]

Saw two nice long beards over the weekend. Of course they were coming off the spot I lost last year, but they're close enough to be in play. No gobbling yet though

 

[BigCountry14]

Had a bird on camera this morning and heard my first gobbles this morning. They are starting to get ramped up.

Also this is my wife for the next two months.

 

[ToBeFree]

In Va.
Youth and Apprentice 4 16-7
The rest of us 4 13 - 5 18 ( time change on 4 29)

 

[BigCountry14]

Anyone hearing any gobbling? Have seen birds, but not much gobbling, especially compared to last year.

 

[Doco Overboard]

They should be going on now but the wind makes it hard to hear from the house around this way.
The other day it was NE all day and then NW the very next morning and still windy out.
DE opens in the next few days or early next week I think this year.
Saw some nice birds picked up on some field cams already.
No reports of any from the crew out shed horn hunting the past week or so for any strutting behavior in the fields that they spotted.

 

[outrider58]

Anyone hearing any gobbling? Have seen birds, but not much gobbling, especially compared to last year.

They're hammering away where I hunt. Seeing lots of birds, like last year.

 

[mauser58]

Here are some I saw two evenings ago.

 

[Brickman301]

Getting a lot of pictures of them on my cameras at one place. I haven’t checked the cameras at my other spots, but I’m guessing they are there too.
Every year I get excited getting so many photos of them before season. Once the season starts I don’t see a bird! Oh well, that’s just my luck with turkeys.

 

[outrider58]

Getting a lot of pictures of them on my cameras at one place. I haven’t checked the cameras at my other spots, but I’m guessing they are there too.
Every year I get excited getting so many photos of them before season. Once the season starts I don’t see a bird! Oh well, that’s just my luck with turkeys. View attachment 462152

No roosting areas on your place?

 

[Brickman301]

No roosting areas on your place?

You would be correct, there aren’t any big trees on this property. My brother and I bought this property last spring. It’s in Pennsylvania. it was clear cut 15 years ago or so. The good news is we are surrounded my mature woods. We do have 2small ponds, a few spring heads, and a few low spots that hold water. The turkeys, and everything else seem to come by to take a drink. We have never hunted turkeys on this place yet, so I guess we will find out when the season comes in, which up there is May 4th.

The other properties I hunt them are small wood lots in Frederick County, and there is a lot of hunting pressure on them.

I’m hoping there isn’t as much pressure on them at our spot in PA. According to the neighbors I’ve meet no one around there hunts turkeys. I guess we wait and see.

 

[outrider58]

You would be correct, there aren’t any big trees on this property. My brother and I bought this property last spring. It’s in Pennsylvania. it was clear cut 15 years ago or so. The good news is we are surrounded my mature woods. We do have 2small ponds, a few spring heads, and a few low spots that hold water. The turkeys, and everything else seem to come by to take a drink. We have never hunted turkeys on this place yet, so I guess we will find out when the season comes in, which up there is May 4th.

The other properties I hunt them are small wood lots in Frederick County, and there is a lot of hunting pressure on them.

I’m hoping there isn’t as much pressure on them at our spot in PA. According to the neighbors I’ve meet no one around there hunts turkeys. I guess we wait and see.

May 4th!? Pa is so bass-ackwards. Glad I don't live there. Low spots are great turkey holders when the winds are howling.