Turkey hunting
Contributors to this thread:Colorado
From: Elkslayer615
31-Dec-17
I've done a lot of hunting for easterns down in TN but I've never hunted merriams. Does anybody have any advice on where I should hunt. I live in the Boulder area but I'm willing to travel.
From: Paul@thefort
31-Dec-17
Thomas, as a place to start, Google, Colorado turkey distribution map. There is also info on turkey numbers. per area
From: Longcruise
31-Dec-17
And get in shape. Sometimes these Merriam's roam around like elk. :)
From: Paul@thefort
01-Jan-18
Thomas, go to the CPW website. Click on "things to do". Click on Hunting. Click on Turkey, Read info. See in right column, Turkey School, Click on Lesson. Lots of info there.
From: Exhughes2
02-Feb-18
Rampart range area near Deckers is where I killed my first CO turkey. I would start there. Ive seen turkeys by Gross Reservoir before too, not sure where you can hunt around there though. If you really want to travel look to the West slope for better numbers of birds.
From: oldgoat
02-Feb-18
I'd be more willing to give you my elk hunting area than a good spot to hunt turkeys in the front range mountains IF I had a good spot! If I even had an ok spot to hunt turkeys in the front range mountains I wouldn't give it up. I hear there's good hunting up the Poudre in places and up around straight in from Boulder. Just get some mapping software that shows land boundaries and drive around till you see other hunters rigs opening weekend and hunt!
From: Quinn @work
03-Feb-18
If you're willing to travel which your post says you are just drive across the border into Kansas or Nebraska. There are good populations of birds on the little amount of public land that there is. From experience I have always said it's better to drive 3 hours and hunt turkeys than drive 45 minutes and HUNT for Turkeys in Colorado. Also knocking on doors in Eastern CO can be productive and there are a lot of birds. If you're dead set on a Merriam don't take my advice. They are basically Rio's. Good luck.
From: Buglmin
03-Feb-18
lol... I screwed up and showed my ex my lil turkey spots, and hated pulling in last year and seeing her Tahoe or his Nissan. I hauled butt to Texas and New Mexico and waited till the second week of May, had spots all to myself cause most weekend warriors were already burnt out.
Problems out here is most turkeys get wise very quick, and they hear almost every call on the market by the second weekend. Take the time to learn their travel patterns and strutting areas. These are the places to kill henned up call shy birds.
From: tramper
03-Feb-18
Sent you a pm.
From: Jaquomo
03-Feb-18
I used to Turkey hunt the Front Range. Backpack-bivy hunted or hiked many steep hours in the dark, because I didn't have private access. Found birds, but a heck of a lot more productive to drive 4 hours and hunt the Nebraska State Forest near Ft. Robinson. Lots of birds and lots of public land to camp-hunt..
From: Birddog
04-Feb-18
Go to Nebraska or Kansas until you get about 7 or 8 points.
From: Quinn @work
05-Feb-18
My hat's off to the guys that kill merriams with a bow, on PUBLIC land, in the mountains. You basically have to get lucky or are one damn good turkey hunter. I'll admit, I got frustrated and then went east to NE and KS.
From: Blade
06-Feb-18
FYI...for those who haven't hunted NE non-resident Spring turkey license is $109 and Habitat stamp is $25
From: starbux
06-Feb-18
Elkskayer, I’m a recent transplant from southern IL (Eastern Country) as well. I think I’m set as a guest for a Rio hunt with my first tag but want to try to get a Merrians with my second tag. I’m not afraid to travel west if you wanna team up. Let me know. I’m in Highlands Ranch.
From: Paul@thefort
06-Feb-18
A western mountain tom
A western mountain tom
another one with the stick
another one with the stick
its all about boots on the ground to find a good area.
good luck, Paul
its all about boots on the ground to find a good area.
good luck, Paul
From: starbux
06-Feb-18
Nice pics Paul!
From: jims
14-Feb-18
Does anyone have any experience hunting the praire units in S Dakota away from the Black Hills? It doesn't look like much public land in most of those units. I'm curious if there are many turkeys and if it's very tough find private land access? There are also a few Indian Reservations. I believe Rosebud is the biggest but believe you have to hire a guide.
From: jordanathome
16-Feb-18
Merriams are where you find 'em........and that is half the battle. Open ponderosa forest is a good bet in my experience. Bastages like it steep too......like elk as someone said earlier.
From: LeftHandCanyonArcher
09-Mar-18
Elkslayer615,
Lots of Turkeys in the mountains behind boulder. East of the Peak to Peak and west of hwy 93/hwy36. The turkeys in Boulder county that you can hunt in the mountains seem to like the small creeks that are year round or close to year round. Biggest problem is getting access.