Need some advice for first turkey hunt on Camp Ripley

[MUSKY18]

Hi all:

Just checked my mail the other day and I was drawn for the Deployed Soldiers Turkey Hunt at Camp Ripley. Dates for the hunt are 25-26 April. This will be my very first time heading out to hunt turkeys, and although there are tons of birds on Ripley, the constraints of the hunt make it tough. It breaks down like this. There are only 60 hunters drawn, however, the DNR breaks down the entire hunting area, into 60 different areas, with each hunter getting their own personal hunting area. I won't know exactly where my area is until the day before the hunt, when we attend the DNR briefing and are assigned our area. Once we have completed the briefing, we can run downrange and scout for the rest of the day. Hunt begins the next morning.

I have a very detailed map of Ripely, so once I get my hunting area assigned to me, i can get going, but what type of terrain features should I be looking at first? I don't want to go screaming through the woods and scare all the birds off.

[Borch]

Look for potential barriers,(creeks, fences, heavy vegitation), ridges, fields and funnels on your detailed map. When you get a chance to scout then check these spots out looking for sign and setup options.

Depending on how big each area is it's unlikely you"ll be able to thoroughly scout it given you limited time of access. It may be best to scout as you hunt if the area is under 100 acres especially when everyoine will be scouting a pushing birds around. I've scout via detailed maps and satelite images for out of state hunts in the past.

Good Luck!

[engfish]

My suggestion for this type of hunt is you'll want to bring a blind. If you're going to hunt all day, it will give you protection from the elements if the weather's bad--very likely during one of the days you will hunt at that time of year--and a place to relax (aka "a nap") during part of the day if you're going to hunt all day. The late morning could be very good if you're sitting tight when others start heading back to their vehicles for a mid-day break.

Good luck!

[paintbrush]

There are turkeys all thru out Ripley. The southern part of camp is more open then the northern part of camp. If you end up in the northern end, look for clearings in the woods on your map, and check for sign around those clearings. The birds will use those clearings for strutting and feeding areas. The gobblers will also use the smaller side roads themselves as strutting zones.

[sticknstring]

Wow, that's different. I sure hope there's some birds in your area. Sounds like a run & gun type hunt to me. I sent you an email.

[gurkster]

Sounds cool, and lots riding on the area you are assigned, how big, etc. My $.02 is to think where other hunters will be, get in very early, stay out all day, hope other hunters "push" birds your way. In this situation less calling may be the best bet - best of luck to you.

[Cheetah]

I've hunted Ripley a bunch of times for deer and never seen sign of turkeys where we hunt. I'd stick to the field areas if possible. We hunt the hard-woods areas and swamps for deer in the north-center part of the refuge.

You might also find birds along the main roads with wide grassy ditches. I know Kodiak Rd on the west side has a lot of open areas along it, maybe birds will go there in the spring. The Boundary Rd (I think) on the East side is also like this. There are some fields along both of those roads as well.

If possible you need to find someone who has been at Ripley for the winter and actually seen where the birds have flocked up so you can at least start in those areas.

[rbs]

Congrats Bret! I helped for the DAV hunt last spring and there is really a ton of turks in there. I can give you the coords for where we hunted but sounds like you won't have a choice as to where you will be going anyways. I do know that most of the birds were shot last year in the south 2/3 to 1/2 of the camp. I would drive slow on the roads that boarder and run thru the area you have to hunt or walk them and look for sign. You won't have a ton of time to check everything out for sure so you will have to be mobile. The Camp Ripley sand is the best for scouting turks up there. No doubt at all when you find a strut zone...it is well worn down! I will email you the area that we hunted last spring!

[IlliniWalli]

i would ease into my area looking for possible roost sites - like a ridge or creek bottom with some big hardwoods.

then i would hang out there until sunset hoping for some birds to show up and fly up to roost. if that happens, you hit the jackpot and know where to head the next morning.

if you dont see birds, i would start heading back to the truck shortly after sunset and hit some shock or locater calls, like an owl hooter, crow or even loud yelps and cutts on a turkey call. good chance one might sound off on the roost.

i dont know how big that overall area is, but with that many hunters heading into the woods the birds are going to be pressured and even more paranoid than usual. so, if i didnt have one roosted for the sunrise setup, i would play it low key. move slow, stop and set up often, call softly and be patient.

sounds like a fun and challenging hunt. good luck.