MN Spring Lottery 2010 - What is best time?

[whateverisbiting]

My parents moved to 20 acres in New Scandia and I am going to try turkey hunting for the first time. I have no clue about Turkeys. Just for starters, I am going to sign up for the lottery and I was wondering if there is any strategy to choosing a period to hunt. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[DonBo]

Here's the average kill per time period over the last 10 years, last year followed this same path pretty closely.

A - 43%

B - 39%

C - 31%

D - 29%

E - 33%

F - 29%

G - 25%

H - 24%

So, if you drew an early time period you're likely to have better success than a later one, however your odds of drawing one of the earlier periods your first year are low. Minnesota uses a lottery system with preferance points for their drawing. That being said, there will be lot's of permits available this coming spring. If you don't draw an early tag, you'll probably be able to buy a leftover tag for a later time period over the counter. This will not affect your preferance points for next year.

I'm just guessing here, but the earliest you may draw your first year will probably be time period C or D. Another thing to think about is the weather. Many times the first season or two have snow and cold. Better temps and conditions later on.

For my money, I'll be applying for the second or third season and if I don't draw (again) I'll purchase what I can and be happy with what I get.

Good luck!

[fsh4trout]

Conventional wisdom says that first season is best. First season does tend to have more gobbling activity, but this does not mean first season is easy. Turkeys are turkeys, some will run right up to you after one yelp others are heened up and could care less what you throw at them. I hunted last season for years until I switched to D. We had some very fun hunts. One time a gobbler strutted all the way in silent, this was last season. So if you end up with a later season, hunt hard, just as you would if you got a coveted first season tag.

Weather is another factor. The early seasons can be chilly and the last season can be hot. Happy Hunting.

[whateverisbiting]

This is exactly the type of advice I was looking for. Thanks to both of you!

[Gordie]

I've hunted the first three seasons the second I scored one each season and one blank the second season.

the later you get the more call shy those big toms can be but I know guys that hunt the last three seasons and always seem to get a bird but that my be due to area and hunter pressure

[goblueM]

I like those last 3... guaranteed to get a permit where I hunt, plus the morels are out and the trout are hungry

[leech~~]

Conventional wisdom says that first season is best. First season does tend to have more gobbling activity, but this does not mean first season is easy. Turkeys are turkeys, some will run right up to you after one yelp others are heened up and could care less what you throw at them. I hunted last season for years until I switched to D. We had some very fun hunts. One time a gobbler strutted all the way in silent, this was last season. So if you end up with a later season, hunt hard, just as you would if you got a coveted first season tag.

Weather is another factor. The early seasons can be chilly and the last season can be hot. Happy Hunting.

We always go for the first season but to tell you the truth it would be nice if it was a week later. We do it so we get first crack at them, and because it has a weekend in it. It seems like the weather is always bad, snowing, raining, windy, but the price for none pressured birds. A few years we went the snow was a foot thick still on the hills we hunted and the birds were still grouped up. But we have gotten a few of them. Good Luck!

[Archerysniper]

If you had control of a big section of land and know you are the only one hunting it I would go for the third week you normally have better weather I don't have this so apply for the first week and allways have good action and usually done the first morning but a few times have had snow storms that really make the hunting hard if I don't get drawn I hunt the over counter archery and have killed birds but they are really hard to get to the point if you have a decoy or a blind out they won't come in.

Put your time in scouting and locating a tom and don't get upset if they fool you because it happens too all of us most of the time the tom wins that is what makes it so fun.

[Muskie456]

We have found the later weeks easier for more of us to draw the tags. We also got sick of fighting the weather and odds for the first couple seasons. We have accually had better success in the later seasons. That my be because we have gottten better at killing them too.

I sure am looking forward to those beautiful spring mornings hearing those loud mouth gobblers firing off in the tree.

Good luck with whatever season you apply for.

[DonBo]

I sure am looking forward to those beautiful spring mornings hearing those loud mouth gobblers firing off in the tree.

Nothin' like it...

[Borch]

Any season you can get drawn for can be great! I think we've killed birds during every season other than the "B" season. Then again we've never drawn the "B" season so that might explain that.

[gurkster]

whateverisbiting - Others have covered the strategy of what season to go for so I will skip that. But I also hunt in the Scandia area so if you ever want to hook up on a hunt let me know. I usually hunt alone and have a couple of spots to hunt. I am by no means an expert but I have been hunting turkeys for a while (I have shot 5 so far). rrgierke @ yahoo dot com.

[whateverisbiting]

Hey Gurkster, I might take you up on this for later in the season. I am going to give it a shot with my brother first if we get a lottery license.

[DonBo]

Another thought, look at the time periods with no weekend days in them as they seem to get fewer applications.

[engfish]

I could write a book on all the things NOT to do, but the most important thing to do is scout ahead of time and practice your calling. I always hunt in May because it works best for my schedule, but I don't feel like it's a huge disadvantage. I've never even seen another hunter in my area, and I've always SEEN birds. Getting them to come into shooting range is what makes it so much fun. I've hunted from a blind and from the ground, and I prefer the ground with a good pad on the ground for my rear end. You're going to be overwhelmed with picking out a call. I started out with the push button call attached to the shotgun because it was "[PoorWordUsage] proof" and I didn't want to scare away the birds with bad calling. Now I use a slate call and a diaphragm call. Once that gobbler starts toward me, I use only the diaphragm; they're not lying when they say turkeys have tremendous eyesight...just move a little and you'll find out just how good it is. Don't be afraid to ask for advice. I started out just like you did and I was too proud to ask for help. Talk to Gurkster and pick his brain; he knows your area, and he can tell you what has worked for him. I've hunted just about everything Minnesota has to offer, and there is nothing more exciting than that first gobble from the roost except for the first time you see that red, white, and blue head gobbling in full strut. Game on. Do you keep calling? Do you sit quietly? Do you purr a little? There is nothing else like it. Good luck!

[gurkster]

whateverisbiting - Sounds good.

[C10]

Is the MN turkey areas map available anywhere besides the DNR HSOforum? Trying to apply online today but their map page isn't working. Helpful thread btw thanks.

[DonBo]

The DNR map worked for me, but anyplace that sells licenses should have the regulations, maps included.

It's here:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/outdoor_activities/hunting/turkey/spring/application_map.pdf

[C10]

Nice that worked. Thanks!