Turkeys in Northeast New England

Phil J. · 04-20-2004, 10:58 AM

Any guys on this board doing some turkey hunting next week in Mass., RI, NH, or Conn.? Went out this morning trying to locate some birds and didn't hear a gobble, it was perfect weather for some noise. The areas I typically hunt have been going down hill the last couple years.

Without giving out any exact locations, any guys who hunt in Conn. have any success stories. I hear the bird hunting in Conn. is pretty good, is it worth trying it out. I was thinking about investigating eastern Conn., from what I've read there are state land areas that are lottery only, that probably provides limited hunting access, what's the success rate for getting a permit. thanks for any advice.

Hey Jay, have you been out getting ready for the season yet? Seeing or hearing anything up your way?

Western MA Hunter · 04-20-2004, 01:26 PM

CT was great last season. Our crew all took at least one long beard in the first week. It's turkey heaven!
I took a nice 19 lb w/ inch and a half spurs.

I will be hitting the hills next monday the 26th to hopefully fill one of my MA tags. I've been seeing them.

I'll keep you posted.

Strut&Rut · 04-20-2004, 07:10 PM

Growing up in NY, I moved to CT 6 years ago and thought I would be disappointed...boy was I wrong.

The state is almost infested with birds, in spots---luckily I've got access to a few spots with large flocks.

I live in the NE section of CT, and there are plenty of longbeards.

I haven't heard much vocalization in the way of gobbles yet, although on Sunday afternoon I did see a nice tom gobbling his fool head off in a nearby field at 4:30.

Season opens May 5th, so I'm still 2 weeks away from tomorrow.

MA Jay · 04-20-2004, 07:53 PM

Up here in Northern Mass it's been the exact opposite of what you are describing down by you. In fact, in the last 2 years the population of turkeys in Northern MA has really increased... areas I had never seen a single bird I now see flocks of them. The large flocks in the residential areas where they are completely safe have allowed there #'s to grow high enough for them to spread their range.

I have been out scouting and have only heard limited gobbling. Almost all on the roost, going silent as they hit the gorund. With the warm spell I think we'll all notice an increase in activity. Have some nice flocks in NH I have patterned pretty well. The Mass birds I hunt seem more hit or miss ... sometimes they are there in good #'s .. other times you can't find a track. I've been seeing deer EVERYWHERE!

Any chance we could get out some morning Phil? Can't promise birds .. but I've got good land to try. I promise to leave the SWAT team at home!

Phil J. · 04-21-2004, 05:39 AM

Thanks for the info. in Conn. guys, it looks like I might seriously consider hunting over that way next season, as long as I can convince my employer to give me some more vaca. time I'll be all set. It's frustrating because I like to hunt before work and the last couple seasons that effort has been absolutely fruitless!

Glad to hear you've got some birds up your way Jay, yeah I might have to take you up on that offer. Would a saturday hunt work out for you or will you be up in NH? I'm saving my limited vaca. days this year for a potential Montana hunt in the fall so I won't be able to take many off to hunt turkeys during the week. Drop me an email, pnjagoda@hotmail.com.

RayC · 04-21-2004, 08:29 AM

I am in Ct also, I hunt state land (lottery area) on the western edge of north-central CT or eastern edge of North-western CT depending on how you want to look at it

. It can be pretty good there , but not as good as where Strut&Rut is I don't think. I think the success rate for lottery areas is pretty good also, but private land in general should be better (plus an extra tag). I've been hearing gobbling regularly in my area at first light ( heard at least 5 in the 3 places I stopped this AM), but I'm a firm believer in the idea that 'wind from the east- gobbling is least

', so I tend to stay home those days.

Phil J. · 04-22-2004, 07:51 AM

Went out for a third morning in a row before work to locate some toms before the season opens, again not one gobble heard, it sure does take the excitement out of the pre-season when you don't hear any gobbling.

However I did see one tom strutting in the gas line cut on my way back out, which was nice but still doesn't make me feel too confident for the season. This sucks!!

vtbuckrulrss · 04-22-2004, 09:15 AM

hey Phil, hasn't anyone told ya you are in southern new england, not n.e., lol? i have been scouting for two video crews up here in VT for weeks, and we have birds of all shapes and sizes everywhere! hopefully, everyone gets at least a crack at a bird, i have about 24 different birds of all sizes scouted, from 2" beards, to 8" plus beards. i think there might be a couple of bearded hens in the mix, too. one bird, the one i want, has about a 3" beard, but 1+" spurs. he stands head and shoulders above the four he is running with. and they are gobbling like crazy, got two going that i never saw, they would cut me off, or respond immediatly after i stopped. and from what i have heard, the birds are going nuts in Maine right now, too

Phil J. · 04-22-2004, 10:42 AM

The reason I posted "Northeast New England" is because there seems to be alot of PA and NY guys on this forum, so I wanted to narrow it down "some"

Hey, thanks for the supportive info. Vtbuckrulrss, glad to hear you've got toms gobbling out yer arse and I don't have didly sh!t down here, thanks, thanks alot!!

Yeah I know I'm in the wrong area, I'm dying a slow, methodical death down here, but thanks anyways!

Maybe I'll just come up there to VT and jump out behind a tree and grab that turkey by the neck right before you get your shot on video, how about that!! :-) No I'm not bitter. Anyway, good luck up there filming your hunts, sounds like your in the mix and lined up for a good season.