Does anyone know of some decent areas to hunt spring turkey for this season ?? I have been looking everywhere for the last 2 years or so and have come up empty handed every time. I have hit the Jullian area with no luck and even had hit Love Valley and still nothing.
Locations of some decent hunting areas for turkey
- Thread starter Timothy Padgett
- Start date
Oh I guessed wrong I thought this thread was going to be you giving away your turkey spots. Just kidding.
If I were you I would attend the turkey tuneup on Feb 21. There will be a ton of info and a great opportunity at a chance to hunt Sutherland. As for public land and turkey There are birds near Julian, Paloma's mountain, and all over the cnf to be honest. You need to put in the leg work. Don't expect to park and walk 100 yards. For example I am scouting a new spot this weekend and it is 2-3 miles from where I will be parking. I will likely have to backpack into this spot and camp but I know there are birds in the area so it will be worth it. If you can find where they are roosting you will be in a great position to get a bird.
I am still yet to get a bird. But I have had friends get them with me a few times and I have called them in close which is a rush and so freaking frustrating at the same time. I am determined to get one this year but it will take a lot of effort on my part. Start scouting now.
If I were you I would attend the turkey tuneup on Feb 21. There will be a ton of info and a great opportunity at a chance to hunt Sutherland. As for public land and turkey There are birds near Julian, Paloma's mountain, and all over the cnf to be honest. You need to put in the leg work. Don't expect to park and walk 100 yards. For example I am scouting a new spot this weekend and it is 2-3 miles from where I will be parking. I will likely have to backpack into this spot and camp but I know there are birds in the area so it will be worth it. If you can find where they are roosting you will be in a great position to get a bird.
I am still yet to get a bird. But I have had friends get them with me a few times and I have called them in close which is a rush and so freaking frustrating at the same time. I am determined to get one this year but it will take a lot of effort on my part. Start scouting now.
I suggest you attend the spring turkey tune-up at San Vicente Reservoir Feb 21st......You can draw for spots on basically private land that is owned by the City of San Diego (1st pic).....As for other spots, unfortunately you've hit the area on a down cycle for turkeys. I scout or go out most every day......Flocks are at about half of the highs and the jakes are almost non-existent.....It is possible that the jakes have already left some winter flocks, but I didn't see them before either......These pix are from this morning......71 birds in this flock.....61 hens and 10 longbeards......Not a single jake......Same spot a year ago had over 30 "longs" in it......The year before there were over 30 jakes.
I've never seen a turkey in Love Valley. Although, I've been told other people have.....The public areas around Julian are normally the spots to be......The birds right now are almost all on private property. When dispersal starts, there's always that change that wondering gobbler will hear you.
I also added a video of birds right before roost time (Feb. 24th, 2014).....Over 30 gobblers.....This year there's about 12......We only shot one out of this flock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12DNxbNQSJ4
I've never seen a turkey in Love Valley. Although, I've been told other people have.....The public areas around Julian are normally the spots to be......The birds right now are almost all on private property. When dispersal starts, there's always that change that wondering gobbler will hear you.
I also added a video of birds right before roost time (Feb. 24th, 2014).....Over 30 gobblers.....This year there's about 12......We only shot one out of this flock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12DNxbNQSJ4
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Sorry but I doubt anyone's giving up their spot. I feel your pain, its tough finding birds on public land and then having to contend with other hunters. Last night while night hunting I bumped a couple trees of roosting birds, but I can tell u it's not a secret spot and I'll have at least a dozen other guys calling on opener.
Check out this post...
http://southerncaliforniahunting.com/huntersforum/index.php/topic,7249.0.html
http://southerncaliforniahunting.com/huntersforum/index.php/topic,7249.0.html
Here is a link to a thread about the Tune Up. It will be a great place to start and if you are serious about getting a bird it would be helpful to attend. Even if you dont get drawn there is goingto be a ton of knowledge there.
http://southerncaliforniahunting.com/huntersforum/index.php/topic,7249.0.html
http://southerncaliforniahunting.com/huntersforum/index.php/topic,7249.0.html
Love Valley used to have some decent birds back in the late 90's. Last time I saw a turkey roosted there was in 1998 and last time I saw a turkey track was in 2004. Not to say that the turkeys walk through there, it just gets over crowded with hunters and hikers.
Best bet is to grab a CNF map and start scouting now. There are turkeys from near the Mexican border to Temecula and from Miramar base to anaza borego park.
Best bet is to grab a CNF map and start scouting now. There are turkeys from near the Mexican border to Temecula and from Miramar base to anaza borego park.
