Last minute turkey trip

[ferrum]

I have had mountain birds strutting and gobbling on the opener, have also had them not make a peep as they run across the trail in front of me.

Make sure you have good walking boots. They have a pretty large range.

I much prefer hunting Rios.

[sniper7]

They are strutting already. Most birds still bunched up from their winter flock but I?m starting to see them breaking apart, I?ve seen a couple hens already on their own further out from normal areas meaning they are nesting.

Out East most OTC is private or a draw only tag so you?ll probably want to look west. I?ve taken my BIL up near rampart range there are birds in there but they will still elude you and you have to catch them coming off private land.
If you know anyone with Riverbottom or close to it property I?d hit them up, if not start looking at some National forest

[Frac]

Hey, thanks for that!

I finally have my dates nailed down. First week of May. Sounds like I?ll be a little late, but I hope access opens up a bit at the end of the month.

[sniper7]

They keep looking for hens well into late May and even June, sometimes they get more desperate finding the hens that didn’t get bred and go further distances. I would think by early May you could get further up, especially if you have an atv to take into rampart

[def90]

Hens may also breed, lay eggs and then lose the nest and start all over again.

[Frac]

Thanks for the encouragement. At first I was upset to be forced to take vacation. Now I can hardly wait the two weeks to take a week off!

[ACE2GOOD]

I have hunted in the Deer Creek canyon area, not high elevation mountains but still mountains. When it's cold they strut later than Eastern gobblers, more into mid-May. But usually they are still in their bigger groups when its cold so you can figure out the area they are in. They will still gobble to locate them but they may not come running into a call. If you can figure out a roost or feeding area time you can get in there and setup for them without having to rely on calling them to come in. Good luck! I forgot the second year in a row to put in before deadline for out East...DOH!

[Frac]

Thanks guys, very kind and generous for these tips.

[spittoon]

3 toms taken off the hill .It was quiet for a day now 6 new long beards strutting the hill some new jakes even showed up.I have only seen 10 hens weird year I should have waited to get a bigger bird

[Frac]

3 toms taken off the hill .It was quiet for a day now 6 new long beards strutting the hill some new jakes even showed up.I have only seen 10 hens weird year I should have waited to get a bigger bird

Nice! Hope I run into some