Kansas or Oklahoma turkey hunting

Os2 Outdoors

Os2 Outdoors

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Anybody ever done any DIY public land turkey hunting in these states? Wanting to go far enough west to hunt Rio's. Just looking for insight, tips, areas, etc. Looking at jumping in the truck drive all night hunt 4 days kinda stuff. Run an gun style.

Thanks guys!
 
Nebraska would be the only place I could help, and they're all technically hybrids. But I do so wish I could ride with you and help you figure it out.
 
Os2 Outdoors":3pf34wvf said:
Yea I just looked at the nebraska distribution map. Very strange.
Click to expand...

If wanting a true Merriams you will need to go to far northwest corner of NE. Lots of public land around Chadron and it should of recovered from the fire by now. We hunted the Kings Canyon area.
 
Roost 1":2sj450ht said:
Os2 Outdoors":2sj450ht said:
Yea I just looked at the nebraska distribution map. Very strange.
Click to expand...

If wanting a true Merriams you will need to go to far northwest corner of NE. Lots of public land around Chadron and it should of recovered from the fire by now. We hunted the Kings Canyon area.
Click to expand...
Same as Greg. Nebraska really is the best state for both. Merriam in the NW and Rio along the Nebraska/ Kansas border.
 
I've hunted Oklahoma and wouldn't go back unless I could find a Reservation to hunt. Kansas has some good hunting but it's not as good as it used to be. So much of the land is leased up by deer hunters. Still plenty of WIHA land to hunt though.
 
callemquacktn":1y2cuo15 said:
I've hunted Oklahoma and wouldn't go back unless I could find a Reservation to hunt. Kansas has some good hunting but it's not as good as it used to be. So much of the land is leased up by deer hunters. Still plenty of WIHA land to hunt though.
Click to expand...
That WIHA land is what I was looking at. I'm cross referencing county kill data now with WIHA areas to determine the best counties.
 
Be careful with just that info. Some WIHA are more suited for upland game and not worth a flip for deer or turkey. Its best to have about 300 back up plans, even if the WIHA has turkey habitat they might move across property lines for the a day or two.

I would locate cotton wood river bottom lands for turkeys and stay away from the high plains areas.


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I've hunted the KS walk in hunting areas. The folks out there have some WHA that are "turkey only". I've seen turkeys in those fields before so they are there you just have to scout around a bit.

The main issue I had when out there was it was overran by people from Colorado! Sure I was from TN, but my in laws own thousands of acres of farm land out there. Honestly, unless it is leased the folks I've met will let you hunt on their land. Turkeys to them aren't as big of a deal as deer.

Out there I've seen flocks in the winter that number in the hundreds of birds.

I'm headed out there for opening day. I will be in NW KS. Hunting some private lands and the WHA areas around where my in laws live.
 
AT Hiker":2f0kp0wo said:
Be careful with just that info. Some WIHA are more suited for upland game and not worth a flip for deer or turkey. Its best to have about 300 back up plans, even if the WIHA has turkey habitat they might move across property lines for the a day or two.

I would locate cotton wood river bottom lands for turkeys and stay away from the high plains areas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
He is right about the Cottonwoods. Where there are Cottonwoods there seems to be turkeys hanging around them. Though I have seen some out in big agriculture fields feeding at times, but their sanctuary is the nearby groups of Cottonwood trees.
 
Os2 Outdoors":2k5m0jue said:
callemquacktn":2k5m0jue said:
I've hunted Oklahoma and wouldn't go back unless I could find a Reservation to hunt. Kansas has some good hunting but it's not as good as it used to be. So much of the land is leased up by deer hunters. Still plenty of WIHA land to hunt though.
Click to expand...
That WIHA land is what I was looking at. I'm cross referencing county kill data now with WIHA areas to determine the best counties.
Click to expand...
I did the same thing with references of kill data and such. Look for the WIHA land that was leased just for turkey season. It should be marked red on the maps.
 
Atchman2":2ffem329 said:
I've hunted the KS walk in hunting areas. The folks out there have some WHA that are "turkey only". I've seen turkeys in those fields before so they are there you just have to scout around a bit.

The main issue I had when out there was it was overran by people from Colorado! Sure I was from TN, but my in laws own thousands of acres of farm land out there. Honestly, unless it is leased the folks I've met will let you hunt on their land. Turkeys to them aren't as big of a deal as deer.

Out there I've seen flocks in the winter that number in the hundreds of birds.

I'm headed out there for opening day. I will be in NW KS. Hunting some private lands and the WHA areas around where my in laws live.
Click to expand...
Sweet. You hunting the early bow only opener?
 
Yes ,I am hunting in Northwest KS in Rawlings County. My in laws have a lot of land there. There is one abandoned farm we hunt that was loaded with turkeys last year.

The bad thing is that hunting with a bow is hard, especially out there.

We didn't get any birds, but if would have been using guns we have limited in two days. Between high winds, ice, snow, a dust storm and not knowingthe best places to go, archery hunting was difficult. Still I am going to try again.

For me it is more about getting to hang out with friends and family. It is even more because I leave my wife and kids in TN. [emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
 
Atchman2":23tlzhpi said:
Yes ,I am hunting in Northwest KS in Rawlings County. My in laws have a lot of land there. There is one abandoned farm we hunt that was loaded with turkeys last year.

The bad thing is that hunting with a bow is hard, especially out there.

We didn't get any birds, but if would have been using guns we have limited in two days. Between high winds, ice, snow, a dust storm and not knowingthe best places to go, archery hunting was difficult. Still I am going to try again.

For me it is more about getting to hang out with friends and family. It is even more because I leave my wife and kids in TN. [emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Awesome. We're debating on going for bow but might wait to shoot them in the face lol.

Good Luck man!
 

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