Got myself a bamboo striker today. Any advice on how to effectively use this thing? Also, how do ya'll go about locating land to hunt on? I know about the WMA's, but as far as leasing or getting a hunting opportunity on private land, do any of you advertise or anything like that? I know its "illegal" to offer $$ in exchange for game per say, but seems to me thats what hunting lodges do. But, any advice on proven methods to get yourself a hunting opportunity would be appreciated. Any specific tips on hunting South Carolina would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

Carolina, here are some techniques that have opened up opportunities for me to turkey hunt:

Join the NWTF and participate - e.g. teach turkey calling seminars at the JAKES events.

Enter local calling contests and become a familiar face.

Volunteer to help out your DNR with wildlife projects (trap and transplant, controlled burns, etc.)

Become a field rep for a turkey call maker and help him out.

Make your own turkey calls.

Give seminars on turkey hunting.

Knock on doors in February. Just seek permission for yourself for a day or two. Offer to help the farmer out (I have picked up trash, baled hay, cut tobacco, chain sawed trees in pastures, bushhogged, etc. - you get the idea, it doesn't have to be $$)

Offer to take the landowner out and teach him to hunt (got my best turkey hunting partner and some of my most enjoyable hunts this way). Share the game with the landowner. Offer to take the landowner's kids out and teach them to turkey hunt. Let someone else pull the trigger. Take pictures and share them. NOTE: Wait several years before even ever considering asking the farmer if you can bring someone else on the property.

Treat the land and landowner with respect. Visit them during the non-hunting season, and remember them during Christmas, even if it's just dropping off a card. (I had a farmer who decided to give up farming on leased land because of his arthritis - he told the new leasee about me, I still hunt there; another farmer decided to lease his land to a hunt club - he stipulated in the lease that I could still turkey and bow hunt - you do not develop these lifelong friendships with $).

Become a state hunter safety instructor, teach the ethics and hunter responsibility portions.

Offer to guide folks you meet who have land: make it fun and safe, not a contest...

Buy your own land and manage it to improve the brood rearing habitat. (The hens in the spring will know good habitat when they see it! The gobs know where the hens hang out...)

Hike in the national forests, scouting where the crowds can't bring their ATVs.
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It can be done, it takes time and effort, but I have more land than I have time to hunt...
-fsh

Marry a little lady whose relatives have some land!

Very well said...BT

Excellent reply Fshafly!!Ask and I mean ask...I mean be friendly with folk but always make a point to ask.Dont wait till a month before turkey season gets here also or I'll garrantee you'll be behind the crowd thats already beat you to the punch.Look for opportunties all year.And trust me when I say this,once property is aquired treat it as gold as over time things change.

Again, outstanding tips as usual. Great advice. I have already initiated some of it and have a couple of hunts set up for Spring. Ye olde 870 arrived today. I am very happy. Thanks again.

Great answer FSH,Mo I like your idea too

Congrats on that 870...you wont be sorry.