Scouting for wild turkey on public land requires a different approach than hunting private land. Public land receives a lot more hunting pressure so the birds behave differently. Through trial and error over decades of chasing public land birds across the country expert turkey hunters have developed proven scouting strategies to find and tag gobblers on pressured public parcels. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to scout public land turkeys.
Why Public Land Turkeys Are Tougher
Turkeys living on heavily hunted public tracts change their behavior to avoid hunters. According to veteran public land turkey hunter Dave Owens “Turkeys just condition themselves to negative interaction. If they repeatedly encounter something that’s dangerous they avoid it.” So the birds learn to be more wary and elusive.
Additionally most public parcels have fewer turkeys than private land. There’s more competition from other hunters but fewer total birds. As expert hunter Tom Weddle says, “Good private ground will consistently have more turkeys on it than good public ground.”
So public land turkeys are generally tougher to kill. But it can be done consistently with the right approach.
How to Scout Public Land Turkeys
To achieve consistent success on public tracts, you need to avoid interference from other hunters. Look for relatively lightly hunted areas. Here are the key scouting strategies:
Scout early – Get out 2-3 weeks before opening day to locate roosted gobblers away from easy public access points. Other hunters will target the easy-reach birds.
Scout deep – Hike into remote areas other hunters avoid. Ask private landowners for permission to cross their property to reach distant public parcels.
Use mapping apps – Use onX or HuntStand to locate overlooked public tracts with diverse habitat and topology. Prioritize properties with multiple access points and both open land and thick cover.
Listen intently – Arrive pre-dawn, get positioned to hear gobbles, and cover ground listening to pinpoint birds before flying down. Maximise that 30-40 minute prime gobbling window.
Avoid calling – Calls will attract other hunters. Use owl hoots and crow calls instead to pinpoint roosted gobblers.
Move quickly – Cover ground rapidly to intercept gobblers moving from roosts to strut zones before they encounter hunters.
Persist all day – Stay out from dawn until dusk to pattern bird movements. Most hunters won’t have your stamina and dedication.
Be in shape – Hike several miles a day in steep terrain during the offseason to prepare for demanding public land hunts. Proper fitness, hydration and nutrition are crucial.
Expert Tips for Calling Pressured Public Gobblers
Once you’ve located a receptive gobbler, expert public land veterans like Weddle and Owens use controlled, conservative calling strategies:
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Position carefully between the roost and expected strut zone before calling.
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Call gently and sparingly to mimic a coy, aloof hen.
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Avoid aggressive calling that might attract other hunters.
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Answer gobbles quietly at the end of the sequence instead of amping up the gobbler.
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Read the bird’s attitude and let him come looking for you.
Why Public Land Hunting is Worth the Effort
Though more difficult, public land turkey hunting offers unmatched freedom. As Weddle says, “There is a profound sense of freedom that comes from hunting public land turkeys unlike anything else I know.” The public lands of this country provide some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Tagging a gobbler after an arduous public land hunt brings huge satisfaction and pride. If you follow these expert scouting and hunting strategies, you can consistently score on pressured public land gobblers.
What Are the Best times for Hunting Turkey on Public Lands?
As a general rule of thumb, early mornings on weekdays are one of the best times to hunt turkey. However, on public land, you might be up against a small army of other hunters thinking the same thing. It may be advantageous to wait until late morning or early afternoon when other hunters have left for the day.
However, if you plan to hunt later in the day, make sure the state laws allow for afternoon hunts. Many hunters have killed as many toms mid-morning as they do at first light. These can be the most memorable hunts!
In the afternoon, the tom has gone with the flock in the morning, likely bred a hen or two, and is now looking for another. This is usually the easiest time to get him to leave the group.
Locate the birds using a crow call or cutting with a turkey call. Once he sounds off, its up to you to make your shot.
Another variable to consider when timing out your hunt is the weather. Turkeys are most active during calm, clear days, but turkey activity generally decreases as weather conditions worsen.
Check HuntCast within the HuntWise app to make sure conditions are perfect for your hunt.
Safety Must Always Come First
This is one of the most important rules to follow on public land. Since you dont know who else is out there and where they are hunting, its important to play it safe.
That means no belly crawling and no turkey disguises. Using a full fan of feathers and army crawling your way toward your target may work for you on private land, but on public land, its just downright dangerous. You could easily be mistaken for the real deal by another hunter.
Learning to Scout Turkeys | Finding Birds on Public Land
FAQ
How to scout for wild turkey?
When should I start scouting for turkeys?
How to scout turkeys on onX?
How do I scout for Turkey?
Once you’ve got the public land properties in your area ranked, then you can scout them, starting with the highest value targets. If you’re a private-land hunter, it’s still useful to E scout for turkey. Using your mapping app, look at the neighboring properties to identify likely roosting and feeding areas.
How do I find public turkey hunting?
The search begins online. Use a mapping app like onX or Huntstand to identify public lands near you. Also check your state’s public land website (just Google the name of your state and “public hunting land”). Here are some common (and some underrated) land types that often offer public turkey hunting (check local regs before hunting):
Should you Scout a Turkey?
You can cater your blind choice, or your running and gunning strategy, to several spots that should have afternoon birds. Scouting eliminates some of the randomness of turkey hunting and is a great way to put yourself around workable birds all day long—no matter your weapon of choice or calendar date.
How do you hunt a Turkey in public land?
Find tracts of land that receive less press and attention. Often, public land hunters won’t get more than half a mile from the nearest road or parking lot access. Turkey hunters willing to dive deeper into properties and hike 1 to 2 miles will find better success and birds that receive less pressure. Public-land turkeys aren’t pushovers.