Spring Turkeys in the NE corner

[RB]

When is the "best" time for spring Turkeys in the NE corner? Is it early in the season, mid, later in the spring? Does it vary by unit? Just curious, been thinking about it since we saw a bunch last fall Deer hunting. Just a time frame not your "Honey Hole" hahaha 

[Mfowl]

Anytime you can get out there! But I know that's not what you are asking. The opener will be the most crowded. If you have private access then no problem, get after them. However, toms might be henned up and reluctant to come to calls. Mid season is good because hens likely will be nesting and toms can be vulnerable mid day once the hens have split off to lay. Late season can still be good but toms can be wary from pressure and worn out from the "rut." So tactics might need to be tweaked. Though I shot my biggest tom in the late season I prefer the front end, opener through early May. It's been my experience that you can find more birds willing to play the game in that time frame. Another thing to consider is the weather. A late, cold and wet spring may make for a tough opener as the birds might still be in winter patterns. Conversely, a dry warm spring might have the breeding season well underway by the time the season opens up. Hunting when you can is the best bet! Good luck and enjoy getting after them!

[turkeyfeather]

For me.....I have always had the most success the first week of May. Earlier than that the Tom's are much to preoccupied with the hens in their midst to go seeking out new ones. I wait till the initial breeding is over then go after the Tom's looking for hens they missed.

[bearpaw]

If you recognize the variations in spring turkey activity and adjust your hunting strategy and methods to accommodate those changes, you can be successful on nearly any day of the entire turkey season.

[Russ McDonald]

I would also say it is where to set up your hunt.  If you scout and find a roost tree set up early before sun up and you can be successful for most of the season.  As the season gets later and the hens go to incubating her eggs, they no longer go to the roost, so most roosted birds are toms and jakes.  You will have hens in the roost that haven't been bred to.  Most afternoon hunts I have found are alone tom's looking for love and come into your calling.  I have hunted in early season into mid May and have had success.  Early morning off the roost to mid afternoon.

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[RB]

Cool, thanks guys

[hunter399]

Snow might be still hanging around in higher elevations.
In the early season.
Otherwise I agree with bearpaw.

If you recognize the variations in spring turkey activity and adjust your hunting strategy and methods to accommodate those changes, you can be successful on nearly any day of the entire turkey season.

[jrebel]

In the area I hunt it is usually the last week of April fist week of May....but that is usually due to snow melt off and new growth / startup that the bugs love to frequent.  We have killed turkey earlier and later in the same area.....its just when they really frequent our spot in the masses. 

[Machias]

Heard my first gobbles of the season day before yesterday and this morning.  Can't wait!!  I always had better luck mid season and I also hardly go out anymore until 0830ish.  Most of my action comes between 0900 and 1130ish.

[Sakko300wsm]

Saw a nice group of 10 Tom’s and Jake’s yesterday- not a hen in the bunch

[buckfvr]

Im not seeing birds mixing yet, either all toms or all hens.

[Machias]

Im not seeing birds mixing yet, either all toms or all hens.

 

[KFhunter]

*not a turkey guy*

But even my unskilled attempts at calling turkey I can fanagle them in just about anytime

Sometimes they’re all flocked up so I call hens in like a bull that’s cowed up, get in close then challenge toms with a Tom or jake decoys on a submissive hen decoy

Sometimes the hens are all nesting and toms are running around in full rut trying to find a receptive hen so I use hen decoys and use feeding calls


I don’t know what I’m doing, so fwiw

I plan to hunt with a turkey guy this year so hope to learn a ton

I just like to take kids out for a turkey and hope to get better at it

[baldopepper]

This group wandered thru the yard this morning. All toms, no hens around yet

[idaho guy]

Heard my first gobbles of the season day before yesterday and this morning.  Can't wait!!  I always had better luck mid season and I also hardly go out anymore until 0830ish.  Most of my action comes between 0900 and 1130ish.

 


I had some gobbling today too. Took a short walk looking for horns. There were hens around with them also. Not really flocked up but kind of all over lol