Public land defensive schemes

[GobbleNut]

Much of the country I hunt here in the west does not have the situation many folks apparently have back east where you have to park at certain places to hunt public land...or at least it seems that way from the numerous comments suggesting that is the case.  Out here, hunters (and non-hunters) generally park wherever they want. 

That creates another situation not mentioned.  Many public lands out this way have pretty extensive road systems.  Add to that the fact that gobblers can often be heard from a mile away or more in this open country.  We have quite often heard a bird we thought we had all to ourselves in that nobody else was parked in the vicinity only to find someone else on that bird who had come in from another direction.  This is continuing to get to be worse over time as our public lands get more and more hunting pressure. 

Anymore, taking steps to try to avoid other hunters is becoming more and more of a crapshoot over time.  I still have a spot or two that I figure I can go to where I won't have competition, but every time I go to one of them now, I am never certain I will be the only one hunting any gobbler I might hear.  More often than not, a gobbler can be heard from multiple access points and I never know if another hunter may be coming in from the other side.  You just have to keep your fingers crossed that there isn't.

Nowadays, we are not in a situation where if you hear a gobbler, you just head to him without considering the possibility that someone else may also be hunting him.  With every gobbler heard, with it comes the consideration of whether there is a likelihood that someone else will show up.  If the circumstances suggest the odds of having that bird to ourselves are low, we just move on. ...It wasn't all that long ago that we didn't have to have that debate. 

[eggshell]

Well gobblenut, we both are old and our hunting days are becoming more modified if not outright numbered so we don't have to worry about it for long term. 

You know that might be a good strategy. When you meet other hunters, stumble and mumble around and holler at them about how bad your hearing is. Then tell them the funny story about the stump you shot because you thought is was a strutting gobbler. All while complaining you wish you could see and hear better. Then ask them which way the button should be on your shotgun's safety to be ready to shoot, you want it ready to shoot in case you hear a turkey calling.

[Tom007]

Much of the country I hunt here in the west does not have the situation many folks apparently have back east where you have to park at certain places to hunt public land...or at least it seems that way from the numerous comments suggesting that is the case.  Out here, hunters (and non-hunters) generally park wherever they want. 

That creates another situation not mentioned.  Many public lands out this way have pretty extensive road systems.  Add to that the fact that gobblers can often be heard from a mile away or more in this open country.  We have quite often heard a bird we thought we had all to ourselves in that nobody else was parked in the vicinity only to find someone else on that bird who had come in from another direction.  This is continuing to get to be worse over time as our public lands get more and more hunting pressure. 

Anymore, taking steps to try to avoid other hunters is becoming more and more of a crapshoot over time.  I still have a spot or two that I figure I can go to where I won't have competition, but every time I go to one of them now, I am never certain I will be the only one hunting any gobbler I might hear.  More often than not, a gobbler can be heard from multiple access points and I never know if another hunter may be coming in from the other side.  You just have to keep your fingers crossed that there isn't.

Nowadays, we are not in a situation where if you hear a gobbler, you just head to him without considering the possibility that someone else may also be hunting him.  With every gobbler heard, with it comes the consideration of whether there is a likelihood that someone else will show up.  If the circumstances suggest the odds of having that bird to ourselves are low, we just move on. ...It wasn't all that long ago that we didn't have to have that debate.

Well put, all we can do now is "Just Hunt", and hope we interact with our quarry alone. Turkey hunting is my life, but I won't risk it competing for a gobbler. Walking away from a risky situation is very easy for me, there's always tomorrow..........

[YoungGobbler]

Much of the country I hunt here in the west does not have the situation many folks apparently have back east where you have to park at certain places to hunt public land...or at least it seems that way from the numerous comments suggesting that is the case.  Out here, hunters (and non-hunters) generally park wherever they want. 

That creates another situation not mentioned.  Many public lands out this way have pretty extensive road systems.  Add to that the fact that gobblers can often be heard from a mile away or more in this open country.  We have quite often heard a bird we thought we had all to ourselves in that nobody else was parked in the vicinity only to find someone else on that bird who had come in from another direction.  This is continuing to get to be worse over time as our public lands get more and more hunting pressure. 

Anymore, taking steps to try to avoid other hunters is becoming more and more of a crapshoot over time.  I still have a spot or two that I figure I can go to where I won't have competition, but every time I go to one of them now, I am never certain I will be the only one hunting any gobbler I might hear.  More often than not, a gobbler can be heard from multiple access points and I never know if another hunter may be coming in from the other side.  You just have to keep your fingers crossed that there isn't.

Nowadays, we are not in a situation where if you hear a gobbler, you just head to him without considering the possibility that someone else may also be hunting him.  With every gobbler heard, with it comes the consideration of whether there is a likelihood that someone else will show up.  If the circumstances suggest the odds of having that bird to ourselves are low, we just move on. ...It wasn't all that long ago that we didn't have to have that debate.

Where i hunt moose it's the same or worst... When I hear a call, i can never be sure if it's a real moose or another hunter and I've had both situations... I went to the encounter of another hunter and i missed an opportunity to at least see a moose that I thought was a hunter and ended up being a moose that my hunting partner saw from far away... It changes the game very much.

[Spurs]

I used to try to cover my tracks and/or avoid mud holes, park in less than obvious locations, and even used to go as far as to be dropped off if I had a hunting partner...now I want to be as obvious as possible.

I park where I am hunting because I have been burned by people who heard the bird from a different location and they thought no one was around.

I leave tracks behind and make my presence known because that seems to push people out of an area faster than anything...boot tracks means pressure to some.

My biggest defense is just getting there early and staying in the parking lot until the last minute.  If someone is parking on top of me, I want them to know what I am doing.  I have had guys flat tell me they were coming right in there with me, but then never show up.  Seems like I have had better luck with getting a bird by myself doing this than trying to sneak in.

[GobbleNut]

I used to try to cover my tracks and/or avoid mud holes, park in less than obvious locations, and even used to go as far as to be dropped off if I had a hunting partner...now I want to be as obvious as possible.

I park where I am hunting because I have been burned by people who heard the bird from a different location and they thought no one was around.

I leave tracks behind and make my presence known because that seems to push people out of an area faster than anything...boot tracks means pressure to some.

My biggest defense is just getting there early and staying in the parking lot until the last minute.  If someone is parking on top of me, I want them to know what I am doing.  I have had guys flat tell me they were coming right in there with me, but then never show up.  Seems like I have had better luck with getting a bird by myself doing this than trying to sneak in.

Agreed.  There was a time when it was a good idea to be covert as much as possible, but anymore, there are just too many people out there competing for a limited and, unfortunately, vocal resource.  There was a time when we could more or less assume that there was a reasonable possibility that we could have a gobbler to ourselves.  Not so much anymore.  Instead of that covert approach, anymore I want to as much as possible try to coordinate hunting plans with other folks that might show up in the area I am hunting.  Of course, in some places, the amount of hunting pressure just makes that a waste of time.

Even the "get there first" approach is a crapshoot in today's competitive hunting climate.  Certain organizations, the media, and even agencies have introduced way too many folks to the turkey-hunting world...folks that have no clue as to the historical etiquette that may have once existed among turkey hunters. 

We have used the terminology "deer-hunting turkeys" here before. Where I hunt, it is completely apropos.  Too many newer hunters hunt turkeys pretty much just like they hunt deer...go into the woods and either stake out a location or head for any gobbler they hear with the intention of trying to sneak up on it and try to kill it.  The predominate mentality seems to be, "It doesn't matter if you were here first. I have as much right to try to kill that gobbler as you do".  In addition, they exacerbate that approach by squawking on a turkey call they picked up at WallyWorld yesterday when they bought their turkey license. 

Consider yourselves lucky if you hunt somewhere that that "deer-hunt" mentality does not exist.  I can assure you that around here, it most certainly does...and it is getting worse with each passing spring. 

[Spurs]

I used to try to cover my tracks and/or avoid mud holes, park in less than obvious locations, and even used to go as far as to be dropped off if I had a hunting partner...now I want to be as obvious as possible.

I park where I am hunting because I have been burned by people who heard the bird from a different location and they thought no one was around.

I leave tracks behind and make my presence known because that seems to push people out of an area faster than anything...boot tracks means pressure to some.

My biggest defense is just getting there early and staying in the parking lot until the last minute.  If someone is parking on top of me, I want them to know what I am doing.  I have had guys flat tell me they were coming right in there with me, but then never show up.  Seems like I have had better luck with getting a bird by myself doing this than trying to sneak in.

Agreed.  There was a time when it was a good idea to be covert as much as possible, but anymore, there are just too many people out there competing for a limited and, unfortunately, vocal resource.  There was a time when we could more or less assume that there was a reasonable possibility that we could have a gobbler to ourselves.  Not so much anymore.  Instead of that covert approach, anymore I want to as much as possible try to coordinate hunting plans with other folks that might show up in the area I am hunting.  Of course, in some places, the amount of hunting pressure just makes that a waste of time.

Even the "get there first" approach is a crapshoot in today's competitive hunting climate.  Certain organizations, the media, and even agencies have introduced way too many folks to the turkey-hunting world...folks that have no clue as to the historical etiquette that may have once existed among turkey hunters. 

We have used the terminology "deer-hunting turkeys" here before. Where I hunt, it is completely apropos.  Too many newer hunters hunt turkeys pretty much just like they hunt deer...go into the woods and either stake out a location or head for any gobbler they hear with the intention of trying to sneak up on it and try to kill it.  The predominate mentality seems to be, "It doesn't matter if you were here first. I have as much right to try to kill that gobbler as you do".  In addition, they exacerbate that approach by squawking on a turkey call they picked up at WallyWorld yesterday when they bought their turkey license. 

Consider yourselves lucky if you hunt somewhere that that "deer-hunt" mentality does not exist.  I can assure you that around here, it most certainly does...and it is getting worse with each passing spring.

My thought process is that if I get there first, I hold the 'high road'.  If someone decides to come in on me, I at least made the effort and 'did it right'.  That guy has to live with the fact that they saw my vehicle and made the decision to possibly negatively effected my hunt out of their decision...whether they care or not is not something I can't help.  I, on the other hand, can only control what I do and how I react to situations. 

I kinda look at it like the old deer hunting phrase, "Well my neighbor would just shoot it, so I might as well."  You don't know what your neighbor would do, how they'd react, or what route that deer would make; BUT you can be 100% sure that the deer will die if you shoot it behind the shoulder. 

If you show up early, do the right things, hunt ethically and put rubber to the road, you'll find yourself in empty woods more often than not.  My experience is that MOST guys who have problems/run-ins with other hunters are the type who hunt the 'hot spots' and shows up to the parking lot 30 minutes till gobble time.

I honestly think there is a HUGE portion of the 'hunting' community that subconsciously enjoy the rat race more than they do actually hunting.  You see it a lot in duck hunting in Arkansas....which is leaking into the turkey world.

[eggshell]

I like fishing more all the time and The Saugeye (hybrid walleye) I catch  sure are better eating than an old gobbler. I can only put a couple turkeys in my freezer, but I can put 100 fish in it.

[arkrem870]

Make sure to like and subscribe. Loose lips sink ships. You know it and I know it.

[King Cobra]

I know a guy that keeps a bag full of Turkey feathers and after youth day while scouting drops a hand full
of feathers at trail heads he plans to hunt. 

[Nathan_Wiles]

I know a guy that keeps a bag full of Turkey feathers and after youth day while scouting drops a hand full
of feathers at trail heads he plans to hunt. 

I know a guy like that, too...

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[Missouri hunter]

Hunting defensively is different things to different people. As for me I am more interested in my safety than I am other people hunting my turkeys. I park where I plan to hunt so people know someone is in there. If they choose to go in anyway that's their problem. I know where people are likely to approach my spots and I listen and watch for them. I don't wait at the gate though, I get in my listening spot way early. Anytime I've had a discussion with others on "you go here and I'll go there", they always end up on my turkey anyway. I would rather leave them guessing and knowing that I'm in there only by the presence of my truck.
One thing I do though is erase all turkey tracks and sign possible, as well as leave my footprints in any dirt or muddy spots that I can. I want people to think there's not many turkeys and too many people in there.
Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 2024 season!

[eggshell]

As I have followed this thread I have become more disappointed in where turkey hunting has come. I consider defensive turkey hunting as a safety issue not a "keep the other guy out of my way strategy". I was just wondering is defensive tactics as discussed here a form of greed. I am only posing the question as food for thought, I am in no way judging anyone. I have done many of the same things discussed here. Generally I have always talked to other hunters and shared information. I typically would yield to other people before I would insist on my way or no way. I am saddened to say I think we have become more aggressive as a society and it shows in our hunting as well. I have put guys on birds and been happy when they killed them, but I am also irritated when 10 of their buddies show up. When I say I am growing tired of the sport I am serious, it has become almost ruined for me. Say I am not a true turkey hunter if you want, but I know who I am. Like some of the old sages on here I have done my work and run my race. I came from the generation that restored this great bird and yes I carry some pride in that. I also have a deep concern for its continued well being, but killing it at all cost is not a part of me anymore. Go enjoy your quest and journey, but I will enjoy the memories around the fire as much as the wars of old. I will go and hunt until I'm tired and enjoy every step, but that enjoyment is no longer predicated on killing a bird.