Too far north?

[Ohboytimmy]

This will be my first year attempting to bag a gobbler. I applied for a permit for 207 early season. I'm sure the odds of me being drawn is not likey since this is my first turkey application. However, I plan to bow hunt the remaining weeks.

I have researched that most success comes from the southern western part of MN. Are there any productive large acre public land I should look towards the bemidji areas(parents live there). I will be spending a good 5 days in the woods. Does White Earth reservation, smokey hill state forest and around Itasca State Park, have a decent population of wild turkey? I can image these areas do not get a whole lot of turkey hunting pressure but is it worth time.

Thanks,

Tim

[brittman]

SW MN has a high success rate because

number of permits is low

birds are easy to scout

North is pushing south this year. If this winter keeps up ... turkeys will come out of winter in weaker shape and thinner in number.

Birds will move alot between now and April, but winter is a good time to drive and scout to look for the bigger flocks of birds.

March and April could be warm and spring arrives early, but if not then the more winter like Season A is >> the closer you will need to hunt to the winter range.

If you are drawn, you will not be able to hunt later season dates (archery).

[Borch]

This will be my first year attempting to bag a gobbler. I applied for a permit for 207 early season. I'm sure the odds of me being drawn is not likey since this is my first turkey application. However, I plan to bow hunt the remaining weeks.

I have researched that most success comes from the southern western part of MN. Are there any productive large acre public land I should look towards the bemidji areas(parents live there). I will be spending a good 5 days in the woods. Does White Earth reservation, smokey hill state forest and around Itasca State Park, have a decent population of wild turkey? I can image these areas do not get a whole lot of turkey hunting pressure but is it worth time.

Thanks,

Tim

We see some in the Leader, Akley, Walker and Cass Lake areas on a frequent basis. I haven't seen any further north than Cass Lake.

[rockman]

There was a thread in this forum awhile back, about birds in NW MN. I don't know about the areas around Bemidji, but there are birds as far NW as the Thief River Falls area.

[nofishfisherman]

I haven't seen any personally but I hear them on occasion while in my deer stand on the western edge of the Paul Bunyan State Forest. Others in my group also hear them and have seen a few so I know they are there. Not sure what kind of numbers you'll find but they are around.

[Hodgy17]

I have seen them south of bemidji 10 or 15 miles. They are in that area