Where do you hunt?

[shaman]

When I first got into turkey hunting, the flocks in Ohio were still starting to build. I had access to an 80 acre orchard in SE Ohio that had turkeys-- none roosting on the property, but they would wander on at times during the day. Needles to say, my first few years of turkey hunting were challenging.

Nowadays I can wake up in the morning and see visions like this:

http://www.blackholecoffeehouse.com/Turkey%20Scouting%20070324c.JPG

. . .and it makes the whole thing soooo much easier. However, I had to spend 20 years getting there, and it took buying our own place and then waiting 6 years.

My point in asking is this: To have successful turkey hunting, you need turkeys.

Where do you hunt? How many turkeys do you have around? A few? A lot? Is it public or private? Do you own? Lease? Book a hunt? How far do you have to travel? How much are you able to scout? Do you have a guide?

Lastly, how much of your success each season is dictated by the availability of the turkeys themselves?

[Morel_Hunter]

Good question Shaman. This will be my first Spring turkey hunt. I have hunted deer & small game for years. I actually live in the big city (1M+ people) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I am lucky in the fact that my Uncle owns a 400+ acre farm about 1.5 hours outside of Ottawa. One side of the property is bounded by a large lake. I am close to him & we deer hunt together every Fall. I have noticed the turkey's slowly building their #'s around this area. They were re-introduced into Ontario in the 80's. After seeing their #'s increase I decided to try to take one this Spring. Here in Ontario we have to take a one day turkey hunting seminar to teach us how to hunt for turkeys before we can obtain a tag. It doesn't matter how long you have been hunting, everyone has to take it. Costs $35 ;) IMHO it's just the government taking more out of our pockets. We are allowed 2 tags @$22.50 each, male birds only. We have to register each bird we take. This year we are allowed to register our birds by phone, previously we had to take them to a check station. I can't wait for the season to start.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s68/glang1/turkeyGobble.gif
Gobble, gobble, gobble, BANG!!!

George

[douglas34474]

I'm outside of Ocala, Florida on the edge of the Ft. McCoy WMA. All of the land around me on three sides is WMA.

About five years ago they clear cut the timber East of me; about 40 acres. Came home one night and looked East of me to see about two dozen birds out strutting and having a good party. Not in season so I just had to drool.

This year I finally made up my mind to start hunting again. My dad and I used to hunt ducks and dove when I was a teen. Got married and found little time to hunt. Living were I am I started again this season. Got my first deer this year on my birthday.:D

Now I'm trying to learn to bring in turkey. I've walked them up in the front yard, down the drive way (some 800 ft of it) and had them roost 100 ft from the house. Never in season thou.

I'm able to hunt on my land in season.

[ljones]

My parents own 80 acres of land up in Forestville,NY. i love it, we hunt when seasons and time permits. we always see deer and turkey, and when there's no season open, we have alot of nice trails and what not to talk, its a little slice of heaven on earth. also to the person from Ohio, very nice pic.