How To Prepare For Out Of State Turkey Hunts

Are you traveling out of state to wild turkey hunt this spring? Are you completely prepared?

As a wild turkey hunter nothing is more exciting than planning an out of state hunt! Maybe it’s your very first wild turkey hunt or you might be going after your last sub-species to finish your “Wild Turkey Grand Slam”, here are some important things for you to do ahead of time to better ensure success.

1) Proper License Requirements

Prior to traveling out of state to hunt always check with the appropriate Game and Fish Department to make sure to you have the required licenses and tags. Also, see if Hunter Education is required for certain age groups. Be sure you have everything you need before you leave.

2) What Are The Hunting Regulations Where You Are Going?

Game laws might differ from your home state, where you are used to hunting. Certain states, such as Missouri, only offer legal hunting from one half hour before sunrise until 1:00 PM daily during spring turkey season.

Other states may offer all day hunting.

Some states, such as Oklahoma, allow baiting, but require a hunter to be 100 yards from the baited area at all times. While other states, like Alabama, strictly forbid baiting under any circumstance.

Being prepared also means being responsible for knowing all of the appropriate game laws.

3) Driving or Flying?

Anytime you’re traveling out of state via air travel you should make sure to be packed correctly.  All firearms and ammunition must be packed separately. All firearms must be packed in a TSA approved locked gun case. Guns and ammunition must be declared at check-in and inspected by a TSA agent. If you’re bowhunting put hur bow and your arrows in a hard case.

4) Pattern Your Gun  

Always clean and pattern your gun before going turkey hunting.

You owe it to the game you’re pursuing to be accurate with your weapon. There is nothing worse than traveling out of state to turkey hunt, only to miss out on an opportunity, or merely wound a gobbler because your gun is not patterning correctly.

5) Be Physically Fit  

Few things can ruin a hunt faster than being physically unprepared for your adventure, especially if it takes you into mountains or rough terrain where you’ll have more walking to do than usual.

Walking, jogging, and strengthening your overall cardio endurance level weeks before your hunt will definitely help put you in a better position to succeed.

6) Watch the Weather

Staying up to date with current and upcoming weather conditions play a huge role in a wild turkey hunter’s success. This will help you plan your hunting attire, although, any successful turkey hunter will tell you to pack with weather changes in mind. There are excellent weather apps for your Smartphone. My favorite is AccuWeather, it gives you up to the minute weather, conditions, wind speed, temperature, weather predictions, alerts and more. You never know when Mother Nature will throw you a curveball!

7) Study Topographic Maps

Now more than ever, a turkey hunter has access to better maps of his hunting area at his disposal.  Using software such as onXmaps and other programs offer real-time access to maps to study and learn as much as you can about the property where you will be hunting. Again, you can get maps for any area you want for your Smartphone.

Boots on the ground is the way to learn what you need to know, but a good map will help you familiarize yourself with the area(s) where you will be hunting.

Prepare for an out of state turkey hunt: be physically and mentally ready, set travel plans a month before the hunt, get your weapon of choice sighted and ready, and research your starting point in advance. Be ready on Day One of your out-of-state Wild Turkey Hunt.

Good luck!

Courtesy of Woodhaven Custom Calls.