Anyone going turkey hunting this weekend?....

[Nickathome]

Just wondering is anyone is going to be hunting Pa's Spring gobbler opener on the 26th. I'll be going with my father in law to Schuylkill county. Saw some birds on a scouting trip there a month ago. Looks promising.

[Gerry]

In Connecticut we have to wait for the first Wensday in May. Which is as late as possible this year. Lost my best place to development this year so I will be hunting a new place. Does have a lot of birds so I will keep my fingers crossed.

[Nickathome]

Wow, I thought our season started late...First Wed in May!.....

Yeah the last two years I couldn't go to my usual place due to a logging operation that moved in. Fortunately, the place is open again this year and I didn't see any real evidence that loggers where even there, although I walked in this year and didn't ride my bike. It could be that further back may have been logged out. But they are pretty selective in their cutting so it shouldn't be too bad. We did see some birds on a recent scouting trip so things look promising. Good luck.

[Gerry]

I have had good luck in logged areas. The first couple of years after are even better for the deer season!!!
Good luck also,

[Nickathome]

Yeah, I actually like hunting areas that have recently been logged. Makes for easier traveling on the logging roads, etc. Initial weather reports are for rain Saturday so if we can find an open area we should see some birds. Since my father in law will be with me this season I won't be using a bicycle, which means I won't be going back too far. Good and bad as the closer to the main road the more hunters, but without the bike thats just less gear to worry about. If it does rain some people will stay home so thats good as well. I plan to use my newly acquired over/under 12 gauge for turkeys, but if its going to rain, then the old beater single shot will take its place as I don't care if that gun gets wet.

[Gerry]

Are you hunting public land or can you hunt any land that is not posted? I used to hunt public land and I hated it. Get in early and roost a bird only to have somebody walk in late and jump in between or bump the bird. I got Lucky a few years back and found some private land. In CT you have to have landowner signed permission to hunt deer and turkey so you usually know who is out there and where they are hunting although you get the occasional hunter sneeking on to your property. I am still hunting with the same Winchester pump I got 28 years ago for my 16th birthday
Good luck on Sat,

[Nickathome]

Gerry;

The land we hunt on is actually private, but open to the public. Its owned by a local water authority in the township, but was leased to the game commission to allow public hunting. Obviously the owners have the final say (hence the posting and no hunting for the logging operation). However this place is huge 10,000 plus acres, so one can literally get lost in there and not see a sole if they really wanted to get away form the crowds. The only way to do that though is to take a bicycle and ride way back.

BTW - Land here does not have to be posted to still be off limits. You could still be prosecuted for trespassing regardless of whether the land is posted or not.

[Lifer]

Same in Illinois. Private property is private property. Whether or not it's "posted" is immaterial. You just don't enter it without permission of the owner. Period!

[Gerry]

Parts of the Northeast if its not posted you can hunt it.Glad it not that way in CT. Unfortunatly there are no big public lands like that in Ct. The furthest you can probably get from a road is a 30 min hike. Not enough to get away from all the people. I used to do the bike thing years ago to ride in deep from the only legal parking spot on public land but I would run into people who would park at other spots and have only walked for 10 min.

[Lifer]

There you have it! Proof that you can only walk halfway into a forest. (After that point, you're on your way out. )

[Nickathome]

Parts of the Northeast if its not posted you can hunt it.Glad it not that way in CT. Unfortunatly there are no big public lands like that in Ct. The furthest you can probably get from a road is a 30 min hike. Not enough to get away from all the people. I used to do the bike thing years ago to ride in deep from the only legal parking spot on public land but I would run into people who would park at other spots and have only walked for 10 min.

As big as the place I hunt is, I too would run into people who would hump it over the mountain and would be in or near the area I hunted. Usually these were the yocals who knew the secret ways into the area, and most were decent enough to respect the fact that I just broke my ass ridin gall that way and would leave me alone. I guess they figured anyone who would go to all the trouble to ride all that way must be worth something and an equal to them in a sense. Fortunately I never ran into many people while back there.

[Nickathome]

Well me and my father in law spent a few hours in the woods yesterday, with no luck. We heard several birds but that was about it. Oh well, the seaso nis a month long and I probably be going out again next weekend.

[Gerry]

At least you heard some gobbles. Nothing worse than getting up very early in the morning and not hearing a thing. Makes you think the woods are empty. Hopefully they are roosting in the same area next weekend and you can sneek a little closer. Hopefully by then if they had hens with them they may be gone.At least your hunting, I still have 1 1/2 weeks to go.
Good luck,

[Nickathome]

Yeah, I think I am going to head up this friday night and take a few hours nap in the truck then head out. Would like to hunt during the week as there will be noone in the woods, but I don't have any more time to take from work. I am planning to hunt alone this time too. Hunting with the Fin law is OK, but he's set in his ways(read lazy) I'd rather hear a turkey then try to get in good position on him, then settle for a spot because dad doesn't feel like walking after him.

I know I can do a little run N gun and get setup on a nice one. Just gotta be willing to do a llittle walking.

[Gerry]

I usually do the same thing. Listen or owl hoot and try to get a gobble. Then set up on it. I'd rather walk a mile to set up on a gobble than try to get the turkey to walk the mile to me. The only time I sit without a gobble is when I cant get any gobbles then I will set up where I know in the past turkeys have roosted.After a couple of hours I will usually go on a slow walk and call to try to locate a bird.
Good luck,