Spring 14 OH or MO

[WV Ridge Reaper]

Hey guys

Just trying to get a jump on the spring season.Mu self and another friend or two are looking to hunt either OH or MO this spring.

I am looking for opinions from guys who have hunted both or either one..Even the people that live in these states.

One guy who may go with us has a lease in OH but I'm not sure yet as to what county it is,and I don't know him very well.

The other guy who is going for sure has been to MO and says its gobbler heaven compared to here in WV.

How is the terrain in either of these states ? Steep,Flat,Hilly ?

I know this will vary a lot but do either of the season in these states seem late to you who have hunted it ? Our season here starts the last week of April.We are looking to get a jump on things and hunt out of state along with being back home for our opening week.

Any comments are appreciated

Thanks.


Sent from West By God Virginia.

[Beard Collecter]

Hey WV,

I hunted OH back in 96 with a friend who grew up there. He had access to alot of property, and it was the first time I had hunted anywhere but VA. The first morning we were walking in in the dark and turkeys were gobbling in every direction. There must have been 20-25 gobblers that morning. We both killed a gobbler that morning and it was the same the next 3 days. The land was kinda steep there which I was not used to. Thats the only time I hunted OH. I hunted Mo. 6 years in a row from 03-08. Mo. has been good to me with lots of great hunts. We hunted Northern Missouri about 10 miles from Iowa line. I remember the first time we pulled into the lodge and there were about 10-12 dead turkeys laying outside. I was horrified that there would not be a turkey within 2 miles, they killed them all. Man was I wrong. The first few years it was not uncommon to hear more turkeys than you could count. After that it went down to 12-15 birds per morning. I have killed 10 turkeys there in 6 years, 1miss. Huge birds that gobble loud. I killed 1 the first year there that weighed 25.5 and have seen others killed that weighed 27-28.(on certified scales). We always did self guided but the guides there are excellent and give you some advantages, they know all the properties and can hop you around to find that hot gobbler. They lease 6,000 acres and have access to even more. PM me if you want the name of the outfitter and I will give you the whole scoop. You will love those big old midwest Toms.

[Spring Creek Calls]

I've hunted both and killed birds in both states. Both have tons of public ground to hunt which is what I hunt. I hunt northern MO and southeast OH. Both these areas are quite hilly. Check out the state website for opening dates. You may have to go south to find an early April opening.   Good luck!

[jblackburn]

I grew up in MO and there is huge difference in terrain between North MO and Southern MO.  North is pretty flat with big fields/pastures with less timber.  go south of the MO river and it can be very hilly and lots of big blocks of timber.  The season usually starts around April 20ish and on a Monday.

I know nothing of OH.

If your looking to start earlier, go a little further west to Kansas!  There are lots of birds to be hunted there.  Archery season opens April 1 and usual goes for 10 days or so, then transitions to regular gun season.  The bad part is the weather can be pretty nasty in early April.  Another option (which is how I started hunting KS) is to extend your season, since it runs through May 31.  I have killed several birds during Memorial weekend in north Kansas, all on public land.  Most people have quit hunting and the birds settle down bit. It can be hot, though.  Two (or three) years ago 3 of us tagged out and every day was over 100.  We were far enough west that we were chasing the Rios, so that does make a difference.

Good luck on whatever you decide!!!

[AndyH]

Ohio can be hit or miss. Some areas have good pockets of birds but overall from what I have seen, and from what others have told me,the numbers are down especially in the southeastern part of the state. I would go to Mo if it was my choice

[WV Ridge Reaper]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

We have land to hunt in both places...If for some reason that don't pan out and we end up on public ground,what are the chances of it being elbow to elbow.

The place in MO is suppose to be tons of land as the owner is a family friend of the one guy I'm going with.

The other guy who has the lease in OH has 200 acres or so..That was one thing that stood out to me is not having a ton of land in OH to hunt..Here if we don't get on a bird its off to find one,we don't sit in fields and wait for birds in WV.

I checked out all the details about OH cost for lisecen,permit..MO won't have there stuff up til January.

I myself am leaning towards MO tho


Sent from West By God Virginia.

[danny]

I live in North Missouri and let me say that there are no turkeys here...you would be wasting your time to hunt here.....Danny