Strategies for Hunting Turkey on Public Land

If you are like the vast majority of us without access to acres of private turkey-hunting-paradise, chances are you have experienced the highs and lows of hunting gobblers on public land. While many skilled hunters would argue there isn’t much difference between private and public land when it comes to bagging a tom, we can all agree that hunting anything on public land presents a different set of challenges. But with new challenges come new opportunities. 

We spoke with Joe Griffin, an avid turkey hunter, and HuntWise PRO Staff, who’s found a lot of success hunting turkeys on public land. “Despite the bad reputation that public land gets about over pressured hunting conditions, some of the best turkey hunting I’ve found has been in overlooked river bottoms or right off of a two-track in a large patch of public hardwoods,” says Griffin.

If you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, public land can be as fruitful as private land (if not more). Here are some strategies for increasing your chances of success during your next public land pursuit of wild turkeys.

How to find and scout public land for turkey hunting 

The first step in hunting turkeys on public land is to find the ideal hunting ground. Look for the smaller plots of public land, that might be overlooked by other hunters who assume there aren’t any turkeys there. Those are often the spots where they are. 

Use your favorite mobile hunting app to identify the ideal spot to set up shop on opening day. HuntWise mapping layers make it easy to identify public land and access points to plot the perfect route. 

“Look for public land surrounded by private land on three sides, or that takes two tracks or slivers of land used for river access to get to. If you can find a ridge near the river with old-growth to roost in, you can almost guarantee there’s a pile of turkeys in there,” says Griffin. 

Once you’ve found the perfect property, use the following strategies to increase your odds of a successful spring season.

Scout sooner

It’s early spring, the first signs of life are starting to peek through the brown and bare of winter. According to some seasoned turkey hunters, this might already be too late to start scouting the land for that perfect spot. Many hunters start scouting one to two weeks before opening day, but starting earlier (20-30 days pre-season) may just be the trick to tracking down a turkey gold mine.

Take the road less traveled

Avoid paths near major access points or heavily trafficked areas. When it comes to turkey hunting on public land, it’s often those who are willing to go the extra mile (literally) that bring home the prize. While it may be tempting to go for the “easy” targets, don’t. Not only are you up against other hunters with the same idea, but the turkeys you’re calling have probably heard every trick in the book, and they’re not fooled. 

If you're willing to get a little muddy, you may have a leg up on the competition. Many hunters will avoid wading through marshes and streams. But it’s in those hard-to-access areas near water that turkeys tend to congregate.

The early worm gets the bird 

When hunting public land for wild turkey, make sure you can get into position 30-40 minutes before the sun begins to rise. Get as close to the roost as possible without being heard. This means knowing your route like the back of your hand so you can walk it in the dark.  

“Sit silently, enjoy your coffee and listen for the woods to come alive. You’ll hear him on the roost. Usually 15-45 minutes after the sun comes up, the turkeys will begin to fly down,” Griffin says.  

“Once they’ve hit the ground, sit tight. Listen to how many birds are there. Does the tom have a pile of hens with him? Is he roosting with other toms? This info will help you later.  Listen to where these birds go and shadow them with enough distance that you remain undetected.”

Read the signs

Turkeys aren’t the stealthiest species on the planet. If you look closely for the signs, they will often lead you right to where you want to be. Here are some signs to look out for when scouting:

Feathers - Feathers are a great way to know if you are close to turkey territory. If you find feathers on the ground, observe them closely. A tom’s breast feathers will have a black tip, while a hen’s will be white or tan in color.

Tracks and Strut Marks - When looking for a mature tom, observe the size of his tracks. A hen’s tracks are more slender in nature than that of a jake or tom. As a tom ages, his feet continue to grow in length and width. Pay attention to wider marks and enlarged knuckles. A track that is longer than 4 inches from heel to toe is most likely from a tom. If these tracks are accompanied by wing drag marks, you’ve likely just stumbled upon the strut zone.

Droppings - Another way to differentiate a tom from a hen is by their droppings. A gobbler’s droppings will be around 2-inches in length and are usually J-shaped, while a hen’s droppings will be more of a spiral shape. 

Map your locations and have a plan (and a backup plan)

When scouting, make note of as many roosting locations as you can and map out exactly where you will set your blind. Pin your locations on the HuntWise app to avoid getting your cover blown on opening day. Look for a discreet location between the roost and a nearby food source. 

“Start with the plan that you feel most confident with. I’ve heard people say, “I’m saving this spot for later because it’s a guarantee.” Not me. When it’s opening day, I cash in my chips on what feels right,” Griffin says.

Best times for hunting turkey on public lands

As a general rule of thumb, early mornings on weekdays are one of the best times to hunt turkey. However, on public land, you might be up against a small army of other hunters who are thinking the same thing. It may be advantageous to wait until late morning or early afternoon when other hunters have left for the day. However, if you are going to hunt later in the day, make sure the state laws allow for afternoon hunts. 

“I’ve killed as many toms mid-morning as I have in the chaos of first light, and to be honest they are usually the most memorable hunts,” says Griffin. “The tom has gone with the flock, likely bred a hen or two and is now looking for another. This is usually the easiest time to get him to leave the group. Locate the birds using a crow call or cutting with a turkey call. Once he sounds off, it’s game on.”

Another variable to consider when timing out your hunt is the weather. Turkeys are most active during calm, clear days. Turkey activity generally decreases as weather conditions worsen. Check HuntCast within the HuntWise app to make sure conditions are perfect for your hunt. 

Calling strategies

When hunting turkeys on public land, you may need to switch up your calling strategies. While locator calls work, it’s important not to overdo it. Public land is much more susceptible to over-pressured hunting conditions than private land, so keep the calling to a minimum. 

Obviously, the more realistic the sound, the better. But if you haven’t mastered your turkey-calling skills, try calling softly and sparingly and wait to see how he responds. The key to turkey calling on public land is to listen more than you call. If you’re too busy sounding off, you may miss the signs of a silent tom making his way toward you. 

Decoys on public land (and the risks)

The safest way to hunt public land is to leave your decoys at home, but if you do plan to use decoys, make sure you understand the risks. When staking decoys on public land, you risk drawing in other hunters as well. One way to avoid this is to set up your blind close to your decoy so other hunters will see it and know those birds are fake.

Ask the experts

One often-overlooked strategy when trying to bag a tom on public land, is simply asking. Public land managers know the land you are hoping to hunt better than anyone and usually have a wealth of knowledge regarding the lay of the land. You can easily find contact info for your state’s public land management services and give them a call. 

There are other ways to tap into knowledge resources. Facebook groups, Reddit, and the HuntWise social feed are all great resources for connecting with other hunters to get insights and tips on hunting public land. 

Obey the rules (both written and unwritten)

No trespassing  - Maybe one of the most important things to keep in mind when hunting anything on public land is to obey the rules. If you are hunting next to private property, stay on your side of the fence. It can be tempting to want to cross the border when you hear a tom sounding off on the other side, but it’s important to honor the land boundaries. Try some light clucks and yelps to see if you can lure him over to your side. Because once he crosses that threshold, he’s all yours!

Be a good sport - Sometimes, especially on public land, it can be hard to tell if another hunter is working a bird. However, if you suspect that another hunter is on the pursuit, don’t get in between a man and his turkey. In this situation, it’s better to follow the golden rule and do unto others as you would have done unto you. 

Safety - This is one of the most important rules to follow on public land. Because you don’t know who else is out there and where they are hunting, it’s important to play it safe. That means no belly crawling, and no turkey disguises. Using a full fan of feathers and army crawling your way toward your target may work for you on private land, but on public land, it’s just downright dangerous. You could easily be mistaken for the real deal by another hunter. 

Ask for permission to cross over into private property - When you have tried all the tricks in the book, and still can't seem to lure a gobbler over property lines, you may want to get permission from the property owner of a piece of private land to hunt his property. Use the HuntWise private landowner directory to look up the owner’s name and contact information of the land you want to hunt. 

Be patient

The best tip for successful hunting of turkeys on public land is patience. You can have the perfect call, find the best blind location, and do everything right, but at the end of the day, you may just have to wait it out. Ever heard the expression good things come to those who wait? This could not be truer for those hunting turkeys, especially on public land. It’s usually those who have the longest patience that end up bringing home the turkey bacon.