Montana Turkey Hunting

[follow maggie]

I'm planning a turkey trip to Montana this spring. I've been looking for info on reasonably productive areas, but can't find anything, anywhere as to success rates, etc. Maybe it just isn't available for turkeys like it is for big game, I don't know. I'm going to sign up for GoHunt when I have the cash, but I don't think they have anything for turkeys. Does anyone have an idea where I might look for info on places to plan my hunt? I'm thinking the Custer National Forest or wildlife area around Fort Peck Lake, but that's a pretty big area.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Following. I’m hunting MT too this year...

We can compare notes!

[Russ McDonald]

If you have onx maps for MT there is a layer for turkeys on it.  Tou can also look up the local biologist for state or FS to get some info to also the call the NWTF state chapter they might be able to point you in the right direction.  Even better go to nwtf.org they have all the state websites listed.

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[mburrows]

whats taking you to montana to hunt turkeys? Just curious because you'll be driving an extra 8 hours past some great turkey hunting in WA to get to the custer or fort peck.

Those parts of MT are beautiful though so you wouldn't regret exploring out there.

[Stein]

You can shoot turkeys not too far off I-5, my buddy gets his about 20 yards off a highway every year.

[253shotgunner]

You can shoot turkeys not too far off I-5, my buddy gets his about 20 yards off a highway every year.

Dang, are you saying that your buddy is harvesting an eastern turkey every year right off I-5 on the westside?

[follow maggie]

Thanks for the tips everyone. As far as why, I love montana & just want to make a trip and explore some new places. And the license/tag is pretty cheap.

[Dan-o]

Thanks for the tips everyone. As far as why, I love montana & just want to make a trip and explore some new places. And the license/tag is pretty cheap.

Sounds like  a cool adventure.

I really enjoy turkey hunting but never considered going out of state.
Now you've got me thinking about it.     

[follow maggie]

The license & tag is $140. I’ll mix in fishing & whatever else strikes me and it’ll be a fun couple weeks.

[Stein]

You can shoot turkeys not too far off I-5, my buddy gets his about 20 yards off a highway every year.

Dang, are you saying that your buddy is harvesting an eastern turkey every year right off I-5 on the westside?

It's a spur highway off of I-5 on the westside, but yeah.  He pointed out a couple of spots when we were deer hunting last year.  I don't know if there are a bunch of turkeys or he is just dialed in, but I would bet there will be a lot less dudes in the woods then NE WA.

[mburrows]

Thanks for the tips everyone. As far as why, I love montana & just want to make a trip and explore some new places. And the license/tag is pretty cheap.

Right on, more power to ya. Its beautiful out there, wish I had some good intel to share with you for turkey hunting out that way.

There are always a ton of turkeys around the big timber area as well but access can be tough around there.

[Stein]

Montana has plenty of publicly accessible land, OnX will give you all the information you need to find an area.  Consider the first year a big scouting trip and have fun.

You might also google turkey hunting guides and see where they are congregated to give you a few ideas on where to start.

[MerriamMagician]

I hunted around Missoula last spring. From all the research I did it seemed like there was abundant birds in the area, but for whatever reason I struggled to find hardly any birds in the area. I ended up with a Tom after 3 days of hard hunting, but would probably avoid hunting that area again.

[Russ McDonald]

You can shoot turkeys not too far off I-5, my buddy gets his about 20 yards off a highway every year.

Dang, are you saying that your buddy is harvesting an eastern turkey every year right off I-5 on the westside?

It's a spur highway off of I-5 on the westside, but yeah.  He pointed out a couple of spots when we were deer hunting last year.  I don't know if there are a bunch of turkeys or he is just dialed in, but I would bet there will be a lot less dudes in the woods then NE WA.

He is dialed in because there isn't even an 1/8 of the population of birds on the westside compared to the north east corner.  Numbers are around 15k in the NE and east cascade for merriams, say 7500 plus of Rio's is the SE and only 300 easterns on the westside. Some merriams are making it over the pass on 90 and 2.

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[Stein]

Sorry, off I-90 in MT, not I-5.  I shouldn't multitask.

[Henrydog]

I drive over Lookout Pass about 20 times per year.  About 75% there is a couple of big toms on the shoulder of i90 right before you go into Idaho.  Everytime I see them, I make the comment they are way to high in elevation and it makes no sense

[hughjorgan]

I'm planning a turkey trip to Montana this spring. I've been looking for info on reasonably productive areas, but can't find anything, anywhere as to success rates, etc. Maybe it just isn't available for turkeys like it is for big game, I don't know. I'm going to sign up for GoHunt when I have the cash, but I don't think they have anything for turkeys. Does anyone have an idea where I might look for info on places to plan my hunt? I'm thinking the Custer National Forest or wildlife area around Fort Peck Lake, but that's a pretty big area.

Not sure if you found this map of distribution of turkeys in montana...

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNLC14010

[Russ McDonald]

Sorry, off I-90 in MT, not I-5.  I shouldn't multitask.

  Makes a lot more sense now 

[follow maggie]

Sorry, off I-90 in MT, not I-5.  I shouldn't multitask.

 

[follow maggie]

I'm planning a turkey trip to Montana this spring. I've been looking for info on reasonably productive areas, but can't find anything, anywhere as to success rates, etc. Maybe it just isn't available for turkeys like it is for big game, I don't know. I'm going to sign up for GoHunt when I have the cash, but I don't think they have anything for turkeys. Does anyone have an idea where I might look for info on places to plan my hunt? I'm thinking the Custer National Forest or wildlife area around Fort Peck Lake, but that's a pretty big area.

Not sure if you found this map of distribution of turkeys in montana...

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNLC14010

I saw that this afternoon on their website. Thanks for posting it!

[hughjorgan]

I'm planning a turkey trip to Montana this spring. I've been looking for info on reasonably productive areas, but can't find anything, anywhere as to success rates, etc. Maybe it just isn't available for turkeys like it is for big game, I don't know. I'm going to sign up for GoHunt when I have the cash, but I don't think they have anything for turkeys. Does anyone have an idea where I might look for info on places to plan my hunt? I'm thinking the Custer National Forest or wildlife area around Fort Peck Lake, but that's a pretty big area.

Not sure if you found this map of distribution of turkeys in montana...

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNLC14010

I saw that this afternoon on their website. Thanks for posting it!

Not a problem. Lots of good info like the turkey density map too