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January 07, 2011
Early Turkey Scouting - 15
 There's really no cure for the wild turkey addiction. Scouting before spring seasons open months from now is as much a part of the hunt as the actual deal closer with a killing shot in range. I like to get out early and often, if only to set my mind in the right direction: opening day. Of course turkeys you find won't necessarily be there months from now. Good habitats will hold them though, and see fresh birds arrive. Just this morning, I checked out the woods and fields where an opening day 2010 Maine longbeard wore my tag. I'd been in an Arkansas pit blind hunting waterfowl this week, and needed to reconnect with the local turkeys on my return home. What did I find? A turkey flock recently located some acorns on an oak ridge I checked out, and deer too, as have the squirrels. I've found the same thing going on in other spots. I've also seen flocks a half-mile to several miles away, hitting food sources (spread manure on the turkey "hot-lunch" program here in the Snow Belt, and another at a backyard bird feeder, making like giant chickadees). I snapped the attached photo of some January Maine jakes as they worked their way toward spring. These turkeys, and others, will break up in a few months, and begin to establish breeding ranges: a hen or two here (and sometimes many more), and gobblers following along too. What's happening where you guys read this? Let us know now, and in the future months as spring approaches. Scouting reports are the next best thing to being there, and hunting gobblers come spring. |
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Comments (15)
Scouting for spring birds is useless here in SW AL. The birds change range from winter to spring, with flocks breaking up and the bachelor tom groups scattering. It's always fun to watch turkeys, but they won't be where they are now, come March. I just go out a few mornings before opening day and listen for gobbles.
The last thaw we experienced was around the New Year...50F plus rain so the birds were really on the move looking for what was still available...some wild orchards are still dropping frozen apples onto the ground..cornfields...other crops such as soybeans (44% protein)..alfalfa leaves on the stem sticking through the snow offer 6% protein. Barnyards are a favourite winter retreat as there is usually a mixture of grains spilled or dispersed within the farm that the birds always look for.
Steve - Yeah they will move in with the cows at feed yards and hang in the river bottoms. Some ranchers around here will winter 100's of turkeys and come first sign of Spring they will break up and take off.
Like your menu Steve, please pass me a plate of the moose......
later,
charlie
cjohnsrud,
Do your winter turkeys move to farms and hang out there? Where do they go, and feed, when the snows get so deep? Curious.
Thanks, man.
Steve
I can't even get to my turkey hunting grounds. There is 2 feet of snow most places around here. I can sit in my warm house and plan Spring hunts though!!
charlie,
I do love cooking waterfowl for the supper table though, for sure.
Had duck gumbo in Arkansas camp several nights. . . .
S.
Moose! Gifted . . . More beef than beef itself.
I forgot to ask Steve--
Is it duck for dinner?
later,
charlie
I was out early in the frigid morning heard no sound except the squeaking snow........
A group of gobblers I call the 13 Amigos who paid no attention to my calls during the winter season preferring to stay well out of range; this morning chose to huddle on their roost. It has been snowing all day and as far as I know they are still roosted. Many turkeys this time of year spend nearly all day roosted.
later,
charlie
Hey Ridgerunner55. Thanks for checking in, and for sending the pics. Stay tuned. S.
Still snowing here in the Sunny South (KY). Turkey working hard to find food when the ice freezes on top of the snow
But yep, lots of brown ground as we speak down this way (more old snow in the woods), but winter isn't over. We usually get hammered in February and March . . .
Snow coming this afternoon they say, bigjake. I'm in southern Maine . . .
Still pretty brown lookin in your picture,we're up to our knees in white stuff here in NB.
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Still pretty brown lookin in your picture,we're up to our knees in white stuff here in NB.
Like your menu Steve, please pass me a plate of the moose......
later,
charlie
Snow coming this afternoon they say, bigjake. I'm in southern Maine . . .
But yep, lots of brown ground as we speak down this way (more old snow in the woods), but winter isn't over. We usually get hammered in February and March . . .
Still snowing here in the Sunny South (KY). Turkey working hard to find food when the ice freezes on top of the snow
Hey Ridgerunner55. Thanks for checking in, and for sending the pics. Stay tuned. S.
I was out early in the frigid morning heard no sound except the squeaking snow........
A group of gobblers I call the 13 Amigos who paid no attention to my calls during the winter season preferring to stay well out of range; this morning chose to huddle on their roost. It has been snowing all day and as far as I know they are still roosted. Many turkeys this time of year spend nearly all day roosted.
later,
charlie
I forgot to ask Steve--
Is it duck for dinner?
later,
charlie
Moose! Gifted . . . More beef than beef itself.
charlie,
I do love cooking waterfowl for the supper table though, for sure.
Had duck gumbo in Arkansas camp several nights. . . .
S.
I can't even get to my turkey hunting grounds. There is 2 feet of snow most places around here. I can sit in my warm house and plan Spring hunts though!!
cjohnsrud,
Do your winter turkeys move to farms and hang out there? Where do they go, and feed, when the snows get so deep? Curious.
Thanks, man.
Steve
Steve - Yeah they will move in with the cows at feed yards and hang in the river bottoms. Some ranchers around here will winter 100's of turkeys and come first sign of Spring they will break up and take off.
Scouting for spring birds is useless here in SW AL. The birds change range from winter to spring, with flocks breaking up and the bachelor tom groups scattering. It's always fun to watch turkeys, but they won't be where they are now, come March. I just go out a few mornings before opening day and listen for gobbles.
The last thaw we experienced was around the New Year...50F plus rain so the birds were really on the move looking for what was still available...some wild orchards are still dropping frozen apples onto the ground..cornfields...other crops such as soybeans (44% protein)..alfalfa leaves on the stem sticking through the snow offer 6% protein. Barnyards are a favourite winter retreat as there is usually a mixture of grains spilled or dispersed within the farm that the birds always look for.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)