When does your Turkey season start?

[Phillip Carr]

Bought a tag on the San Carlos Indian reservation here in AZ season starts March 27th. When does your season start.

[Randy G Roberts]

Always the Wednesday before the Southern begins in April so I don't get out until we return from Sanford.

[charlie cleveland]

our season starts march 15...good hunting to all....charlie

[CraigThompson]

In Virginia it’s , Spring General Season Apr. 11-May 16 . Of which I’ll most likely be gone from April 20th until the 25th . The objective is to blood Brutus and perhaps Brutus II as well :whistle:

We have a year limit of three birds . If I'm not mistaken only two can be waylayed in the fall but again if I'm not mistaken if a person has three tags in the spring he can take all three provided they're gobblers . I think in the fall we can knock over hen/s .


General Information
Bag Limits
General
One per day, three per license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall.

Archery and Fall Firearms Season
One per day, either sex may be taken.

Spring Turkey Season
One per day, bearded turkeys only.

[Dean Romig]

For me - VT opens May 1st - Ohio May 1st - MA Apr 26
I know I’ll be going to VT but haven’t decided on MA or Ohio yet.





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[Jim Beilke]

Season opens April 14[Wed} always. We get to pic one 7 day season. Mine begins April 28

[Reggie Bishop]

Tennessee opens April 3rd and runs thru May 16.

[Bruce Hering]

Here are the seasons for the Southern zone in Illinois. Permits are by drawing unless you are a landowner and can get one via the landowner permit system. A hunter is allowed 3 permits per Spring season.

1st Season April 5 April 9
2nd Season April 10 April 15
3rd Season April 16 April 21
4th Season April 22 April 28
5th Season April 29 May 6

[scott kittredge]

Here in nh may 1 st youth 1 week earlier. I hope be out for both.
Scott

[Dean Romig]

Here in nh may 1 st youth 1 week earlier. I hope be out for both.
Scott

Scotty, you’re gonna hafta shave to pass yourself off as a youth...:rotf:





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[Dean Romig]

Here are the seasons for the Southern zone in Illinois. Permits are by drawing unless you are a landowner and can get one via the landowner permit system. A hunter is allowed 3 permits per Spring season.

1st Season April 5 April 9
2nd Season April 10 April 15
3rd Season April 16 April 21
4th Season April 22 April 28
5th Season April 29 May 6


Wow! That’s almost as bad as the Maine fishing laws...:shock:





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[Phillip Carr]

Thanks Guys. I have not been drawn in AZ for the past 4 years. I usually go to New Mexico every year. Season always opens on April 15 and runs through May 10. Allowed 2 turkeys.

[Dean Romig]

If a hunter is allowed to take two turkeys I don’t understand why there beeds to be a permit by draw system. Reduce the bag to 1 bird and let everybody buy a turkey tag.





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[Phillip Carr]

Sorry for the confusion. AZ is a draw hunt of 1 Turkey per year. New Mexico is an over the counter permit allowing 2 turkeys per year.

[Stan Hillis]

Mar. 20 - May 15

Three gobbler limit.

[Garry L Gordon]

For Missouri the opener is April 19 and the season runs through May 9. We can take two bearded birds, but only one the first week of the season. I hate that the season starts the week of the Southern.

[Jim McKee]

Ohio
Northeast zone (5 counties) May 1-30
South zone (most of Ohio) April 24-May 23
Up to 2 bearded birds allowed & no drawing required
Jim

[Bruce Hering]

Wow! That’s almost as bad as the Maine fishing laws...:shock:.

Dean:

Illinois politics.... Money for the paid permits. If ya want to play, ya gotta pay.

As a qualifying land owner I get mine free. 40 acres or more and you are good to go.

We have a similar deer permit system which allows the taking of one(1) deer either sex and one(1) antlered only by either gun and bow. There are free permits for land owners and paid permits via a drawing on a county by county basis for everyone else.

FYI

We are lucky to have over 200 ac to hunt on.

[Bruce Hering]

Wow! That’s almost as bad as the Maine fishing laws...:shock:.

Dean:

Illinois politics.... Money for the paid permits. If ya want to play, ya gotta pay.

As a qualifying land owner I get mine free. 40 acres or more and you are good to go.

We have a similar deer permit system which allows the taking of one(1) deer either sex and one(1) antlered only by either gun or bow. There are free permits for land owners and paid permits via a drawing on a county by county basis for everyone else.

FYI

We are lucky to have over 200 ac to hunt on and we can grow some pretty good deer:

https://i.imgur.com/U1IdLOx.jpg?1

[charlie cleveland]

very nice deer what was the spread on the deer looks to be 22 or 24 inch spread...charlie

[Dean Romig]

And what was the gross score?





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[Garry L Gordon]

That's not a buck. It's a cow with a farm implement on its head.:bowdown:

[James L. Martin]

May 1st here in New York, goes the whole month with a 2 bird limit. Must have a visible beard. Hunting till noon only.

[Tom Flanigan]

I'm looking forward to the May 1st. opener in NY. Now the that snow is melting and there are bare spots in the fields, the turkeys are now again picking through the sorghum and timothy. I saw a group of from 25 to 30 hens today feeding in a timothy field. Earlier I saw a bachelor group of 5 toms feeding in the same field. The tom's all had long beards.

The season can't come fast enough for me.

[Bruce Hering]

very nice deer what was the spread on the deer looks to be 22 or 24 inch spread...charlie

Charlie: 23" inside

And what was the gross score?

Dean:

Net dry score is 164 3/8. This deer was 5 1/2 years old and if you look closely at the pic you will notice a disparity between G2's and G4's side to side. His left side G2 is 6" while his right side is 14". His right side G4 is about 3" while his left side is almost 8". I made the book in IL and should have had him scored Pope and Young but did not turn it in. The loss of inches by disparity kept me out of Boon and Crocket. Shot with a bow.

Hope ya all enjoyed seeing him as much as I enjoy looking at him behind me.

[Dean Romig]

Right, I did notice the differences left to right, that’s why I asked about the gross score.






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[Shawn Wayment]

Mid April here in Colorado but doesn't get good in my area til the end of April or first of May. I can't wait cause I'm seeing lots of birds this year below where I hunt.

[Bruce Hering]

Right, I did notice the differences left to right, that’s why I asked about the gross score.

Dean:

Gross score would have been over 170 without deductions and drying time.

[Jim Wescott]

We’re thinking spring turkey while drilling through two feet of ice. Not a lot of snow so moose and deer are moving freely. Maine opens May 3rd so we’ll get a jump by starting in Virginia and North Carolina on April 10th. Warm weather coming midweek so our birds will start hollering and that’ll get the sap running! 😆 Good luck to all

[Dean Romig]

Nice togue! Did you keep it?





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[Jim Wescott]

Yes, filleted and skinned should be good. Very deeply hooked and just shy of six pounds. I will chunk up the filets and deep fry in some Cajun seasonings. Not the target species, lake has great brookies and landlocked salmon

[Dean Romig]

What lake were you fishing?





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[Jim Wescott]

Schoodic, great water quality as it’s primarily spring fed

[Dean Romig]

Nice lake - nice area!





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[Tom Flanigan]

I'm seeing a lot of turkeys in timothy and sorghum fields. They have seemed to make it through a somewhat tough winter in good shape. I'm not so sure about the pheasants. A lot of them get taken by the hawks. But there should be enough for the breeding season.

Hawks are a big problem for the pheasants on the property. Since they are illegal to shoot, there seem to be a lot more of them now than when I was a youth. I don't advocate killing them, but I wish the population wasn't so high.

[Phillip Carr]

We are headed up to scout the reservation next Wednesday for a few days. Will buy a predator permit and carry my Remington varmint rifle in 223. Huge amount of Coyotes I’m told right now.
Although that will be secondary to finding the turkeys for March 27th opener.

[Mills Morrison]

End of March for me.

[Randy G Roberts]

Snapped thru the glass of the back door this morning with my cell. I would say they were about 20 yards or less from the house. Wednesday afternoon there were 19 birds best as I could count in the bean field, looked like 12 were toms.

[charlie cleveland]

I got up early this morning to go turkey hunting but it was raining hard...iuse to like to hunt when it was raining but now I don't...got old quick.....the sun came out at 1 oclock so I grabbed my gear and took off...I got to my hunting place and put out two decoys at about 30 yards wind got up and blowed one of my decoys about 50 foot straight at me....put the decoy back up after the wind died down.....used every one of my 5 calls but never heard any thing I stayed till 5.30 and left...going out I seen a fresh gobbler track in a sand bed my spirit was lifted will be back tomorrow for another bout...charlie

[charlie cleveland]

went hunting this morning the wing was blowing pretty good...at 1 30 pm iwent to a bigger bottom I was hunting in a 100 acre field...I forgot my binoculars did see what I thought was a turkey but it might have been some thing else....my eyes aint near what they use to be...will go back Monday and try them again...got the bino s in the truck.....charlie

[Phillip Carr]

Went scouting for turkeys Thursday and Friday. Great trip. I have never seen so many birds. They are still in flocks and haven’t broken up yet. Hopefully by opening day this coming Saturday they will no longer be buddy’s.
My brother George and I slept under the stars, just before daylight while still laying on the cot I let out a best imitation of an owl hoot. 200 yards away turkeys went crazy. Needless to say that got us pumped up.
After breaking camp and locating more birds we stopped at a small lake and threw some lures. We caught and released about 30 small trout nothing bigger than 10”. Rainbows and Browns.
About 10:00 AM we tried calling Coyotes. I was using a Burnham Bros. J1 call. After 3 separate calling sequences over about 15 minutes George whispered two coming in.
I shifted slightly and a coyote spotted me at about 75 yards, I was not in position to shoot. (Carrying my HK 22 Mag. Rifle)
Darn I thought I blew it, about that time 4 coyotes came charging in trying to be the first to the sound of a squealing baby Javelina.
We were sitting back to back but I was able to watch George roll a big coyote with his early Heavy Duck Winchester model 12.
What a great day to be out and be able to share with my brother.

[Dean Romig]

Wonderful times Phil!

My hunting area is still covered in a foot of snow.





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[Bruce Hering]

Our snow is/has been gone for a good bit now. There were two long beards in the north pasture yesterday and I saw about 5 in our lower pasture this morning. I think the breakup is starting. Problem is, I have not seen any hens as of late. I am sure they are there but...

The Parker or the Lefever or the 32" Meriden will get the call....

[Dean Romig]

On my way to Amoskeag Auctions this morning I almost expected to hear "Road Guards Out!" when I had to stop for a couple of minutes for a flock of 8 or 9 hens to cross the street all the while this guy stood there as if to stop traffic.

Our season begins on May 1.


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[Phillip Carr]

I would take that one!!

[charlie cleveland]

went hunting this evening boy was the ground wet...but an ideal day for the turkeys to feed...I call a few times and waited about 30 minutes and called again all at once I seen 2 big long beards feeding uo the center of a field I was watching...they fed up to 71 steps and they sarted to leave I clucked and the one in the lead stopped and raised his head to give me a good bye look I pulled the rrigger...that turkey went down hard and flopped a little...I unbreached the h r single barrel 12 ga but it would not throw the hull out...reached in my pocket for my knife but no knife....yep left it on the reloading bench.... looked at my phone it said 4.10 time of kill....was home and had it cleaned and in the frige by5.30...the turkey was a 2 year old 3/4 inch spurs 19 lbs 9 inch beard....used a single barrel 3 1/2 inch hrwith the new tss 3 1/2 inch 2 1/4 ounce load of tss no 9 s.....believe me these tss no 9s will drop a turkey at 70 yards....I new it was a long shot but I ve shot this gun enough to know it was capable of taking a turkey at 70 steps so as one fellow says the proof is in the pudding....charlie

[Daniel Carter]

I could not be happier for you!!! So glad it came together for you.

[charlie cleveland]

thanks its always nice to be able to just go hunting....charlie

[Dean Romig]

Great job Charlie. Keep on keepin’ on my friend!!





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[Garry L Gordon]

Charlie, It sounds like you had a great hunt. I hunted with an old H&R 36" single shot for years, and I know that being aware of your one chance is critical. Nice job!

[Mike Koneski]

Bought a tag on the San Carlos Indian reservation here in AZ season starts March 27th. When does your season start.


Here in PA we open on May 1.

[charlie cleveland]

finally got luckey yesterday seen 2 big long beards coming my way....would not come in close hung up at about 70 steps...I was using a hr single barrel 3 1/2 inchgun...was using the new ssttungston no 9 shot...turkey dropped st the pull of the trigger....it was 71 steps to where the turkey fell...these shells will drop a turkey at that range all day long..the turkeyhad a 9 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs weighed 19 lbs....charlie

[Mike Koneski]

Charlie, those TSS loads are turkey killing machines!! The shot is expensive but well worth the cost. I'd say that using tungsten can easily increase our kill range by 35-40 yards. Congrats on your Tom! :clap:

[Mills Morrison]

Good job Charlie!

Believe it or not, I found zebra hunting to be a lot like turkey hunting. When Harry and I recover our strength, we will be after them soon enough.

[Shawn Wayment]

Look closely and you see about 60 or so Merriam’s turkeys about 4 miles below my favorite spot! These birds will be at my spot by the end of April as the green up starts. Never seen so many turkeys this year!

[charlie cleveland]

that's some gang of turkeys and single file...hope they stay around for you...charlie

[Bruce Hering]

Look closely and you see about 60 or so Merriam’s turkeys about 4 miles below my favorite spot! These birds will be at my spot by the end of April as the green up starts. Never seen so many turkeys this year!

Shawn: Is that a fence hung dead speed goat or deer in the bottom of that frame ?

[Shawn Wayment]

Shawn: Is that a fence hung dead speed goat or deer in the bottom of that frame ?

I thought at first it was a deer in the fence, but when I got closer it was insulation. :corn:

[Jerry Harlow]

finally got luckey yesterday seen 2 big long beards coming my way....would not come in close hung up at about 70 steps...I was using a hr single barrel 3 1/2 inchgun...was using the new ssttungston no 9 shot...turkey dropped st the pull of the trigger....it was 71 steps to where the turkey fell...these shells will drop a turkey at that range all day long..the turkeyhad a 9 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs weighed 19 lbs....charlie

Good for you Charlie! Now to find all of that number 9 TSS buried deep in the meat before your teeth bite into tungsten.

[charlie cleveland]

I d better bite down real gentle like I still got most of my teeth ...wind up again today and at 51 degrees makes me want to stay by the fire...suppose to be 31 tonight gobblers usally get the lock jaw....charlie

[Dean Romig]

That's because you're inside where you can't hear them...:whistle:





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[Bruce Hering]

I thought at first it was a deer in the fence, but when I got closer it was insulation. :corn:

Thanks Shawn.... Just wondering.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Caught this on cam the other day.... Thought it was a pretty good pic for a game cam turkey pic.

Season opens in Missouri on 4/19.

[Phillip Carr]

We got back Saturday after a week of Turkey hunting. We saw lots of birds and had plenty to call to in the mornings. Due to the high concentration of birds and the fact that they were flocked up the first 5 days. It was tough to actually call the Gobblers in.
Day 6 my brother took his bird. Day 8 I took mine. Just two year old birds but our hunt was coming to a close, and we had had a fun hunt.

[charlie cleveland]

nice birds...always wanted to hunt them turkeys but have never got too...charlie

[Phillip Carr]

Thanks Charlie. I also used TTS shells loaded with 7 shot. The Gobbler was only about 25 yards so not a true test of the pattern but at that range I bet the pattern was not any bigger than a dinner plate.
Here is clearer picture of the Merriam’s Turkey George shot. It weighed 18.8 lbs.

[Randy G Roberts]

I may hunt off the porch.

[Garry L Gordon]

I may hunt off the porch.

Sounds like a plan. I guess you would need camouflage with white stripes, though.:bigbye:

[Mills Morrison]

I am still recovering from zebra hunting, but hope to go this weekend

[Chris Robenalt]

Nice birds Phil! I see you were on the San Carlos. We always went up to Point of Pines. Were you in the area? Guided?

[Phillip Carr]

Yes up by Point of Pines. No guides it was a do DIY hunt. Hunted toward Ten of Diamonds, also fished the Black river with some success for Trout and Small Mouth bass.

[Chris Robenalt]

I miss that area. We used to fish, hunt, picnic and enjoy the cool air. Did you catch the Apache trout on the black?We'll have to get together soon for a shoot Phil.

[Phillip Carr]

Sounds good.
No Apache trout. Caught and released quite a few Rainbows and Browns.

[Cory Rams]

Sounds good.
No Apache trout. Caught and released quite a few Rainbows and Browns.


I have stream that flows through my property it has rainbows, browns, and Brook trout... didn’t open till yesterday. It was about a rock throw from where I harvested my turkey. My personal best Brown out of the stream is 26” and a 5 1/2 pounds.

[Stephen Hodges]

Here in New Hampshire it started yesterday, May 1. My season got going at 0550 when I shot this 21 Lb Tom with a 9” beard.

[Bob Hayes]

Just saw this thread.
Nice birds Phil I need to come out there and chase those birds.
We started March 6th this year and just finished April 25th. very long season here bit lots of fun.IN withdraws now have to fish to adjust.
Nice birds to all and be safe.

[charlie cleveland]

very good birds hope theres more to come....charlie