Embrace the challenges and rewards of wildland turkey hunting

Idaho hunters are blessed with about two-thirds of the state being publicly owned, and hundreds of thousands more acres are open for public hunting. That provides great opportunities for turkey hunters because many birds are found on public land where anyone can hunt them. But be prepared for – and embrace – the challenges when you hunt these birds on their own turf. 

Wildland turkey hunting

In some places, turkeys are year-round residents in a relatively small area. This is pretty common when they inhabit private agriculture lands, and if you have permission to hunt those birds, you’re likely in for a fun hunt. 

But hunters can also find turkeys in vast national forests, Bureau of Land Management land, Fish and Game’s Wildlife Management Areas, State Endowment Lands, and other properties where Fish and Game has secured access for hunters. Combined, there are millions of acres in Idaho to pursue turkeys. 

These birds can pose much different challenges than birds that reside year-round in one location. Wildland turkeys can be widely dispersed and mobile, as well as cagey and challenging to pattern. A savvy public lands turkey hunter may want to mimic the tactics of big game hunters by hiking off the beaten path to scout and locate flocks, and plan to spend plenty of time in the woods and fields pursuing them. 

Finding the flocks

When you’re scouting, the easiest way to locate birds is usually with your ears. Male turkeys have an almost irresistible urge to “shock gobble” when they hear certain noises, and there are many calls available to elicit a shock gobble, including hen calls. 

Getting a Tom turkey to gobble can help you locate flocks from a distance, and in areas where they’re not easily visible. Another option is finding a vantage point where you can view a lot of country and use binoculars, or a spotting scope, to locate flocks. While turkeys in a green pasture can be conspicuous, they blend surprisingly well into timbered or brushy terrain. 

When scouting, remember that in many parts of Idaho, turkeys may not remain where you spot them in early spring. Turkeys typically follow the snow line up in elevation as it melts and green forage becomes available, so if you scout too early, the birds may be gone when the season opens in mid-April. And where you found them in early or mid April, they may have moved on by May. 

You can also hike in the woods and look for sign, such as tracks, feathers and scat. Dirt roads, especially those gated, can be good places to find turkey sign in the spring and give you a clue where turkeys are feeding or passing through. Recently scratched up earth can show you where they’ve been feeding, lingering and dusting themselves. 

Turkeys tend to like areas that are a mix of trees, brush, and meadows, or grassy slopes. Logged or recently thinned areas are often magnets for turkeys because they provide a good combination of open terrain and mixed vegetation. 

Always be on the lookout for a roost tree, which can be the motherlode of turkey hunting because the flock will often return daily to that roost site unless disturbed. 

Daily patterns vs. seasonal patterns

Turkeys will often have a daily routine where they roost, feed, wander and return. They tend to be most active and vocal early and late in the day. 

If you understand their patterns, you can pinpoint an area to hunt them. But as earlier mentioned, turkeys also have seasonal movements, typically moving up in elevation during the spring similar to deer and elk as they search for fresh forage.

That migration may be slow and steady, so you may have a chance to locate flock again where you first spotted them, or nearby, but a little higher in elevation. Turkeys tend to return to the same general areas each spring, so you may find them again the following year if the snow has melted and weather conditions are similar. 

Switching from scouting to hunting

The two are essentially the same, with the obvious difference being you’re trying to get close enough to take a shot when you’re hunting. A few things to keep in mind when hunting public land, or publicly accessible land. 

First, you probably aren't going to be alone out there. Making turkey sounds may attract other hunters, and don’t be surprised if you also get fooled by the calls of someone else. After all, you’re both trying to mimic a real turkey. 

Also, beware other hunters may have turkey decoys out, so if you spot a turkey, make sure it’s a live bird. 

If you realize you’re in another hunter’s territory, move to another area. If someone unknowingly comes into an area that you’re hunting, safely get their attention by waving or calling out if necessary. It may spook a flock, but no turkey is worth a hunting accident. 

Competition between hunters can be frustrating, but be a good sport. The other person worked as hard to locate the birds as you did. These situations can usually be resolved amicably by talking to the other hunter. 

If you want to avoid other hunters, get as far away from roads and trails as you can. You can also opt to hunt later in the day because many turkey hunters focus on mornings and are out of the woods by late morning or early afternoon. Remember that Toms will gobble throughout the day, they just tend to do be more vocal early in the morning and in the evening. 

Also, consider hunting later in the season. Most spring general hunts last until May 25, but many hunters focus their efforts on the first couple weeks of the season. Spring breeding season lasts well into May, so you have the opportunity to call in a Tom throughout the season. 

The challenge is part of the reward

Turkey hunting can be fun, exciting and rewarding when you locate, call in and and shoot a Tom. It can also be frustrating when you get up early, hike for hours and never see a bird. But if you’re seeing fresh sign, or hearing birds in the distance, you know they’re out there. If you’re persistent, it’s probably a matter of time until you cross paths with them, and that’s where the excitement begins. 

You have to accept that there’s a lot of country where they could be hanging out, and it’s up to you to find them. That makes the feeling of success more rewarding, and what you learn one season is experience you will carry over into the next. 

Embrace the challenge, and appreciate that you’re pursuing a great game bird in some of Idaho’s most beautiful wild country.