Turkey Hunting PA

[Esetterman]

Hey all, Im a new member to the buck barn, just moved to Philly area from Michigan where i spent most of my time upland hunting with my English setter, due to work i had to move here and leave him behind (till i buy a place suitable for the two of us). I know the upland hunting is not as good here but i see a better oppertunity for other things like turkey hunting which i did a little bit in MI..... I was wondering if anbody was willing to share with me some decent public land to start scouting and checking things out.... from what i have read turkey hunting is great in PA... im not looking for your hot spot just a nice piece of public land where hunting is permittable with a few turkeys hanging out with in a couple hours of philly .... thanks all

[bluewater]

Check out the Wildlife Management areas in Zone 20 (salem/gloucester counties) in Jersey for your best shot. You better apply for your permits asap via website or mail. Plenty of nice birds but also alot of hunters. Bounce around if you see alot of trucks parked, the areas are fairly close. In Penn, I used to hunt up in Potter Co. six hr ride from philly. Vast woods and tough to get the birds near you. Check the State lands in PA that are close to Philly for a crack at those PA birds. I saw your other post as far as grouse and stuff. The farther west you go in PA the better the grouse, there was a bunch in Potter Co. The big state lands get heavy hunting during deer season but the other seasons aren't as crowded and you can get a shot. The other option is to join a shooting club in Salem, NJ like M & M or Meadowview and shoot stocked birds like quail, pheasant and chukars. The membership options vary. You can also get individual hunts for around 400.00 for 4 hunters, you have the dog so you 50.00. Good luck, it ain't nothing like Ted Nugent country around here, don't get to excited.

[Makoman]

There is good turkey hunting in the Poconos area and plenty of open, accessible land to hunt. Easy drive from Philly.

[eastcoasthunter]

As makoman stated the Pocono's are a good spot with plenty of public land to hunt. With a little more driving you can go to Lycoming County and hunt plenty of State Forest land. The mountain scenery is beautiful and the turkey population is as as good as it gets:bow:.

[Esetterman]

thanks for the advice guys .... i have been up to the poconos ... im used to hunting flat land where there is a lot of thick cover on the ground... do you just hunt in the big woods in the mountains... im used to thousands of acres of aspen ... as you all know not like that up there

[Makoman]

Generally, turkeys prefer open woods. Look for oak, beechnut and cherry trees and also spring runs. Do a little preseason scouting with a locator call like an owl hooter or a gobble call. Try not to use hen calls since this educates the birds and makes it more difficult to call them in. When you enter the woods well before daylight, try some owl hooting to locate a bird on the roost. If you get a response, move slowly to within about 75-100 yds of the bird and set up. Make a couple of soft, yelps/clucks. If he replies, stop calling and wait for him to fly down. Hopefully, he will come straight to you but don't count on it. If he doesn't, you have to start trying to call him in. That's just a very brief idea on how to get started. The best thing you can do is attend a seminar on spring turkey hunting. You will learn enough to have a reasonable chance to kill a bird. You don't have to be a champion caller but you do have to be a good woodsman. Good luck and let us know how you make out. I can guarantee you one thing, once you get into spring gobbler hunting you will be hooked and will find it to be one of your favorite seasons.

[Ole 20 Point]

Hey Makoman: What's the turkey situation out in NC PA? Or do you hunt for them elsewhere?

[Makoman]

20 Point: We still have good turkey hunting out our way. We usually get a pretty good turnout for spring turkey.

[The Ridge]

I wanted to drop you a PM but could not get one thru.
I know of a good spot or two here in 5C.
shoot me an e-maill address.

[Esetterman]

jessejames23@gmail.com

[Cat]

Birds can be found all along the DE. Water gap in Pa. and up North along the Delaware river basin is plenty of public land. As you probably already know Pa. has a 2 bird limit with the xtra permit you apply for found in the Pa. digest. In NJ its by permit by week by zone. Additional info found in NJ. digest.

Most Public lands in Bucks Co. all hold birds.

Sent you a PM.

[njbowhunter]

You said you live in the cherry hill area plenty of birds in your own back yard. No need to cross the bridge south jersey is full of birds. Tomarrow is the last day for turkey permits so get one in if you want to hunt the early weeks.

[Big Ned]

send me an email and i'll hook you up with POcono's info. I live right smack in the middle of them and ther is a lot of birds but we also have a lot of pressure. edward.george1@us.army.mil

[ACEarcher]

Lately I've been hearing many great things about these places:Buchanan State Forest, SGL 13, Delaware State Forest, Bald Eagle State Park, SGL 229. Personally I really like SGL 35, but thats quite a hike.

[Esetterman]

ned ill call you on wed. im working afternoons last few days... we can talk turkey then!!!!

[Big Ned]

I'll talk to you when you call. Worked with the state biologist a few week's ago and had 8 longbeards in the net. 3 got out but we banded 3 two year olds and 2 that were 3 or better. Bird's were yellin pretty good this morning. With the time change before work outing's are gonna slow down. Big Ned

[tool box]

I turkey hunted north central PA, Lycoming County while I was in college and did well. Also hunted out towards Shamokin with one of my fraternity bros for years after we graduated and we really well there too. Different terrain then around here.