Baiting turkeys

[jk2paintworx]

Is it legal /ethical to feed turkeys to get them patterned to a area?  I am new to turkey hunting and I have heard several opinions on this. The reg book says it's illegal to bait game birds which seems pretty cut n dry. But I have been told that as long as the bait site has been dry for 10 days prior to hunting that it is legal. I am defiantly not wanting to break any laws or be unethical but at the same time, I will be hunting with my young kids so any advantage will help offset the difficulty that comes with hunting with kids. 

[MtnMuley]

Illegal.

[jackelope]

Illegal.

This.

There is no cut and dry time frame that I know of where your bait sight has to be free of bait however...
I wouldn't run the risk, especially with kids/new hunters in tow. Take them out and let them experience a true turkey hunt and call one in for them. It will be a memory made that will last forever....trust me...I was that kid once.

[Netminder01]

Pattern the birds without feed.

I've had my success (albeit limited) putting time in the woods and finding out where they roost for the night. If you're hunting on private land large enough to hold a few different groups, I bet the landowner knows a few spots. Try to find out where they roost and set up a decoy early in the morning with a few subtle calls being sure not to spook the birds on the way to set up.

Turkeys coming out of their roost in the morning is like a few jets doing low deck flyovers. :-)

Enjoy!

[CP]

Completely ethical, but illegal in this state.

[jasnt]

Completely legal to plant food plots. Turkey's love imperial whitetail clover!

[Jester052]

Illegal. Pattern birds with boot leather!

[jk2paintworx]

Thanks guys.  Will invest the time and do it the right way.

[Jingles]

I get a kick out of the fact that as hunters we can not bait turkeys but Property owners can go through the food on their property to keep the birds from going onto public land...

[BOWHUNTER45]

Couple more laws should be added to the list ...No blowing them off the limb and no drive by shooting ...Just my  Wish goes on way to much !

[benhuntin]

Couple more laws should be added to the list ...No blowing them off the limb and no drive by shooting ...Just my  Wish goes on way to much !

Once again one hunter thinking his morals should be the law.

[Dhoey07]

I get a kick out of the fact that as hunters we can not bait turkeys but Property owners can go through the food on their property to keep the birds from going onto public land...

99% of land owners hate turkeys

[Ridgeratt]

I get a kick out of the fact that as hunters we can not bait turkeys but Property owners can go through the food on their property to keep the birds from going onto public land...

99% of land owners hate turkeys

Turkeys are worse than Pigeons when it comes to the mess they make around farmers buildings. Roosting in the rafters of shed dropping on the cars. Have one friend who uses a push broom to haze them so they can get to the cars. Not to count the amount of feed they eat from their chickens and other birds they own.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Couple more laws should be added to the list ...No blowing them off the limb and no drive by shooting ...Just my  Wish goes on way to much !

Once again one hunter thinking his morals should be the law.

[jasnt]

I get a kick out of the fact that as hunters we can not bait turkeys but Property owners can go through the food on their property to keep the birds from going onto public land...

99% of land owners hate turkeys

Turkeys are worse than Pigeons when it comes to the mess they make around farmers buildings. Roosting in the rafters of shed dropping on the cars. Have one friend who uses a push broom to haze them so they can get to the cars. Not to count the amount of feed they eat from their chickens and other birds they own.

  late fall is a great time to knock on doors.  This is when land owners are about fedup with turkey's.