It has been super quiet on the turkey thread this spring. Miss seeing all the reports! Hunted for the first time this morning and had a tom come in behind the blind and give me the slip. Back at it tonight and was able to seal the deal with this nice tom!
Turkey Hunting
2026 Spring turkey reports.
Displaying 1 to 15 of 18 posts
ZONE 2: SHEBOYGAN CO
After 5 days of hard hunting lots of boot and truck miles, the turkey gods came thru and I connected on a dandy long beard.
After a rough Monday night hunt I decided to do a bit of a scouting trip and ended up finding a field with at least 4 toms, it was a long day of work before I could get over to the farm and ask for permission, met two nice gentleman in the driveway and they graciously gave me permission to hunt. Hiked back to a narrow corner of timber on the plowed field edge and put out my trusty 1 hen decoy. Found a nice tree tucked back into the woods and hunkered in, with the high winds I wasn't expecting much action until later on near close, let out a few purrs and loud yelps and stayed quiet, about an hour into the sit I see two red heads walk out onto the field bout 30yds out one started strutting the other was more cautious and slowly walked and looked at the decoy then some hens filtered out, I slowly raised my trusty 870, and got ready, I only had a few tiny shooting windows thru the brush so I waited but they stayed just to left of me they eventually turned and seemed to want to walk away so I slid forward and this was it the one seen me and started walking swiftly away the other strutter decided to stop and look back one last time and the Longbeard #5's did the job! POW!!! Great bird 11" beard 1" spur solid 2 yr old . Just an awesome night after tough hunting it all pays off, got to love the kings of spring!
One last week I may go up north and try but idk well see, goodhuntin all on this last hoorah!
After 5 days of hard hunting lots of boot and truck miles, the turkey gods came thru and I connected on a dandy long beard.
After a rough Monday night hunt I decided to do a bit of a scouting trip and ended up finding a field with at least 4 toms, it was a long day of work before I could get over to the farm and ask for permission, met two nice gentleman in the driveway and they graciously gave me permission to hunt. Hiked back to a narrow corner of timber on the plowed field edge and put out my trusty 1 hen decoy. Found a nice tree tucked back into the woods and hunkered in, with the high winds I wasn't expecting much action until later on near close, let out a few purrs and loud yelps and stayed quiet, about an hour into the sit I see two red heads walk out onto the field bout 30yds out one started strutting the other was more cautious and slowly walked and looked at the decoy then some hens filtered out, I slowly raised my trusty 870, and got ready, I only had a few tiny shooting windows thru the brush so I waited but they stayed just to left of me they eventually turned and seemed to want to walk away so I slid forward and this was it the one seen me and started walking swiftly away the other strutter decided to stop and look back one last time and the Longbeard #5's did the job! POW!!! Great bird 11" beard 1" spur solid 2 yr old . Just an awesome night after tough hunting it all pays off, got to love the kings of spring!
One last week I may go up north and try but idk well see, goodhuntin all on this last hoorah!
Well, period D was a bust. Hunted a property that has been fairly reliable over the years, but never really got anything going despite hunting pretty hard. There were birds around but mostly using neighboring fields. Considered calling it a season, but bought a period E tag and moved to a different farm in Iowa County. Hunted yesterday morning and had two toms and a bunch of hens working the field I was in. Didn't get much interest from either of the toms until I crawled out and set out a fan. This guy couldn't take it and came in on a string! That's a wrap for me. Time to focus on fishing and trips to the cabin! Good luck to those hunting through period F!!
ZONE 2, WASHINGTON,SHEBOYGAN, OZAUKEE CO'S:
Hunted wed pm had one gobbler come thru at about 7pm never saw him he just stayed in timber. Yesterday AM hunted new spot no gobbling had one hen come thru, hunted PM didn't see or hear anything. Scouted some and glassing fields didn't see any birds out in my area.
Goodhuntin all!
Hunted wed pm had one gobbler come thru at about 7pm never saw him he just stayed in timber. Yesterday AM hunted new spot no gobbling had one hen come thru, hunted PM didn't see or hear anything. Scouted some and glassing fields didn't see any birds out in my area.
Goodhuntin all!
Period D has been pretty tough. Have seen a few birds but really haven't gotten much going or anything to committ. Haven't been able to hunt much this weekend with Mother's Day and other responsibilities, but will hit it hard the last two days of the period. Hopefully others have been having more success than me this week!
I definitely see what you're saying with that pic, FLM. A pellet or two in the right spot it all it takes to kill a bird, so i wouldn't be surprised if it might kill one at 40 despite that pattern, but you also wanna be able to eat it when it's all said and done. Good on you for knowing what your gun is capable of and staying within those limits.
If/when you are able to upgrade, you will kill one of those gobblers the next time around.
If you get another season and want to borrow a turkey gun just let me know. I've got one for you.
Good luck.
If/when you are able to upgrade, you will kill one of those gobblers the next time around.
If you get another season and want to borrow a turkey gun just let me know. I've got one for you.
Good luck.
WAUPACA CO. ZONE 3 PERIOD C
well I only had the weekend to hunt so I was kinda stressed but it turned out. Hunted friday pm and only seen 1 hen and a few deer, saturday morning I rose to a crisp 25 degrees, brrrrr crazy spring! Got out to blind and as the sun poked out I could hear some distant gobbles nothing super close by so I was not really pumped up but still you never know, hour or so passes and some hens and deer start to filter thru, I look out to neighbors field to the north and I see a strutter and some hens still several hundred yds away, I call off and on and its pretty slow but still a gorgeous morning. Eventually I look down to my left and theres 3 toms strutting for hens at the corner of the field again closer but still cpl hundred yards away. They would not budge just followed hens around and eventually drifted off, I did have one come gobblin behind me mid morning but never showed up. I decided to pick up and move blind down to were the toms were in the AM , sat pm no birds, Sunday AM was still and calm and not much gobbling until after 6 I was calling to tom out in front of me and then all sudden from behind me GOBBBBBLLEEAAAALLAAAAHHHH!!!! woo! woo! game on I peer out the back window and sure Sh&^%$! here come two them tom gobblers! I get re adjusted and ready with my trusty 870 I have two hen decoys out I'm thinking they will stroll right in, NOT! the first tom steps out , pauses for a minute then slowly pecks away on angle to NE still the second tom comes out and puts on the show gobblin strutin spittin drummins! yes sir!! So the left window is the only one in the blind not open and I have that see thru up with velcro and I try to pull off but he stops and the head goes up so I stop, I go well he should come right in but he does'nt he slowly takes the same route the first one did still only 30yds out but I dont want him getting furthur so I raise my trusty 870 with truglo red dot and aim, WTH no dot!! click it to 11 no dot! wth cmon!!!! I look and the cap and battery are missing! wth!!! cmon man noooooo! really! ???? Luckily I can still see bead thru scope mount so its john wayne time I take aim and POW!!!!! he flops tips wobbles buts still moving then does the classic wing tuck and woddles off into the wood line, o god not this cmon! I takre foot and flank um coming around the back side of the woodline he went too hoping I dont see him running into neighbors swamp. As I stealthily creep along the wood line I couldnt help but recall seeing a small metallic object laying next to my truck at another spot Saturday night, thinking nothing of it! But at that moment I realize its probably my cap and battery for the scope, any rate I get down to were he might be and there he is hunkered in a bush I hafta bend down and aim hood style and POW! there he flops! Thank you LORD! wooof! its 6:45 now and he is a dandy atleast 1.5" spur 10.5" beard and one of my heaviest birds @ 25lbs just a stud muffin. Just an awesome weekend in the turkey woods, such a blessing chasing these critters and being out in the beautiful spring woods.
I do have a zone 3 D tag then zone 2 E, hoping to get out again here. GOODHUNTIN all and be safe!
well I only had the weekend to hunt so I was kinda stressed but it turned out. Hunted friday pm and only seen 1 hen and a few deer, saturday morning I rose to a crisp 25 degrees, brrrrr crazy spring! Got out to blind and as the sun poked out I could hear some distant gobbles nothing super close by so I was not really pumped up but still you never know, hour or so passes and some hens and deer start to filter thru, I look out to neighbors field to the north and I see a strutter and some hens still several hundred yds away, I call off and on and its pretty slow but still a gorgeous morning. Eventually I look down to my left and theres 3 toms strutting for hens at the corner of the field again closer but still cpl hundred yards away. They would not budge just followed hens around and eventually drifted off, I did have one come gobblin behind me mid morning but never showed up. I decided to pick up and move blind down to were the toms were in the AM , sat pm no birds, Sunday AM was still and calm and not much gobbling until after 6 I was calling to tom out in front of me and then all sudden from behind me GOBBBBBLLEEAAAALLAAAAHHHH!!!! woo! woo! game on I peer out the back window and sure Sh&^%$! here come two them tom gobblers! I get re adjusted and ready with my trusty 870 I have two hen decoys out I'm thinking they will stroll right in, NOT! the first tom steps out , pauses for a minute then slowly pecks away on angle to NE still the second tom comes out and puts on the show gobblin strutin spittin drummins! yes sir!! So the left window is the only one in the blind not open and I have that see thru up with velcro and I try to pull off but he stops and the head goes up so I stop, I go well he should come right in but he does'nt he slowly takes the same route the first one did still only 30yds out but I dont want him getting furthur so I raise my trusty 870 with truglo red dot and aim, WTH no dot!! click it to 11 no dot! wth cmon!!!! I look and the cap and battery are missing! wth!!! cmon man noooooo! really! ???? Luckily I can still see bead thru scope mount so its john wayne time I take aim and POW!!!!! he flops tips wobbles buts still moving then does the classic wing tuck and woddles off into the wood line, o god not this cmon! I takre foot and flank um coming around the back side of the woodline he went too hoping I dont see him running into neighbors swamp. As I stealthily creep along the wood line I couldnt help but recall seeing a small metallic object laying next to my truck at another spot Saturday night, thinking nothing of it! But at that moment I realize its probably my cap and battery for the scope, any rate I get down to were he might be and there he is hunkered in a bush I hafta bend down and aim hood style and POW! there he flops! Thank you LORD! wooof! its 6:45 now and he is a dandy atleast 1.5" spur 10.5" beard and one of my heaviest birds @ 25lbs just a stud muffin. Just an awesome weekend in the turkey woods, such a blessing chasing these critters and being out in the beautiful spring woods.
I do have a zone 3 D tag then zone 2 E, hoping to get out again here. GOODHUNTIN all and be safe!
The Jimmer, I don't trust my gun out to 40 yards. It's a Mossberg 500, single bead for a sight, so it's more designed for shooting clay pigeons and flying birds, but it is what I have, so I use it. Picture is my 3 shots at 17 yards with it using a 3 inch shell, 5 shot turkey kind made by Winchester. Look at that spread! So I do not think I'd be good out to 40 yards with it.
It definitely sounds like you are figuring it out, FLM. The way they can pinpoint your calling location from far off always amazes to me. If they get to where that turkey is supposed to be and there aren't birds, they won't usually come any closer.
My only thought is if you've got a decent choke and have your gun patterned, 42 yds is within range for most turkey loads. You can knock 'em down pretty easy at that distance. It's easier to miss birds up close than at distance, at least in my experience. Unless the birds wouldn't separate from one another and prevented taking a good shot.
I'm sure it won't be long before you get one. If you are in zone 1 there still lots of tags left for 5th and 6th.
My only thought is if you've got a decent choke and have your gun patterned, 42 yds is within range for most turkey loads. You can knock 'em down pretty easy at that distance. It's easier to miss birds up close than at distance, at least in my experience. Unless the birds wouldn't separate from one another and prevented taking a good shot.
I'm sure it won't be long before you get one. If you are in zone 1 there still lots of tags left for 5th and 6th.
This is only my second season hunting turkey. I only saw one jake last year when I got the final season in spring as my week (not my first, second, or even third choice, but it's what I got). This year I had this past weekend. I kicked up two hens while walking and in my blind I called in a few toms to about 100 yards on the first day but nothing came closer. Yesterday morning 4 toms came into the field (picture actually behind me, I overlook two fields at this spot). They were 42 yards away coming out of the woods according to my range finder, so I thought I had to call them to come closer. Wrong! They looked at me like what on earth are we hearing? One of the toms still gobbled back at me one more time, but soon as the two turkeys who never moved once they came out of the woods moved back into the woods the other two followed. Only call them about once every half hour, I learned, and when you have them in site no more calling! If I had leaves where I was sitting I read you can scratch leaves, but no need to use the slate. Oh well, I had fun and am learning more each season I try. Maybe I'll get one in the fall.
Question, do those turkey calls work in the fall too? I'll only be hunting them while deer hunting, of which I have special arrows to use if I see one, to switch to from what I use for deer.
Question, do those turkey calls work in the fall too? I'll only be hunting them while deer hunting, of which I have special arrows to use if I see one, to switch to from what I use for deer.
I've been waiting for this thread to pop up
My daughter had 1st season. Ill tell you what, she loves this turkey hunting thing and she's good at it. She is 15 and this is her 6th year and she is 6 for 6 all toms.
We called 2 toms in, birds strutted and gobbled from 150 yards to 30. We made a perfect shot. Her smile tells how excited she was! 20lb, 10 inch beard, 1/2 in spurs
My son had 2nd season. With limited time to hunt, we ran out Friday after school. Got set up in a creek bottom and called this bird in. Came through the green bottom, strutting and gobbling and sun glistening of his feathers. About as picture perfect as you could get. Got to about 25 yards and he made a bird shot. We got to the bird and he just kept yelling "lets go". Big bird with some daggers of spurs on it. 22lbs, 9 inch beard. 1.5 inch spurs.
I have 3rd season...still at it with limited time. If I dont get one, its all good. I couldn't have asked for better hunts than the 2 my kids got!
My daughter had 1st season. Ill tell you what, she loves this turkey hunting thing and she's good at it. She is 15 and this is her 6th year and she is 6 for 6 all toms.
We called 2 toms in, birds strutted and gobbled from 150 yards to 30. We made a perfect shot. Her smile tells how excited she was! 20lb, 10 inch beard, 1/2 in spurs
My son had 2nd season. With limited time to hunt, we ran out Friday after school. Got set up in a creek bottom and called this bird in. Came through the green bottom, strutting and gobbling and sun glistening of his feathers. About as picture perfect as you could get. Got to about 25 yards and he made a bird shot. We got to the bird and he just kept yelling "lets go". Big bird with some daggers of spurs on it. 22lbs, 9 inch beard. 1.5 inch spurs.
I have 3rd season...still at it with limited time. If I dont get one, its all good. I couldn't have asked for better hunts than the 2 my kids got!
Displaying 1 to 15 of 18 posts
