What States Have You Hunted Turkeys?

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

One thing about hunting out of state is building relationships and getting knowledge from those who have came before you. I'm curious where some of our members have hunted turkey's. Maybe somewhere they lived before, on a trip, or because their an addict and like to chase turkeys anywhere they can.

Myself:
British Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Oregon
Washington

This year I'm adding:
California
Nevada
Utah
...Maybe
Colorado
Montana
Wyoming

[Cab]

Just here and back home in Maine for me. I'd love to try Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Hawaii!

[Russ McDonald]

Here and California (where my addiction started).  Thinking about Idaho, got invited out to MO when I want, home of course in MN and FL.  So you can guess why FL and MN or MO holds easterns.  I have my merriam and rio.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

[Cab]

Here and California (where my addiction started).  Thinking about Idaho, got invited out to MO when I want, home of course in MN and FL.  So you can guess why FL and MN or MO holds easterns.  I have my merriam and rio.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

Good call on FL, I have my eastern and merriam I need my rio now. Might have to do some research and see if I can make that happen this year.

[Bluemoon]

Just Montana for me.  Because there it is legal to hunt them with dogs. It is quite a thrill to walk up to your dog on point and flush a Turkey.  0r have your Springer working heavy cover and having a flock explode at your feet.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Just Montana for me.  Because there it is legal to hunt them with dogs. It is quite a thrill to walk up to your dog on point and flush a Turkey.  0r have your Springer working heavy cover and having a flock explode at your feet.

You can use a dog in Montana? That sounds like a good time. I know some of the eastern states allow it in the Fall. Did no there was a state so close here in the West. Is it for fall only too?

[Machias]

Missouri
Virginia
Washington
Idaho

[actionshooter]

Here and very fortunate to hunt some private land in Tennessee, that was pretty good.

[kselkhunter]

Just WA and OR (where I grew up) for me.  Going back to my old stomping grounds this April in southern Oregon.  Should draw the spring bear tag there as well as there are so many tags (Oregon set the bear/cougar tags for non-residents at the same price as resident, which is nice....I always have a bear/cougar tag in my pocket in Oregon...well technically on my phone as Oregon has gone digital with tags).

[Limhangerslayer]

Washington and Idaho for me.  Oregon was amazing last year!  No hunters and tons of birds.  Adding Idaho this year and Oregon again, of course Washington every year

[WapitiTalk1]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

[kselkhunter]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

If you brine them and smoke them, the wild turkeys are tasty.


Spring turkey and archery elk are my favorite hunts....calling in the animals is fun. I do both archery and shotgun on wild turkey.  They don't seem to care.  One year my best friend shot a tom with a shotgun, and 10 seconds behind it came a second tom that I shot.  The second tom didn't care about the shotgun noise, and just proceeded to kick the heck out of the flopping dying first tom.  Was an interesting sight. 

[brokentrail]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

I enjoy them but I also don't cook them like most would a turkey.  Rolled in flour and fried breast strips and I use the dark meat for pot pie filling, soups, etc.

West Virginia
Wisconsin
Illinois
Missouri
Washington
Tennessee

[Turkeyman]

Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Kansas, Florida

[Jpmiller]

Is it just a coincidence Florida keeps popping up or is there something special about it you guys are seeking out?

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

Non sense, if you've had grain fed beef and then grass fed beef or venison or elk, you know the difference. Yes Venison and Elk can be great straight on the grill and so can "some" turkey. There are tons of ways to get around the "gamy" taste of turkey. But know they don't always compare to a butterball.

Couple Tips I like:
Brine it if you brine your upland, aka a salt bath or a salt and brown sugar bath.

Breast = Crock pot or pressure cooker with a jar of salsa (unbelievable shredded tacos) or just cut strips for jerky
Thighs = Good pot pie meat and super easy to get at for grinding and making ground breakfast meat
Legs = I like them in turkey noodle soup or turkey pot pie (can use the above cuts for this too), slow cook to get it off the bone and tendons out, makes a broth with and your cook'n from there.

I don't leave the field without every last edible piece of the bird (including not mentioned above wing, neck, gizzards, heart, and liver). I could go on and on about all the ways to prep wild turkey.

I struggled out the gate refining my techniques but now friends are asking me to make wild turkey when they come over.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Is it just a coincidence Florida keeps popping up or is there something special about it you guys are seeking out?

Florida has the Osceola turkey which is one of the four sub-species you need for a grand slam. Only found there. They also have Easterns so if you go really prepared you can get an eastern and Osceola in Florida and a Merriam and Rio about anywhere here out west for your grand slam.

[EWUeagles]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

Any person who says wild turkey isn't good I instantly know they are horrible cooks. I did turkey schnitzel last year and everyone loved it.

[C-Money]

Wild birds are great to eat! We use a turkey bag and bake them...delicious. I think wilds are sweeter in flavor.
I've hunted Washington and Pennsylvania. Great fun.

[Russ McDonald]

My wife hates store bought turkey but loves wild turkey.  We usually breast the turkey.  I have baked them, stripped them and made jalapeno poppers.  Like all wild game it is all in the way you prepare and cook the meat.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

[Jpmiller]

Is it just a coincidence Florida keeps popping up or is there something special about it you guys are seeking out?

Florida has the Osceola turkey which is one of the four sub-species you need for a grand slam. Only found there. They also have Easterns so if you go really prepared you can get an eastern and Osceola in Florida and a Merriam and Rio about anywhere here out west for your grand slam.

Cool, thanks

[Cab]

The eastern birds I use to shoot in Maine honestly were not great eats when I would brine them and grill them. They had a funk to them but then a coworker brought some in that he smoked and it was totally awesome. I smoked my bird last year and my wife's family that NEVER eats wild games or has ever hunted LOVED it. They sometimes get a bad rap but they can be amazing. Hunting them is by far my favorite kind of hunting, beats everything else if you ask me.

[CJ1962]

Washington and Florida for me.  I had a 2 year assignment in Florida and got one on public land.  One of the WMAs that don’t require a draw, what the locals affectionately call a Romp and Stomp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Washington and Florida for me.  I had a 2 year assignment in Florida and got one on public land.  One of the WMAs that don’t require a draw, what the locals affectionately call a Romp and Stomp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Curious which one.... I hunted Green Swamp and Upper Hillsborough while in Florida. Bird put the slip on me at one but I was successful on the other.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CJ1962]

3 Lakes and Bull Run for Turkeys.  I killed a pig in Green Swamp.

Washington and Florida for me.  I had a 2 year assignment in Florida and got one on public land.  One of the WMAs that don’t require a draw, what the locals affectionately call a Romp and Stomp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Curious which one.... I hunted Green Swamp and Upper Hillsborough while in Florida. Bird put the slip on me at one but I was successful on the other.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DOUBLELUNG]

NH, WY, NE and WA.  Nebraska is the only stated I've hunted turkeys as a nonresident.

[follow maggie]

Only Washington for me, but this year I'm adding Montana & maybe Wyoming.

[follow maggie]

You guys and them big birds. Never targeted them but I’m sure it’s a hoot to hunt em, especially with a bow.  Heard from many that they are not quality table fare?

Any person who says wild turkey isn't good I instantly know they are horrible cooks. I did turkey schnitzel last year and everyone loved it.

 

[birddogdad]

PA and Western WA so far. doing NorCal this season early April and Eastern Wa late may too!  Looking into FL for '21

[Birdguy]

Washington and Montana 

[kevinlisa06]

Just Washington for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[birddogdad]

many years ago:
virginia
wa
Pennsylvania
new York

recently:
wa

this year:
wa
cali

next year looking to add a few states if i can swing time including:
florida but wont pay 2K for guided!! all DIY probably from central florida hub - tough sell to wife...
idaho maybe

[duckmen1]

Washington

[Big game archer]

WA and ID for me every year. The ID mountain birds are just too much fun 

[northwesthunter84]

Here and I hunted the first season in Illinois after they restored populations, so 1999. I am going to hunt Illinois again 2021 just not enough vacation time this year. Also looking at Idaho in the future.

[Whitenuckles]

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Florida, Utah, Tennessee, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.
That's in the order from when I was a kid. But last year only Wa and Idaho.

[Limhangerslayer]

Is it just a coincidence Florida keeps popping up or is there something special about it you guys are seeking out?

Osceola's

[tukeyman]

Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and hopefully Washington this coming spring.  Kickin off my 2020 season way out west visiting my brother in law