Connecticut

[Ctburdchasr]

There is only one more week until opening day up here in Connecticut, in getting everything ready practicing my calls, patterning my shot gun,and checking my bow,  it was time to veg out my natural ground blinds and check the sign in in my standard spots. I let some super loud yelps and cuts fly from a diaphram mouth call hoping for a shock gobble. And as luck has it, not one or two but four responses about 100 yards out. So I sat in tight and actually called rather than messed around. I had three out of the four come fast. The whole thing only took 10 minutes total and all three came well within gun range not spooking till about 15 yards!!! As I sat there in a bright red t shirt amazed at what had taken place I blessed and cursed my luck. I thought out loud this is only possible a week before the season actually opens. While none of them were "trophy" birds they were a group of older jakes about 5 inch beards or so, and they were certainly not shooters in my eyes, as I would give them each at least a year longer. I can only hope this luck finds me next weekend on our season opener.

[bmhern]

Good luck!!

[slamman]

rotsa ruck.

[surehuntsalot]

good luck

[jblackburn]

 

[Scout24]

I'll be heading down for next Wed myself, not quite knowing what to expect after last winter. Been deer hunting down there for 24 consecutive years, turkey about 15, with some great years and some so-so. Hunt the NW corner, private land in Norfolk and Kent. In one spot about 5 years ago called in three different groups of birds by noon and had my three toms for the season. Last two years I've seen bobcats galore and very few turkey, even had one stalking my motion hen and was lucky to get one tom in three days. Private land Ct birds are still pretty naïve and easy, at least compared to those mid state NY birds that have been hunted for 75 years, they all have Phd's in wariness.

Worse part of Ct hunting is having to stop on your boundry line after striking and working a bird two ridges over. That's cost me birds the last two seasons. Last season he finally broke and was crossing a 200 yard field when the Norfolk noontime air alarm went off and game over.

BTW, NH kills twice as many as Ct if you're interested but you're only allowed one bird. If it's not posted you can park and hunt. Best part is however, you can chase him almost anywhere you want to close the deal, unless the land is posted. Bad part is, everyone else can chase his gobbles as well, and occasionally they do.

[CrustyRusty]

I live near Kent, not far from the Appalachian trail by the power lines that boarder NY and Ct.  Years ago those mountains lit up with gobbles, now I rarely hear them.  The population is so low now I can't even remember the last time I saw a flock while deer hunting.  I am on the NY side and things are bleak here.   Does Ct allow baiting for turkey like they do for deer? 

Luckily I have a couple thousand acres to hunt at a family farm but it's four hours from me and I love hunting  close to home.  I wish Dec could figure out why there is such a decline in turkey population, although I have my own ideas on that.  Either way, good luck all.

[Ctburdchasr]

Connecticut only allows baiting on private lands for deer in zone 11 and 12. I am fairly certain there is no baiting for turkeys whatsoever. I am in the unfortunate spot zone 4 a on the northern border just off interstate 84. I have a good friend in the dep and he told me the numbers they are reporting are false but they say the population is down almost 40 % from 5 years ago. surviving babies are at 1.8 average per hen down from 3.4% 5 years ago. The bobcats population boom are a large contributer, but I am blaming a ton on the Fisher population. This year I have noticed alot smaller flocks and as of the past couple weeks I have visually confirmed the group of 3 jakes and a single lone hen on 4 different occasions its not the same hen as they have been 15 miles or more apart, most recent being wednesday evening at 6:45. I wish you all the best of luck I know the northwest corner is really booming with cats. My flocks here used to rattle the trees and now its almost silent.

[CrustyRusty]

I took 4 bobcat  and my buddy got two trapping all within a few miles of each other, but I've seen more Fox than I ever have.  I think more of these varmints need to die of lead poisoning     good luck

[yankeedeerslayer]

Maybe I am wrong but isn't it illegal to call turkey before start of season unless using a locator call? And I know it won't bother jakes but seems like a bad thing to educate smart birds before a hunt.

[CT Spur Collector]

Not so sure it's illegal, I never do it. I personally don't think it's a good practice, just my own opinion though......do what you feel is right!

Hunt safe and have fun!!

[Ctburdchasr]

I have never heard that it was illegal, so to make sure I am 100% I just read the entire hunting and trapping guide. There is no mention about calling before the season. The only regulation in terms of calling it says that you cannot call for another hunter unless you both have the legal hunting permits. Of course it says that in the most confusing way possible. If you do happen upon something that says differently please let me know. Also as far as it being a bad practice, maybe your right, I will be a lot more conservative about it in the future, I haven't thought about it that way. But I do love the challenge of hunting the wisest warriest of old gobblers. Even though they win most of the time. I love it even when I return home empty handed.

[DirtNap647]

 

[tomstopper]

Good luck.....