Last minute turkey trip

[Frac]

I found out today I'm being forced to burn a week of vacation. If I'm going to use vacation, then damnit I'm going to go hunting or fishing. I'm thinking of going OTC Turkey. I haven't hunted them since I was a kid many years ago in a different state.

Will birds at elevation be strutting later than birds on the plains? I'm hoping to buy a little time to gather up my spring camo gear, practice with my 30 year old box call, pattern the shotgun, and, in general, try to get my act together.

What else can you guys tell me to shorten my learning curve?

[ray1970]

Before I realized this was in the hunting section I just saw the title and wondered what kind of fool would want to go to Turkey right now.

[hunterhawk]

Watch some turkey hunting videos? My experience is Turkey hunting in Colorado is tough. At least compared to MI and NE. Unfortunately NE closed its boarders to NR turkey hunters becsuse of covid. I have never hunted KS. The birds will be more active in the plains first as it will be warmer first.. but they will be active in snow too when they are really going. The weather coming up sucks. If you van postpone your vacation until the weather gets nicer you will have a much better chance

[Frac]

I turkey hunted southern Ohio years ago. Amazing turkey hunting in some areas there. I expect it?ll be tougher here, but I am really OK coming home without a bird. I will enjoy hunting, and I might as well start learning turkeys in Colorado.

[Mazin]

Some of the toms in Phillips County are pretty good size. They were bigger when my wifes great aunt was feeding them though. I bet the miss her because I know they don't miss me

[Frac]

LOL!

Thanks for the info so far. Please keep it coming.

@Mazin how relatively early or late in the season were you hunting them out on the plains?

[whitewalrus]

I used to wait till later in the season to chase them at higher elevations, but you can still find them early in the season and may not have as many other people out there.

[def90]

I see turkeys all the time, unfortunately they are never on huntable property.

The river bottoms along Left Hand Creek between Boulder and Longmont, the river bottom along Boulder Creek East of Longmont running in to St Vrain State Park, the butte on the East side of I25 at Tomah Road in Larkspur and all along East Plum Creek. Just a few of the places I've seen them in the last month..

[Frac]

Thanks guys! Still trying to decide the best week to head out. I?m a bit concerned about some of the forest closures I have read about.

I see them in the spring in the pastures across the street from the tree farm on 52.

[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.