Anyone hunting mark twain this year? Been pretty successful the past couple seasons. Not sure how the numbers will be this year
I'll be hunting MTNF along with my 2 farms near Salem and Licking. Nothing beats southern MO in the spring for turkey, mushrooms, and trout!
They said numbers were up some. I've seen a few flocks but nothing like I thought I would see,but that's subject to change. Nothing like a gobble rolling off them hills.
Heard a good bit of birds last year. Jake sightings were pretty good last year so it should be a good one this spring
There were a ton of jakes last year. Hopefully they like to talk.
Hunted several years ago in The Mark Twain National Forest and the Iris Wilderness out of Alton Missouri. I can remember those opening morning you would hear so many gobblers you would stand in one spot trying to decide which gobbler too hunt....those were the days...We camped on the Eleven Point River..
I'll be hunting the Mark Twain this spring for the 32nd consecutive year. It was only going to be a one time deal with my father, but that didn't happen. He enjoyed 17 springs in the Ozarks, taking his last gobbler in 2001 at the age of 83. We met so many great people throughout the years that it's like a family reunion every spring. It's not so much about the killing now, although we still do well. Only two and one half months to go!
Greg, turkeys in the morning and smallies and trout on the eleven point is hard to beat. Doesn't seem like as many people hunt the wilderness like they used to. We take the gravel from my house, through some of wilderness, on our way to Alton, great drive.
Quote from: turkey harvester on January 30, 2017, 07:22:57 PM
Greg, turkeys in the morning and smallies and trout on the eleven point is hard to beat. Doesn't seem like as many people hunt the wilderness like they used to. We take the gravel from my house, through some of wilderness, on our way to Alton, great drive.
Hey and have you a bread sack with you for the moral mushrooms...
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 30, 2017, 07:56:44 PM
Quote from: turkey harvester on January 30, 2017, 07:22:57 PM
Greg, turkeys in the morning and smallies and trout on the eleven point is hard to beat. Doesn't seem like as many people hunt the wilderness like they used to. We take the gravel from my house, through some of wilderness, on our way to Alton, great drive.
Hey and have you a bread sack with you for the moral mushrooms...
Never leave home without one when they start showing up.
I've been hunt MTNF since 97 and the first year I hunted there I heard over 30 birds that first morning. In 2000 I killed my biggest bird ever. 25lbs 1 3/8 spurs 12.5 inch beard that was four fingers wide. I will be headed there the end of the first week this year also m. Can't wait
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Quote from: Big perm2 on January 31, 2017, 09:56:20 PM
I've been hunt MTNF since 97 and the first year I hunted there I heard over 30 birds that first morning. In 2000 I killed my biggest bird ever. 25lbs 1 3/8 spurs 12.5 inch beard that was four fingers wide. I will be headed there the end of the first week this year also m. Can't wait
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Hey me and my hunting buddy would leave work around lunch on Friday and drive to Alton Missouri camp in the back of his S10 Truck that had a camper top on it and hunt sat morning and Sunday morning and drive back home in Tenn...Those were the early days...agree on standing in one spot and hearing 30 birds at a time...
My younger brother lives just a couple miles or less from the MTNF. I've been trying to get him to scout it out for me but he has no interest in turkey hunting, I guess I need to pay him a visit. LOL
Quote from: Tom Threetoes on February 01, 2017, 10:08:34 AM
My younger brother lives just a couple miles or less from the MTNF. I've been trying to get him to scout it out for me but he has no interest in turkey hunting, I guess I need to pay him a visit. LOL
Yes, if you can check it out...great place to hunting...
MTNF is made up of several pieces. On my way to a funeral last week near Van Buren, we saw a nice flock of birds crossing the road. Made me think about going down to hunt this Spring.
Quote from: 2eagles on February 01, 2017, 12:53:41 PM
MTNF is made up of several pieces. On my way to a funeral last week near Van Buren, we saw a nice flock of birds crossing the road. Made me think about going down to hunt this Spring.
I live 25 miles from Van Buren on J Hwy. We see several crossing the road. There is a ton of hardwoods in there.
Just to for warn if you haven't been in a area in the last two years that you have hunted in the past you might be surprised in what you find when you arrive.The National Forest service has several large areas they have already logged or are in the process of logging. I know of a few areas in the Winnona district and several areas in the Ava district. Some areas have been thinned and other areas are pretty well decimated.
Quote from: turkey harvester on February 01, 2017, 01:25:50 PM
I live 25 miles from Van Buren on J Hwy. We see several crossing the road. There is a ton of hardwoods in there.
I drove to Springfield, MO across Hwy 60 and passed through Elsinore, Van Buren, etc. I spoke with a local fellow about the fishing on the Current, and could tell from the large stands of hardwoods along the highway why MO is a good turkey hunting state. I saw massive numbers of doves headed to roost in the trees in the evening. I've been through a lot of parts of MO but that is the first time I've made that drive, and my response was, "Why haven't I seen this before?" It's neat country.
It's beautiful country. I've been hunting above eminence the past couple seasons and it's some very ruff country.