Time with my friend Gary and my daughter, who is growing up way too fast, is time to be treasured. Site Details. Nevada: Most Merriams turkey populations are on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management or U.S. The subspecies distribution can be found here: New Mexico Turkey Subspecies Distribution Map. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Heres a list of potentially productive public properties across the country, courtesy of state turkey biologists. Saenger's licensed guides specialize in Eastern Wild Turkey hunting for all abilities, from first-time hunters to experienced marksmen. Male turkeys are well known for their spring courtship displays. The typical landscape here is often a high ridge with numerous smaller finger ridges running off of the highest point. I didnt hear or see any hens, either. $95.00. As wary as they may be and as difficult as mountain turkeys are to hunt, they are not invulnerable. If they repeatedly encounter something thats dangerous, they avoid it.. Today, I hunted with an old friend and hunting partner, again in the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. Although I couldnt make it out opening day, some friends offered to take me turkey hunting the first weekend. We saw and heard nothing, but a day in the wilderness is still a day well spent. It got quiet again. I swung south, loosely following him, but didnt hear anything else that morning. You can see Roybals call-making artistry by clicking here. Sound Travels Differently on Steep TerrainOne of the greatest lessons the mountain turkey hunter can learn is that hearing turkeys is different on steep terrain as opposed to flat. Nests are often located in dense vegetation consisting of grass, fallen leaves, shrubs, or at the base of a tree. The Manzano Forest Reserve was a short-lived name; reserve soon became national forest. In 1931, several forests in the middle of New Mexico were consolidated into todays Cibola National Forest. I stopped and sat down for a while, then started calling. In hunting turkey, Gary resurrects how the mountains of northern New Mexico have been used by Native peoples since about the time the wind began to blow. One of the greatest lessons the mountain turkey hunter can learn is that hearing turkeys is different on steep terrain as opposed to flat. Head out on this 9.3-mile out-and-back trail near Torreon, New Mexico. Thats no joke. The tradition here is to be on him fast, if the turkey flops over the brink of the hill you may in for a long retrieve of your prize. Almost instantly, four jakes appear out of a thicket, gobbling, and catch a glimpse of Terry holding a fan in the air, slowly twisting it back and forth. Between about 9:30 and 1:30 I set up at the edge of a meadow, but didnt see or hear anything. See listings and photos for available properties. Pennsylvania: State Game Land properties. Whether you harvest your turkey in spring or fall, you may have questions about the turkey you shot. Heres a look at 10 of the most flexible long-range hunting cartridges. Required fields are marked *. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. As you peruse your maps, check for hard-to-access public areas at the lowest elevation you can get to without trespassing. Length: 3.9 mi Est. RALEIGH, N.C. (March 18, 2021) - Wild turkey hunting season opens in North Carolina on April 3. In a typical year, our Manzano Mountains HawkWatch sees around 5,000 to 7,000 migrants of around 18 different species. Turkey hunters should also check out the Turkey Hunter Access Program, in which private landowners open their property to spring turkey hunters. I got in the area even earlier, and snuck up to a high point near the roosting spot, setting up in a direction the turkey like to head in the mornings. Also, Montana FWPs Block Management Program provides public access to thousands of acres of private lands. Here are some tips that will help you with these denizens of the high country. Information on turkey harvest in New Mexico can be found in the harvest report below: Willow listening attentively for a gobbler to announce his presence. This includes West Virginia, Pennsylvania, east Tennessee, east Kentucky, north Georgia and western Virginia. Later that morning, there was also some incessant yelping along a nearby road. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. We had hoped to give Bubbles, the new decoy, a chance to strut her stuff, but she had to leave without a date for the day. Im not the only one whos been here! Hes already told me where hes at, and I know from experience that he probably isnt going anywhere else soon, so I try my best to get in the toms head by portraying myself as a coy and aloof hen. Access. Folks often dont mind you crossing their property as long as youre not hunting their property.. I waited another hour or so, but never heard him fly down. Densely wooded with bigtooth maples, 4th of July Canyon is beautiful any time of the year, but in October the forest blazes with hues of yellows, reds and or. The Land Between the Lakes is a popular destination. Vermont: The Connecticut River (wildlife management units M and O), White River (wildlife management units J1 and J2), and Lake Champlain (wildlife management units F1, F2, and K) valleys are traditional turkey hunting hotspots. Fish and Wildlife Service. After topping the ridge and managing to get ahead of him, I set the decoy and waited in some cover. Turkey hunters from coast to coast have come to embrace a new craze: hunting public land for spring gobblers. manzano mountains turkey hunting 3- Classes pack for $45 manzano mountains turkey hunting for new clients only. I throw down the latch to the sound of all-too-familiar laughter. For in depth hunting and license information, reference the Turkey section of the New Mexico Hunting Rules & Info in publications. Take NM 337 south through the pinon and juniper-dotted hills of the Manzanos. Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. Fair enough. A turkey diet varies between and throughout years depending on forage availability. Connecticut: Cockaponset State Forest, which covers more than 16,000 acres, with a variety of smaller parcels some hunters might overlook. Good for. The crest of the mountains in the wilderness varies from elevations of 8,200 feet (2,500 m) to 10,098 feet (3,078 m). Wyoming: The Black Hills in Hunt Area 1. I try to maximize my listening during that magic moment.. An abundance of wildlife roam the Manzano Mountains. Address: Rio Puerco Field Office 100 Sun Avenue NE, Suite 330 Albuquerque, NM 87109. Idaho: Almost 70 percent of Idaho is public. A clear turkey track in the Manzano Mountains, New Mexico. Weddle also pays close attention to see if other hunters are moving closer as hes calling. Males will gobble to attract females and strut with their tail fanned. I could only see his tail fan and head above the scrub oak brush. We ended up climbing much higher than we anticipated, but were rewarded with some fabulous views before having to scramble back down through the dry brush. Its usually a quota hunt, although it was open to everyone in 2020. Minnesota: The Department of Natural Resources manages about 5.6 million acres of public land. Not a peep from those sneaky toms. The end of August to the beginning of November marks the migration season for raptors such as the sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and turkey vulture, which keep watch for small prey from the . Park Elevation 7,250 ft Activities Camping Education Programs In retrospect, I probably should have waited to call until after hed flown down. The Manzano region of Cibola National Forest also fosters a critical wildlife mission: the Manzano Mountains Raptor Migration Project. manzano mountains turkey hunting. I have never felt more like an easterner in my life. We set up just behind a rise, and Terry starts in with sharp clucks and cutts. Matt looks at me and says, youre up first tomorrow.. . The typical landscape here is often a high ridge with numerous smaller finger ridges running off of the highest point. Blocker Outdoors Finisher gloves, headcovers and other accessories are available in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Mossy Oak Obsession NWTF camouflage patterns to match various turkey hunting terrain. And the Manzanoswhat a beautiful place be under the fuzzy morning moonlight. In November 1906 when Roosevelt set aside by presidential proclamation the Manzano Forest Reserve, he in effect ensured that Merriams turkey habitat would be held in the public trust. The idea here is to position yourself so the turkey has to come into gun range to see you. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Flight summary. This property backs up to forest land. The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness lands found within wilderness (private, state government, local government or tribal inholdings and edgeholdings from the Bureau of Land Management's National Surface Management Agency Area Polygons - National Geospatial Data Asset). Spend your days exploring the outdoors and enjoying all that nature has to offer. About 8.6 miles later, at 34 deg. The Manzano Mountains provide a great day hunt for turkey. Careful to avoid cracking sticks with our steps, we move quietly along. In 1954, department biologists introduced 13 Colorado birds into the Judith Mountains of central Montana. The only problem is that the birds are walking side-by-side, bumping into each other and not offering a clean shot. 55 in Manzano, take Cty. Booking Window Camping Fri Mar 03 2023 - Sun Sep 03 2023. The horizontal pad on the upper back may be my favorite feature as it allows for maximum comfort when leaning up against a tree. And when he starts calling, Owensthe 2018 National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling Contest Senior championuses a consistent, straightforward strategy. The Manzano Mountains are beautiful this time of year. No matter where he huntsunpressured spots or hard-hunted areasOwens arrives well before daylight and gets in position to hear turkeys and have his calling be heard when birds begin gobbling. The breast feathers are the best way to determine a young of the years sex. Well find one, he says. Here are the National Wild Turkey Federations guidelines for estimating your male spring turkeys age. Description Don't let this area deceive you. New Mexico: Merriams turkeys are mostly found in New Mexicos mountain ranges, where land management is primarily through the U.S. Forest Service. One more consideration: Ultimately, youll probably encounter other hunters on public property. Despite the accoutrements of modern firearms, camouflage clothing, and believable turkey calling, we are here on the animals terms. Here are the five that stood out to me. As I said, there are fewer turkeys on public land, and as a traveling hunter with limited time, I cant afford to waste any of it hunting where the turkeys aint. Paddle Downriver to Find a Spring Gobbler. There are pockets everywhere for the turkey hunter with more calls and gear than he needswhich is most turkey hunters. B. When youre tired and fatigued, its difficult to do that. Successful applicants must purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) turkey license with tags unless the E-Tag option is chosen.