Today, I hunted with an old friend and hunting partner, again in the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. A Game Hunting License and either an Over-the-Counter Turkey tag or draw permit is required to legally take wild turkey in the state. It got extremely windy, so I didnt stay to see if the turkeys roosted in the same area again. The Manzano region of Cibola National Forest also fosters a critical wildlife mission: the Manzano Mountains Raptor Migration Project. A plaintive whimper issued by two pieces of reddish alligator juniper rubbed together gets an immediate response. The bespectacled man was an ardent outdoorsman, a naturalist, and prodigious writer on all matters, including conservation. I waited for the tom to gobble, then I called. Each outing brings more lessons learned about nature, forest ecology, and New Mexico history. This is just the price of admission; tighten up your boot laces, take off that jacket and go for ityou may be rewarded for your efforts, or you may not. 19.793 min. I tried to be quiet, but maybe he heard me? W, turn right onto Raven Road (for the previous 120 meters, there . So it's obviously an opportune time for them to blame the virus on China. Day 1 On the eve of our Montana turkey hunt, before heading to bed at the lodge, the last order of business is to determine hunting partners and pick spots for the morning. An abundance of wildlife roam the Manzano Mountains. They wont even shut their engines or the radio off, and then theyll hoot or crow call and then drive off. Turkey Vultures make up the majority of the current count, sitting at 59% of the total . Situated on 7,680 deeded acres in the foothills of the stunning Gallinas Mountains this central New Mexico ranch has it all! spooked podcast robert the doll; So we went back to the same area, arriving just before daylight. Washington: Hunters should check out wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations. South Dakota: The Black Hills and state walk-in program properties. Some of my most memorable turkey hunts haven't been in areas where you drive to a likely spot, park the truck, walk out, and start calling. Consistently, successful turkey hunting for toms requires a high degree of skill. Discover 355 listings of ranches for sale over 400 acres, under $2M. Because public-land hunting often involves long hikes, difficult terrain or conditions, and extremely long days, experts agree that fitness and effort are paramount to success. Being in the turkey woods requires forbearance of the elements, as well as understanding of bird behavior. 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. Kansas: The state has more than 759,000 acres of public access during spring turkey season, including more than 328,000 acres through the Walk-In Hunting Access Program in 2021. Even the tracks we found were old and weathered. Other hydrants in the park are locked, but will be opened for tank fills by visitor request Attention OHV's are not allowed to be operated within the Park boundaries. We slip into the timber, and its not long before Terry hits the deck and throws the fan up, working it slowly back and forth. We started hiking up a trail, then forked off on to game trails, calling periodically. The Manzano Mountains are part of the Cibola National Forest. Forget What You've Been Told About Turkeys Coming DownhillWe have been told a gobbler will never come down hill to our calls, but turkeys walk up and downhill every day in this country. Your email address will not be published. Box calls, slate calls, wooden peg yelpers, gobblersnothing provoked a response. It was still a blast seeing him so close. It got quiet again. New Mexicos 2014 spring turkey season is over. Theyre going to act and conduct themselves in the same way, he says. The trailhead to reach the observation area is on the west side of the road at Capilla Peak. Last year, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission documented a record high turkey harvest during the five . A picnic area is also located on site. Phone: 505-847-2990 Fax: 505-847-2238 The Mountainair Ranger District is made up of the Gallinas and Manzano Mountains. Listen to articles that celebrate the heritage, the romance and the art of hunting and fishing. Abert fantasized of Aztec architecture over the evidence of ancient earthworks from early Pueblo and Spanish occupation, structures that are now national historical monuments. Check regulations for 2021. I have never felt more like an easterner in my life. Public-land hunting isnt easy, and its often frustrating. Theres no time to take cover before the three birds are in the open at 20 yards. I always try to put myself where I can basically hunt with my ears and cover as much ground as possible in the most efficient manner, typically using spine ridges or logging roads that make navigating through the timber easy, or maybe following a creek bottom, Owens says. Its arc technology accounts for terrain angle, giving you true distance to target on uphill and downhill shots. Booking Window Camping Fri Mar 03 2023 - Sun Sep 03 2023. And the Manzanoswhat a beautiful place be under the fuzzy morning moonlight. With that, we decide to change gears and head over to a new property to see if we can find some fresh birds for Matt. Turkey Draw Permits The deadline to apply for turkey draw permits is February 9, 2022. Found across Maryland, eastern wild turkey populations are near an all-time high - now numbering around 40,000 - thanks in part to an intensive trap and translocation effort by the Maryland Department of Natural . Many hunters in the Appalachian Mountains will tell you it is the most difficult place in the country to kill a gobbler. Gary clucks and whelps ever so softly on an assortment of calls that he artfully crafted from local native woods or a turkey bone from a bird he previously killed. Their body feathers are paler and copper colored, and their tail feathers are tipped with a yellowish-buff or tan color. Florida: Use the states wildlife management area finder: myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures. 1. When you reach the T intersection of NM 55, take a right, which takes you west and into the small town of Tajique. B. A few mule deer explode out of a small thicket, like a pheasant flushing. The Cibola also has four wilderness areas: Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Withington and Apache Kid and administers four National Grasslands: Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Kiowa and Rita Blanca covering 263,261 acres in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and northern Texas. Michigan: Allegan State Game Area, in southwestern Michigan. We saw and heard nothing, but a day in the wilderness is still a day well spent. After topping the ridge and managing to get ahead of him, I set the decoy and waited in some cover. One of my biggest struggles was my perception of distance. Discover the culture and daily life of a society that thrived in this area more than 800 years ago. And I have some new hunting buddies who cant wait to tell you all about it. While Im still turkey-free, I saw and heard plenty of turkey in those few short days I made it out there. Two jakes and a tom charge in, swinging their snoods and gobbling like crazy. Truth is, we are far from the first people to try and harvest the bounty of nature here. Page 11 - Find 2096 farm houses for sale on MossyOakProperties.com. ; ; ; I dont think I spooked him, because he was still gobbling. Hes taken a U.S. Super Slam and 106 Grand Slams, the most in history. When youre fatigued, your perseverance is going to fall off because you just dont have it in you. Required fields are marked *. 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. I stopped and sat down for a while, then started calling. In recent years, New Mexico has completed several translocations of Goulds turkeys from Arizona. As luck would have it, after a few minutes some coyotes nearby started yipping, and the tom shut up. Every Rocky Mountain bighorn in the state is descended from those original Banff transplants. New Mexico: Merriams turkeys are mostly found in New Mexicos mountain ranges, where land management is primarily through the U.S. Forest Service. Owens has taken a U.S. Super Slam (shooting a bird in each of the 49 states that have seasons) and chronicles his public-land obsession12 to 14 states per yearon his wildly popular online Pinhoti Project videos. The spring turkey hunt opens March 27 and continues until May 2 with a daily bag limit of one bearded bird, three for the season. The blind shielded me from the water, but there was a couple of big trees and some brush screening me from behind, so I kept an eye out for anything coming down one of the game trails. To reach the parking area, get to Tijeras and then head south on NM 337. The slightest movement or unnatural sound will turn a tom away. 2. He still behaves like a turkey and does turkey things. Its two birds in two days for the ace high and seven of spades. And generally, the private property will have far fewer hunters to compete against. Rio Grande wild turkeys are found in river valleys in New Mexico. This subspecies is distinguished by the cream-white feathers on the lower back and their tail feather margin. However, those folks would also tell you that chasing turkeys on public dirt often requires a different mindset and some innovative approaches. Theres also a public-lands lottery for Delaware Forest Service lands. Weddle takes a patient, deliberate approach when yelping at public birds. The internet celebrity, who is a member of Officials say that increasing the moose harvest is Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. - 3,855 Deeded Acres - 640 Acres State Lease - Quail, Dove and Deer Hunting - 2 Springs - 4 Windmills - Nice House - Steel Corrals Call for Price and More Information. Authorized work such as roost site maintenance is partially funded with these dollars. They have distinctive white tips on their tail feathers. He had been in the area the day before, and heard two toms gobbling. Favored riparian areas are generally in open landscapes at elevations lower than 6,000 feet. Facility Offers (viewing campsites) AttentionThe water potable water hydrant at the park dump station is available for visitors 24 hours per day. Good private ground will consistently have more turkeys on it than good public ground. Posts: 75,341. $95.00. Some of their opinions might surprise. Owens eschews areas with easy access, knowing other hunters will likely use them. The horizontal pad on the upper back may be my favorite feature as it allows for maximum comfort when leaning up against a tree.