I've held it to be a rule of thumb that when hunting public, you don't want to hunt a field right off or within a short walk of a vehicle-accessible road. Even on opening day, you're probably not the only hunter there.
But does the same hold true when hunting wooded areas? I'm map-scouting some nice ridges above creeks (so it's a steep-ish hike) that are not far from roads, or at the very end of long, winding NF roads. Some have clearings nearby, others don't.
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Many people are very lazy even in their hunting these days, the closer they can hunt to their vehicles the better. I would try to go further away, before my car accident I remember walking in miles to turkey hunt and I would not see anyone. I can't walk that far anymore so I can't go in as far and I see a lot more people now when hunting public and trespassers on private.
You go where the birds are regardless. I've killed them close to the truck and far away.
I guess my suspicion is that the lazy folk y'all reference don't like going steep uphill, so an area that's very close as the crow flies might still be enormously productive if the habitat is right. Worst case scenario I hear nothing at dawn, see no sign, and head down a logging road to try somewhere more remote.
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Quote from: AppalachianHollers on April 19, 2020, 02:52:14 PM
I guess my suspicion is that the lazy folk y'all reference don't like going steep uphill, so an area that's very close as the crow flies might still be enormously productive if the habitat is right. Worst case scenario I hear nothing at dawn, see no sign, and head down a logging road to try somewhere more remote.
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Yes, that was part of my thought. By the way, do these ridges have areas flat enough to have a turkey do it's thing? If not what they like it does not make much sense to go there.
That's a very good point, else they're probably just passing through at best. I guess you're thinking of possible strut zones?
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Quote from: AppalachianHollers on April 19, 2020, 03:29:01 PM
That's a very good point, else they're probably just passing through at best. I guess you're thinking of possible strut zones?
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Yes, that was exactly my thought. I am sure that it does not have to be perfectly flat, but you will want to be in a place you have cover and can see them as well.
I don't like to get much farther than fifty yards from the truck. I am afraid I might get lost.
Quote from: silvestris on April 19, 2020, 05:13:55 PM
I don't like to get much farther than fifty yards from the truck. I am afraid I might get lost.
I need to get a compass for those mountain ridge hunts. Easy to stay oriented where there's fields, but subtle landmarks have a funny way of looking big and getting me to second-guess.
Don't want to get lost in the dark and inadvertently end up between a bear sow and her cubs.
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Quote from: silvestris on April 19, 2020, 05:13:55 PM
I don't like to get much farther than fifty yards from the truck. I am afraid I might get lost.
Don't worry guy, the cops will tune into your ankle bracelet and come get you in time. :P
Quote from: AppalachianHollers on April 19, 2020, 05:17:28 PM
Quote from: silvestris on April 19, 2020, 05:13:55 PM
I don't like to get much farther than fifty yards from the truck. I am afraid I might get lost.
I need to get a compass for those mountain ridge hunts. Easy to stay oriented where there's fields, but subtle landmarks have a funny way of looking big and getting me to second-guess.
Don't want to get lost in the dark and inadvertently end up between a bear sow and her cubs.
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That bear sow n her cubs thing is crazy overblown. Any mama will protect her young. I haven't dealt w brown bears so I can't comment on them but black bears are no worry.
Need to get a compass?? Different day n age I guess. Good to get one. It's easy but learn to use it
I prefer to hunt woods and mountains, that's the terrain where I live. And I have killed plenty of turkeys with a bow near the road, not because I am lazy, just that is where they are hanging out.
Quote from: CAPTJJ on April 19, 2020, 08:12:45 PM
I prefer to hunt woods and mountains, that's the terrain where I live. And I have killed plenty of turkeys with a bow near the road, not because I am lazy, just that is where they are hanging out.
Besides maybe being the path of least resistance and offering a clear field of view, I have wondered if they pick up gravel for their gizzards off remote roads.
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Agree it all depends on were the birds are located ...
Gotta hunt where the birds are, but around here road birds don't last long. Pretty much all the public land I hunt is wooded. Most folks stick to the ridges leading from parking areas. Put a few big hills and a mile or two between you and the parking areas and you'll separate the men from the boys. I've got one hardwood ridge I like to run that's 1.8 miles from the truck and 2 steep climbs to get too. If I ever see anyone else back there I'll probably just congratulate them on the climb and offer them some water.
I pretty much judge the gobblers I am going to hunt by how difficult they are to get to. However, sometimes the obvious birds get passed up because everybody is having that same thought process. On a number of occasions, I have killed gobblers right off a main highway that had been passed up day after day by hunters headed to the more remote areas. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to try that easy-to-get-to gobbler.
Anyone ever waited on a dirt NF road to hear calls? Or do you normally move up the first ridge (assuming you don't already have a known spot that's further in).
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Quote from: AppalachianHollers on April 20, 2020, 12:35:56 PM
Anyone ever waited on a dirt NF road to hear calls? Or do you normally move up the first ridge (assuming you don't already have a known spot that's further in).
Yes, that's the standard policy around here. The road system on our NF is such that a lot of gobblers can be heard from the roads (or be enticed to letting you know where they are from the road). Unless I am hunting a more remote area that I KNOW holds gobblers, I will always use the road system to locate birds to hunt. Much more efficient way to find them than just randomly walking in somewhere.
Besides maybe being the path of least resistance and offering a clear field of view, I have wondered if they pick up gravel for their gizzards off remote roads.
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Yes, I think they do pick up gravel to help with grinding food.
I think ideally you would love to be able to go 1.5 miles into the woods and know you are alone on unpressured birds. There are many problems with such a tactic though. I don't know about anyone else, but as we get into May you gotta get up crazy earlier as is. A 1.5 mile walk means I gotta get up even earlier. I like to get as much sleep as I can sometimes to not get burnt out too fast. The number one reason I hate doing it is the fact it puts you incredibly far from your car. If whatever you thought you had 1.5 miles in doesn't work out and you hear a very distant gobbler you ain't getting to it cause getting back to your car will take forever.
I suppose it depends on where you hunt. I hunt the Central Forest in WI. The access is usually pulling off onto an old logging road/trail head that isn't meant to be driven down. Thus it isn't like a parking lot and 5 cars won't pile up all at one spot. The people by me don't walk far and leave after the morning quiets down 9/10. People either are respectful or maybe they don't want to fight for a bird someone already might be on. If they see your car they will keep driving along even if they don't know if you are 15 feet into the woods or 2 miles
Reality is being close to the road is very beneficial as is road cruising listening for gobbles. Everyone seems to do it by me, but there are a ton of birds close to the road and it makes sense.
Quote from: Plush on April 22, 2020, 07:17:12 AM
I think ideally you would love to be able to go 1.5 miles into the woods and know you are alone on unpressured birds. There are many problems with such a tactic though. I don't know about anyone else, but as we get into May you gotta get up crazy earlier as is. A 1.5 mile walk means I gotta get up even earlier. I like to get as much sleep as I can sometimes to not get burnt out too fast. The number one reason I hate doing it is the fact it puts you incredibly far from your car. If whatever you thought you had 1.5 miles in doesn't work out and you hear a very distant gobbler you ain't getting to it cause getting back to your car will take forever.
I suppose it depends on where you hunt. I hunt the Central Forest in WI. The access is usually pulling off onto an old logging road/trail head that isn't meant to be driven down. Thus it isn't like a parking lot and 5 cars won't pile up all at one spot. The people by me don't walk far and leave after the morning quiets down 9/10. People either are respectful or maybe they don't want to fight for a bird someone already might be on. If they see your car they will keep driving along even if they don't know if you are 15 feet into the woods or 2 miles
Reality is being close to the road is very beneficial as is road cruising listening for gobbles. Everyone seems to do it by me, but there are a ton of birds close to the road and it makes sense.
There is no set standard as to how one hunts. I prefer to be 1.5 miles or more back in the woods/mtns. I don't worrry about not finding birds as I have usually prescouted. However nothing is ever gauranteed. A lot of people hunt off roads and if it works for you that is great. Personally I seldom do so. I carry a GPS at all times because if I am scouting or all day hunting has started I may not get back to the truck until well after dark. When deer hunting I seldom get back to the truck before 9 or ten pm.
Things do tend to look different after dark. Using a compass one time I held it too close to my belt buckle and it took me in a completly different direction. Fortunatly I recognized a camping area I came across and was able to return to my truck. Have not used a compass since. Public land can be very difficult to hunt but the more effort you put into it the better the rewards. Which does not mean you have to be miserable to have fun although I have been tired, hungery, wet and cold more times than I can remember. It is, in my opinion, important to live up to your own standards not what others want and have fun.
Sometimes I see tracks on the road that aren't just crossing, but actually walking on it.
Feels tempting to set up on such places, but I wonder if there's a time of day turkeys are probabilistically more likely to walk a section of road.
It's on my mind at this point in the season especially, with them being quiet.
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Quote from: AppalachianHollers on April 25, 2020, 08:58:12 PM
Sometimes I see tracks on the road that aren't just crossing, but actually walking on it.
Feels tempting to set up on such places, but I wonder if there's a time of day turkeys are probabilistically more likely to walk a section of road.
Sometime between daylight and dark, but deer hunting them is no fun, and there is no sense of accomplishment.