So with it all winding down for the year my thoughts are already turning to next year.
I'd like to plan some out of state hunts for next year. Besides my home state, Kentucky, I've hunted and had success in Tennessee and Missouri. Those are pretty much day or two trips, but I'm thinking of extending out further.
The species doesn't really concern me, just looking for some different experiences and extending my season. Generally, I prefer more timber hunting vs open fields, but haven't ruled out some time in the plains states.
Don't really want to go the outfitter route. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but just enjoy doing it myself. All my out of state hunts have been on public land and expect to continue that way.
Figure my trips will be alone, involve sleeping in the truck/tent, minimal cooking, etc.
I'd appreciate any tips, experiences, research methods, etc that you'd be willing to share. And if you have any authors and/or blogs you'd recommend that would be great too.
Certainly not looking for any honey holes, just some different perspectives.
Thanks in advance!
Most Fish and Game Departments give the harvest data per WMA/WMU's and that is where I would start. Find the public land in those areas and do the computer scout thing to narrow it down and then ask about specific areas here. Most people will give general info freely. Just my :z-twocents:
The best place to start, as stated above, is the game department's website. They will often have a wild turkey distribution map and info on public land access. Distribution maps aren't necessarily important in eastern states, but they are something to look for in Western states, including SD, NE, and KS.
Where in Western KY are you located?
Thanks for the replies!
Hobbes, I live outside of Kuttawa, not too far from Barkley and Kentucky Lakes.
Closest fair size town would be Paducah.
You may have heard of Land Between The Lakes on this and some of the other hunting forums. I'm about 10 Miles from the north entry.
Quote from: wkyhunter on May 30, 2019, 07:39:48 PM
Thanks for the replies!
Hobbes, I live outside of Kuttawa, not too far from Barkley and Kentucky Lakes.
Closest fair size town would be Paducah.
You may have heard of Land Between The Lakes on this and some of the other hunting forums. I'm about 10 Miles from the north entry.
I've heard of it. :toothy9:
I'm from Southern IL, moved West in 2006 (CO 2006-2011, MT 2011to present)Lived outside of Brookport, IL and worked in Paducah. Our families are all still back there.
My recommendation would be to start by prioritizing your preferences on where you would like to hunt,...and then use the wealth of knowledge that is available right here on OG to point you in the right direction as to specific places to go. You will find no more expertise on hunting just about anywhere in the country than the folks that are right here.
While it is true that nobody is going to discuss this stuff on the open forum, going the PM route will almost certainly be one of your most valuable tools in choosing a place to go.
Traveling try to put the weather in your favor. Especially if you go west for Merriam's.I did not want to miss the opener and went early to SD and lost several days to deep snow. Also went to Nebraska public and the birds were still in winter flocks on private. If you want a change of scenery try the Black Hills or Pine Ridge and the central to southern Florida areas. Also inquire about any new areas opening or bowhunt only spots if you do so.
If going NE, SD, MT, or CO; consider waiting until May due to reasons listed above. Pine Ridge and Black Hills had a snow storm in late May this year, but it's a bigger gamble in April. Kill your KY and TN birds then head west to KS, NE, or SD. All three of which run until May 31st.
I like to contact a local biologist and ask for some areas with good numbers and recent hatch info.
States with OTC tags and like hunting states with afternoon opportunity! I hunt Missouri and Il. every year and the cut off is 1pm, but there both local for me so not as big a deal.
Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana I would look at.
what are the limits in Ne. and Ks.
Pick a state (or more)..........
Check that state's website for public access areas. Decide on a general area you want to hunt.
These things will be your friends:
That region's state game biologist
That area's game warden
Google Earth/satellite
OnX
DeLorme's Atlas & Gazetteer
Once you get boots on the ground.........
The local restaurant
The rural mailman
The UPS guy
Thank all! And keep your thoughts coming....
I think watching you tube videos, especially Dave Owens, has fueled the fever to get in on some out of state hunts.
For those of you who take trips, do you go alone, with one other person or do you hunt in a bigger group?
I agree with Dtrkyman, states with afternoon hunting will probably get more attention from me simply because of opportunity time.
I had already started looking at Wisconsin, trying to get a handle on how much public land is available and where its located in the state.
Daughter is moving to Florida so guess in need to start looking there too.
Do any of you use fall/winter seasons to "scout" out of state for the upcoming spring season?
Hey man I'm just down the road from you in western KY.
I travel a lot to hunt if you ever need info just send a pm.
Good luck.
Thanks Roost 1 ....
I use to post occasionally on tndeer and have seen you there often. For what ever reason I can't log in there anymore.
I go to mo every year with nephews just a tradition
Completed my slam in Nebraska this year
Adding tenn next year and hopefully ala. all public land this next year
Never been to Ala. so it's all a hope and prayer
Hi Prohunter....
Congrats on the slam!
Wish you much success next spring. Maybe our paths will cross in Tennessee next season!
Quote from: wkyhunter on May 30, 2019, 07:39:48 PM
Thanks for the replies!
Hobbes, I live outside of Kuttawa, not too far from Barkley and Kentucky Lakes.
Closest fair size town would be Paducah.
You may have heard of Land Between The Lakes on this and some of the other hunting forums. I'm about 10 Miles from the north entry.
Small world. I lived on Kentucky Lake (Marshall County, KY) for nine years and hunted LBL extensively. Still miss it but "if she ain't happy you aren't happy" came into play. Most of her remaining family is in Florida and western KY winters are no picnic at times.
The information available on the Kentucky Telecheck system is state of the art. States with functioning telecheck systems have all the info you'll ever need. County by county harvest results are available and updated daily in KY. Best tool going.
Hi Joey! My Daughter is moving down to Florida this weekend to start a new job.
LBL is where I started turkey hunting in the 70s as a kid.
Was fortunate to have a Dad who was eat up with it! Dad's still kickin, but his drive to hunt isn't there.
Even now I'll leave private land behind to hunt LBL. Usually spend most of the season hunting either the KY or TN side.
It's tough, but I sure love it!
If you can find a copy of "Hunting the American Wild Turkey" by Dave Harbour read chapter 6. The author describes an early LBL hunt where he met a very young Harold Knight when Harold was developing his tube call. This hunt was probably in the mid 1970s. Well worth the time to read. If I'm remembering correctly this author died while walking out of the woods carrying a freshly killed bird. Probably worse ways to go. That could be an urban legend story.
Joey...
Read the book many times, checked it out so many times in the 70's from the library I thought I owned it.If I remember correctly the title was something to the effect of "How a New Tube Killed an Old Kentucky Gobbler"
Harold and David both gave much credit to Dave Harbour as major boost to their business. If I remember Mr Harbour wrote an article on Outdoor Life about LBL and Harold and David.
In the 70's we knew most to the local folks hunting LBL and there were few traveling turkey hunters.
I really enjoy traveling to hunt turkeys. It's a pleasure to see new territory and get to know a bit walking all over hunting. My travel experiences haven't always resulted in lots of dead turkeys, but that's hunting. I've enjoyed them all.
Quote from: wkyhunter on June 06, 2019, 06:20:45 PM
Joey...
Read the book many times, checked it out so many times in the 70's from the library I thought I owned it.If I remember correctly the title was something to the effect of "How a New Tube Killed an Old Kentucky Gobbler"
Harold and David both gave much credit to Dave Harbour as major boost to their business. If I remember Mr Harbour wrote an article on Outdoor Life about LBL and Harold and David.
In the 70's we knew most to the local folks hunting LBL and there were few traveling turkey hunters.
The Dave Harbour article and his book probably got me started hunting LBL. Went from camping at Hillman Ferry to buying land, building a home and moving to western KY. Good memories.
I've posted this before but this is the tube call I bought at Knight/Hale's Cadiz barber shop. Must have been in the early 1980s. It is cleaned up and I still use it today.
My favorite tactic to ensure that there are birds in an area that I think looks good via satellite imagery is to get on Google maps, click on the nearest business (to get contact info) and call them. Especially in the very rural areas of western states, these folks are eager to talk to anyone about anything. Because, in most cases, these folks are not turkey hunters, they'll tell you all you need to know about the area and the local turkey population. I can usually go to a new area and get on birds the first day due to this.
Thanks for the continued discussion.
Joey46... somewhere I have a wood prototype of your call that Harold sent me as well as the original turned wood tube that they started with.
In 1976 (I think) I won the KY Jr calling contest using that call.
Between the Rivers..... A hard school. But ain't it special?
A quote from Harold... If you can kill birds between the rivers, you're ready to hunt anywhere else.
Took me a while but I knew I had a picture of my first LBL bird. It is over 30 years old. This pic was taken by the TVA employee manning the Golden Pond check station. It was the first day of a quota hunt. We had driven down from Ohio three days early to scout and find a vocal bird. While we were talking at the check station a bird was gobbling in the nearby tree line. He said he'd get him during the general season. I'm sure he did. People that know this area won't be surprised to hear that while this bird pictured was working in I was watching cars/trucks going by on the Trace. A little LBL tip.