Any turkey hunters?

[DKirk]

I am not but I’d like to give it a shot. I have a few days blocked off toward the end of March from another hunt that got canceled and thinking about chasing gobblers. Reading a few threads on here there doesn’t seem to be great a population accessible on public land so I’m thinking about road tripping to MS. I’ve been watching the hunting public and some other YouTube but if anyone has hunted there or has any tips or advice in general I’m all ears.

[trash2]

If youre not familiar w turkey hunting and dont gave anyone to show you the ropes, your success level will be much higher w rios or merriams. The eastern turkey is very different from the previously mentioned.

[Playa]

Never had a chance at Easterns so I’m not help. But in an absence of Turkey on our place, I’m planning to head to NM to chase some Merriams.

[TwoHighways]

Subspecies doesn’t matter. The amount of pressure a bird receives does. Birds in the southeast are hunted hard and there’s already a steep learning curve to spring turkey hunting with “easy” birds. I’d go in with realistic expectations of not being successful as a novice, but you never know unless you give it a shot.

[climatecrisis]

Originally Posted by TwoHighways

Subspecies doesn’t matter. The amount of pressure a bird receives does. Birds in the southeast are hunted hard and there’s already a steep learning curve to spring turkey hunting with “easy” birds. I’d go in with realistic expectations of not being successful as a novice, but you never know unless you give it a shot.

100%. Couldn’t had said it better myself. Great advice.

[trash2]

Originally Posted by TwoHighways

Subspecies doesn’t matter. The amount of pressure a bird receives does. Birds in the southeast are hunted hard and there’s already a steep learning curve to spring turkey hunting with “easy” birds. I’d go in with realistic expectations of not being successful as a novice, but you never know unless you give it a shot.

Id have to disagree, rios and merriams are night and day apart from an eastern. A midwest eastern is somewhere between them and a SE bird. Anyhow, you could very easily be successful and at a minimum you'll learn something

[DKirk]

Thanks guys, my expectations are to have a good time. I wouldn’t mind chasing a Rio but just from the few threads I’ve seen on here of people looking for turkey hunts the response hasn’t been very big. That’s the main reason I shifted my focus on MS. That and I spent most summers, fall, and winter breaks there but never hunted turkeys. Still have a little family there also.

[diamond10x]

Originally Posted by TwoHighways

Subspecies doesn’t matter. The amount of pressure a bird receives does. Birds in the southeast are hunted hard and there’s already a steep learning curve to spring turkey hunting with “easy” birds. I’d go in with realistic expectations of not being successful as a novice, but you never know unless you give it a shot.

This is pretty solid here. Only thing I’ll add, I’ve been hunting Rios in the spring off and on my whole life. The last couple years have I only gotten serious about them. I’m still trying to learn how to hunt the “easy” birds here and end up unsuccessful more often than not. I have really been wanting to do some turkey road trips but my knowledge and skills I’m not confident enough in yet to take that leap. It’s one of the most addicting hunts there is, but like Two highways said, you won’t know unless you try and you can’t kill a bird if you’re not in the woods.

[Razrbk89]

Turkey hunting is a lot of fun. I’m not sure cutting your teeth on public land Easterns would be the smoothest start, but it could still be a fun trip.

I haven’t got a chance to hunt Merriams, but I think most people who’ve hunted both would say that Rios are considerably easier to kill than easterns. I am fortunate to have access to good areas of very lightly pressured easterns up here and they’re just different birds. Rios are extremely fun to hunt because you can work them all day beat the hell of of them. Again, just my experience on a handful of trips. They aren’t nearly as wary and seem to be waaaaay more cooperative.

[DKirk]

If anyone can steer me toward Rios within 5-6hrs of Houston I’m all ears. I have nothing set other than the dates.

[MASTERS]

Originally Posted by TwoHighways

Subspecies doesn’t matter. The amount of pressure a bird receives does. Birds in the southeast are hunted hard and there’s already a steep learning curve to spring turkey hunting with “easy” birds. I’d go in with realistic expectations of not being successful as a novice, but you never know unless you give it a shot.

Stout advice from a jake slayer😳

[N.DaWoods]

There are a lot of places you can hunt pretty cheaply around here on private land. Day hunts with lots of birds. Probably worth looking into, unless you are just set on public land?

[tpcollins]

Biggest issue with new hunters is probably over calling.

If a Tom answers your call - just shut up. He knows where you’re at. A couple putts and some scratching the leaves on the ground simulating a feeding hen can work better than calling too much. Good luck

[shott]

Originally Posted by MASTERS

Stout advice from a jake slayer😳

I almost spit my Dr Pepper out

[Bassdeer]

Originally Posted by tpcollins

Biggest issue with new hunters is probably over calling.

If a Tom answers your call - just shut up. He knows where you’re at. A couple putts and some scratching the leaves on the ground simulating a feeding hen can work better than calling too much. Good luck

spot on, I use 95% of the time a push button turkey call. maybe in one hour I might hit it 3 to 5 times and only push the button 3 or 4 times. works almost every time.

[ClayW]

Originally Posted by DKirk

If anyone can steer me toward Rios within 5-6hrs of Houston I’m all ears. I have nothing set other than the dates.

I'd recommend just spending some money and finding an outfitter here in Texas. By the time you buy your non-resident tags, gas, and other travel expenses, it'll be close to a wash...especially if you're going solo.

[DKirk]

Originally Posted by N.DaWoods

There are a lot of places you can hunt pretty cheaply around here on private land. Day hunts with lots of birds. Probably worth looking into, unless you are just set on public land?

Do you have any contacts? Not set in public but not looking to break the bank for a bird. I’m not even sure what I should expect to pay.

[DKirk]

Originally Posted by ClayW

I'd recommend just spending some money and finding an outfitter here in Texas. By the time you buy your non-resident tags, gas, and other travel expenses, it'll be close to a wash...especially if you're going solo.

License would be $127, gas wouldn’t be much more than the distance I’d probably have to travel in Texas, I’m pretty far from turkey country lol. I also still have family I can stay with in MS. I’m considering taking my son so that would be an added cost if I went through an outfitter.

[DKirk]

How different is the approach in hunting them between Rios and Easterns? Going to do some more youtubing but any advice from you seasoned guys is welcome.
Thanks again

[Arrowsmith]

We have got a decent populations of birds (Easterns) here in SE Iowa. With our terrain (very hilly, pockets of timber, Ag fields) they can be very tough. They will sneak it quiet on you as much or more often than gobbling and strutting in......and this is on private ground that is not hunted by anyone except me. Its dang sure fun though !!!! I am just hoping to find some TSS shotgun shells in the next month.

[quackadikt]

Pressured turkeys are hard to kill...doesn’t matter if they are an Eastern or a Merriam’s. Non-pressured birds can be stupid, regardless of where they live.

I will say though, the distance a Merriam’s or Rio will travel every day can make them harder to chase down. Easterns, in my experience, don’t have NEAR the home range the other two do.


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[ClayW]

Originally Posted by DKirk

License would be $127, gas wouldn’t be much more than the distance I’d probably have to travel in Texas, I’m pretty far from turkey country lol. I also still have family I can stay with in MS. I’m considering taking my son so that would be an added cost if I went through an outfitter.

How old is your boy? For a first turkey hunt experience, I'd definitely recommend an outfitter. If you're set on public land, I'd set the expectations with him as more of a camping trip with a possibility of finding a turkey

Originally Posted by DKirk

How different is the approach in hunting them between Rios and Easterns? Going to do some more youtubing but any advice from you seasoned guys is welcome.
Thanks again

Public land easterns will be total different ball game compared to private land rios...plus the added bonus of pressure, other hunters, and unfamiliar land.

The actual hunting tactics will be the same but just take it much slower with the Easterns.

[TwoHighways]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

We have got a decent populations of birds (Easterns) here in SE Iowa. With our terrain (very hilly, pockets of timber, Ag fields) they can be very tough. They will sneak it quiet on you as much or more often than gobbling and strutting in......and this is on private ground that is not hunted by anyone except me. Its dang sure fun though !!!! I am just hoping to find some TSS shotgun shells in the next month.

Head on over to Mac's prairie wings. They are going fast

[DKirk]

Originally Posted by ClayW

How old is your boy? For a first turkey hunt experience, I'd definitely recommend an outfitter. If you're set on public land, I'd set the expectations with him as more of a camping trip with a possibility of finding a turkey


Public land easterns will be total different ball game compared to private land rios...plus the added bonus of pressure, other hunters, and unfamiliar land.

The actual hunting tactics will be the same but just take it much slower with the Easterns.

He’s about to be 13, I would definitely be keeping realistic expectations and treating it like you said. The adventure and experience will be great either way. I guess that is part of the appeal of going out of state and just winging it.

[ClayW]

Originally Posted by DKirk

He’s about to be 13, I would definitely be keeping realistic expectations and treating it like you said. The adventure and experience will be great either way. I guess that is part of the appeal of going out of state and just winging it.

Yessir

My dad and I have the same approach on our trips. We expect to be successful but we are fine with just spending time together and enjoying the experience.

[.243 WSSM]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

We have got a decent populations of birds (Easterns) here in SE Iowa. With our terrain (very hilly, pockets of timber, Ag fields) they can be very tough. They will sneak it quiet on you as much or more often than gobbling and strutting in......and this is on private ground that is not hunted by anyone except me. Its dang sure fun though !!!! I am just hoping to find some TSS shotgun shells in the next month.

https://bossshotshells.com/products/...tom-18-2-oz-9/

[JackRyan]

Originally Posted by DKirk

Do you have any contacts? Not set in public but not looking to break the bank for a bird. I’m not even sure what I should expect to pay.

I’ve looked at a few outfits in Texas recently and they were all close to $1,000 for a turkey hunt. I love turkey hunting and think it may be the most exciting hunting I’ve ever done but I’m also not going to pay $1k for a turkey hunt. I would much rather do a trip like you’re talking about, even with the low odds of “success.”


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[DKirk]

How do y’all like to hunt them? Run n gun, or set up with decoys on a promising location or something else.

[Harvey]

Originally Posted by DKirk

How do y’all like to hunt them? Run n gun, or set up with decoys on a promising location or something else.

All the above! There in lies the appeal of turkey hunting...the overall chase. Start out sitting in the morning and then "run n gun" throughout the day. It's truly an all-day pursuit! Good activity to get in shape, cover lots of ground, find sheds, scout deer country...all in hopes to carry out a big tom!

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by .243 WSSM

https://bossshotshells.com/products/...tom-18-2-oz-9/

Thanks !!!

I ordered a box of the .20 gauge TSS #7

I guess Iowa DNR has not heard how effective TSS #9 are on turkeys. They limit the shot size at #8. 8s are hard to find in TSS .20 ga. They are all hard to find as far as that goes.

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[.243 WSSM]

Good deal. Keep us posted on those Iowa titanic toms

[Bowhuntinonly]

For turkey hunt call Richard, 713-502-3348