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The woods are bathed in angular gold light that streams between openings in the trees. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Heres a list of potentially productive public properties across the country, courtesy of state turkey biologists. From Hwy. 1. A lot of our public lands include ground that was simply too rugged and steep to be turned into farm ground anyway, and if you want to see whats way over there on that next ridgeline and beyond, youve got to be able to handle the rigors of getting there.. Be readyas soon as the gobbler steps onto the bench where youre seated, start taking the slack out of the trigger. With everymans land across the country likely to see more pressure than ever during spring 2021thanks, COVIDwe tapped the minds of three experienced hunters to get their advice on public turkeys. Virginia: Big Woods, Cavalier, Clinch Mountain, Dick Cross, Gathright, Goshen/Little North Mountain, Thompson, Phelps, Turkeycock, and Fairystone WMAs. The turkey liked to travel up this ravine after flying down off the roost. Page 12 of 19. Hunters are limited to two turkeys for the season, only one of which may be taken during the youth season. Were back the following day at the same spot, and its Matts turn. He had been in the area the day before, and heard two toms gobbling. And the Manzanoswhat a beautiful place be under the fuzzy morning moonlight. The best times to visit this trail are May through November. Nothing. 3. I wouldnt trade the more meager results I get on public land for any opportunity to hunt some private turkey zoo, even if I could afford it. These juveniles will not have leg spurs, so judging sex by the legs can produce flawed results. Careful to avoid cracking sticks with our steps, we move quietly along. We had hoped to give Bubbles, the new decoy, a chance to strut her stuff, but she had to leave without a date for the day. Today, I hunted with an old friend and hunting partner, again in the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. Arkansas: The Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis national forests, which comprise almost 2.7 million acres. They wont even shut their engines or the radio off, and then theyll hoot or crow call and then drive off. Its two birds in two days for the ace high and seven of spades. Brian Lovett Every Rocky Mountain bighorn in the state is descended from those original Banff transplants. This morning were with our friend Gary Roybal from San Ildefonso Pueblo. He came in, but not anywhere near close enough for a shot, and not into the open area with the decoy. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. The Manzano Mountains are located primarily in Torrance County with a small section on the west side of the mountain located in Valencia County. Checkout Time 2:00 PM. walker hayes' 'fancy like tiktok; smoking laws in california 2022; school city florence unified school district; kerrville breaking news shooting; final fantasy 7 remake best materia for cloud. Whiskey and Palaver at the Dying of the Sun, EcoTour Adventures 2023 Digiscoping Workshop, See the exciting line of Sporting Classics products. Hes been a writer and editor in the outdoors industry for more than 30 years, specializing in turkey and waterfowl hunting, and also covering deer, small game, fishing, and shooting. | We load up the truck and make our way out to meet the group back at the lodge. Coming from the east, Im used to seeing game in tight and up close. Public-land turkey guru Dave Owens with a great spring tom. I yelped and he cut me off. I learn that my hunting buddy for the week is Matt Rice from Vista Outdoors and our guide is Terry Honkanen, a seasoned turkey expert. Illinois: The Shawnee National Forest, which spans 289,000 acres across nine counties. The 2019 season begins April 18 and lasts through May 23, with a special youth turkey season scheduled the weekend of April 13-14. At the first safe spot past the intersection with NM 333, reset your trip meter to zero. If everybody respects the land and takes care of the land as well as respecting each other, it can be wonderful, he adds. Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. The public lands of this country are also some of its most beautiful, and the scenery makes hunting there extra special.. It got quiet again. I dont really see any difference in public-land turkeys versus private-land birds, just as I see little difference in how the various subspecies act, says Weddle, who has authored two turkey hunting books. He had been in the area the day before, and heard two toms gobbling. $ 1,654,400. Your email address will not be published. Checkin Time 4:00 PM. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Information on turkey harvest in New Mexico can be found in the harvest report below: Merriams wild turkeys are the most common sub-species in New Mexico. There was also a demented (perhaps wild?) Page 11 - Find 2096 farm houses for sale on MossyOakProperties.com. I tried to be quiet, but maybe he heard me? Connecticut: Cockaponset State Forest, which covers more than 16,000 acres, with a variety of smaller parcels some hunters might overlook. Even the tracks we found were old and weathered. His featherless neck looks like a shard of turquoise jewelry. Between about 9:30 and 1:30 I set up at the edge of a meadow, but didnt see or hear anything. study of the South Manzano Mountains was especially in order. Once I get set, the gobbler drops into the drainage and does the exact opposite of what we expected. Ryan Chelius started freelance writing during college and landed a summer job as an editorial intern with Field & Stream in 2019. It doesnt faze Terry in the least. This slope narrowed into a rocky ravine. My daughter is the fit one, a high school sprinter and state-qualified pole vaulter; she eases right along. Get away for a weekend, or make us a stop on your road trip. Females will be buff-tipped, To conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation (Read more), Phone: (505) 476-8000 | Toll-free (888) 248-6866, The fall turkey season allows for the harvest of one turkey (either sex). Rio Grande wild turkeys are found in river valleys in New Mexico. The Manzano region of Cibola National Forest also fosters a critical wildlife mission: the Manzano Mountains Raptor Migration Project. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Day 4 And when he starts calling, Owensthe 2018 National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling Contest Senior championuses a consistent, straightforward strategy. Last year, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission documented a record high turkey harvest during the five . The birds gobble constantly the whole time. While we would much prefer to call to a gobbler that is below us, if the situation merits the need to call to a turkey uphill, do it. Can Coolers | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. In recent years, New Mexico has completed several translocations of Goulds turkeys from Arizona. manzano mountains turkey hunting. Then head back to your Hunting HQ at night to kick up your feet and admire the natural beauty of this New Mexico mountain region. Shotgun Range is All You NeedTurkey hunters love to watch a big gobbler walk in from afar, strutting all the way. Box calls, slate calls, wooden peg yelpers, gobblersnothing provoked a response. Wisconsin: The state has more than 7 million acres of public land, including state and federal properties. Youll hear a lot of people talk about how you have to call less or be timid with your calling, and I dont buy into any of that. This year, a friend let me in on their turkey hot spot, so I hunted it exclusively over the season. Situated on 7,680 deeded acres in the foothills of the stunning Gallinas Mountains this central New Mexico ranch has it all! The area feels alive with wildlife, but the windy morning has us worried about silent toms. The decoy is 25 yards out, and just behind it is a small drainage with pines and brush. hbbd```b``V djm &,n So we went back to the same area, arriving just before daylight. The guides had discovered a piece of property loaded with gobblers the morning before. He once penned that as a young man he had fancied being a zoologist of the likes of Spencer Baird at the Smithsonian, or a bird guy like C. Hart Merriam. He probably expected such a yappy, early-rising broad to come running into his gobbles. Some of my most memorable turkey hunts haven't been in areas where you drive to a likely spot, park the truck, walk out, and start calling. manzano mountains turkey hunting INTRO OFFER!!! Montana: Southeastern Montana has many public-land opportunities for turkeys, including national forests, Montana State Trust lands, and Bureau of Land Management properties. Up to two persons may apply per application. Last year while the campground was closed, they changed the layout an. It was too dark to see anything, but I heard a funky yelp/cackle south of the roosting site before first light, and then a few gobbles after the sun came up. We started hiking up a trail, then forked off on to game trails, calling periodically. This week Luke and Larry are talkin camo! Most of this area is still dry and brown this time of year, but there were a few green spots. Weddle takes a careful approach in the woods, striving to minimize his impact and avoid bumping birds. Hes taken a U.S. Super Slam and 106 Grand Slams, the most in history. Contributor Brad Fenson takes to the grill, to cook up some delicious venison burgers. Page 605 of 606. Your rifle is your most important hunting tool, and knowing how to properly clean and store it when hunting season comes to a close is critical in keeping it in tip-top shape. I dont do anything different, he says. So we went back to the same area, arriving just before daylight. We ended up climbing much higher than we anticipated, but were rewarded with some fabulous views before having to scramble back down through the dry brush. hunting, Manzano Mountains, turkey. Weddle also pays close attention to see if other hunters are moving closer as hes calling. Manzano mountains, New Mexico, USA. No matter where he huntsunpressured spots or hard-hunted areasOwens arrives well before daylight and gets in position to hear turkeys and have his calling be heard when birds begin gobbling. Nests are often located in dense vegetation consisting of grass, fallen leaves, shrubs, or at the base of a tree. Terry decides we should set up in an open meadow that he knows birds like to work through. The money raised from these permits is utilized exclusively for the management of Goulds turkey in New Mexico. The Bushnell RXS-250 is built with durable housing and a bright, clear red dot to make zeroing in on your target as easy as possible. Also, there are some public opportunities on national forest land south of Douglas in Hunt Area 2. Hence, I expend a lot more energy and effort looking for turkeys or scouting to find sign of their presence.. Its primal, as though Im sown in this steep hillside that takes extra breath to traverse. Males will have black-tipped breast feathers, Females have buff-tipped breast feathers. When the tom stepped out at 35 yards, I switched to the over barrel and smoked him. This is an ancient endeavor, and theres a moral message to be discovered in harvesting your own local, free-range organic food. A clear turkey track in the Manzano Mountains, New Mexico. All across the state, Rocky Mountain bighorn have reclaimed their native range, from the Manzano Mountains, southeast of Albuquerque, to the Dry Cimarrn region in the northeast, where a tri-state herd roams Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Florida: Use the states wildlife management area finder: myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures. In setting up on a gobbling tom, I think good positioning is half the battle won, so Im going to be much more selective in finding a location that feels right before I ever make my first call, says Weddle. I had my bottom barrel sighted for 25 yards with a modified choke, and my over barrel sighted in at 40 yards with a full choke. Fish and Wildlife Service. Typical roost tree are 14+ inches in diameter, and have branches parallel to the ground that are spaced at least 18 inches apart. Well find one, he says. This allows you to prepare for a shot at two different ranges. The tradition here is to be on him fast, if the turkey flops over the brink of the hill you may in for a long retrieve of your prize. A luxury that you dont get with a single-barrel turkey gun. Matt looks at me and says, youre up first tomorrow.. In my opinion, turkeys make the same sounds and do the same things. Most are of the four-legged type, but the area was once inhabited by . The subspecies distribution can be found here: New Mexico Turkey Subspecies Distribution Map. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Hopefully you can set up on a narrow bench that is often found on the mountainside. Further, the greatest public grounds Ive ever hunted pale in comparison to the greatest of private grounds. He may have been on to us, or perhaps the rising winds drowned out our calls, or perhaps his replies. In 1954, department biologists introduced 13 Colorado birds into the Judith Mountains of central Montana. A Game Hunting License and either an Over-the-Counter Turkey tag or draw permit is required to legally take wild turkey in the state. A turkey diet varies between and throughout years depending on forage availability. Cooper's Hawk made up 14 percent of birds counted, Turkey Vulture 11 percent, Red-tailed Hawk 10 percent, Swainson's Hawk 9 percent . A picnic area is also located on site. 1. Some people will tell you that its bittersweet to tag out in the first two hours of a hunt, but in the moment, at least, its just sweet. Of course, because theyre just east of Albuquerque, the area is brimming with hunters. We listen intently for the tell-tale sounds of a tom. Also, the Sumter National Forest, which extends into multiple counties in the piedmont. He strives to beat the competition by hunting when other folks cantoften Wednesdays through Fridaysand going where they wont, by traversing long distances or identifying overlooked tracts. Length: 3.9 mi Est. The blind shielded me from the water, but there was a couple of big trees and some brush screening me from behind, so I kept an eye out for anything coming down one of the game trails. Manzano Peak at 10,098 feet is the mountains' highest elevation point. RM CYKGYT - Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway at Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest at Albuquerque, New Mexico.