The Ultimate Thing " Not To Do" In Turkey Scouting Is---

[blackbeltbill]

    Now this is something, I have never done. I have heard through the years- not online- that some Turkey Hunters  will definitely  do this.

   So what is the ultimate  Thing " not to do" in Spring Turkey Scouting"- Drum Roll--.

   Simply no Adult should be out Scouting on the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend .  This year that would be April 22nd and 23rd. Sat + Sun. New Jersey has 1 Youth day- also April 22nd. 

 Save the Scouting until after 12 noon on those days on the MUAs/Public. Let the Kids have their weekend. And little Bobby might Kill that Gobbler you have been watching who Roosts in a big Hickory on the Field Edge. It is what it is. There is always another to find.

 

 

 

[mowin]

So if I have a farm I'm hunting, and I'm not taking any youth hunting, I'm wrong to scout?  

If public, are the hikers, mt biker's, bird watchers going to wait till noon? 

Might be the only weekend  available to scout. 

Edited March 7, 2023 by mowin

[Bucksnbows]

I would say the number one thing NOT to do is over call. I manage a 107 acre forested property for a childhood friend that is surrounded on three sides by public land. One late April weekend I was planting hundreds of bare root pines in a clearcut near the dirt road into the WMA. Every half hour or so, another hunter drove by to scout. I could hear them calling to locate and at first, many would get response gobbles. Then they would turn home, happy to know there were birds around. By 10 or 11 am, the turkeys went silent. 
 

Sure enough, I didn’t hear a gobbler on the roost or a single gobble on the ground the entire first week. They were call shy from all the scouting hunters. It was an important lesson for me, and I began hunting the opposite side of the private ground away from other hunters and I have killed many more birds than I did on public ground. Those birds away from public land don’t get that same pressure. 

[2012-Taco]

You want to "scout" on youth weekend, just take a youth out hunting. Best of both worlds! Imho

[blackbeltbill]

2 hours ago, mowin said:

So if I have a farm I'm hunting, and I'm not taking any youth hunting, I'm wrong to scout?  

If public, are the hikers, mt biker's, bird watchers going to wait till noon? 

Might be the only weekend  available to scout. 

Thought,I was clear.

 Adult Turkey Hunters who hunt MUAs/Public. I did not mention Private or non Hunters for obvious reasons.

[mowin]

47 minutes ago, blackbeltbill said:

Thought,I was clear.

 Adult Turkey Hunters who hunt MUAs/Public. I did not mention Private or non Hunters for obvious reasons.

Thought I was clear.  

If public, are the hikers, mt bikers, and bird watchers going to stay out until noon? 

It's PUBLIC LAND...  

Edited March 7, 2023 by mowin

[grampy]

3 hours ago, Bucksnbows said:

I would say the number one thing NOT to do is over call. I manage a 107 acre forested property for a childhood friend that is surrounded on three sides by public land. One late April weekend I was planting hundreds of bare root pines in a clearcut near the dirt road into the WMA. Every half hour or so, another hunter drove by to scout. I could hear them calling to locate and at first, many would get response gobbles. Then they would turn home, happy to know there were birds around. By 10 or 11 am, the turkeys went silent. 
 

Sure enough, I didn’t hear a gobbler on the roost or a single gobble on the ground the entire first week. They were call shy from all the scouting hunters. It was an important lesson for me, and I began hunting the opposite side of the private ground away from other hunters and I have killed many more birds than I did on public ground. Those birds away from public land don’t get that same pressure. 

Over the last 20 or so years, the biggest complaint from turkey hunters is, "not hearing any gobbles"!! Why is that?? Because even before the season starts, there are people out there calling to the birds!! Practicing, or locating. So, those birds become call shy. Don't bring your calls to the woods unless you will be hunting that morning!! Practice calling at home. Get out and put you boots to the ground for scouting. Those birds don't need much to get educated.

[blackbeltbill]

6 minutes ago, grampy said:

Over the last 20 or so years, the biggest complaint from turkey hunters is, "not hearing any gobbles"!! Why is that?? Because even before the season starts, there are people out there calling to the birds!! Practicing, or locating. So, those birds become call shy. Don't bring your calls to the woods unless you will be hunting that morning!! Practice calling at home. Get out and put you boots to the ground for scouting. Those birds don't need much to get educated.

Right. Never call to the Birds when Scouting. I have been out 14 times already Scouting. I take nothing with me .

[Buckmaster7600]

I’m always busy on youth weekend hunting with a youth. I don’t do much if any scouting for turkeys but if I do I’ll walk/ride my bike to spots to call from. I’m not going to intentionally walk through turkeys a week before season if I can help it. A quick call and get the hell out with minimal impact.

[blackbeltbill]

1 minute ago, Buckmaster7600 said:

I’m always busy on youth weekend hunting with a youth. I don’t do much if any scouting for turkeys but if I do I’ll walk/ride my bike to spots to call from. I’m not going to intentionally walk through turkeys a week before season if I can help it. A quick call and get the hell out with minimal impact.

Right. Be as a normal Hiker/ Biker out each day that the Turkeys are used to seeing on a very regular basis and there is no pressure  on the birds.

[Buckmaster7600]

4 minutes ago, blackbeltbill said:

Right. Be as a normal Hiker/ Biker out each day that the Turkeys are used to seeing on a very regular basis and there is no pressure  on the birds.

Not much for hikers or bikers where I hunt so that’s not really an option.

[mowin]

30 minutes ago, blackbeltbill said:

Right. Be as a normal Hiker/ Biker out each day that the Turkeys are used to seeing on a very regular basis and there is no pressure  on the birds.

So we've established the proper way to scout for turkeys is not to call but listen.  

Not doing anything different than a hiker or biker, but because I'm a turkey hunter, I'm committing the " ultimate thing not to do?"  

Anxiously awaiting a educated response, but I'm sure all's I'll get is a thumbs down.  

[blackbeltbill]

40 minutes ago, mowin said:

So we've established the proper way to scout for turkeys is not to call but listen.  

Not doing anything different than a hiker or biker, but because I'm a turkey hunter, I'm committing the " ultimate thing not to do?"  

Anxiously awaiting a educated response, but I'm sure all's I'll get is a thumbs down.  

I explained it perfectly in my first post . You disagree and that's fine.

[mowin]

1 minute ago, blackbeltbill said:

I explained it perfectly in my first post . You disagree and that's fine.

And I didn't even get a educated answer.  

Bill, if someone is walking around the woods bird watching.  And a turkey hunter is scouting (a turkey is a bird), aren't they effective doing the same thing?  

But according to you, the turkey hunter is commiting the ultimate sin.  Why? 

If you post something like this, be prepared to back it up.  

[dbHunterNY]

here's the thing if it's public it's just the way it is. i wouldn't intentionally screw up some youth hunt but no reason to stay out of the woods. also IMO i agree with not calling with calls that bring birds in but scouting with locator calls isn't really a problem.