Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I hiked 2 1/2 hours in New Jersey yesterday. Trying to Scout more in that State as, my goal is to take 3 Public Tomsin NJ this Spring. Cutting down on my New York scouting as, I know my Public Hotspots very well.  What, like about NJ is the Fact that after their Lottery- you can buy ( over the counter) Turkey Permits as long as they are available for 21 Bucks. I usually buy 5 Turkey Tags each Spring in NJ.  Other NJ Spring Hunters will buy more then that.  My record is 4 Public Toms in a Spring and, I am hoping to Bag 5 Public Toms in a Spring before, I get too much older as, I am 60. So hopefully 3 in NJ + 2 in my home State of NY. Good Luck to all this upcoming Spring!!

I didn't get to hunt in new York last year because I had a mishap at home where i fell 20' off my patio roof and broke my foot in 6 places. Just wondering about the turkey population there where u live. I hunt in the catskills mts. In Delaware county.
Thanks Jim

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Coyotes are a big problem as usual. Get on huntingny.com and you will see a few Threads about Coyotes! One member says there are many Coyotes in Delaware County.   Coyotes are also an issue in Orange County- but the Turkey Population is Strong.

Hunt south jersey, best yr killed 4 in jersey 1 in Maryland. Always wanted a Jersey slam, 5 birds , 1 for each week. Find "D" week it becomes a ambush hunt, way too much pressure by then, birds stop responding to calls. I always will buy at least 2 "E" tags, and pick up at least 1 tag for each week. Grew up in Jersey when there wasn't a Turkey to be hunted, now paying non-res fees to come back and just hunt them. Good luck on your goals this year, just have to put in the time. Coyotes have gotten bad down here also.

I like the Sound of ( Jersey Slam)!  I know members of NJ Woods + Waters.com have done that. 1 Tom a week for 5 Total.

There are no turkeys in South Jersey...Just so you know...


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Quote from: sixbird on February 26, 2020, 12:51:35 PM
There are no turkeys in South Jersey...Just so you know...


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^ Yup! What he said.

Quote from: JeffC on February 24, 2020, 12:38:49 PM
Hunt south jersey, best yr killed 4 in jersey 1 in Maryland. Always wanted a Jersey slam, 5 birds , 1 for each week. Find "D" week it becomes a ambush hunt, way too much pressure by then, birds stop responding to calls. I always will buy at least 2 "E" tags, and pick up at least 1 tag for each week. Grew up in Jersey when there wasn't a Turkey to be hunted, now paying non-res fees to come back and just hunt them. Good luck on your goals this year, just have to put in the time. Coyotes have gotten bad down here also.

By D week the pressure is gone. Prob falling off most areas C week.  You can also hunt afternoons D week. Something very different n unexpected. I'll be honest, it's typically too hot for me but you can find one going absolutely ballistic at times and fairly easy to kill.
Using other techniques than  others could help too. Imo it can be harder to find one in the exact mood but if you get one responsive there's a high probality of success.

Good luck. I hope you pull it off.

Just a quick prediction:

Within 3 years guys are wondering what happened to all of the turkeys in NJ.  :TooFunny:

Beware of the Jersey Devil!

It's no mecca. Public land gets hammered. Permission on private is very difficult to get.
Game dept. is more interested in selling tags than increasing populations and improving habitat.
If you know somebody you may do well. Otherwise it'll be difficult.


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Good luck on your quest .. age just makes you wiser ...

There might be a few guys disappointed this season when the OTC sales come with the new system in place. Not sure how it's going to be set up this year but time spent figuring out what to do as its new, could leave many without permits. With the usual mad dash minutes count in some zones.

When people get on the internet and broadcast information that's best kept off public forums.

:z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: idiot.

Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on March 01, 2020, 08:18:21 AM
When people get on the internet and broadcast information that's best kept off public forums.

:z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: idiot.

People just try to help others, which is nice.
Thing is, sometimes when they do that, things look a lot rosier than they actually are. People think that's the next mecca and before it's over, everybody has less opportunity and less success.
N.J. is good in pockets, like everywhere else. Where there is public ground, it gets hammered, generally. Private can be good but the competition for private is ferocious.
It's a free country to anyone who can spring for a license but don't think it'll be the next Kansas...


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Got "A & E" , and my son got "E" week, so far system is running pretty good , both were 1st choices. We will see what happens on the 30th...

Quote from: Ol timer on February 28, 2020, 09:55:38 AM
There might be a few guys disappointed this season when the OTC sales come with the new system in place. Not sure how it's going to be set up this year but time spent figuring out what to do as its new, could leave many without permits. With the usual mad dash minutes count in some zones.

Not sure if I'm reading you right but are you thinking getting permits may be hard? You can print paper ones from home and they're legal. Licenses must eventually be on license paper but not permits

Quote from: sixbird on February 27, 2020, 08:54:03 PM
It's no mecca. Public land gets hammered. Permission on private is very difficult to get.
Game dept. is more interested in selling tags than increasing populations and improving habitat.
If you know somebody you may do well. Otherwise it'll be difficult.


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Six bird I hunt quite a bit of state land. It's less pressured than private. Idk where guys are referring to but if there's always ways of buying distance

Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on March 01, 2020, 08:18:21 AM
When people get on the internet and broadcast information that's best kept off public forums.

:z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: :z-dizzy: idiot.

Agree best to keep things quiet, certainly publically. Some fellows can't resist. Makes you wonder

Quote from: Bowguy on March 02, 2020, 07:58:32 AM

Quote from: sixbird on February 27, 2020, 08:54:03 PM
It's no mecca. Public land gets hammered. Permission on private is very difficult to get.
Game dept. is more interested in selling tags than increasing populations and improving habitat.
If you know somebody you may do well. Otherwise it'll be difficult.


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Six bird I hunt quite a bit of state land. It's less pressured than private. Idk where guys are referring to but if there's always ways of buying distance

Well, in areas where permits are extremely difficult to get, pressure IS less, but that's a function of reduced availability.
My experience with public has been bordering on a mob scene or at least heavily trafficked.
I took a young fella' out on youth day on a public area. The particular spot encompassed about 20 acres that adjoined a huge tract.
When it got light, there were three groups in that 20 acres. Scared me a little.
I've hunted public a fair amount and aside from those with very limited permit availability, my experience has been they get hammered.


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That's actually not true, least not everywhere. I pm'd ya

Quote from: Bowguy on March 02, 2020, 07:56:16 AM

Quote from: Ol timer on February 28, 2020, 09:55:38 AM
There might be a few guys disappointed this season when the OTC sales come with the new system in place. Not sure how it's going to be set up this year but time spent figuring out what to do as its new, could leave many without permits. With the usual mad dash minutes count in some zones.

Not sure if I'm reading you right but are you thinking getting permits may be hard? You can print paper ones from home and they're legal. Licenses must eventually be on license paper but not permits

The new system will most likely crash it's never been tested with thousands of folks attempting to get in at the same time to purchase the tags. You can't print what you can't get!!

Public Land is indeed good " if" you are in good shape and age is no barrier. I Hike year round and that is a big part of my success. I opt to hunt Mountain Gobblers in NY + NJ.  I  rarely see another Spring Hunter.   

Quote from: Ol timer on March 03, 2020, 07:16:40 AM

Quote from: Bowguy on March 02, 2020, 07:56:16 AM

Quote from: Ol timer on February 28, 2020, 09:55:38 AM
There might be a few guys disappointed this season when the OTC sales come with the new system in place. Not sure how it's going to be set up this year but time spent figuring out what to do as its new, could leave many without permits. With the usual mad dash minutes count in some zones.

Not sure if I'm reading you right but are you thinking getting permits may be hard? You can print paper ones from home and they're legal. Licenses must eventually be on license paper but not permits

The new system will most likely crash it's never been tested with thousands of folks attempting to get in at the same time to purchase the tags. You can't print what you can't get!!

Something interesting.... I've gotten mine yesterday but notifications went out saying we were successful. Last night one went out saying unsuccessful. I already have permit in possession though. My buddy got same notice n didn't yet buy his but the draw results show he won.
Regardless they've done this a while now. It always works out. I just don't wait til last minute

To you guys hunting up state, are you running into or seeing more bear sign? With the gov shutting off the public lands I've heard they are getting out of hand up there.

Bowguy-- is right about just buying space and putting distance from other Spring Hunters. By the way Bowguy--, I remember you well from huntingny.com when you were active over on that Site just a few years ago.

Quote from: JeffC on March 03, 2020, 08:06:15 AM
To you guys hunting up state, are you running into or seeing more bear sign? With the gov shutting off the public lands I've heard they are getting out of hand up there.

Not even close. I used to see up to 11 bears a day and multiple every day. It's def less. Remember the hunt itself is a fairly happening, the bears respect you more as well now too. Whoever said they are getting out of hand misinformed you. Yes it was better when everything was open but not nearly as bad as before we had a season. That was bad

 Well I certainly learned something, because I never knew that the turkey hunting in NJ is as good as it sounds. No...I'm not looking to jump the state line and see for myself, but I will say good luck to you guys for a successful spring season!

NJ can be good if you are in Shape for The rigors of Public Land. Back of Beyond. I have only been on Private Land a grand total of 3 Times-- so, I have no idea what happens on Private Fields + Food Plots.