Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Anyone hunt around Black kettle or Packsaddle? Just wanted to see if generally the population has rebounded at all. Hunting the eastern side of the state but would love to chase Rios again. Only have 3 days left unfortunately so was hoping someone would give a general update of if its worth driving across the state.

Good luck.  Sorry I have no info to share.  Maybe someone PMed you.  You'll never get an answer to this type question on this forum.  More secrets here than the CIA. :welcomeOG: unless you ask something relevant.

BTW - I knew a Jerry McCullough but you probably aren't him unless you're 80 years old.  LOL.

Way too many hunters at either WMA. The out of state  truck tags there are in insane. Thanks YouTubers!

There's one YouTube video of a guy doubling up on toms at one of the public OLAP properties. I haven't seen a turkey on that place since.

Sure would be nice if people figured out loose lips sink ships. 

Quote from: Gooserbat on April 18, 2025, 08:55:27 PMSure would be nice if people figured out loose lips sink ships.

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:deadhorse: Easy to take this subject into the "beating a dead horse" category. Social media and YouTube are here to stay.  Many states already have harvest statistics on line and readily available.   Most all list their public land  opportunities and regulations. More will likely join these type of open information disclosure systems and give more information not less.  I often look up the current number of kills to date on several Florida WMAs and counties I have frequented over the years. Easy then to see what's hot and what's not. I can do the same in Kentucky and most likely multiple other states.  No matter how many kick, scream and whine the secrets are out. There are no more secrets.  Time to adapt or find a new passion.  The ship has sunk.  Man the lifeboats.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 06:31:31 AM:deadhorse: Easy to take this subject into the "beating a dead horse" category. Social media and YouTube are here to stay.  Many states already have harvest statistics on line and readily available.   Most all list their public land  opportunities and regulations. More will likely join these type of open information disclosure systems and give more information not less.  I often look up the current number of kills to date on several Florida WMAs and counties I have frequented over the years. Easy then to see what's hot and what's not. I can do the same in Kentucky and most likely multiple other states.  No matter how many kick, scream and whine the secrets are out. There are no more secrets.  Time to adapt or find a new passion.  The ship has sunk.  Man the lifeboats.

While you are correct the variables you aren't taking into account are first popularity and laziness.  A lot of people simply go where they are told by the latest YouTuber or influencer.  This is not a lot different than following outdoor writers of years ago except that was a slower time and traveling eas way less popular.  If someone messages me and ask a pointed question I will likely try to help them but I'm not putting it out for the public.

Some seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 11:36:49 AMSome seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

I hunted public ground in Oklahoma last year. I got there three days before the opener to scout. Three days into the season I thought I'd been teleported to Arkansas with all the AR license plates I was seeing :toothy12:

So what?  According to your bio you were a non-resident also. A contentious subject in changing times.

1.  If you are making easy money......keep your mouth shut

2.  If you are nailing best looking girl in town.....keep your mouth shut

3.  If you know where a gobbling turkey is.....keep your mouth shut

Or you'll have company.

Loose lips sink ships- bet it

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 11:36:49 AMSome seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

There are gangs sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm. Just like the clown from Ark***** today, that walked in on me. Straight thru the middle of a PRIVATE piece of land. Chopping on a box call like he was chopping wood. Spooked the gobbler I had at 60....and yes, he had a damn E BIKE loaded in back of his truck.....

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Lots of whining but no solutions.  Maybe OK can pull a MS and ban all non-residents for the first two weeks of a six week season while leaving their residents with a three bird limit. No matter that Federal Land is involved in these closures. Just curious - was the AR guy wearing a Razorback hat? Tough times all over in the turkey hunting world. The ship has sunk.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 11:36:49 AMSome seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 06:35:28 PMLots of whining but no solutions.  Maybe OK can pull a MS and ban all non-residents for the first two weeks of a six week season while leaving their residents with a three bird limit. No matter that Federal Land is involved in these closures. Just curious - was the AR guy wearing a Razorback hat? Tough times all over in the turkey hunting world. The ship has sunk.

Lots of whining and no solutions? I think hunters' only choice is to just adapt and keep hunting. Joey always seem to imply we're sitting at home whining about it and sitting the season out. People can be upset and continue to adapt and hunt at the same time. Both can be true. Don't equate someone not liking their spots being burned with whining and not offering solutions.
Im just going to keep hunting.

The reality......draws, bans, delays are being pushed on non resident hunters all over the country by resident hunters.

Quote from: Gooserbat on April 18, 2025, 08:55:27 PMSure would be nice if people figured out loose lips sink ships. 

it don't just sink the ship .... It sinks the whole fleet.... Just say no kids ...

No I don't think everyone is staying home and just whining. I do think there is too much hate being directed at the non-resident and social media in general.  The term "spot burning" is a hoot.  The state game commissions burn every spot on their own.  Nothing is hidden anymore to anyone with basic computer skills. In Florida, Kentucky and I'm guessing some other states you can see EVERY bit of public land and get DAILY totals of the birds/deer being harvested on them. Florida's turkey season ends today.  Tomorrow I'll go on line and know what spots were hot and can plan for next season.  I consider this a good thing.  Some that live in the past don't.
The USS BIG SECRET has sunk.  It's slipped to the bottom and took with it many of the old ways.  The results appear to be ridiculously high fees and restrictions among other non-resident handicaps that are being caused solely by resident whining.  If you are one that never intends to hunt anyplace other than home ground it appears you're golden.
Add - those Arkansas boys sure take a beating don't they?  I'll bet they are an adaptable bunch. Lol.

Arkansas boys season doesn't open til April 21st (which is insane. It's full foliage summer by then). So adapting is important. Also Arkansas gets absolutely overrun with non resident duck hunters. They outnumber residents handily......I'd venture to guess no other states compares in non resident harassment of locals. So by the time the spring gets here it's time for revenge

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 20, 2025, 06:00:49 AMArkansas boys season doesn't open til April 21st (which is insane. It's full foliage summer by then). So adapting is important. Also Arkansas gets absolutely overrun with non resident duck hunters. They outnumber residents handily......I'd venture to guess no other states compares in non resident harassment of locals. So by the time the spring gets here it's time for revenge

LOL.  That's understandable.  You use "Loose Lips Sinks Ships" in your post.  I may add Galatians 6:7 to mine.  "You Reap What You Sow"  seems apropos to these threads.  Nice to be a resident with all the non-residents now getting hammered.  Not so nice if at some point one decides to travel and become a non-resident having to endure the same type harassments.  You reap what you sow.

We are reaping what a small group of influencers/hunting companies have sown in the name of $$$.

In a free society we often have no choice in how others legally make their money.  One recourse is to protest with our wallets and not support these companies or web sites.  An alternative is to whine like crazy to the state game commissions and essentially stab many fellow hunter's in the back. What goes around comes around. You reap what you sow.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 04:37:39 PMSo what?  According to your bio you were a non-resident also. A contentious subject in changing times.

I was absolutely a non resident enjoying a cool place that I appreciated.

My post was merely an observation that there were also a good number of other nonresidents that were from Arkansas. No hate intended at all. It's public ground they were just as entitled to be there as I was, or anyone else is.

Edit to add; I'm also very aware that my/our right to be there is an absolute privilege we have living in the USA.

 :anim_25: in the future.

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 19, 2025, 05:10:50 PM1.  If you are making easy money......keep your mouth shut

2.  If you are nailing best looking girl in town.....keep your mouth shut

3.  If you know where a gobbling turkey is.....keep your mouth shut

Or you'll have company.

Loose lips sink ships- bet it

Well said! I know a guy that was at black kettle. He said it was ridiculous with all the people. Loose lips sinks ships

:z-twocents:  All states should give the residents a 3-7 day head start. Non residents have no need to shoot more than one bird. I don't mind paying for each tag as you go either. Shoot a jake, you only get a Tom tag(2 bird limit here) shoot a Tom, you get a "legal bird tag" I really don't see the need to shoot 2 jakes. Z

Quote from: slave601 on April 21, 2025, 05:52:09 AM

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 19, 2025, 05:10:50 PM1.  If you are making easy money......keep your mouth shut

2.  If you are nailing best looking girl in town.....keep your mouth shut

3.  If you know where a gobbling turkey is.....keep your mouth shut

Or you'll have company.

Loose lips sink ships- bet it

Well said! I know a guy that was at black kettle. He said it was ridiculous with all the people. Loose lips sinks ships

Just for fun anyone truly interested do a simple Google search entering "Oklahoma Public Land for Turkey Hunting".  You will find that the OK game commission list Black Kettle as a good place for Rios. It shows up as first mentioned. Someone please get on their axx and tell them "loose lips sink ships".  They probably won't care.  Do the same type search for almost any state you choose.  Those that think there are really any secret spots left are about 10 years behind. Appears Black Kettle is due for some quota hunts in the future or maybe the resident whiners can try for a non-resident ban. 

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 20, 2025, 07:29:25 AMWe are reaping what a small group of influencers/hunting companies have sown in the name of $$$.

Yes

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:deadhorse: times two.  We are in the information age.  Things aren't going to change.  Influencers will continue to influence.  Companies will continue to sell their goods and influence even more. We really have a "ban everything" bunch on this forum at times.  So far we have had - no blinds, no decoys of any kind, no male decoys, no TSS,  no E-bikes (agree with this one - with exceptions), no jakes harvested (with exceptions), no filming (the BIGGIE), no non-residents or at least price/regulate them out, no mention of any specific area just to name a few. There have been plenty more. If some get their way we'll be hunting naked smeared in mud throwing stones. Would really hate to see that (with exceptions). 

Done on this subject.  The ships have been sunk.  The horse has been beaten rather badly. A shame on so many levels not the least the number of those that post once or sign up and are never seen again.

Quote from: joey46 on April 22, 2025, 05:55:42 AM:deadhorse: times two.  We are in the information age.  Things aren't going to change.  Influencers will continue to influence.  Companies will continue to sell their goods and influence even more. We really have a "ban everything" bunch on this forum at times.  So far we have had - no blinds, no decoys of any kind, no male decoys, no TSS,  no E-bikes (agree with this one - with exceptions), no jakes harvested (with exceptions), no filming (the BIGGIE), no non-residents or at least price/regulate them out, no mention of any specific area just to name a few. There have been plenty more. If some get their way we'll be hunting naked smeared in mud throwing stones. Would really hate to see that (with exceptions). 

Done on this subject.  The ships have been sunk.  The horse has been beaten rather badly. A shame on so many levels not the least the number of those that post once or sign up and are never seen again.

So you seem to enjoy complaining about complainers. What would you have them do? Just lay down and take it? Are you saying we shouldn't at least try and fix things? Just lay back and accept our fate like helpless fools? Why do you constantly waste so much breath (or typing)? Lol. People are seeing something they love and hold dear being slowly stripped away and diluted and yet they just need to "accept it"? Psshhh let people vent.

You guys really need to look at your comments and then look at yourself in the mirror. I have noticed several of you complaining about non residents hunting your state but think nothing about the fact that you're doing the same things in a lot of cases. Or is it different because YOU are the one hunting out of state? Noticed more than one talking about it and also their own personal Super Slam. I understand that the population in a lot of states is taking a beating. I know that I personally found a spot with a few turkeys before the season and I have yet to be able to hunt the spot. It seems that someone is parked there every single morning before 4am. Usually it's 2 or 3 trucks there and not always the same ones. Yes, it's frustrating but no cure for it. I don't know if they are sleeping in the truck or what.
OK..Rant over

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 20, 2025, 06:00:49 AMArkansas boys season doesn't open til April 21st (which is insane. It's full foliage summer by then). So adapting is important. Also Arkansas gets absolutely overrun with non resident duck hunters. They outnumber residents handily......I'd venture to guess no other states compares in non resident harassment of locals. So by the time the spring gets here it's time for revenge

Texas' Eastern season opens today, April 22.  Every year.  Talk about late, I'm 3 hours south of the AR state line.  But yeh, the waterfowling in AR is overrun by OOS'ers. 
If you remember, AR was kind of the first state to experience the rapid decline in turkey numbers, years before it hit the SE states.  I don't think they have rebounded much either.

Won't be surprised to see these units be draw only on the next year or two.

Quote from: 2flyfish4 on May 03, 2025, 11:02:20 PMWon't be surprised to see these units be draw only on the next year or two.

Oh they will be. Already in the works. Non-rez can plan on paying more to hunt there as well:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/oklahoma-permission-hunt-public-land/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ5RFFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpgRxArZKbxVfbwmOC8lWcBRF9f7B4SYmAFRxLK1C5eMvY2J9K_bjfz5lUy6_aem_3cHw21NX0ynrcn5nW-zJKw

Shocking?  Not really.  Any state that first promotes these type areas on their web sites and then hears whining about too much pressure gets what it deserves.  The knee's are certainly jerking this year aren't they?

I foresee, in the future, that turkey hunting these types of public areas will go to some system similar to what a lot of western states have in place for big game hunting. That is, there will be a set number of permits based on the turkey numbers and projected harvest goals there will be a lottery/drawing with residents getting a certain percentage (most of the permits) and nonresidents getting a small percentage.

Succinctly, demand is exceeding supply...and things will naturally progress to systems that account for that and address the need for proper management of the resource. It ain't pretty or desirable to a lot of us, but we may as well get our heads wrapped around the fact that it is coming...and is needed.

Probably long overdue.  The only thing I'll squak about is if the residents get too high of a percentage of the permits on National/Federal lands.  I plan to be disappointed on this issue since the "they always did it this way out west" excuse will win out.  I'll adapt and get over it.

Quote from: Gooserbat on April 18, 2025, 08:55:27 PMSure would be nice if people figured out loose lips sink ships. 

Never happen. Too many egos out there and guys looking for some kind of recognition.

Guys...there is a MAJOR difference in someone asking about a certain area and someone just posting about an area on YouTube or something. Personally, if a guy asked me about a particular spot; I might tell him what I do or don't know about it. On a similar note; I asked a guy on here who had shot a couple of birds if he hunted any in one area I did. He was very rude about saying he wouldn't tell me anything and the sad part was that I had another reason for even asking if he hunted the same area. After being called lazy; I decided that it would be better if I DIDN"T know who he was or what area he hunted because I would have dedicated my season to ruining his.

Quote from: joey46 on April 19, 2025, 11:36:49 AMSome seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

No, those folks are in their living room.  But they are looking for that hot tip.   :TooFunny:

I see this thread has entered the "it will never die category". Lol. Fun forum :funnyturkey:

Joey, my man. You gotta let people discuss and vent a little. This is a discussion forum about turkey hunting. You get more hung up about people discussing regulations and spot burning than the actual people discussing and venting.
Deep breaths.
We will all keep hunting turkeys. We love it too much. We will all adapt to the new way of doing things or not hunt.

"a little".  Make that the understatement of the year for all participants.Lol