Best Turkey hunting states. Here's the top 5. Agree? Disagree?

[donjuan]

Is it based on number of hunters?

[nativeks]

A few years ago Kansas would've been among the top of that list. Probably not the case these days.

20 years ago no place in the country was better. Stood on my back porch this morning and didn't even hear a gobble. Our fall from grace was absolutely amazing.

[donjuan]

Is there a lot of habitat loss in your area?

[husker]

Agreed.  If anyone is thinking of coming west, stay in Missouri.   

[Turkeybutt]

Safe yourself a lot of time and aggravation. Penna. isn't good a all. Hunt other states.

[nativeks]

Is there a lot of habitat loss in your area?

No in fact some of it has gotten better. I've been working with a biologist on my place to improve habitat for ground nesting species. I've seen a slight uptick in quail, nothing for turkeys.

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Is there a lot of habitat loss in your area?

No in fact some of it has gotten better. I've been working with a biologist on my place to improve habitat for ground nesting species. I've seen a slight uptick in quail, nothing for turkeys.

I know habitat improvement can get expensive especially if your not enrolled in some sort of cost share program. I tip my hat to you for your efforts the quail need all the help they can get. If you have good quail habitat and a improved population of quail everything else will benefit from it as well.   

[WildTigerTrout]

I think the only way PA makes #3 is because of the gazillions of acres of public land.

Problem is.......... PA has more turkey hunters than most states have hunters.  PA public land birds are TOUGH.  Now.........if you wanna put the miles on in some pretty crappy, big and steep country......there's places you can probably get away from the crowds.  But you better have young legs, good boots, and pack a lunch.

I agree 100% brother.  As a fellow Pennsylvanian I could not have said it any better.  As I get older those hills seem to be getting steeper! Ha. You are right about lunch, I always pack one!

[joey46]

Amazes me NWTF doesn't realize they do more harm than good with these proclamations that can easily bunch hunters in certain locals.  If everyone had private land to hunt or planned to hire a guide it may be justifiable.  The "let's all run to PA and hunt the State Game Lands" is short sighted to say the least.

[Old Timer]

I do not know where they get their info from. Up here in New York you can go a long time before you hear or see a bird. The good times are over, populations are way down. But we hunt just as hard. I do know a lot of guys have hung their spurs up ( no pun intended ) as far as turkey hunting goes.

[bushangler]

I've hunted in 3, 4 and 5 if 1 and 2 are better than those 3 it would definitely be worth the trip. Wisco was fun and I had a lot of success. I live in New York and we still have lots of turkeys but if I had to pick one it would be PA. I've had some awesome hunts on public PA birds! They aren't easy and you've got to be willing to work for them but it's pretty country with plenty of birds.


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[Cutt]

Can't really comment on the ranking as I've only hunted two States, my home state of PA and Ohio sometimes.

Not sure if this is the normal for other States? but can honestly say we have some very selfish and rude hunters in my area of PA. I'm guessing 6 to 7 hunters out of ten, will knowingly hunt over you or flank you when they know you are working a bird, and were there first.

I work nights and don't get in the woods till 8:30, 90% of the time and purposely avoid smaller tracts of land with vehicles already there, but most others will not take this approach, as a lot of our Public is smaller tracts of land in my area.

Good example last year on my second PA bird one of the few days I got out before first light, and I was the first and only vehicle parked in a very small 1/4 mile square of public. Got a bird going shortly after daybreak and gobbled like crazy, for a nice bird. Anyways chased two guys away that came in calling at two different times and were not with each other before I actually killed the bird, as thier approach luckily didn't ruin the hunt. Saw the one guy that parked behind me when I got to my truck and asked why would you even venture into such a small area calling at a gobbling bird? When you had to know the guy with that truck (Me) is probably working that bird, and his comment was, it's Public'

So at least in this area of PA I have to deal with this a lot. as most do not give away to others working birds. And this happened after I purposely avoided this spot many times because there was a vehicle there, after arriving at 8:30 from working night.

[Zobo]

There is no best state. Best anything is a child's concept.There is, however, a worst. Sorry Alaska.

[Jstocks]

I've hunted some of these states and live in Alabama. My question for the ranking would be "How did they formulate the rank?"
Alabama dang sure ain't in the top. Missouri is just as or more pressured than Alabama. Last time I hunted Missouri I had more than one person at a time park right next to me and walk in on me.

Way too much pressure in those states to rank them that high.

I suspect Wisconsin to only be slightly less pressured. I bought licenses there last year but didn't hunt because I saw how the license sales were going and it was an indication to me the amount of pressure that would be present there, so I just accepted the loss and went elsewhere.

High pressure even on private land in Alabama. You can't hardly even join hunting leases anymore that aren't overpressured.

Mississippi is the same way and Tennessee is following quickly.

I'd rank Florida and Texas up near the top if it were my ranking. You got to put down some chips to play those games. No $5 poker there, so no big deal to name the names. I won't mention the rest of my list.

[owlhoot]

Agreed.  If anyone is thinking of coming west, stay in Missouri.   

Ain't no turkey left in Mo. Heading west again