Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Hey all just wondering what state you think is the best turkey hunting state?- I know its not Georgia becauseI have hunted turkey for years and have only took one!

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Of all the places Ive been Florida Is still my favorite! I Love huntin these log hoppers down here.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Tough question because there are many variables...

Cost and travel expenses are factors. Gaining access to productive lands another factor.

In Washington, I believe you can get 3/4 of your grand slam so that would be a selling point. For specific sub species, you could breakdown states and have some good opinions... IE: Texas for Rios

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

being from Missouri, i would have to say that Missouri is my favorite

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

id say PA, they are a tough bird to get here w/ all the hunters but if you get one most of the time you worked very very hard to get it and you feel a lot better about it. plus its so beautiful here in PA

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Well, I've hunted in 17 different states for turkey and my vote is "OHIO"...without question !!! The worst is PA...it has by far the most ambush specialists..guys that sit there and wack em' on the way to the field or to a decoy...and this from a 38 year veteren of the turkey wars in my home state..if you've actually called a spring gobbler in, in PA on open ground consider yourself a calling expert and a real turkey hunter !!

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Well I've did it a number of times in Pa. just ask jalvja lol

The Best , can be taken into a number of different terms. For Population count TX can not be beat. If your looking at country and want to see the whole show of turkey hunting , then SD is the Place. If your looking for a challenge then a Place like PA or Florida or even here in Ontario.

All and All any place can be great if you hit the right time and the birds are working the way they should...BT

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

i really like the hills of south dakota for hunting tukeys but it probaly is not the best state for hunting them

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

There are no Turkeys in Missouri

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

there are on the land i hunt

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Frank i agree w/ you about other hunters "ambush specialists" that is a big problem, meaning that there are hunters thatsneak in between you and the bird.but i bet that is everywhere and since PA has so many hunters it happends a lot more.. but ive been hunting turkeys for 18yrs now and i never shot one w/ using a decoy(not that there is anything wrong w/ that)and ive called up 99% of them. and yes its hard to get one in PA but thats why it makes it feel so much better when you do get one. PA has lots and lots of turkeys, what are we like #3 w/ the most turkeys?

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Hey Moose! I like your hat.

The best state to hunt turkeys in....that post-adrenaline rush of stunned surprise right after you realize your anticipation came true and things are about to progress to the next level! ;)

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I love it here in Iowa!!!

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

OK;)

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Don't want to get into a pissin match here, but TN as the second largest Turkey population knw only to TX. Thought they have more per county our birds are ussually 3-6 pounds bigger and healthier. Thats based on a natural wildlife study from 1999 - 2004...

I have never been let down.... in TN or TX

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Well the state does have seasons for turkey hunting.
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/deertuk/

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

How about Missouri, Iowa, Texas, Nabraska(spelling), Pa, Ohio....

If I had to pick one I would prob say Texas

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

My favorite place to hunt is in North Missouri (just a few miles from where the Drury boys hunt) but I do enjoy the turkey hunting here in South Arkansas and in the Ouachita Mountains.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I live in Indiana and we have good turkey hunting but every spring I will also head to Northern Missouri. I would have to say Missouri is the best. Arrowmaster

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

It's Texas! All those loudmouthed Rios...no wait... Missouri, all those big easterns...no...South Dakota has all that public land for those beautiful Merriams...but then, only Florida has Osceolas!:D

Seriously, it's all in what you want. I've been in SW Texas where I heard over 50 gobblers from one spot when the sun popped up. The Texas hill country produced two big vocal gobblers in two days that both had spurs over 1 1/4".

I've been in Nebraska and watched a whole flock of Merriams fly up at dark into a tree right in front of me. Man I loved those hills.

I've had some unpressured east Texas easterns practically run over me to find that "hen" calling.

I hope to find out what the south Florida Osceolas are like in the next couple of springs. I also hope to hunt WV with a couple of friends soon and I'd love to see what Missouri is like in April. And another trip for Merriams in definitely on my wish list. Maybe Montana next time? Or New Mexico? I hope to be able to answer your question some day...after I hunt some more states!;)

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Kentucky for me. I live here and chase big gobblers all spring long. I run a small guide service and have excellent success. There are a ton of long beards and not a lot of hens. Birds can still be tough at times. Its not uncommon to kill a bird that weighs upwards of 27lbs. Big Easterns...doesn't get much better than KY.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Friend, how can you say Georgia is not a turkey state? I have taken 3 birds every year for the last 5 and all on public land. I think maybe you should go with someone that does make consistant harvest, before you give up on this great state. Remember it doesn't matter how good you are if there are no turkeys on the land. Scout, Scout, Scout and then Scout some more.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I have never hunted turkey's in any other state other than PA. Thats why i am gona hafta day that it is the best state for turkey hunting. but i would like to try hunting them in other states.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Kentucky is the best state to hunt turkeys. In my area only a few people turkey hunt. But everyone deer hunts. All private land too. No pressure

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

No real opinion on this, but I have to say that California has improved its numbers in the last 15 years big time, where now in some counties they are calling the turkey "natural nuisances". I find the numbers in the canyons where my ranch and my families other ranches are greatly increasing, since I and others been keeping the yote population in somewhat a check. An that too. California as well as other states have seen an explosion in predator numbers. I have to say though, those turkeys out here are well fed from my food plots, as well as the neighboring oat and clover fields.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Like some of you guys said there are lots of variables. If you go for challenge I love PA. If you just want to get into birds I love Kansas. Well then theres Nebraska.:eek:

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Tennessee is awfully good ... Ive only been turkey hunting for about 3 years but we do have a lot of them in southern Tennessee and north Alabama ...me and my partner got our first double last year..

dd

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

well, ive never hunted anywhere else, so id have to say PA.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I'd say if you are looking for Osceola's Florida would be the best.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I'd vote for Tennessee.


Tom

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

according to turkey call magzine.jan/feb06, pg.76,texas being #1, missouri #2, & alabama #3, i'm riding with alabama, check it out. www.nwtf.org alabama's limit is 5 a year.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Nice try[8D]

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

well I have hunted wyoming,colorado,utah,new york and new mexico and the best out those would be new york but it was the hardest to call one and alot of private ground so you had to be friendly and utah the only one you have to draw a tag in so even though I live here I have only hunted 2 times in 13 years but the birds are getting smarter so all these rookies wont have such an easy time

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

I second that,Missouri has experienced unfavorable hatching conditions in the past couple of years. Although the turkey harvest has been close to the same, the number of adult birds taken is drastically falling. I live in MO, but do most of my hunting elsewhere now.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

anywhere I hear a gobble works for me

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Then consider yourself the luckiest turkey hunter in the state! In Western Ky where i hunt, the public ground is packed elbow to elbow and all pribvate ground is either leased out or permissioned out!

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Another good try;)

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Parts of Illinoisare getting good since the restocking programs back in the 70s and 80s (I think). I didn't start seeing turkeys until i was out of high school in 1983, then there weren't that many. But, it has gotten much better. On Saturday evening I sat on a hill on my property andwatched 16 turkeys in three different groups, come strolling thru.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

i'd have to say ohio is the best in my opinoin,but there are alot of other good states too.

RE: Whats is the best turkey hunting state?
 

Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska