noob here - What do I look for when scouting?
 

Hello all. One of my goals for this year is to take the hunter safety class. I'd like to hunt turkey. I can't take the class until the summer, but in the meantime, I spend a lot of time running and hiking on trails. I'd like to scout a few public lands out while I am doing this. What do I look for? I know what turkey tracks look like, but is there a link or resource that tells me other signs, and what time of year the occur at? Thanks!

ETA:

Just saw the Specific Turkey Tips and Tactics forum. Feel free to move this thread if it would be more appropriate there.

Look for feather and poop and scratchins and listen

It's not so much looking in the spring as it is listening for gobbles before the season starts. Fall turkey I would scout for scratchings, feathers, turkey turds.

What can I look for in the winter?


By the way, thanks for the responses, all.

Their behavior changes from winter to spring. So winter scouting would at best give you a general idea that there are turkeys in the area.

I would spend most of my time listening in the mornings the last of march and till the opener and try and locate gobblers that way... And also try and pay attention to the parking areas the closer it gets to the season opener... That will give you an idea of the areas that get hammered...

When I'm looking for Mariam's here in co. I first look for water and roost trees then after locating the roost area you can put the rest of the story together.

During the winter they will be in large flocks. Pay attention to where the flocks are, they wont travel too far from their food source. Wait till the first of march and just listen and document where they are and make a game plan.

If your state is having a drought like many others the water is the key!

RMG, will turkeys always return to roost in the same grove of trees like a "base camp," or will they just roost wherever they end up when the sun goes down?