Turkey Hunting

[walleyeslayer18]

Are you able to bait turkeys with like corn or anything while hunting them?

[Musky Buck]

Hopefully not. You'd probably end up with coons,squirrels,rabbits,etc. I have about 50 or so that come many times a day to my bird feeders. Thought about applying but it wouldn't feel fair chase enough for me to be fun unless I quit feeding the cardinals,robins, etc. I could sit in my shed and pound a tom. My area just got turkeys heavy in the past 5-6 years so they seem awfully dumb. I know most areas aren't this way where they roost in your yard and aren't afraid of my dog or cats, the turks chase them away, they even invaded my garage one day and also my freshly stained black fence is a mess because after their daily birdseed eating, they roost on it until I run them off. Maybe, once the snow is done, they'll quit coming to the birdseed, I do notice the toms don't exactly really want to be together as much anymore, seeing them isolated around a bit more, must be hen time about for them.

[walleyeslayer18]

wow it sounds like you have a ton of wildlife around by your place! yea i was just wondering, so you don't know for sure at all though?!

[fivebucks]

I don't know of anything you can bait and hunt in MN. I would not do it without getting something in writing from a CO

[Borch]

Baiting is illegal in MN for turkeys, deer, etc.

[walleyeslayer18]

Thanks for the information guys i really appreciate it!

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

I could sit in my shed and pound a tom.

Now thats funny I don't are who you are.

[Nightcrawler]

at the turkey clinic i went to the question came up and was answered as yes from the DNR officer.

[Musky Buck]

The turkeys route to the feeders has been the same for a few years now and they get jealous of each other and try to run ahead to get there first. I easily can walk out the door and I'm 20 feet from them and they don't run away to fast, some don't at all unless I get within 10-20 feet, if I start walking away they go right back to the birdseed. They don't look too happy today, their easy pickings are now buried again. When the weather broke for a bit here they come. Let the dog out and he was run off by them, he's scared of them now, a few good beak pecks and that was it a few years back.

[spearingboy]

Almost positive you can put out bait if you wish as Nightcrawler said.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I was pretty sure you could also.

I just don't have anywhere to do it.

[leech~~]

Sooo a Musky Buck, where abouts did you say you lived again?

[Powerstroke]

Also, since it was mentioned, you can bait for bears legally in MN.

Also, I found no baiting rules on the DNR site or in my 2009 Turkey booklet. It mentions dogs and electronics but nothing about bait.

So, if its legal I would say you can bait for turkeys. Personally I think its unethical, but if its legal that is your choice to do so and my, nor anyone else's, opinion should matter.

[Musky Buck]

leech, near Wadena but would anyone really enjoy waiting for them to run to the bird seed and then capping one off ? The Tom's are starting to act a little different, they seem to want to be alone at the bird feeder's, although this recent snow has buried them again and they haven't been moving much in the past few days. When does the first spring hunt begin ? For the most part i think these birds have yet to be hunted, that is why maybe they are so tame, sort of.

[leech~~]

Musky, of course it would not be much fun to hunt them in your yard at the feeders! But maybe in the woods around your house!! The first hunt starts April 15th, so plug your ears! P.S I didn't get my tag this year so it wouldn't be me waking you up! Maybe next year!

[Musky Buck]

Right on Leech, let em fly guys, April 15th, couple weeks, the hens and jakes are hitting the yard hard, the toms are hanging back a bit, it amazes me how fluffed up they can fluff up. Hope this winter didn't kill too many off, someone mentioned some die off from tough food finding conditions for a bit, but the yard is still pretty full of them. If you get a tag next year leech give me a holler or before you apply, and better yet if you could line up some heads and drop about half the flock, jk, but my fresh stained(last summer) fence is a pile of turkey stuff. Have a new kitten to that walks right up to the turkeys and they just keep eating, curious little kitten.

[DonBo]

Actually, I think you can bait turkeys but I think they're trying to close that loop hole. Don't expect it to be legal for long.

I certainly don't want to start ANOTHER baiting/no baiting argument but just because it's legal doesn't make it right.

[leech~~]

Musky, ssshh! if your serious about that for next year. I do have a few buds that didn't get their tags in our group this year and are looking for a new area. pineconesta @ usfamily.com