I wonder how many topics have been started on the Black Hills over the years.
If everything lines up id like to make the 1 thousand mile trek up there to harvest my first merriams. I know I want to get up there before the forest service roads open up on May 15th. So with my current schedule I'm thinking a trip from May 10th to the 14th.
I've talked to several local biologist who indicate the population is better on the south end of Black Hills than the north. They do have me alittle concerned as they indicate terrible hatches the past few years and the overall population is at all time lows. With that said I've seen plenty of post from people saying they got into the birds.
Anyone have any recommendations on areas to start looking at on OnX before I am able to put boots on the ground? I figure the tactic ill use is to walk in a few hundred yards from the gates and try to strike up a gobbler. If no response on to the next, cover as much ground as possible till birds are located.
Any additional info anyone is willing to share, via this post or PM is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Chadron
The Biologists are right about the population being down, we were out there last spring for 8 days and heard three birds gobble. Weather wasn't on our side and didn't see much sign at all. I managed to punch my tag and my buddy had a chance to punch his. There are birds around just Be prepared to cover a ton of ground each day both walking and driving. That being said enjoy your time out there, it is a very beautiful place to chase turkeys
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Just go and try it, hunting turkeys doesnt need to be overally complicated. Drive around, get out and walk a bit, call- no response? Move on. I think people really overthink things when it comes to turkeys. Population numbers go up and down but they arent extinct- just means you'll get to spend more time hunting potentially which I believe is the main point for most of us.
Quote from: tbowers on March 30, 2022, 09:46:37 AM
Just go and try it, hunting turkeys doesnt need to be overally complicated. Drive around, get out and walk a bit, call- no response? Move on. I think people really overthink things when it comes to turkeys. Population numbers go up and down but they arent extinct- just means you'll get to spend more time hunting potentially which I believe is the main point for most of us.
I agree, I think for me it's just having a clear strategy together before I decide on make a thousand mile drive one way, spend close to 40 hours driving just to and from South Dakota,, taking off 5 days of work, spending money on license and hotels. Its a big commitment, especially with gas prices up. I just need to feel confident in my strategy before fully committing to a trip like this.
I must have replied to this elsewhere, so on top of what I've said before. A big part of hunting these areas includes not quitting. If you kill a quick one, great. If you not.......hunt your @$$ off. Don't stop trying to locate a bird. Hunt all morning, take a break at some point even if in town for a good burger or something. Turn right around and hunt all afternoon. Don't stop looking for a gobbling turkey. It takes one bird that's right to make the trip. Don't stop looking for that one bird.
If you blow it on one, keep looking for another. I can't say it enough...... don't stop looking for a hot bird that wants to die.
Yep, obviously if you are driving that far hunt as much as you can. I drive about ten hours to get out there, and last couple years average 10 miles a day. Hunt pretty much dark to dark with a few naps mixed in. I've killed birds at 1pm , they gobble and move all day. Turkey hunting is NOT elk or deer hunting, you dont need a bunch of scouting- I picked a random spot on the map my first time to the BH and had birds gobbling. You can be lazy and just drive around and run into birds, you see them all the time from the roads.
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on March 29, 2022, 08:51:44 PM
. They do have me alittle concerned as they indicate terrible hatches the past few years and the overall population is at all time lows. With that said I've seen plenty of post from people saying they got into the birds.
What biologist told you that? I just talked with one today and said numbers are up, and last year was a good hatch as they didnt get hammered by any late snows.
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on March 30, 2022, 01:06:51 PM
Quote from: tbowers on March 30, 2022, 09:46:37 AM
Just go and try it, hunting turkeys doesnt need to be overally complicated. Drive around, get out and walk a bit, call- no response? Move on. I think people really overthink things when it comes to turkeys. Population numbers go up and down but they arent extinct- just means you'll get to spend more time hunting potentially which I believe is the main point for most of us.
I agree, I think for me it's just having a clear strategy together before I decide on make a thousand mile drive one way, spend close to 40 hours driving just to and from South Dakota,, taking off 5 days of work, spending money on license and hotels. Its a big commitment, especially with gas prices up. I just need to feel confident in my strategy before fully committing to a trip like this.
Truthfully, I've read and reread this thread and your original post, as well as your secondary post. Quite honestly, it comes across as you don't want to spend your time and efforts to find the information you are asking for.
In your initial post, you already highlighted several key things that the folks who already hunt that are will not appreciate.. because the information provided causes focus on specific areas and timing.
Asking for OnX information .... C'Mon man
Birds are really spotty... find a pocket it may have 4 or 5 toms... then the next pocket may be 20 to 30 miles away. Feast or famine. Don't waste time in an area where you don't hear a gobble. Cover as much ground as fast as you can and pray you get lucky. Some locals who have punched their tag have loose lips. They don't get the concept that those of us in the East understand. Sweet talk them and they will brag about where they killed their bird, and there were 2 more toms with him. Go there.
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If I was basing my decision to spend the money and go off of whether or not I have a high chance of being successful, well I would question my true motive for going in the first place. Just a thought.
Well Happy, perhaps if the turkey hunting sucks you can find some old geezers to set around a camp fire with and tell stories. I hear that all turkeys died of covid and everyone should just cancel their trips.
Eggshell, I will give the hunting my best shot and enjoy the experience. Memories will be made either way.
Quote from: Happy on March 31, 2022, 04:54:32 PM
Eggshell, I will give the hunting my best shot and enjoy the experience. Memories will be made either way.
THat is a very, very good true statement. I have a 8 hr drive out there one way and it took me 3-4 years to shoot my first bird out there, but made memories. Mountain Lions sneeking past you, deer all most stepping on you. But one of my best was a dirt biker riding cross country coming across my decoy in the game trail. Turned off his bike and looked around and didnt see me under a tree, when he bent over to pick up my decoy, thats when I let him know I was there. I think he crapped his pants and was gone. Them are memories you will make, now since I have shot a bird out there every year in past 12 except one.
I agree ddturkeyhunter. Happy already knows I have family out there and I actually went last year and never hunted, just had a good time. If I found a bird I would have hunted him, but I didn't try real hard. The family didn't care much for the hikes into the forest. This year they are taking a second vehicle and I am hunting. I have been in the Black Hills 6 years straight and never hunted a day, just running around with family. They are the ones who pushed me to hunt. So yes it is a fun place even without the hunting. Maybe some day we'll all cross paths.
Some of these replies are an inspiration some are a hoot. I've been on this, and another forum, for two years trying to decide whether or not to finally pull the trigger on a Black Hills hunt. It is now time for me to either do it or write it off again. I had hoped to find the perfect combination of reasonable airfares and decent rental car prices. Living in south Florida driving is not an option. With the COVID excuse bargain prices aren't going to happen. The rental car prices in some venues is truly staggering. It is my biggest roadblock. My only option seems to be a Denver arrival, rental car, then a trek north into the southern sections of WY's portion of the National Forest. Buying the license over the counter in WY a big plus that is not possible in SD. I'll continue to follow these Merriam post for more "tips". Maybe I can be one of the old geezers sitting around the campfire telling stories (really loved that one). Good luck to all. :fud:
Sounds to me like you have answered all your questions yourself, and already have a plan in place. Only thing your needing is for someone to tell you which trees they roost in. Go do exactly what you said your going to do, and have a great experience. Weather you harvest or not. Don't have to kill to be successful!
One thing to keep in mind in the BH is pressure is WAY up- license sales increased 33% last year from 4700 to 6300. The good news is there is 1M acres to explore, if you run into trucks just keep moving and find another spot. Keep in mind too many dont venture far from the roads- there are spots where you can go miles deep and get into birds that arent messed with. The forest roads grid the area pretty well so the walking is relatively easy/quick.
How many tags do you get for the Black Hill region as a nonresident? Says one license, but are there more than one tag included?
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Pretty sure it's only 1 tag, 1 bird? It's definitely worth it as an experience. I don't know that it's worth going back year after year as far as the hunting is concerned, but if it's within a 12 hr. drive it's probably worth it as far as the scenery and just overall experience. The hunting isn't easy. You're either going to be around all of the birds or none of the birds. There's not much in between. One thing I will say-easterns are much more fun to hunt in general. Merriams will gobble going away from you for no apparent reason. It gets very frustrating
it's a one bird limit
Quote from: turkeyfool on April 01, 2022, 12:04:37 PM
Pretty sure it's only 1 tag, 1 bird? It's definitely worth it as an experience. I don't know that it's worth going back year after year as far as the hunting is concerned, but if it's within a 12 hr. drive it's probably worth it as far as the scenery and just overall experience. The hunting isn't easy. You're either going to be around all of the birds or none of the birds. There's not much in between. One thing I will say-easterns are much more fun to hunt in general. Merriams will gobble going away from you for no apparent reason. It gets very frustrating
Id say the opposite, I like hunting Merriams way more then the Easterns around here in WI. Merriams move more/gobble more and can take more strategy to get in front of them. I cant tell you how many full days I've hunted here and WI and not heard a single gobble. I've never had that experience in the BH.
Don't know why everyone over thinks the hills. If you can't find a turkey in 2 million acres you should probably take your man bun and .410 to an outfitter for help! That being said, I made my first trip in 2010 when turkeys were everywhere in just about every state. I had no problem filling my tag for nearly 10 consecutive years it was so good. I haven't been there in a few and understand that numbers are way down. BUT if you've never been, it's a beautiful place and I believe every serious turkey hunter should try it at least once. The hills are a special place to me and I've taken many people there to tag a meriams. One of the perks is the absolute freedom to go just about anywhere for miles running and gunning. That alone means alot these days when permission keeps shrinking on private land.
Ill be out there the last week in April. First time I was there i got discouraged because i didnt hear a gobble for four days because they had a snowstorm the day before I got there and it got pretty cold. I understand where OP is coming from about the amount of money it takes for a NR to go there that lives a pretty good distance from the area. Ive learned that I dont chase turkeys for the kill anymore and the black hills are my favorite place to turkey hunt. Even if you dont get one you wont regret the trip. If any of yall are there the same week as me send a message and we can meet up and share stories.
I'm going kind of off topic. Has anyone found any morel mushrooms while hunting the Black Hills?
Quote from: eggshell on April 02, 2022, 05:13:36 AM
I'm going kind of off topic. Has anyone found any morel mushrooms while hunting the Black Hills?
We find them in Montana so no reason that they aren't in the Black Hills under the right conditions.
https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/morels-in-the-black-hills/
Found lots in another state around cedar trees.
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I've found morrells in the black hills, but don't expect to find them every year. It seems to be dry country , especially the southern hills, and during spring it drops below freezing many nights, which leads to burnt caps on the mushrooms
Quote from: VA Gobble Addict on April 01, 2022, 09:50:17 PM
Ill be out there the last week in April. First time I was there i got discouraged because i didnt hear a gobble for four days because they had a snowstorm the day before I got there and it got pretty cold. I understand where OP is coming from about the amount of money it takes for a NR to go there that lives a pretty good distance from the area. Ive learned that I dont chase turkeys for the kill anymore and the black hills are my favorite place to turkey hunt. Even if you dont get one you wont regret the trip. If any of yall are there the same week as me send a message and we can meet up and share stories.
I never found the snow to affect them. Only while actively snowing hard they'd hunker down. Too many times in subzero temps with tons of snow on the ground and they acted like kamikaze pilots.
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Custer state park
non residents can not hunt in Custer state Park
Quote from: eggshell on April 03, 2022, 01:00:38 PM
non residents can not hunt in Custer state Park
Yes they can?! Fake news.
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Hmmm, I was confused since I read this in the state regulations :
look under Custer State Park on page 5
https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/2022springturkey-app.pdf
and this:
Hunting in Custer State Park
Hunting is one of the many tools used to manage Custer State Park's wildlife. Hunting helps reduce the size of populations, preventing overcrowding with the park. Controlling animal numbers ensures an adequate supply of food for all species and prevents habitat degradation and loss as well as competition between species. Most hunting seasons typically occur from mid-September through early January. Turkey hunting takes place in the spring from mid-April through mid-May each year. The fees collected from hunting licenses generate revenue which help fund wildlife management programs. Species managed through hunting with the park include bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, mount lion, and turkey. With the exception of buffalo, all seasons are resident only.
Quote from: eggshell on April 03, 2022, 06:59:21 PM
Hmmm, I was confused since I read this in the state regulations :
look under Custer State Park on page 5
https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/2022springturkey-app.pdf
and this:
Hunting in Custer State Park
Hunting is one of the many tools used to manage Custer State Park's wildlife. Hunting helps reduce the size of populations, preventing overcrowding with the park. Controlling animal numbers ensures an adequate supply of food for all species and prevents habitat degradation and loss as well as competition between species. Most hunting seasons typically occur from mid-September through early January. Turkey hunting takes place in the spring from mid-April through mid-May each year. The fees collected from hunting licenses generate revenue which help fund wildlife management programs. Species managed through hunting with the park include bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, mount lion, and turkey. With the exception of buffalo, all seasons are resident only.
Sarcasm bud.
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