20 Tips for Public-Land Turkey Hunting

Many public lands are crowded. Some receive a significant amount of pressure. Mitigate that by hunting when others can’t. Often, that’s during the week.

Some conditions and situations make people want to avoid hunting. Maybe that’s during a rain shower or when other important things are happening, such as a major event nearby.

Some public lands are more visible than others. Some are even publicized better. Find tracts of land that receive less press and attention.

Often, public land hunters won’t get more than half a mile from the nearest road or parking lot access. Turkey hunters willing to dive deeper into properties and hike 1 to 2 miles will find better success and birds that receive less pressure. 

Some areas don’t look as appealing on paper or aerial maps, others don’t look as good in person. However, overlooked regions that don’t see as much hunting pressure tend to absorb more of the local birds.

Some spots receive a significant amount of pressure. These areas look good via apps, maps and from the road. However, other areas do not receive as much pressure. Find these spots and increase the odds of finding receptive turkeys. 

After finding your turkey hunting hotspot, one of the best things you can do is get there early. Getting parked several hours before daylight can secure your spot for the day.

Tired of other hunters intercepting morning turkeys before you? Set up as close to the roost as possible without getting busted.

Most public-land turkey hunters hunt the first few hours of the day. Generally, by mid-morning, most hunters are out of the woods. That makes this the perfect start time for your turkey hunt (in states that allow hunting in the afternoon), as it will reduce competition in the field. Furthermore, henned-up toms are more likely to be alone then.

Some spots tend to draw more attention than others. Usually, open fields and food plots are among these. Focus on other areas instead.

As with deer hunting, turkey sign is an important part of scouting. Find the turkey sign and find turkeys. Look for feathers, droppings, scratchings, wing drags and tracks. 

Some prefer not to use turkey decoys on public lands. Ultra-realistic decoys can draw the attention of other hunters. When hunting, be careful not to move on a decoy. Likewise, watch for other hunters if you have decoys out. 

Turkey hunting is a nuanced activity, more so than a lot of hunters give it credit for. Don’t just rely on calling and decoying. Use big game tactics as well, such as ambushing turkeys. There are many ways to tag a gobbler without a call or decoy. 

Determining the mindset of a gobbler is one of the initial steps in getting it on the ground. Take his temperature and adjust your calling efforts and tactics accordingly.

Turkeys don’t get call-shy, at least, not per the common myth. However, calling softer and less often is advised on public lands. Quiet toms are more likely to engage. It’s also less likely to draw the attention of other hunters.

It’s okay to locate public-land birds with turkey vocalizations. That said, locator calls tend to be a better option. This draws less attention from other hunters and doesn’t draw in a gobbler before you’re ready to set up.

Turkeys do sometimes live deep within public lands. However, it’s more often viable to focus on boundaries. Hunting within several hundred yards of private land boundaries produces more fruit.

Some public lands are great for turkey hunting. But they might not have great access to get in and hunt those birds. When possible, approach private landowners and ask them for permission to cross through their lands to reach the public ground. 

Always treat other turkey hunters with respect. Never put your turkey hunting success ahead of your humanity. Always be kind to your fellow hunters, no matter the circumstances.

Often, initial plans won’t succeed. Be confident in your game plan, but don’t be so naïve that you think plan A will always work. Have additional options in your hip pocket for when things go wrong. Because things rarely go right when hunting public-land turkeys.