How do YOU scout turkeys?

[Powerstroke]

I'm not asking a clueless type question. I'm just trying to get a feel for some ideas that I haven't thought of.

This is my first year hunting turkeys and I've never tried to locate them specifically for hunting. Last weekend I went to a piece of public land that has confirmed turkey sightings. I found a group of hens that spotted me before I saw them. Also found some fresh tracks in frozen mud and some in the new snow. One of the tracks was about the size of my hand. From the center pad to the tip of the center toe it was nearly 4"!!

All I did was walk around and check for sign. Other than the large tracks I didn't see any toms.

I wish I had a trail camera to set along this route I found.

Please offer any tips you have.

[Captain B.R.K]

I'd be interested in how to scout for turkeys as well. The piece of land I'm hunting this year isn't real friendly for a hunter to be scouting....lots of open land for those turkey's to spot you.

Should I just set up on a hill from a long distance and watch them in the binoc's?

[Nova]

My opinion is it may be a litle early to do any serious scouting. You can go and see if you land has birds, but for the most part all the birds are still in large flocks. As the season approaches they will break up into smaller flocks finding new feeding areas and roosting areas. Finding a flock of 30 birds in one area now does not mean they will be there in a month. Also, they will change feeding habits once the snow is gone. Right now they are feeding on what they can find in the snow cover. As things start to grren up they will move to other feeding and roosting areas. It is a good idea to glass birds from a long way away right now and try to find there roosting spots. Look for places they may move to when the snow disappears like Oak groves, alphalfa feilds, and other crops that start to sprout early in the year. Water is also good to look for, they will need water and will always go to it. Good luck, just don't educate the birds too much. Doin't try calling or run them around the woods.

[Borch]

Personally I do my serious scouting starting a few weeks before my hunt. Right now it's more about learning the lay of the land than scoutng turkeys. They are still in their winter flocks and are bunched up. Once these flocks break up they will redistribute to their usual haunts. Now is the time to knock on doors and get land to hunt. Aslo if they have seen turkeys in the spring on their property and if so where. Then learn the lay of their land including boundries, barriers, etc.

I usually scout either early morning and listen for birds or later in the afternoon and look for fresh sign. Fresh sign would include tracks, droppings(J shaped dropping are from toms/jakes), scratchings, dusting bowls, strut marks(wing tips drag marks) and feathers. Wear camo and work the edges, ridges and forest roads.

Good Luck!

[Hotspotter]

These guys know what they're talking about. Great advice from all.

All I have to add is that I try and break up my scouting into two sessions. The 1st, is over the winter up until now, where I locate several groups of wintering birds, and secure permission in these general areas to hunt. Much of this is by vehicle and word of mouth.

The 2nd, and most important is like Borch and others have said; just before your season. Beware of landowners and farmers (like my old man) that 2 days before your season say...."There's turkeys all over." The more questions you ask, the more you realize that he'd seen 30 all winter, and now the flocks are broken up and they're nowhere to be found.

Most seasons, my success is highly dependent upon my ability or inability to locate a couple of toms in different locations that have relatively predictable patterns and/or are without hens.......all of this, days before you hunt. Ideally, you'll have a 5 day hunt; scout 4 days before your season, and shoot a bird on opening morning. It would be nice if we could all scout a few days before the season.

Glass roost/fly down areas in the early morning if you can. At least get some gravel travel in during the early morning hours. Note where you see birds and at what times. Generally, the later in the morning you see a gobbler, the further away he is from his roost tree, and vice versa. Put them to bed the night before. Besides knowing where they are and the obvious advantages that this brings, you'll be much more confident in your odds.

Good luck,

Joel

[FOOT]

Good advise from everyone.

The key is to first scout in late winter to make sure the land you plan to hunt has a viable population of turkeys present. If you see lots of sign you can beleive the turkeys will hang around spring, summer, fall and winter.

The second is to scout the 2 weeks before your season. Setup a good ground blind. This could be a commercial blind or one made out of surrounding vegetation. Then get in the blind early with your camoflague. Call just like you would as if you were hunting but once you get a gobbler to answer and he sounds like he's coming in DON'T CALL anymore. The idea is to locate a gobbler not bring it in. Stay in the blind a good 60 minutes after the last time your called to make sure any gobblers aren't hanging around. When you leave leave by the same route and get out quick. Don't do this 2 days in a row and don't use decoys.

Turkeys will move but if there is a gobbler in the area he should still be in the general area when your season starts unless someone else get him.