Where will you hunt turkeys in 2008?

[Scott M]

The deadline for Spring 2008 MN Turkey Hunt Applications is due December 7, 2007. For those applying for the first time, you must know what zone you are going to hunt in, just like you would in a firearms deer hunt. This brings up the point that you need to know where you are hunting. There is plenty of public land available, but do you want to leave your options to the mercies of others? The point is, now is the time to be securing permission for private land hunting.

First, I'm curious to see where everyone hunts, so I've included a poll.

Second, I'd also like to hear what others do when choosing their hunting land specifically for turkeys. I will start.

I have access to a large chunk of land in Fillmore County. My hunting partner called it the best turkey habitat he had ever seen, and he had hunted in 3-4 states for 20-some years. I got permission to hunt the land after bugging a friend's father for a year or so. He had no problem with me going; no one in his family or his neighbors hunted turkey....Deer is another story though.

I asked him if anyone had ever come door to door. Again, the answer was no. I figured he would have been bombarded by people who either saw the land while driving around and asked or looked him up in a plat book.

Now I try to maintain connections with this landowner by sending a thank you after the spring, a Christmas card each year, and by bringing him some treats before the hunt. He knows how much I appreciate it and I think that gives him some satisfaction. He also appreciated that I included him in the process. He joined me to do some scouting, he even did his best to point out some good places. I would have told him to join me in the blind if he didn't have chores each morning. I also showed him my bird and repeatedly thanked him for allowing me on. It was a great connection that I think was beneficial for both parties.

Overall, I just think hunters need to get out and talk to people. It's a fine way to develop your social skills, we all need to do that in this life, and you can find ways to get on the same level with another person. What better way to promote hunting or introduce youth to the sport.

[Borch]

Well,

I actually hunt both public and private land each spring.

[Hotspotter]

I'll do all 4 each spring, though compensation has never been dollars and cents, rather a small gift certificate, some turkey meat, etc.

Joel

[Wallydog]

I did my "hunting" back in the late 80's. I secured a terrific array of private properties that I have exclusive turkey hunting permission upon. I gained the trust and loyalty of the various landowners and compensated them with smoked hams etc. Since then I've been able to concentrate on the "shooting" aspect of the sport.

It's the "hunting" part of our sports that many newcomers fail at. Whether intimidated or insecure or whatever it is, many youngen's fail here. So many want a HSOforum or brochure to advise them which tree to set up by......

For me, the "hunting" part is paramount!

WD

[The Yeti]

Private land in Southern Mn.

[maros91]

If drawn, I will try the Mille Lacs area this spring. I have seen many of birds in the area. Seems like 15-20 years ago there wasn't a bird to be found. I don't know when they started the trap and transplant in that area bit there are alot of birds.

[Hammer Handle]

On my own land. Tons of turkeys this year...they had a great year. Plus, we plant some corn that we let stand for the winter for the deer/turkeys.

Last year I hunted turkeys and got a nice tom. My brother did also. 3 other members of the family appied too...and got no license. We let a neighbor in who also got a turkey.

We had to kick out 2 illegal hunters we caught while we were in the woods also...and one roadside hunting.

If they would have asked and if we weren't in the woods, we probably would have let them hunt. Why don't people ask?

We saw few turkeys years ago (over 10 years ago), but there was a few. About 6 years ago...the DNR released turkeys onto my dad's land as he had a "prime spot" and "toms in the woods". They released hens.

I got my first license and turkey last year. Last year was the first year they were hunted on our land. We waited until we felt the turkeys had a great foothold on the land. Now we "bump" into them all the time.

[xedge2002]

The land we hunt is the same as what Hammer has, we have been seeing turkeys for probably 5 years but no one has ever hunted them to let them get a good crop going. This year on deer stand I probably saw 70+ turkeys opening morning. We applied last year but didn't get drawn, hoping to get it this spring and bag a couple of birds!

[outfishedagain]

Spring can't come fast enough!!! We're going to Nebreaska, SD and hopefully one of us gets drawn in minnesota. There is possible a Oklahoma trip if work allows.

For our group its going to be bows only this spring.

[birdswacker]

Hopefully we get tags for the SE MN area I really enjoy being a billy goat for 5 days. But its worth the rush of a gobbler coming in to the decoys and letting him have it.

[woody1975]

South Eastern Minnesota and South Dakota

Bring on the long beards!!!!!!!

DL

[TrenPT]

I hunt on my sister and brother-in-laws property in Fillmore county. They have nice wooded acerage with Oaks, pasture land and farm land adjoining it. The only thing they request in return is taking my neice and nephew out with me. If you think shooting a turkey yourself is exciting, take a kid out, call a turkey in for him/her, watch them shoot it and see the reaction after. For me, it was far better than taking one myself. My kids are 7 and 4, so not quite old enough yet, but they sure love to bang on the slate calls (my personal favorite, as they sound exactly like a turkey making clucks, purs, etc. with little training required).

Enjoy the 2008 season everyone.