Scouting turkey sign in the snow?


VTbowman

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This may be a foolish question, because I have not been out there to look yet.

I plan to take a walk-about soon and I have a lot of snow on the ground still. I know I had birds around the property last fall but not sure now, this time of year.

With snow on the ground, some places still deep, what kind of sign should I be looking for?

Will they travel on/threw snow for far distances?

Will they only go to barren/open areas where the snow has been blown away or bare grass?

Not sure. confused.gif

Newby still. smirk.gif

Thanks.

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Re: Scouting turkey sign in the snow?

Well here's your answer. It depends.

If the snow has settled and is hard or crusted they'll walk all over it. If it is deep and fluffy they'll avoid it because it'd too difficult to walk in. I've hunted turkeys in snow on several occassions. A couple of times shortly after a spring blizzard in the mountains. Then they often hang around roads and stay on roost a lot longer.

Thing is this time of year your scout isn't going to be very useful unless you're hunting soon. They are usually flocked up when you have winter snow still on the ground. They'll be in different places once the flock break up. A couple of land oners I talked to last night told me they hadn't seen a lot of turkeys on their property lately. I'm not concerned as I don't hunt for a month and a half. Lots of time for turkeys to move around.

Borch

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Re: Scouting turkey sign in the snow?

Thanks Borch, this is what I was assuming but not sure.

I have seen birds but not around here and my buddie Luke, (vermonthunter) is VERY concerned he is not seeing birds where he has all year long... LOL

So its still a bit early to locate them for hunting up in VT?

Will they still respond to calls if I hammer on a few I recently bought?

Thanks!

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Re: Scouting turkey sign in the snow?

A bit early for locating in VT? You fellas are behind the 8 ball, lol. I've already located 2 flocks of absolute ropers and once they split up, I'm going to have a blast.

I wouldn't use calls to try and finds them now, you'll just educate them and that's not good this early.

Best thing to do is just to take a walk in the woods and look for tracks in the snow and feathers. Don't forget to look for the droppings as well.

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Re: Scouting turkey sign in the snow?

I'm still going out of what little mind I have.....I'm just hoping that lady luck is shinning for Shawn and I......DANG right Im worried..I owe Shawn big time, I could care less if I get a bird as long as we can get him on one....

Im planning on a scouting trip to my other location in enosburgh in mid April and check out things,,,I got the fingers crossed..

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