Suggestions

I’m new to Turkey hunting, last year was my first season and I only hunted for maybe 8 hours total. I’m looking for suggestions on the land I’ll be hunting. The woods are mostly steep hillside with a pond on the bottom and CRP field on top. The field is getting fairly overgrown and I wouldn’t consider it a prime location for a Tom to strut. I’ve attached a photo of the land, the green dot is where I sat last year, I had a gobbler or two near by in the woods, but only hens came out within shooting range. ANY suggestions on how I should approach this years hunt would be appreciatted!

Red Line = Property borber

Blue Line = Logging road

Matt

Is that a water hole, to the left of your spot last year ? I would think, that would be a good spot, if that is water.

big g

Is that a water hole, to the left of your spot last year ? I would think, that would be a good spot, if that is water.

big g

Also to narrow down the search for on top the hill wherever it funnels/ravine set up near there as well. I have noticed birds more times than not follow these as a travel route

Also to narrow down the search for on top the hill wherever it funnels/ravine set up near there as well. I have noticed birds more times than not follow these as a travel route

Am I seeing sand a ways above the pond. Shold be full of sign from them coming in and dusting if it is sand.

Am I seeing sand a ways above the pond. Shold be full of sign from them coming in and dusting if it is sand.

That’s a pond, it borders the road. I did see a hen in the field south of there last week. We’ll have 2-3 guys hunting, so we may be able to cover a few areas of the property.

That’s a pond, it borders the road. I did see a hen in the field south of there last week. We’ll have 2-3 guys hunting, so we may be able to cover a few areas of the property.

No sand around the pond, it’s pretty overgrown.

No sand around the pond, it’s pretty overgrown.

Have you tried to find where they have been roosting?

Have you tried to find where they have been roosting?

When is your hunt? If you can, get up before light and scope out the land before your season begins (Like a day or two ahead of time).Listen to where they are gobbling and try to find a place to set up! You may even find where they are flying down and doing their strutting! Doing a little home work ahead of time will pay off big time in the end!

When is your hunt? If you can, get up before light and scope out the land before your season begins (Like a day or two ahead of time).Listen to where they are gobbling and try to find a place to set up! You may even find where they are flying down and doing their strutting! Doing a little home work ahead of time will pay off big time in the end!

Thanks guys. My season is about a week out. I think I’ll try to get up there and scout a morning sometime next week.

Thanks guys. My season is about a week out. I think I’ll try to get up there and scout a morning sometime next week.

Scouting will pay dividends – but in the end getting there well before sunrise and locating them with owl hoots – then setting up within 100 yards well before they hit the ground is often the very best bet – unless you can roost them – if so you will even know what tree they are in. Good luck,
Chuckles

Scouting will pay dividends – but in the end getting there well before sunrise and locating them with owl hoots – then setting up within 100 yards well before they hit the ground is often the very best bet – unless you can roost them – if so you will even know what tree they are in. Good luck,
Chuckles

I agree definetly roost them if possible then you already will know where your butt will be in the morning. You may have a hard time falling to sleep tho.

I agree definetly roost them if possible then you already will know where your butt will be in the morning. You may have a hard time falling to sleep tho.

Well, no bird. But it was a good hunt, one hen came in along with many deer. I did find a few spots where birds have been working the ground, I setup on one of these areas. We only hunted for maybe a total of 8 hours this weekend, family time took priority since the in-laws were visiting. I did pick up a pound of morels on my way out of the woods on Sunday and found this Goose, who appeared to have a landing mishap.

Well, no bird. But it was a good hunt, one hen came in along with many deer. I did find a few spots where birds have been working the ground, I setup on one of these areas. We only hunted for maybe a total of 8 hours this weekend, family time took priority since the in-laws were visiting. I did pick up a pound of morels on my way out of the woods on Sunday and found this Goose, who appeared to have a landing mishap.

did it have a band????????????????

did it have a band????????????????

Matth, when looking at the topo i personally would set up towards one of the crop fields.(preferably upper right) like Bret Clark said, they probably will be dusting themselves sometime during the day, usually from 10-14:00. Also, depending on where they roost I would try the logging road to catch them as they go to the strutting area. hope this helps and good huntin’

Matth, when looking at the topo i personally would set up towards one of the crop fields.(preferably upper right) like Bret Clark said, they probably will be dusting themselves sometime during the day, usually from 10-14:00. Also, depending on where they roost I would try the logging road to catch them as they go to the strutting area. hope this helps and good huntin’

I’m not sure about the band. I’m guessing it will be gone by the time I get back out there.

I’m not sure about the band. I’m guessing it will be gone by the time I get back out there.