Where do you Spring Turkey Hunt---Public or Private?

quavers16 · Post by **quavers16** » December 29th, 2016, 5:52 pm

For me it is public lands. I have only been on private land 3 times in 26 Springs. How many members here also just hunt public lands and how many members here just opt for private lands or a combo of both??

guesswho · Post by **guesswho** » December 29th, 2016, 5:56 pm

I'm about 50/50. But the private lands I hunt are small leases that get hammered as bad or worse than the public land.

GLS · Post by **GLS** » December 29th, 2016, 6:57 pm

95%+ public.

paboxcall · Post by **paboxcall** » December 29th, 2016, 7:01 pm

100% public. Used to have a 160 acre farm and killed birds there from the exact same tree every year. I don't find that nearly as interesting as spending my time roaming big timber and high ridges on public ground.

55esox · Post by **55esox** » December 29th, 2016, 9:40 pm

The majority of my hunting is done on public land.

Post by **redarrow** » December 29th, 2016, 10:03 pm

Private.

hookinembig · Post by **hookinembig** » December 29th, 2016, 10:13 pm

Most of my time in the past has been spent on private land. I won several public land quota hunts for public land this year so it will be a mixture this year.

swampchicken · Post by **swampchicken** » December 29th, 2016, 10:14 pm

In state is 95% private hunting out of state is about 90% public hunting for me.

Grumpy · Post by **Grumpy** » December 29th, 2016, 11:10 pm

100% private ranch, the owner figures there are over 300 birds and he says only I and one other guy hunt it and no one else has ever asked to turkey hunt on it. I guess it is called a honey hole for the 2 of us.

FLGobstopper · Post by **FLGobstopper** » December 30th, 2016, 12:32 pm

Mostly public for me in FL and GA. Occasionally I get the invite to hunt a farm with a buddy or someone's lease. I much prefer hunting public though for turkeys.

OLE RASPY · Post by **OLE RASPY** » December 30th, 2016, 8:01 pm

99% private 1% public

hookspur · Post by **hookspur** » December 30th, 2016, 11:08 pm

When I'm carrying the gun, it's 85% public. When I'm guiding others, it's just the opposite.

Fatmo · Post by **Fatmo** » December 31st, 2016, 12:54 am

Pa. 50/50 Depends on the state I'm in.

appalachianassassin · December 31st, 2016, 2:48 am

wherever I hear a longbeard.

about 50/50

quavers16 · Post by **quavers16** » December 31st, 2016, 11:20 am

paboxcall-- I agree with your good post! I love open hardwoods and ridgelines in the Spring.

Shooter · Post by **Shooter** » December 31st, 2016, 12:37 pm

appalachianassassin wrote:wherever I hear a longbeard. about 50/50

Sounds good to me!!!

Bigspurs68 · Post by **Bigspurs68** » December 31st, 2016, 1:05 pm

I'd say 75% public.

Waddle Whacker · Post by **Waddle Whacker** » December 31st, 2016, 9:07 pm

LA-private, MS-public....been on private anywhere else I've hunted.

Stinky J Picklestein · January 3rd, 2017, 1:23 pm

mostly private

misfire · Post by **misfire** » January 3rd, 2017, 2:29 pm

Both, we have some great WMAs down here, as well as Fort Stewart which is nicely managed.

davisd9 · Post by **davisd9** » January 3rd, 2017, 2:52 pm

Both, but mostly private

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quavers16 · Post by **quavers16** » January 3rd, 2017, 5:50 pm

The best thing that I like about public lands is talking to other turkey hunters in the parking lot after a hunt. These are always very positive and can last some time.

Gobbler · Post by **Gobbler** » January 3rd, 2017, 9:23 pm

I hunt both. But the older I get the harder it is to out run the land owners and get away. So more public now.

hobbes · Post by **hobbes** » January 3rd, 2017, 10:04 pm

Mostly public or block management (private open to public access) in Montana. Maybe I should spy on Grumpy and uncover his honey hole.

Out of state hunts have all been public (NF, WMA's, WIHA's, etc.), except when I go back home to IL its probably 50/50 now. I started all public land in IL until the birds expanded to my home county where I have private access.

I'll take them wherever I have access.

quavers16 · Post by **quavers16** » January 5th, 2017, 6:45 pm

Yup-GOBBLER-- I agree with you on shots less then 40 yards. I only hunt public lands now. 4 nice public land areas in New York and 2 public land areas in New Jersey.

Gobbler Nation