Hunting Public Land

[dylaneh]

Hey everyone,

‘I have been turkey hunting now for about 16 years since I was about 5 years old. I know people might say I didnt learn much when I was 5 but I think I learned a lot and have gained a lot of experience, especially mostly solo hunting and for the past 4 year's. However, all of my hunting experience has been on private or leased lands never on public land. This Year because of where I am for school and stuff I am going to try and hunt public land for turkeys. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I can do different on public land? Basically any tips, tricks, and advice would be appreciated.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I can't speak for turkey specifically, but in general scout a lot more and spend more time in the area. Try to find access points and places where other people won't go, doesn't have to be distance but overlooked areas and such. Having said that I've called turkey in from very long distances, one I remember had to be pushing a mile away.

 

[wildwilderness]

Go where and when other people aren’t there.

Crowding and over hunting are the toughest part of public land hunting

 

[hillbillyfab]

If it’s a highly hunted area be careful. Lots of hunters mistake one another for birds on crowed ground.

 

[flathead#2]

Lots of scouting, be where the Turkey want to be before they get there, light clucks and purrs.
Longer sits.
Mid day and afternoons are often productive after everyone has left.

 

[Kurts86]

It depends where you are. Public land turkey pressure is quite a bit higher in the Southeast than the Great Plains. As such, the difference from private land turkey hunting is a spectrum.

The only main difference with public land turkeys is that a loud fired up bird is not a good thing because it will attract other hunters. Otherwise it’s the same, you just need to be better scouted, have birds roosted and setup tight on them early in the season.

The idea of getting away from people doesn’t work as well with turkeys. It can be done but it isn’t the default playbook. They inherently like riparian areas, ag, etc and they don’t hang out in an Avalanche shoot at 11k like a bull elk under pressure.

There is a public land pressure threshold where turkeys just aren’t fun anymore.

 

[180ls1]

Treat it the same as any other big game. I pack in 3-4 miles and there is still pressure, locally.

 

[WI-Carcosa]

I echo the scouting more as others have stated. It depends on the size of the properties, geography, terrain as well that you hunt. I hunt Wisconsin/MN/IL so take this with a grain of salt and apply what works to your geography/situatuon: If it is feasible to do so, checking out spots early morning before school/work to listen for gobbles is a good way to get an idea of where birds are at. If there is decent ag land/fields surrounding public, I always drive around during a light rain. Turkeys end up in fields with precipitation often times and this has been an easy and very consistent way to spot them. If I see birds in a field next to some public then that is an immediate spot to scout/listen for gobbles/hunt.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

I was in the same boat as you about 7 years ago.
Started hunting national forest and have been successful. The biggest key for me is being patient. Didn't hear many gobbles early on, but was successful by sitting in a likely area where I saw turkey sign. Light clucks and purrs every 15 minutes or so with a yelp in between. I've had birds appear out of nowhere on top of me. I've also had them respond a few hundred yards away, allowing me to close the distance and call them in.

If you're in school still and have some days where your class schedule starts later, I'd try to get out in the middle of the week as best as possible. That will help alleviate hunter pressure and give you more room to breath.

I'd also be very judicious when using decoys on public. I will typically only use a hen decoy, never a tom decoy, and will occasionally gobble back at hung up toms, but only when I'm certain there are no other hunters in the area.

Practice some etiquette too. If someone's clearly working a bird, don't try to cut them off. Just sit patient and listen. They may booger the bird toward you.

 

[Camron]

Hunting Gear Deals just published an article about hunting public land that you might find interesting.

10 Ways to Increase Your Odds When Hunting Public Land

 

[GrouseGuy]

I find most turkey hunters on public land use the flat land first. If you want to be alone, go into some hilly country.

 

[jtg88]

I'm a self proclaimed turkey addict from south Mississippi that spends way too much time and money each spring chasing birds on public land all over the US and I'll give you my take. This is an unpopular opinion, but it's one that I've found to be true, and that is that turkeys are turkeys and they act like turkeys whether they're on public or private. There really is no secret to killing a public land bird. If you can, use a terrain feature such as some steep topography, a ravine, river, etc to get into an area that some hunters won't go but once you find birds, just treat them like you would any other bird and let his attitude on that particular morning dictate how much or how little you call, move, etc.

 

[Chief23]

Patience my friend kills turkeys.

 

[Green tide]

I try to be the first to park and first one in the woods to deter others from posting up where I want to go. It only works a little bit of the time. Most people around me either don't care or have no etiquette.

 

[TN Tyrant]

I have killed the bulk of my turkeys on public land between 1-3pm. Most hunters are out of the woods and the turkeys seem to be more responsive to calling during this time period.

Scouting is key too, if you find where the turkeys want to be you will be in the game. Nothing different than hunting private from that perspective.

 

[UpTop]

I could add to remember that most turkeys seasons are fairly long. Don’t forget the last half of the season. Most folks hit the first weekend or two and are done after that. Lots of turkeys meet their maker in the last couple days of Turkey season by folks who wait for the woods to calm down. Don’t squander your available time, but don’t get too caught up in having to kill one opening day.

 

[uplandfanatic2024]

mobility has been key, if a bird doesn't want to play ball, pack up and move.

 

[Murdy]

I've been hunting public in Illinois and Wisconsin for years. In my experience, pressured birds will be less vocal and sometimes come in silent. As many have said, get away from the parking lots and other hunters. Learn the land, and don't over-call. If you're using decoys, consider using more than one or two, and showing the birds something they haven't been seeing everyday since season opened.

 

[Chaser96]

I'm a self proclaimed turkey addict from south Mississippi that spends way too much time and money each spring chasing birds on public land all over the US and I'll give you my take. This is an unpopular opinion, but it's one that I've found to be true, and that is that turkeys are turkeys and they act like turkeys whether they're on public or private. There really is no secret to killing a public land bird. If you can, use a terrain feature such as some steep topography, a ravine, river, etc to get into an area that some hunters won't go but once you find birds, just treat them like you would any other bird and let his attitude on that particular morning dictate how much or how little you call, move, etc.

This is the best advice yet. Turkeys are turkeys. Yeah pressure can move them around or shut them up sometimes, but I hunt turkeys the same general way no matter where I’m hunting. Finding birds is generally the hardest part in my opinion. Once you find one, he’s just like any other turkey. Pressure is typically over hyped in my opinion. I’ve been hunting for 20 years now. The last 7-8 traveling all season long hunting public land across the country and I could count on one hand the amount of times I’ve actually had a hunt messed up by another person


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[Pafarm]

Find a good looking area on the maps and put miles on the boots. We went totally blind to kentucky this year, it was hard and we did find some. Just took process of ellimation and lots of walking.