Anyone have any leads to turkey hunting in Louisiana? It's one of the few states left that I need to harvest a bird in. Looking for an outfitter or a line on private land.
Thanks,
Gman
I'm in the same boat brother. Looked at that state hard this year and had a good lead but looks like it's not going to pan out. If you should happen to find something would you let me know. Probably will have to be next yeAR for me as this year almost full. Giles Island the only place I know of really expensive tried calling three times leaving a message but never called back. Good luck I hear great food as well.
There is a reason Louisiana is one of the last states on the list for folks wanting to hit every state. It can be done, but don't expect it to be easy. The best way to get access to private places would be to offer a hunt swap, as private places that don't get hunted are virtually non-existent and Louisiana hunters would jump on an opportunity to turkey hunt just about any other state.
If I were to look for private places, I would look somewhere in the Feliciana Parishes or extreme Northern Louisiana along the Arkansas Line.
Good luck. My retirement plan is to travel the country and try to kill a turkey in every state as well.
Also, be prepared to know that a lot of the private access is owned and leased by large paper companies and hunted by clubs who likely put more pressure on their land than most public land in many states will receive...., not to mention that you will deal with the other members of the club who may or may not be happy about an out of state visitor.
Not to steal Gamblinman's thread, but if anyone wants to PM me some public land info in Western LA I'd be might grateful. I'm in deep east Texas and looking for something close to Toledo Bend Lake area if there are any birds there.
Quote from: hotrod3h on January 15, 2016, 02:14:37 PM
I'm in the same boat brother. Looked at that state hard this year and had a good lead but looks like it's not going to pan out. If you should happen to find something would you let me know. Probably will have to be next yeAR for me as this year almost full. Giles Island the only place I know of really expensive tried calling three times leaving a message but never called back. Good luck I hear great food as well.
Giles Island is considered to be in Mississippi.
If you can somehow find someone that doesn't turkey hunt, but has them, that is the ticket. I hear people all the time talk about having turkeys on their land, but they don't hunt them. They tend to be stingy with who they let on their land though.
Like someone said, most private land is owned by timber companies, and the majority of that has hunting clubs on them. Some don't even allow turkey hunting (STUPID!!).
There is plenty of public opportunity as well, but not as easy as private land birds that aren't fooled with.
My suggestion, don't hunt anything in the Atchafalaya Basin. The flooding in 2011 did a number on the population, and it still hasn't bounced back to pre-flood levels. The Florida Parishes north of Pontchartrain are good, as is west Louisiana. Vernon Parish, where Clear Creek WMA is located, is one of the top Parishes in terms of turkey harvest. Lots of piney woods, primarily timber. Kisatchie National Forest is in that area, as well as Fort Polk and Peason Ridge, all good public lands for turkeys. Hard birds to hunt though, lots of pressure on those properties, and Polk and Peason can get shut down anytime because of Army manuevers.
Hope you find somewhere to hunt. Good luck!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
Clear Creek, Fort Polk & Peason Ridge all have huntable populations. The first part of the season in Clear Creek is lottery only. Polk & Peason are tricky as you have to go early to see which areas are open daily due to military operations. Kisatchi National Forest has birds. These areas probably have the best public populations. The key to all is locating the hardwood bottoms or streamside management zones. In Louisiana, hardwoods = turkeys. You will have to work for your bird in Louisiana as well as be prepared for the ignorant turkey hunter. Overall, Louisiana does not have the most knowledgable turkey hunters. My fellow Louisianians make me want to pull out what little hair I have out sometimes. They don't mean to be rude, they just don't know any better.
In the western portion; I suggest Fort Polk or Clear Creek. I can actually show a person a few areas more in the central part of the state but everything is public land. We had turkeys on our lease around my stands but the timber company fixed that about 3 years ago.
I just thought about another area that I've seen birds in that used to have a bunch...Tensas National Wildlife Refuge. I might can point a guy in the right direction there or in West Bay which has a lottery hunt.
Thanks to everyone for the replies and information! Public is not a problem, although it would most likely have to be next year...between hunts I already have scheduled and the bass and crappie spawn, this spring is pretty well booked. If hunting public, I'd like to have a few days of scouting and a few days hunting to give me the best chance of harvesting a bird.
Oldgobbler is an amazing place. Thanks again. Good luck to all, and safe hunting.
Gman
Quote from: silvestris on January 15, 2016, 08:41:34 PMYou will have to work for your bird in Louisiana as well as be prepared for the ignorant turkey hunter. Overall, Louisiana does not have the most knowledgable turkey hunters. My fellow Louisianians make me want to pull out what little hair I have out sometimes. They don't mean to be rude, they just don't know any better.
Hate to agree with this, but I'll be damned if it ain't true. And some of the worst location calling you'll ever hear. They will stop right at your truck, blow on an owl call, jump back in the truck and drive off.
I'm not the GOAT turkey hunter, but I at least know the proper etiquette for hunting public land.....DON'T MESS UP SOMEONE ELSE'S HUNT!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
Gamblinman, you can kill more turkeys in Louisiana from your easy chair than with on the ground scouting. Lot of work, but less than on the ground. Get a paper map of Kitchachi to help distinguish between NF lands and inholdings. Download and print the WMA maps foe Clear Creek, Polk & Peason. Get a Topo App. I like and use Topo Maps on my iPhone and iPad and like it a lot. Incorporate Google Earth to check for unfavorabl land management practices and you will know more about a piece of property than most who rely on shoe leather. I have used these techniques before setting foot on a piece of ground and I am rarely surprised by what I find.
Quote from: smalls on January 16, 2016, 06:51:32 AM
Quote from: silvestris on January 15, 2016, 08:41:34 PMYou will have to work for your bird in Louisiana as well as be prepared for the ignorant turkey hunter. Overall, Louisiana does not have the most knowledgable turkey hunters. My fellow Louisianians make me want to pull out what little hair I have out sometimes. They don't mean to be rude, they just don't know any better.
Hate to agree with this, but I'll be damned if it ain't true. And some of the worst location calling you'll ever hear. They will stop right at your truck, blow on an owl call, jump back in the truck and drive off.
I'm not the GOAT turkey hunter, but I at least know the proper etiquette for hunting public land.....DON'T MESS UP SOMEONE ELSE'S HUNT!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
No better and no worse than anywhere else. In Louisiana, you are dealing with a population where a very large proportion of the folks hunt compared to other states, increasing the likliehood of running into morons.
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. These days, I like to hunt private land out of state, just to try to eliminate the hassles and speed things up a bit. I have a dog that has to be boarded, so I try to make my trips 4 days or less...gotta get back on the crappie and bass.
Gman
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
[/quote]
I know most of them personally...... ;D Where you from hooksfan...?
100% on Livingston Parish. When I started, they would kill everything at home on the Comite and the Amite, and then move up to Wilkinson County and kill everything on the Buffalo. Wingbone men.
I agree (HooksFan ) I hunt in livingston parish and have my hole life and just started traveling to Missouri 2 years ago to hunt public land. The hunters are the same no matter what state you hunt in. I have a couple buddies (old enough to be my dad) that I would put up against the best turkey hunters in the world! Last year in Missouri some "local" hunters literally parked right behind my truck before daylight on a dead end logging road with an old ATV trail that goes down beside a private field (no room for to hunting parties) and they walked right past my truck. I opened my door and whispered to them and asked where they were going and like it was no big deal THE FATHER replied " to the end of this ridge where I rooted 2 birds last night. Are you going in this spot this morning? " lol he's lucky he had his son with him or I would have been hunting right along side him and I would have made the loudest "tree yelps" you've ever heard from my old box call! Lol I'd have him looking at me like I was crazy, probably about like the face I gave him when he asked me if I was hunting there this morning.
But I did not want to corrupt his sons outlook on turkey hunters anymore than his father already has. Yep I took the high road and asked him nicely to please move his truck so I could make a mad dash to another spot I knew some birds were.
Sorry for the long story but I had to tell it.....
But point being, hunters are the same everywhere you go. It just may not seem as bad in other states because of the sheer number of birds and more opportunity.
I love hunting our local birds at the camp here at home in livingston parish but by the time our season is over, I am definitely headed north and ready for some Ozark Mountain Gobblin! :turkey2:
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 08:38:23 PM
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
I know most of them personally...... ;D Where you from hooksfan...?
[/quote]
I have lived in Southwest Missouri the past 18 years, but I was raised in Livingston Parish just south of the St. Helena line. The family place is on the Tickfaw River south of Montpelier. I am sure we know some of the same folks. Good people.
Oh please don't misunderstand. I hunt with some really great guys, fantastic hunters. And I see some real boneheads too. But I definitely don't think that is a Louisiana thing only. I know we have some really fantastic turkey hunters down here. I have the pleasure of knowing several and consider them my mentors. Honestly, I don't know many turkey hunters in SELA. I'm a west Louisiana guy, so all my buddies are over there.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
Quote from: Hooksfan on January 16, 2016, 10:06:24 PM
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 08:38:23 PM
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
I know most of them personally...... ;D Where you from hooksfan...?
I have lived in Southwest Missouri the past 18 years, but I was raised in Livingston Parish just south of the St. Helena line. The family place is on the Tickfaw River south of Montpelier. I am sure we know some of the same folks. Good people.
[/quote]
I'm sure we do....I know the area well and belong to a club on the west side of Hwy, 441 I grew up out east of Amite.
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 10:29:56 PM
Quote from: Hooksfan on January 16, 2016, 10:06:24 PM
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 08:38:23 PM
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
I know most of them personally...... ;D Where you from hooksfan...?
I have lived in Southwest Missouri the past 18 years, but I was raised in Livingston Parish just south of the St. Helena line. The family place is on the Tickfaw River south of Montpelier. I am sure we know some of the same folks. Good people.
I'm sure we do....I know the area well and belong to a club on the west side of Hwy, 441 I grew up out east of Amite.
[/quote]
I would assume that would be Bear Creek Club?
Our place is east of 441 on the west bank of the River.
Quote from: Hooksfan on January 16, 2016, 10:34:01 PM
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 10:29:56 PM
Quote from: Hooksfan on January 16, 2016, 10:06:24 PM
Quote from: KPcalls on January 16, 2016, 08:38:23 PM
I know turkey hunters from Livingston and St. Helena parishes that I would put up against the best hunters from anywhere else.
I know most of them personally...... ;D Where you from hooksfan...?
I have lived in Southwest Missouri the past 18 years, but I was raised in Livingston Parish just south of the St. Helena line. The family place is on the Tickfaw River south of Montpelier. I am sure we know some of the same folks. Good people.
I'm sure we do....I know the area well and belong to a club on the west side of Hwy, 441 I grew up out east of Amite.
I would assume that would be Bear Creek Club?
Our place is east of 441 on the west bank of the River.
[/quote]
Yep... ;D
I'm just west of you in BAR KS and I live just south of Magnolia Baptist Church. :fire:
Quote from: Buckmaster1546 on January 17, 2016, 03:42:46 AM
I'm just west of you in BAR KS and I live just south of Magnolia Baptist Church. :fire:
Well...another neighbor... ;D
Quote from: Buckmaster1546 on January 17, 2016, 03:42:46 AM
I'm just west of you in BAR KS and I live just south of Magnolia Baptist Church. :fire:
I know right where you are located.
Quote from: smalls on January 16, 2016, 06:51:32 AM
Quote from: silvestris on January 15, 2016, 08:41:34 PMYou will have to work for your bird in Louisiana as well as be prepared for the ignorant turkey hunter. Overall, Louisiana does not have the most knowledgable turkey hunters. My fellow Louisianians make me want to pull out what little hair I have out sometimes. They don't mean to be rude, they just don't know any better.
Hate to agree with this, but I'll be damned if it ain't true. And some of the worst location calling you'll ever hear. They will stop right at your truck, blow on an owl call, jump back in the truck and drive off.
I'm not the GOAT turkey hunter, but I at least know the proper etiquette for hunting public land.....DON'T MESS UP SOMEONE ELSE'S HUNT!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
I moved here two years ago and was lucky enough to take a beautiful gobbler on public land in SE Louisiana, but not before someone shot my decoy a couple days before. Be careful out there, guys
Unfortunately what the others have said is true. Be offended or not LA has the most stupid Turkey hunters anywere. If your not one of the stupid this should not offen you.
The problem I think is there's not much of a Turkey Hunting tradition in LA there's not been enough generations of Turkey hunters. My granpa never seen or heard of a Turkey until he was way to old to hunt. I regularly kill them walking distance from the house he grew up in. Most (not all) are using deer hunting tactics with a box call added in. They think nothing of trying to hunt 100 yds. or closer to another guy. I have seen some sights on public land its funny but also a little sad.
If your in LA and you think I'm wrong go to Miss. or Alabama these guys are killers its like a religion to them. They've been at it for generations. You'll see the occasional moron but its usually some young guy that's watched too many Turkey dvds.But the average hunter knows what he's doing and has at least some since of etiquette.I hunt only public land in LA so it can be done but be extra careful and be prepared for some agrevation
Phillipshunt, funny you should say that most of the bad experiences I've had in MS involved guys from my home state of LA. They are the same guys that see you smoking the trout and anchor right on top your corks in the summer then refuse to look at you.
yep, Louisiana hunters are just like hunters everywhere else, there are good ones & bad ones, law abiding & outlaws, some that know what etiquette means & them that don't give a d@@N about whether you were there first or not, i would put some of them up against turkey hunters anywhere, i consider myself a mediocre turkey hunter, but some of the guys i know, both north & south LA are turkey killers, i DON'T want them on my property or close to it, but getting back to the thread, Louisiana has lots of birds in some places, and i will say that some of the public land is great hunting but TOUGH, just have to do your homework just like uss LA boys when we go out of state
I was fortunate to have a protected military reserve to begin my turkey hunting adventures.... about 20K acres and only 15 to 20 hunters. Last season and this one, the season has been closed while a biological study has been conducted on the flock... one of the drawbacks to having a "pitre-dish" hunting area. Forced to move out to more public areas last season, I was concerned about possible hunter interference with my backward attempts to harvest a bird. While hunting Bodcau WMA, I was surprised at how respectful the other hunters were, and I truly enjoyed the season. Worked a lot of birds...let a few walk... had a few get the best of me...all in all, a great experience. Made a couple of out of state trips, and found pretty much the same attitudes. Most people are respectful, but a few will always be horses derrieres.