So turkey season opens on my closest wma tomorrow April 1st. April 1st is a Monday this year. This is great for me because I can go and I'm hoping it will knock down some of the road traffic and competition at the gates. I'm trying to decide how early I should be sitting at the gate. Even on a Monday I'm sure there will be some guys getting after it. How early do y'all like to "claim" your spot? I know some people will completely ignore the unspoken rules of whoever is there first but hopefully they want run across me tomorrow. I found a few birds in a real accessible spot so I'm planning to tangle with them first before everyone else gets a chance!
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If they are in a really accessible spot you can almost bet that you're not the only one that knows about them. Get there as early as you can, you can always nap in the truck.
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When dealing with public land and opening day, I would be there at least an hour before sunrise but an hour and a half would be better. If you have an idea where the birds are (and I would put them to bed tonight) I would be setup on them at least an hour before sunrise. Good Luck tomorrow, especially with the hunters. STAY SAFE!
That's what I was thinking also. Sounds like it's going to be an early morning haha. I'm probably not going to sleep well anyway. Literally the other night I woke up and grabbed my phone and was studying my maps. It's finally here.
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I'd be there 3 hours before daylight at least. As mentioned you can always get a hour or so nap in the truck and I start the hunt in the woods not at the gate so I walk in before daylight. Don't know we're you hunt but opening day could be Monday or any day and it will be a madhouse the first day were I'm at. I can guarantee when you drive up an hour before daylight and there's a truck at the gate you know has Gobblers you won't be sleeping in again
Quote from: LaLongbeard on March 31, 2019, 08:10:12 AM
I'd be there 3 hours before daylight at least. As mentioned you can always get a hour or so nap in the truck and I start the hunt in the woods not at the gate so I walk in before daylight. Don't know we're you hunt but opening day could be Monday or any day and it will be a madhouse the first day were I'm at. I can guarantee when you drive up an hour before daylight and there's a truck at the gate you know has Gobblers you won't be sleeping in again
This right here.
Quote from: LaLongbeard on March 31, 2019, 08:10:12 AM
I'd be there 3 hours before daylight at least. As mentioned you can always get a hour or so nap in the truck and I start the hunt in the woods not at the gate so I walk in before daylight. Don't know we're you hunt but opening day could be Monday or any day and it will be a madhouse the first day were I'm at. I can guarantee when you drive up an hour before daylight and there's a truck at the gate you know has Gobblers you won't be sleeping in again
I agree. Early is your best option. When I lived in NY, season opened on May 1st and no matter what day it fell on, it was still a mad house.
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I do most of my hunting on public land in the northeast. Pressure is insane especially the first few days of each states season openers.
No matter when you get there people will pile in on you.
My solution is to park where I want the afternoon before and try to roost a bird that evening. I return to my truck and cook some food on the tailgate and sleep right there in the back of my truck. I usually am in the woods a full 2 hours before first light as tight to where I think birds are. I do this for as many days as it takes to tag out in whichever state I am in. It is a grind after a while but it works for me.
Public land always has lots of inexperienced hunters.Also, there are road hunting poachers driving the back roads of montana. These people use 22's, an d pellet guns to poach turkeys.They are low down scum, an d call it in, if you see them.They like small Japanese trucks, with toppers.There is some good public land to hunt in Montana, but there are always some idiots around, an d poachers.
Quote from: High plains drifter on March 31, 2019, 11:23:05 AM
Public land always has lots of inexperienced hunters.Also, there are road hunting poachers driving the back roads of montana. These people use 22's, an d pellet guns to poach turkeys.They are low down scum, an d call it in, if you see them.They like small Japanese trucks, with toppers.There is some good public land to hunt in Montana, but there are always some idiots around, an d poachers.
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Sounds like a good place to put some IED's.
As early as you think you need and then another hour earlier. I would get as tight as possible I like to be in close enough to see the birds in the tree so when another hunter comes bumbling along blow his crow and owl calls trying to move on the birds I can watch and gage their nervousness. It often only take a few clucks at fly down to get a bird like that to land Infront of you.
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You have a hammock?
If you can park there overnight, I would kiss my wife and kids goodnight and head there tonight, lol. I am lucky, I hunt mostly private land
Personally, I always get to the parking lot 2-2.5 hours before sunrise. First off, it gives me plenty of time for Plan B/C. Secondly, I like to know how many people I am competing with. Typically, I won't even sit in the truck. I usually sit just far enough down the road to observe the parking lot and avoid people. Call me crazy, but I rarely have issues getting the area I want.
Quote from: bbcoach on March 31, 2019, 07:42:44 AM
When dealing with public land and opening day, I would be there at least an hour before sunrise but an hour and a half would be better. If you have an idea where the birds are (and I would put them to bed tonight) I would be setup on them at least an hour before sunrise. Good Luck tomorrow, especially with the hunters. STAY SAFE!
exactly what i do. nailed it. i hunt 90% public.
My "hours-before-daylight" creeps down as the season goes along, just due to fewer folks in the woods where I hunt. But it depends on the info I have and the likelihood anyone else has that info. 2-3 sounds about right for most of the time, but at the end, without hot info, usually an hour is sufficient.
My nephew got to his spot one year for a bird he had roosted the night before at 2AM with a sunrise of 7:00am. Bunch of trucks (5-6) saw his truck and moved on. One arrived 15 minutes before daylight and backed up 100 yards on the road and parked and waited for the bird to gobble on the little 30 acre turkey oak flat he was already working him on. The guy shot, don't know if he killed him. If he did, I hope he choked on the meat - not to death, but where he maybe saw a white light (or flames, whichever the case may be). This is on a 500,000 acre NF. Plenty of other locations.
I hunt public and private land. There is a world of difference between those birds! On public land I don't try to pattern the birds, I pattern the people in the woods. You don't move turkeys far but the 'edges' of core areas become prime spots.
Well guys I ran late. I woke up last night about 1:00 to a police siren and flashing lights through my back window. Apparently there was a car chase and the bad guy ditched his car in a field right behind my house. They cops were all in my backyard with flashlights looking for whoever it was. This kept me up for a little while and I had a hard time waking right back up. Anyway I got on the way about 45 minutes later than I wanted to. As soon as I got close to the wma there were trucks everywhere and I assumed I was going to be out of luck. Miraculously I got to my spot and nobody was there. Thank you Lord for that and for keeping us safe last night. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190401/65d5b2bedeb463f288caabe10bb6bb23.jpg)
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It was amazing how many owls were hooting this morning. And the crows were really fired up to lol.
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Quote from: CT Spur Collector on March 31, 2019, 02:00:47 PM
You have a hammock?
I've done this! Seriously, if hunting a wma here anytime during opening week I'm in the woods and ready to flash a light at someone at least 2 hours before shooting time.
Whatever time it takes me to get where I am going to hunt. I usually hunt pretty far in. Especially on public so I am often there before anyone else just for that reason alone. I joke that I save the easy turkeys for the fat boys to fight over. Doesn't work as well on the hunting clubs where the fat boys just drive trucks and side by sides everywhere.
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Congrats
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Sounds like a crazy rat race to me. I had the experience once and that was enough. Currently I hunt private land alot but when hunting on public I would not consider anything small or under several thousand acres. I would then get as far back as possible and as high on a ridge as I could. Then let the fun begin. I never roost birds on public land but I know where they frequent. I mtn bike any time I have off and cut wood. So I would be in there two hours ahead. One to ride as far in as possible hide my bike and then get in position on a ridge to hunt. One other thing is that I like a high ridge with two or three finger ridges. Always find birds.
The nice thing about public land is that the hunt always seems more difficult. I like that too!~ no gates for me. Just wish I had more time to hunt public.
Quote from: aclawrence on April 01, 2019, 06:49:41 PM
Well guys I ran late. I woke up last night about 1:00 to a police siren and flashing lights through my back window. Apparently there was a car chase and the bad guy ditched his car in a field right behind my house. They cops were all in my backyard with flashlights looking for whoever it was. This kept me up for a little while and I had a hard time waking right back up. Anyway I got on the way about 45 minutes later than I wanted to. As soon as I got close to the wma there were trucks everywhere and I assumed I was going to be out of luck. Miraculously I got to my spot and nobody was there. Thank you Lord for that and for keeping us safe last night. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190401/65d5b2bedeb463f288caabe10bb6bb23.jpg)
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Nice bird, something to be proud about.
A couple guys mentioned that as the season wears on the later guys show up in the morning.
I find this to be spot on. It's amazing how several days in a row of the grind can wear a strong determined man down. While looking back at years of pictures of our hunting camps you can see it in the guys faces. I think the most tired I have ever been in my life has been after a season of relentless pursuit of gobbling turkeys.
My hats off to all you guys, but glad I hunt private land....
Quote from: Muzzy61 on April 02, 2019, 08:22:59 AM
My hats off to all you guys, but glad I hunt private land....
I have few decent locations (for Arkansas), that I could hunt and most likely kill birds every year, but I always find myself trudging the crowds on the public. There is just a little sense of accomplishment in smoking a hard hunted public land bird that drives me crazy.
A few years back, when I was luckily laid off all of April, I was able to hit a heavily pressured (and I mean HEAVILY) WMA. It was the last day of season and I hadn't been in there since the first week. I didn't have anything locally, so I got up at midnight for the 4.5 hour drive and perched myself on the highest nob I knew. Amazingly, I heard one tom sound off a few times within walking distance. I trotted in his direction, but before I could get a pin point, he shut down. After some quick map time, I went with my gut. There was a large saddle in his general direction where one could assume a strut zone could be located. I crept the last 3-400 yards and picked a large American Red with some generous spurs for a pondering post. I was pretty unsure of my next move, when I decided to throw a few clucks over the soundless ridge. I think that was the first time I had ever been cut off mid cluck. Then all hell broke loose. I couldn't even get a full cadence out before this ball of feathers would scream back in my direction. He made his location known, but that was about 150 yards on the other end of the saddle, just out of sight. I couldn't budge, due to my setup being more for comfort than kill. After a light conversation, I decided this fella needed to see what a little 'hard to get' felt like. This old boy couldn't stand it. He constantly sent out his best form of a love letter, but she wasn't having anything to do with it. I broke the silence with some leaves, forcing him to investigate why this little lady wasn't doing her part. When he finally presented himself, he was approximately 80-90 yards. My typical setup would never allow a turkey to see my location that quickly, but bad decisions sometimes happen. My best rendition of a gargoyle seemed to be paying off. He inched closer with ever drum and every gobble. 55, 50, 45, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, SCREW IT!!!
Literally one of my most memorable moments in the North Arkansas mountains.
That's awesome Spurs. I agree about the accomplishment. Maybe it's a little wrong but it sure does a feel good passing all the other trucks driving down the road when you have a turkey in the back. Wow some of y'all really get out there super early. You gotta do what you gotta do though. I've thought about spending the night at the trailhead but was a little unsure about the ethics of it.
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Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 09:23:09 AM
That's awesome Spurs. I agree about the accomplishment. Maybe it's a little wrong but it sure does a feel good passing all the other trucks driving down the road when you have a turkey in the back. Wow some of y'all really get out there super early. You gotta do what you gotta do though. I've thought about spending the night at the trailhead but was a little unsure about the ethics of it.
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Ethics are first come first serve. To me, there is nothing different at parking all night vs. getting there 30 seconds before the next guy. If I get beat, I go to Plan B. But to me, there is nothing worse than having to fall back on secondary parking areas.
Personally, my plan a, b, and c all culminate at the parking area. That is why I get there so early. I really don't like having to waste time hunting plan a, then drive to plan b. When I have done that in the past, I noticed that someone could be parked at plan b, then I would drive to plan c, only to have a truck there as well.
In montana, an d north Dakota, there are lots of road hunting, punk poachers, around public land. I rarely hunt public land, but if I do, i don't have high expectations
There are way too many variables, to make success a sure thing.Maybe the cmr, but that thing is huge.
Quote from: Spurs on April 02, 2019, 10:36:05 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 09:23:09 AM
That's awesome Spurs. I agree about the accomplishment. Maybe it's a little wrong but it sure does a feel good passing all the other trucks driving down the road when you have a turkey in the back. Wow some of y'all really get out there super early. You gotta do what you gotta do though. I've thought about spending the night at the trailhead but was a little unsure about the ethics of it.
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Ethics are first come first serve. To me, there is nothing different at parking all night vs. getting there 30 seconds before the next guy. If I get beat, I go to Plan B. But to me, there is nothing worse than having to fall back on secondary parking areas.
Personally, my plan a, b, and c all culminate at the parking area. That is why I get there so early. I really don't like having to waste time hunting plan a, then drive to plan b. When I have done that in the past, I noticed that someone could be parked at plan b, then I would drive to plan c, only to have a truck there as well.
I guess one thing I was thinking about was what's to keep someone from just camping out at their favorite gate all week and keeping everyone else out that follows the unspoken rule of first come at the gate rule. I don't think doing an overnighter at a agate is a problem but I think it could be abused and turned into a problem.
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Quote from: mtns2hunt on April 01, 2019, 07:44:10 PM
Sounds like a crazy rat race to me. I had the experience once and that was enough. Currently I hunt private land alot but when hunting on public I would not consider anything small or under several thousand acres. I would then get as far back as possible and as high on a ridge as I could. Then let the fun begin. I never roost birds on public land but I know where they frequent. I mtn bike any time I have off and cut wood. So I would be in there two hours ahead. One to ride as far in as possible hide my bike and then get in position on a ridge to hunt. One other thing is that I like a high ridge with two or three finger ridges. Always find birds.
The nice thing about public land is that the hunt always seems more difficult. I like that too!~ no gates for me. Just wish I had more time to hunt public.
I wouldn't always disregard small parcels of public. Many times you can get them to come from the private to the public with some work.
Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 02:17:13 PM
Quote from: Spurs on April 02, 2019, 10:36:05 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 09:23:09 AM
That's awesome Spurs. I agree about the accomplishment. Maybe it's a little wrong but it sure does a feel good passing all the other trucks driving down the road when you have a turkey in the back. Wow some of y'all really get out there super early. You gotta do what you gotta do though. I've thought about spending the night at the trailhead but was a little unsure about the ethics of it.
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Ethics are first come first serve. To me, there is nothing different at parking all night vs. getting there 30 seconds before the next guy. If I get beat, I go to Plan B. But to me, there is nothing worse than having to fall back on secondary parking areas.
Personally, my plan a, b, and c all culminate at the parking area. That is why I get there so early. I really don't like having to waste time hunting plan a, then drive to plan b. When I have done that in the past, I noticed that someone could be parked at plan b, then I would drive to plan c, only to have a truck there as well.
I guess one thing I was thinking about was what's to keep someone from just camping out at their favorite gate all week and keeping everyone else out that follows the unspoken rule of first come at the gate rule. I don't think doing an overnighter at a agate is a problem but I think it could be abused and turned into a problem.
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That rule doesn't exist here. Public land hunting can be pretty dog eat dog in Kentucky. That said most of my public land hunting is done during the week so as to avoid the public....
Congratulations on a nice bird!!
Quote from: Kylongspur88 on April 03, 2019, 06:06:30 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 02:17:13 PM
Quote from: Spurs on April 02, 2019, 10:36:05 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on April 02, 2019, 09:23:09 AM
That's awesome Spurs. I agree about the accomplishment. Maybe it's a little wrong but it sure does a feel good passing all the other trucks driving down the road when you have a turkey in the back. Wow some of y'all really get out there super early. You gotta do what you gotta do though. I've thought about spending the night at the trailhead but was a little unsure about the ethics of it.
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Ethics are first come first serve. To me, there is nothing different at parking all night vs. getting there 30 seconds before the next guy. If I get beat, I go to Plan B. But to me, there is nothing worse than having to fall back on secondary parking areas.
Personally, my plan a, b, and c all culminate at the parking area. That is why I get there so early. I really don't like having to waste time hunting plan a, then drive to plan b. When I have done that in the past, I noticed that someone could be parked at plan b, then I would drive to plan c, only to have a truck there as well.
I guess one thing I was thinking about was what's to keep someone from just camping out at their favorite gate all week and keeping everyone else out that follows the unspoken rule of first come at the gate rule. I don't think doing an overnighter at a agate is a problem but I think it could be abused and turned into a problem.
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That rule doesn't exist here. Public land hunting can be pretty dog eat dog in Kentucky. That said most of my public land hunting is done during the week so as to avoid the public....
Most public areas that I frequent have "designated camping spots", which makes it illegal for people to camp at gates or roads. Now I have personally seen the scenerio where people camped out on a road with tents and everything. That's their right if the rule doesn't exist.
Problem with most public lands these days is actually the over regulations. We see that all to often in AR. Although I see your point of abusing that right, there is a small percentage of people who go to those extremes. Also, in my experience, those people never do it two years in a row. My guess is that they figured out it wasn't worth the effort to establish one specific area as "theirs". Best to be mobile, get to the plan a early, then make a new plan for the next days hunt.
I am a little crazy and most guys over by me head out around 5am. I try to be out by 4am sometimes earlier if I want to claim a place on public that I know other people might know of.
That's not to say I haven't had people park right next to me and ruin my hunt. But by getting there early I can reduce the chances of that happening.