Winter scouting

[St. Augustine Strutter]

Merry Christmas everybody. Quick question On winter scouting. I was lucky to pull a permit for spring turkey and I want to go out to scout the area sometime within the next week just to get some eyes on it.

The property is all mixed timber with some salt water feeder creeks and freshwater ponds scattered throughout.

I know that the turkeys will change their pattern between now and spring time but what (besides poop, feathers, and tracks) should I be looking for regarding winter scouting, and how will that translate to the changing spring pattern?

Any thoughts or strategy or past experiences are appreciated.

Thanks and Merry Christmas

[Happy]

Look for areas that will green up first. If your season starts in early spring this can help a lot. Turkeys are pretty simple. In the early spring hen turkeys like food and Tom turkeys like hens. That is where I would start.

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[MK M GOBL]

I hunt some farm country and seem birds in the area key in on food sources more than anything else, so dairy and beef farms are the key, both from feed lots and the "Hot Lunch" program, and then keep an eye on the good plots. Really doesn't do anything for me other give me an idea of how our flock is doing. I'll get some counts on gobblers, and Jake's (2 years later scouting).


MK M GOBL

[Tail Feathers]

Get to know the lay of the land, creeks, etc.
Then scout for where they are now, and find nearby areas that will make good nesting habitat.
Then see what you can find for possible feeding areas.
You'll have a good jump on spring scouting with all that knowledge.

[Clif Owen]

One benefit not mentioned yet: You get an idea of the "lay of the land" if it's an area you aren't familiar with. This may help prevent you setting up to call and there being an obstacle you aren't aware of being between you and the bird.

[St. Augustine Strutter]

I hunt some farm country and seem birds in the area key in on food sources more than anything else, so dairy and beef farms are the key, both from feed lots and the "Hot Lunch" program, and then keep an eye on the good plots. Really doesn't do anything for me other give me an idea of how our flock is doing. I'll get some counts on gobblers, and Jake's (2 years later scouting).


MK M GOBL

Thanks for the response. This property is all timbered so it will be rather difficult laying eyes on birds and getting an inventory. Any open area will be  thoroughly inspected from afar with a pair of Binos when/if I come across one however.

[St. Augustine Strutter]

Get to know the lay of the land, creeks, etc.
Then scout for where they are now, and find nearby areas that will make good nesting habitat.
Then see what you can find for possible feeding areas.
You'll have a good jump on spring scouting with all that knowledge.

This is more in line with what I will be facing On this particular property. I do not think I will have any trouble finding tracks but locating the likely nesting and spring feeding areas will be a primary key.   There is only 1 six day hunt on this property and interestingly enough it is scheduled for mid April so hopefully some of the hens will have already been bred.  I also plan to focus more on the freshwater ponds and cypress heads scattered throughout the property, as opposed to hanging around the salt water feeder creeks. I am assuming the birds will gravitate more towards the freshwater.

I really appreciate yall's Input. Good stuff!

[Spitten and drummen]

I don't do winter scouting for turkeys unless Im looking at new ground and how it lays. By Spring the birds will have moved.In my early years I found that a area that held birds in fall winter were void of them come spring season and areas void of birds in the fall winter would be everywhere.

[nyhunter]

In timber land look for scratching,scratching and more scratching... and knowing the difference between turkey,deer,squirrel,hog,.....,    In my areas turkeys use the same area's spring summer fall winter mainly because they have no where else to go.  This is't always the case tho as stated by Spitten and Drummen so find every bit of information out you can now and return as close to spring season as you can to confirm that turkeys are still there or if they've move to a different location .

[Crghss]

Where you located? Winter Scouting in Florida is productive since we hunt in March and conditions don't change much. In PA it's pretty much useless.

[St. Augustine Strutter]

Where you located? Winter Scouting in Florida is productive since we hunt in March and conditions don't change much. In PA it's pretty much useless.

I will be over in the panhandle, right on the coast. Hence the presence of saltwater feeder creeks. Appears to be some pretty diverse habitat but like many north Florida wmas, I am sure there will be a lot of pine flat with gallberries and palmettos choking the area out. While exploring, I am going to mark those areas on my map so I can avoid them during the hunt.

Feel free to PM me. I love talking turkey.

[Fullfan]

Several others have mentioned it, birds will move after the winter is over. I have 398 acres and feed between 9-11 long beards every winter, come spring most years we have 1-2 here on the property.  Same with the hens, 40-60 in the winter and 10-12 in the spring.

[Dtrkyman]

Look for recent clear cuts, not sure there would be any burns there?


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[Crghss]

Since turkey season starts in 2 months I'd be scouting. Just locate them and then pattered them. Look for tracks and food source.