Turkey hunting

[outdoor ran]

Who's all going turkey hunting this spring? I've never tried it. I applied for the zone with Douglas cty in it for the first season but didn't get it. Instead I got the next zone which is south of hwy 77 and from Hwy 53 over past Hwy 35. Its for the 3rd season too which is the St. Louis River opener. So I'm not sure I'm going to buy the tag. Unless someone has land in that area and has a turkey problem

[Cooter]

I'll be going May 7-11 in unit 37 - we have my bud plus his first timer kid so I'll be last on the list to pull the trigger, might be tough for me to score.

I'll also buy a 6th season tag for unit 20.

[DonBo]

outdoor ran, would that be zone 38? I have a cabin and hunt that area alot. I might be willing to give you some advice. email address is in my profile...

[outdoor ran]

Donbo, you have mail. Thanks!

[klecker]

I have zone 38 may 7-11 period d. Cant wait! Outdoor unless you are a redident that can claim land owner pref. You will never get a 1st season tag. Here is how the state conducts the drawing in order prefernce.

1. resident land owners

2. residents

3. non-resident land owners

4. non-residents

So if you are a resident that applies a,b,c,d,e,f you more than likly will not get A. You then move to B, But B is now your second choice and all of the above get a shot at it first if they selected B as their first. More than likly you wont get b either. Now you move to C, The above all get first run at this in order if this is their 1st choice. After the 1st choice C drawing is done then they have the C second choice drawing. C is your third choice so if they have any tags left over you mayget one. If not you are now moved to D as your forth choice. If you dont get D then its on to e as your fith choice, and so on.

I usually pick either C or D as my 1st choice in zone 38 and have gotten the tag I applied for every year up there. most years the toms are really still hened up during C. During D I have had a few 10 min seasons as they start becoming more aggressive for the left over hens. I hunt some of the big woods areas of 38. Clear cuts, 2 tracks and open oaks. If you pick D most people from Minnesota are out on the fishing opener. C alot of cheese heads are fishing as well. Hope This helps.

They also have a few tags left over for E this year. GO on sale around march 25th or so. Going to force LABS4ME to go and give him a taste of big woods turkey hunting.

[outdoor ran]

Klecker, thanks for good info.

[Northlander]

You aint missing the river opener for no birds are ya?

[klecker]

Starting the fall of 08 WI will be changing to only seven turkey zones. That will be nice to be able to cover alot more land.

[outdoor ran]

Steve, I just might miss the River opener if I can find a few birds. Last couple of years the river opener hasn't been like it use to be. Crowds are getting worse. Look on the bright side, more walleyes for you

[DonBo]

 Originally Posted By: klecker

Starting the fall of 08 WI will be changing to only seven turkey zones. That will be nice to be able to cover alot more land.

Haven't heard this, is it just for fall hunting or spring also? Personally, I'm not so sure I like the idea. Kinda nice to have everyone split up to relieve pressure.

[klecker]

Here is the link for the new zones.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/hunt/turkey/fallmap.pdf

[vman59]

Well after the first couple days of the Turkey season reports from the Barron area zone 37 seem to be down as far as registration goes.Of the 2 registration station I stopped at only 3 birds registered as of Weds and two of those were my two sons.Guys I have talked said the birds are very quiet and not much gobbling in the roost but they they do gobble after flying down for a short while.

[vman59]

Well this morning the birds were quiet very quiet , no gobbles at all.

[Cooter]

Last Thurs my bud got a 24lb with a pair of 10" beards down in SE WI. Others out have reported gobbling mostly early morning then waning off.

[bearplott]

Saturday afternoon when the sun came out finally they were gobbling pretty good where we were, but they were pretty reluctant to come into the calls. Sunday morning they were going nuts and I called two different birds in for my brother. The first I messed up on and called at the wrong time when he hung up for a minute behind a tree where he couldn't get a shot. The second tried to hang up also, but I had backed out behind my brother a little farther and he layed the smack down to a decent tom. 9" beard with 1" spurs.

[vman59]

My 2 sons with the Tom's they got opening day April 16th of the first season here in Barron,County.

[Cooter]

Congrats to them! I know of a few birds taken this past season but with the weather I'm sure the kill will be down. Wait and see what the weather does towards the weekend here. My old man heads out tomorrow - been lots of birds where he's going. I'll be out Sat morning for a little scouting and have to check permission on two chunks of land. I just hope for good weather.

[MrBaz]

Good Luck Cooter, Ill be out this weekend, hopeing for a day like today, I scouted a few of my spots and was relieved to see 3 toms stuttin in my money spot and heard some gobbles this morning, lets just hope the weather cooperates.

[Cooter]

Pops brought his bird over to work today, he got it around noon. Nice bird, 22lb and 9.5" beard, spurs about .75"

Funny thing is I didn't realize it but my uncle was out on Sat and had a tom in - he's getting ready to blast it when it runs away. He's wondering whats going on when 5 jakes come busting in.

So this morning, same spot, my dad has a nice tom coming in all alone right off the roost. He's thinking this is gonna be too easy when 5 jakes come out of the woods and chase him off! Got a rogue gang of jakes down there this year I guess. It extended his hunt a bit though...

[MrBaz]

Sounds like your Dad had a good hunt, I went out this morning but with no luck, I had class at 8am and tried to set up on a gobbler still on the roost. I heard 6 different birds this morning but as soon they hit the ground they all shut up. I didnt have time to try and chase or set up again so I called it quits. Ill be out this weekend, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

[vman59]

well the season is over for me not a bird. Gobbled like crazy weds morning but not a peep out of them since.I hunt 37 around Barron,wi. heard 4-5 gobblers Weds morning but they would not cross the creek.Since then nothing at all, some guys came in camping on the county forest land as they were turkey hunting so I don't know if they scared them with all there hooting looking for roosting birds in the evening or not but something sure shut them up.

[Cooter]

I've been into turkeys but have not gotten one yet. My buddy did and his kid also - first timer! I think I have another 4am morning in me tomorrow....