Public Land Turkey Hunting Tips

[8mm Enthusiast]

I have been scouring nearby public lands for turkey signs so that I can find a nice spot to get set up when my tags are valid. Currently I am looking for v shaped scratches in the leaves, turkey droppings, tracks, and feathers as my main signs for turkey activity. I have a few spots now that I plan on going to in the early morning to see if I can hear some distant gobbles. I also plan on using a crow or owl call to stimulate gobbles in the morning and when it's finally time, a box call to imitate a hen to compel gobblers to move closer to my position. Planning to wear full camo with face and hands covered. The kit will be either a 12 gauge Baikal single shot full fixed choked with a turkey load or one of the 10 gauge shotguns with a turkey load.

The public lands closer to my area are nearly all wetlands and it's hard to find any woods that turkeys love in those areas. I know they exist and sightings are reported however I struggle to find any turkey signs in riparian areas so my focus is upland woods, managed forests, and pine plantations.

Are there any other tips any experienced turkey hunters may have for a beginner?

Thanks.

 

[SJB358]

Which area of the country are you in 8mm?

 

[highoctane]

What species of turkey are you dealing with?? I will say this, if "your" public land is anything like the "my" public land your endeavor is going to be TOUGH and I mean, TOUGH! I have killed most of my gobblers late, late morning. It's so tempting to keep calling because it's exciting to hear them gobble but it's so counter productive tho. If you make a series of calls and one answers, put that call down and wait him out. Play hard to get, like you are not interested. Whether you know it or not you are trying to do something, by calling, that's outta the norm for gobblers. Hens most times go the gobbler. That's why gobblers "hang up" sometime.

I cannot tell you the times I have called and 20 minutes or more later there he is. No gobble, no nothing. Just appears outta nowhere.

There's so much more that you need to know but most of it comes from trial and error. No one can teach you when to move or not to move, all I can say, you had better be a 9th degree ninja when you do. lol

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Which area of the country are you in 8mm?

Southern Wisconsin.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

What species of turkey are you dealing with?? I will say this, if "your" public land is anything like the "my" public land your endeavor is going to be TOUGH and I mean, TOUGH! I have killed most of my gobblers late, late morning. It's so tempting to keep calling because it's exciting to hear them gobble but it's so counter productive tho. If you make a series of calls and one answers, put that call down and wait him out. Play hard to get, like you are not interested. Whether you know it or not you are trying to do something, by calling, that's outta the norm for gobblers. Hens most times go the gobbler. That's why gobblers "hang up" sometime.

I cannot tell you the times I have called and 20 minutes or more later there he is. No gobble, no nothing. Just appears outta nowhere.

There's so much more that you need to know but most of it comes from trial and error. No one can teach you when to move or not to move, all I can say, you had better be a 9th degree ninja when you do. lol

Eastern Wild Turkeys are the species here. True on the toughness, it's difficult, they are all deeply hidden and wary of human presence. I haven't been able to find any tracks, droppings or scratches, only feathers and I have seen wild turkeys in that area before.

My plan on the calling is to use it very sparingly as I will be hunting mid and late season. It will only be used to make the gobblers curious. I just hope I can locate some hotspots that aren't packed with other hunters and have a decent number of turkeys.

 

[RL338]

Here in Central WI there is next to no public land. If you live near farmland or know a farmer with a woods that would be better. A harvested cornfield along a woods is turkey heaven here especially with a sloppy set up combine. Another turkey draw here as bad as it sounds is a manure covered field. They are drawn to it to pick out corn or soybean left behind from the cows.

 

[JD338]

I have gotten aggressive with them calling the but I generally mock the hens. If a tom gobbles, I’ll call once or twice and then shut up. They will usually come in strutting but sometimes they sneak in.
It’s an addiction.

JD338

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Here in Central WI there is next to no public land. If you live near farmland or know a farmer with a woods that would be better. A harvested cornfield along a woods is turkey heaven here especially with a sloppy set up combine. Another turkey draw here as bad as it sounds is a manure covered field. They are drawn to it to pick out corn or soybean left behind from the cows.

I do want to challenge myself and get it done exclusively on public or open to public land this year. I am keeping it close however if I extend the drive out a bit there are plenty of high quality habitat options. It's just been tough looking for signs right now so I think I'll start doing the sunrise listening sessions more than looking for signs.

Interestingly, as I was scouting for turkey this past Saturday, I flushed an entire covey of pheasants on a small parcel of public land here in S WI by accident. That property is stocked but isn't known for any wild pheasants. I was surprised they had survived all the way until late March and they were very wary, just like wild birds.

 

[jimbires]

you can hunt them in the trees , I've taken them in thick woods , and big open woods . if you have an opening , or a grassy road , the turkey tend go there . you'll cover more ground by walking the high ridges , listening for gobbles around daybreak , than walking looking for sign . go slow and quiet so you can hear them . windy days make it tough for me to hear them . I call like JD says , whatever the hens do , I try to copy them . if I get hens in , I try to keep them in , they are constantly talking . if a gobbler is near by he might want to check them out . it was mentioned before and I'll repeat it , calling in a gobbler goes against mother nature , the hen should go to the gobbler . if you hear them gobbling on the roost , keep this place in mind . they seem to roost in the same places year after year . they might not roost there every night , but they will return .

deer paw a small hole , roughly 12" , in the leaves to feed in . turkey scratching , looks like someone was in there with a rake turning up the leaves , with big bare spots . definitely a big difference . once you see this , it's obvious .

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Public land spring gobbler hunting can be tough and dangerous. Do the daybreak scouting finding where gobblers are gobbling on the roost. DO NOT call to them before season opens that just educates them. That was a real popular thing to do on some public land I used to hunt. Not the wise thing to do. Be willing to get away from the roads and easy access points. When you locate a gobbler get there early, not in his lap but withing a 100-150 yds of where you know he's roosting. When he gobbles make a very soft call just 3-4 yelps. Then wait. Let him make the next move. If he's interested or hasn't been messed with, he'll call again. When he hits the ground call again. Then get your gun up on your knees and wait. Playing hard to get has its advantages. First time hunters want to call every time the gobbler does which can cause him to hangup. IF you have a hen that is getting aggressive calling loud and often then try to imitate her. He will either get supper excited and come to you or she will go to him cutting him off. Don't despair. Stay put don't move and keep a close watch because sometimes another gobbler will come in silent trying to steel that gobbler's woman. They can be ornery that way. Make sure to have a blaze orange hat or vest and wear it when moving because you don't know what other hunters have been zeroing in on your area having heard all the calling. Protect yourself, be patient, and view each hunt as a learning process. You got this!

 

[jimbires]

we took our morning walk in an area I keep bumping into turkey , and seeing turkey sign . I took a few pics , maybe they'll help you .

turkey will walk down open roads , or gas lines . this line is a fiber optic line .



turkey scratching .



turkey are where you find them . I've taken them in open fields , big open timber , and some pretty thick nasty stuff . in this particular area the turkey seem to favor the side I'm on . there is a small stream running through the bottom . sometimes a turkey won't cross a stream or a log or just about anything else . so don't plan on calling on across a stream . I like to set up with my back against a tree . I pull up a small pile of leaves beside me to rustle in between calls . making it sound like turkey scratching .




I've got them hunting in this thick stuff .



and wide open fields







I'll finish in the next post .

 

[jimbires]

as was mentioned public ground is tough . chances are you will have company . so keep safety in mind . there is a collapsed blind lying beside this open field on the woods edge .






in the middle of the pic , a camera watching the woods . mounted on the tree right under the fallen tree . so I know there will be at least 2 guys hunting in here .



just a couple more pics , maybe give you a question .

 

[Ralt71]

I have been scouring nearby public lands for turkey signs so that I can find a nice spot to get set up when my tags are valid. Currently I am looking for v shaped scratches in the leaves, turkey droppings, tracks, and feathers as my main signs for turkey activity. I have a few spots now that I plan on going to in the early morning to see if I can hear some distant gobbles. I also plan on using a crow or owl call to stimulate gobbles in the morning and when it's finally time, a box call to imitate a hen to compel gobblers to move closer to my position. Planning to wear full camo with face and hands covered. The kit will be either a 12 gauge Baikal single shot full fixed choked with a turkey load or one of the 10 gauge shotguns with a turkey load.

The public lands closer to my area are nearly all wetlands and it's hard to find any woods that turkeys love in those areas. I know they exist and sightings are reported however I struggle to find any turkey signs in riparian areas so my focus is upland woods, managed forests, and pine plantations.

Are there any other tips any experienced turkey hunters may have for a beginner?

Thanks.

Turkey in the spring is some of the best hunting you can do, hands down! The only thing I would say is down do the owl hoot. It puts the birds on alert. If you can roost them the night before then go set up on them as undetected as possible.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

we took our morning walk in an area I keep bumping into turkey , and seeing turkey sign . I took a few pics , maybe they'll help you .

turkey will walk down open roads , or gas lines . this line is a fiber optic line .

View attachment 28942 View attachment 28943

turkey scratching .
View attachment 28944 View attachment 28945 View attachment 28946


turkey are where you find them . I've taken them in open fields , big open timber , and some pretty thick nasty stuff . in this particular area the turkey seem to favor the side I'm on . there is a small stream running through the bottom . sometimes a turkey won't cross a stream or a log or just about anything else . so don't plan on calling on across a stream . I like to set up with my back against a tree . I pull up a small pile of leaves beside me to rustle in between calls . making it sound like turkey scratching .

View attachment 28947 View attachment 28948 View attachment 28949


I've got them hunting in this thick stuff .

View attachment 28950

and wide open fields


View attachment 28951




I'll finish in the next post .

Thanks for the tips on keeping leaves to mimic scratching (again, used sparingly just like calling) and not calling across streams or major obstacles as turkeys won't cross them. I'll keep this in mind. Looks like if I listen for gobbles at dawn, get setup in a proper vantage point, be patient, and play "hard to get", I'll have a good foundation to build on.