2021 Spring Turkey Hunt

[gimruis 584]

Who's ready to turkey hunt?  Season A starts in less than a month.

 

I think I'm going to go during season B this year to avoid the initial wave of hunting pressure.  I went during season A last year and there was noticeably more hunting pressure in the area.  I think it was because of the pandemic and people were kinda cooped up, plus it was the first year they lifted the lottery.

[DonBo 150]

Have all season to get it done with my Minnesota archey tag. 

 

We did not draw for 3rd season in Wisconsin for the first time ever.  Heard there were 160,000 more applicants this year than last.  Wow, that's a lot of extra people out there.  Hoping to snag a leftover for D season later this week.

 

We did not draw in South Dakota for the first time.  Leftovers there also go on sale later this week.  Fingers crossed.

[Barbelboy 244]

I applied to Mille Lacs WMA for B season and got drawn. I was hoping by drawing a limited tag area to cut down on some of the public land pressure that will likely exist similar to last year. Things were crazy last year, I think it was a combo of Covid and open tag options. I usually bow hunt, but wanted to gun hunt this year. I plan on taking the kids fishing and start building a garage this spring, so limiting my turkey season to 7 days should focus me more than having a 6 week open season. I find with so many days available I often don't motivate to go if I think conditions are sub par. 

 

[Sorgy 38]

I may do the Archery hunt this year. I have a Brother in Law with land just outside of the Milac's WMA. But that is another good option if birds are uncooperative on his land. I have been in and out of the turkey hunting game but thinking this will be another year to give it a go.

 

Good Luck

 

Steve

[going4it 16]

Heading to wi C season for the first time. Hunting my uncles farm. Should be good and can’t hurt that he knows where all the wildlife are all the time. Easy scouting when he will give us the info.  Then be chasing the mn birds with a bow. Got my first bird last year and am hooked. Watching the Tom beat up my decoy for 5 min before being able to shoot was an experience I will never forget. Been pumped for turkey since January. 

[gimruis 584]

11 hours ago, going4it said:

Got my first bird last year and am hooked.

Did you get your very first turkey with a bow?  I don't archery hunt but I have been told that its significantly harder than with a shotgun (which isn't easy to begin with either!).

[going4it 16]

Yes I did. I’ve never hunted them with a gun so looking forward to that. 

[ANYFISH2 814]

Birds in the Morrison County area are starting to show themselves more in the open areas with gobbling and strutting starting to be seen regularly in the last week or so.

[going4it 16]

 

Question on turkey hunting. I’ll be hunting a piece that is surrounded by ridges bottom is open pasture and crops. I’m guessing best to hunt the open fields mornings. Then where do you go? Top of the ridges? Bottom of ridges? Middle? Just trying to put a plan together. Any information would be great. 

[gimruis 584]

Hard to offer advice without being there.  Generally you want to set up within reasonable distance of their roost.  Find that spot and set up nearby.  Not super close, but nearby.  If you see turkeys off in the distance, take note of where they were and at what time because there's a reasonable chance they'll be there again the next day.

Edited March 29 by gimruis

[Barbelboy 244]

i agree with gimruis. Very hard to give guidance on the very wide parameters given. Scout. Find where birds are in certain times of day, then meet them there while hunting. 

What season are you hunting?

[Wanderer 2,015]

We always hunted hard out of the gate in bluff country, chasing gobbles and moving constantly when we had multiple farms to hunt.  Once our opportunities whittled down to 2 farms we learned to have patience let the birds work to us.  
 

I changed to just being content to be out there the first day to see what the birds were doing if I hadn’t done any scouting within the week.  Try to not bump your birds by being too anxious.  They’ll let you know what they want to do.  Typically they did come off the roost and go to the bottom right away and then drift back to the top.