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3006hollowpoint

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I'm going to b hunting turkeys for the first time this spring, and I'll be hunting WMA land.
Are turkeys pressured like deer are, into the woods? And if not, would fields be crowded by other hunters? I understand its open to permitted hunters, but how do I avoid taking someone else's spot?
 
They are pressured but not into the woods. They will be in the woods and in the fields. Saw toms multiple times in this one particular field on Yanahli last spring, I think it was a strut zone and it's where I shot my jake. I also saw them in the woods and they roosted in the woods either at a field edge or along the river. Just find where they roost when you scout and decide where to hunt from there... if you can even track them during a scouting trip, maybe you can know which fields/woods they like to frequent.

As far as pressure goes, you can call to them and they won't respond sometimes. Could be that you are over calling or it could be that they have been called to and busted by a lot of other hunters. Or they might just have a hang up of their own. Either way I cluck-purred in a pissed off hen and 2 jakes followed, one of which became dinner. They were 70 yards out in a field with strutting longbeards, and I called them to within 5 yards of the field edge where I was hiding under a cedar tree ready to bust a noggin.

Just remember if you hunt a field edge, find the best cover possible. I look for a tree that will support my back at least half decently, and enough bushes/ low growth to hide me but not too high as to block me from shooting or seeing birds. Ideally they could only see my head but I had a hat and face mask on. Never forget to be still. You'll make mistakes like I did and I still will make them... one time I moved just a bit not knowing ole longbeard was almost in range out in the field right after he flew down from the roost. He saw me and was gone... I felt so stupid, heard him gobble and even thought I heard him fly down, but made a move I shouldn't have and got busted.

Sorry for rambling, just sharing my noob experiences for another noob (ps. this all happened in the spot where we met up and went squirrel hunting last spring).
 
Hunting public land, I concur that overcalling will spook birds, but it will also attract other hunters. My advice...Take an owl hooter or crow call for first light, get in the general vicinity of a bird, sit uphill of him and shut up. Get a stick and scratch in the leaves every 25 mins or so, shut up and listen and look. Then, have a call, just in case you SEE the turkey, and he has turned on you, i.e. a nothing to lose situation. Chirp once or twice, and shut up. Plenty of birds have met their demise this way, even on pressured land
 
i cannot comment on WMA hunting as i never have done it, however from the places i hunt when the birds begin to feel pressure they will generally be more in the fields due to fact it gives them a much bigger area to see from. I have had a few fly 300yds through the trees just to get into the field once the pressure really starts. once in the field they will flee pretty dang quick at even a glimps of movement.

thats just where i hunt but there is not even close the the pressure on birds in public areas so they may be way different.
 
Matt.Wilson said:
Hunting public land, I concur that overcalling will spook birds, but it will also attract other hunters. My advice...Take an owl hooter or crow call for first light, get in the general vicinity of a bird, sit uphill of him and shut up. Get a stick and scratch in the leaves every 25 mins or so, shut up and listen and look. Then, have a call, just in case you SEE the turkey, and he has turned on you, i.e. a nothing to lose situation. Chirp once or twice, and shut up. Plenty of birds have met their demise this way, even on pressured land
Click to expand...
Let me add a bit based on my limited experience...

A crow call won't do any good... plenty of crows at first light along with turkeys, but the birds were gobbling on their own and did not respond to the crows. I have heard hoot owls but not sure about at dawn. I don't think locators will work well on WMA land but every turkey is different.

Also if you scratch on the leaves, be sure that bird isn't nearby. I got busted on opening morning without realizing there was a jake at 10 yards through the tree line and his head popped up when I went and scratched in the leaves. He saw my hand move before I saw him... I could have had one on opening morning, missed 2 opportunities that morning.
 
REN said:
i cannot comment on WMA hunting as i never have done it, however from the places i hunt when the birds begin to feel pressure they will generally be more in the fields due to fact it gives them a much bigger area to see from. I have had a few fly 300yds through the trees just to get into the field once the pressure really starts. once in the field they will flee pretty dang quick at even a glimps of movement.

thats just where i hunt but there is not even close the the pressure on birds in public areas so they may be way different.
Click to expand...
Agreed x2 even on public land
 
scout , scout, scout, then scout some more. Know where birds are, know which way they head on fly down. Get there early. If someone comes in on you , you should still be in the ball game.Also lunch time mid day is a good time for public land birds. Fewer people, if you get one to gobble you have a good chance.
 
turkeyhunter said:
Also lunch time mid day is a good time for public land birds. Fewer people, if you get one to gobble you have a good chance.
Click to expand...


i have killed more birds between 9am-2pm then any other time in the woods. Early morning is awesome but mid day is a great time to kill birds. If you get one to gobble mid day he can DIE!!
 
REN said:
turkeyhunter said:
Also lunch time mid day is a good time for public land birds. Fewer people, if you get one to gobble you have a good chance.
Click to expand...


i have killed more birds between 9am-2pm then any other time in the woods. Early morning is awesome but mid day is a great time to kill birds. If you get one to gobble mid day he can DIE!!
Click to expand...

It wasn't until the end of my sophomore turkey season that I realized I was seeing more birds coming OUT of the woods for lunch than while sitting still since sunrise. ESPECIALLY at WMA's.

Also, hunt evenings when you can. Most weekend warriors leave the woods at 11am on Saturday and are done for the entire weekend.
 
I'll try to go where the birds are at...... afternoon, I like to be on the shady side of fields..... they usually come out there first, since it's cooler.
 

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