I see turkeys everywhere I go. In garrett I can remember seeing a flock of at least 150 birds in a friends back yard which was like a two acre field honestly it was probably a lot more birds than that. But that was in like 97 i was like eight. im 22 born in 91. I think you'll connect on savage and you will for sure enjoy the views and scenery. It's such a big place, this areas not bad at all for pressure.

If you are accurately shooting 20 and 30 yards you are ready. When I go I'm using ground blinds instead of tree stands to get me closer, I have shoot through mesh so they won't see what hit em. I'm glad to hear your dad got in on some nice land down there, awesome he was seeing lots of them really gets me pumped. Remember when our regs book had a sika on the cover like six years ago? I've been wanting to hunt them ever since. It's sad that I live here and the furthest I've ever went downstate was Baltimore. So I've never seen the bay or any of that
My first bow was a bear plain black I wouldn't even call it a compound because they were just simple wheels on the ends. Very simple bow. It was big too probably four feet tall. Lol it had no peep sight but that didnt matter because the draw length was 5 inches behind my ear so I just had to shoot instinctively. I killed my first doe with that bow. After I had my first kill an older guy gave me a pse nova because he was switching to crossbow. I feel comfortable out to eighty yards with it now several years later.
If you have a newer bow and practice all the time you shouldn't have a problem shooting out to 50-60 yards by the end of the summer. It's more working that archers muscle and creating muscle memory. Focus on form formost. Draw back the same way every time, push and pull equally. If you don have a kisser get one because that took me from 60 out to 80
Early season we'd get all the nice stags, sept.7 I think is opener?

Last night snow fall, nice big powdery stuff though.

I occasionally turkey hunt in Green Ridge State Forest, located in Allegany County, Maryland. Probably more turkey than deer there.

Btw...Maryland DNR has found another CWD deer case ----a doe shot by a hunter last season --- in the western part of the CWD zone; located in Allegany County. Maryland DNR, is considering expanding the CWD zone.

6 to 12 forecasted for Upper WI and MI tonight!

Okay - screaming Uncle I have had enough.


JW

We got about 6 inches in Frostburg last night, hoping this is the end of our snow.

The boyfriend's family has about 100? acre farm in Westernport so that's where I did all of my hunting last year and will do most of it this year. I've never hunted public land before but I found in spot in Savage River State Forest that looks promising. Not sure if I'm going to hunt it myself, or just try calling a bird in for a friend who wants to get into turkey hunting and has never tried it before. Also hoping to scout Green Ridge when the snow clears up again.


I've seen plenty of turkeys in Garrett myself, that's why I'm hoping to get out and try state land this season. The farm I hunt in Westernport is a great piece of land but turkeys don't use it for roosting, I just have to get lucky and catch them passing through or feeding in the fields. I inherited a doghouse blind this year but not sure if I'll use it on public land. I grew up hunting on the eastern shore and with 400 acres to play with I spent a lot of time moving when I hunted turkeys there. I'll probably just do the same in Savage, find a bird then lean into a tree and disappear. I start work for the DNR Forest Service in Savage next week so I'm hoping to do some accidental scouting while I'm on the clock.

It's a shame you've never seen the bay, I grew up in Annapolis and spent my life fishing/crabbing on it. The farm I grew up hunting on was right on the Wye River. It might not be the crystal clear waters of the Carribean but the fishing makes up for it I suppose. My father has his own boat and we're always taking friends out to fish around the bay bridge. As for bows, the one I just got is a Mission Craze by Matthews. Obviously still learning, but I'm killing my turkey target pretty well at 30 yards. Currently only have it on 40 lbs, hoping to build that up to 50-55. I've dislocated my shoulder twice trying to pull my father's bow which I think is set on 60lbs, so I'm guessing 55 will be my limit. 22 year old with the joints of a 60 year old man here. I got a kisser for it but haven't put it on yet. Should probably get on that.

I'm surprised there's so many western MD hunters on here. Glad to know I'm not alone. I'm hoping to scout Green Ridge in the next couple weeks myself. Hadn't heard about the second case of CWD yet. Not surprising though since it's present in WV, VA and PA.

Dragon I think that's good enough draw weight, accuracy is more important. It's a good idea to try and raise it but don't kill yourself over it. I shoot muzzy broad heads and think everyone should lol they're sharp and relatively cheap. You're shooting good enough to take deer and 40 pounds is plenty with the right broad heads and good shot placement
I bet your kisser alone takes you out to 50
Most of the turkeys I see on roost are at the very top of a ridge
I can't wait for fall already lol I'm gonna pack the forester with people and go get it haha
but the closest town I can see to stay at is cambridge and I wanted to be closer to black water and not have to stay in a hotel but that will probably end up being where I stay

Life in the West..... went scouting but the snow was to deep to get where the turkeys are so that was the trip to know where!

xOEDragonx -- Ask them {DNR Forest Ranger Service} about the year when that hunt club, that has a log cabin above the Log Roll Overlook --- they actually rolled timbered logs from the overlook down to Town Creek --- in Green Ridge State Forest, whose several members were accused of shooting at wild turkey's with rifles. They had all there vehicles and firearms confiscated.

Our hunting party was involved --- about six years ago --- with the DNR Forest Service investigation, that led to preventing a man from verbally disrupting our hunts, and posting land that was originally hunt club private property, but was turned into Green Ridge State Forest property, because of failure to pay taxes.

I know of a few hunter mishaps in Green Ridge Forest:

A deer hunter sat against a wide tree...a rifle bullet enters the opposite side of the of the tree of where he was sitting --- travels in a radius just under the bark of the tree --- and exits out into the man's back; killing him.

A hunter who claimed that he was shooting at a fox during deer season --- the bullet misses the fox and ricochet's against a rock --- which went to strike another hunter; killing him.

At a turkey hunting safety seminar...the teacher told us he was turkey hunting Green Ridge State Forest, with a hen decoy setup. Somebody shot at his decoy, which put shotgun pellet holes in his camo netting that he had set out in front of him.

Erno86 I'm sure all are true, my heart goes out to them, one love
Those are the people you hear off in the distance emptying seven rounds out of their 3030 levers
They have no true skill so they shoot and ask questions later.
They should all be conivicted of manslaughter.
What's the first thing about hunter safety?
KNOW where your bullet(s) will go.

I've had my share of close calls up in Green Ridge --- which back in the late 60's and early 70's --- first day deer season sounded like a small war going off; along with occasional 200 foot long tent cities scattered alongside the forested roads of Green Ridge.

Now...with the advent of early muzzleloader season before the main deer rut, all you hear are scattered shots on first day season for both muzzleloader and rifle seasons. Maryland DNR, tried to have antler point restrictions in Western Maryland, but the farmers voted it down.

Very few grouse in Green Ridge State Forest --- though black bear and coyotes are on a come back --- squirrels are mostly shot out; and it is a rare sight just to see a chipmunk.

I believe the latest rabies epidemic started up in Green Ridge, when some coon hunters brought some trapped raccoons up from Georgia and let them loose in Green Ridge; about 4 decades ago.