manzano mountains turkey hunting manzano mountains turkey hunting

Each outing brings more lessons learned about nature, forest ecology, and New Mexico history. I try to read the turkeys attitude and do the same thing.. Most are of the four-legged type, but the area was once inhabited by . Paddle Downriver to Find a Spring Gobbler. So we had a long, vigorous argument, but no gobbles. manzano mountains turkey hunting. Seeps provide turkeys with green forage, tubers, insects and aquatic invertebrates. Windswept and lovely, the spring is a romantic time at Manzano Mountain Retreat. Thats how the beautiful light feels falling on my teenage daughter, Willow. The Land Between the Lakes is a popular destination. We set up just behind a rise, and Terry starts in with sharp clucks and cutts. The typical landscape here is often a high ridge with numerous smaller finger ridges running off of the highest point. With the apple trees in bloom you are sure to have pictures to remember. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. I dont do anything different, he says. Description Don't let this area deceive you. They only have a couple of months to reproduce, and they do the same things anywhere. Good private ground will consistently have more turkeys on it than good public ground. Densely wooded with bigtooth maples, 4th of July Canyon is beautiful any time of the year, but in October the forest blazes with hues of yellows, reds and or. Then you can get to that spot early the next morning. 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. Your love is entering a new stage of growth, and so are the mountains here. To reach the trailhead, take FR 245 to New Canyon Campground. 59.317 min. Theres an old adage that describes my overall strategy well: Its far easier to call in a turkey to where he wants to go rather than to where you want him to die.. This is simply because the private holdings are actively and consciously managed for turkeys and other game animals.. It is blacker in appearance than the Rio Grande subspecies. 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. Centrally located, this peaceful, secluded park in the Ponderosa pine forest of the Manzano Mountains will relax and invigorate you. Almost everywhere in New Mexico is dry right now, including the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. OK, he went into full strut. Whiskey and Palaver at the Dying of the Sun, EcoTour Adventures 2023 Digiscoping Workshop, See the exciting line of Sporting Classics products. We cant complain though, since we were among the weekend warriors. However, how much pressure that turkey experiences and how many times hes been boogered by someone bumping him can make a huge difference in his everyday behavior and wariness.. The Manzano region of Cibola National Forest also fosters a critical wildlife mission: the Manzano Mountains Raptor Migration Project. As soon as he is out of sight, I move my entire body again to reposition a second time. Shotgun Range is All You NeedTurkey hunters love to watch a big gobbler walk in from afar, strutting all the way. By keeping a ridge top between you and the turkey, you will be amazed at what you can get away with on a move. He may have been on to us, or perhaps the rising winds drowned out our calls, or perhaps his replies. Im the first one back thereas far in as I can get, says Jeff Budz, of Okeechobee, Florida, owner of Tag It Worldwide guide service. Im much more cautious when hunting public property because I cant risk messing up what few opportunities I might get to kill a bird there, he says. 2h 11m. The trail wanders about two miles to the top of the mountain, and you will see some springs along the way. No matter where he huntsunpressured spots or hard-hunted areasOwens arrives well before daylight and gets in position to hear turkeys and have his calling be heard when birds begin gobbling. When the bird stops at 60 yards and gobbles behind some big trees, I reposition myself for a more comfortable shot. Dont be one of these typical knuckleheads. We interviewed three turkey-hunting experts and a few wild-game biologists to give you an edge this spring, By I throw down the latch to the sound of all-too-familiar laughter. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. 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. The hunter tipped off his local game warden after tracking down the poached deer's gut pile deep in Idaho backcountry. Wildlife viewing, birding and photography along the many trails are great activities at this park. Manzano Mountains HawkWatch is located on USFS Cibola National Forest public land, and was established to to learn more about raptors and their migration through the southern Rocky Mountain Flyway and this central New Mexico range. 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. View photos, research land, search and filter more than 56 listings | Land and Farm We took along the new decoy, which a friend of mine had named Bubbles. Alas, she saw no action today, Your email address will not be published. Of course, because theyre just east of Albuquerque, the area is brimming with hunters. Today, I hunted with an old friend and hunting partner, again in the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. A second release was made in 1955 when 18 turkeys from Wyoming were released into the Long Pines area of southeastern Montana. He came in, but not anywhere near close enough for a shot, and not into the open area with the decoy. Weddle takes a careful approach in the woods, striving to minimize his impact and avoid bumping birds. And the company, of course, was excellent. 2. Through the pines, at 75 yards, I see him in full strut, and still coming. hunting, Manzano Mountains, turkey. Illinois: The Shawnee National Forest, which spans 289,000 acres across nine counties. From Hwy. A clear turkey track in the Manzano Mountains, New Mexico. The horizontal pad on the upper back may be my favorite feature as it allows for maximum comfort when leaning up against a tree. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. They definitely clammed up after opening weekend. RALEIGH, N.C. (March 18, 2021) - Wild turkey hunting season opens in North Carolina on April 3. Experienced mountain hunters have learned they may only have to move a short distance to hear a gobbler that had gone undetected. RM CYKGYT - Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway at Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Page 605 of 606. As I lock it back into place, I start to hear hysterical laughter from the open windows of the truck, and I look up to see that Ive locked myself on the wrong side of the fence. Late in the morning, we strike a group of birds, and Terry decides to get real aggressive with them. One was pretty far away and had a coarse, cackly yelpshe might have been the one I heard the first day out. The 2019 season begins April 18 and lasts through May 23, with a special youth turkey season scheduled the weekend of April 13-14. He has chased turkeys on public land in all but maybe five states and prefers it to hunting private land. The most distinguishing feature of adult male and female turkeys is their breast feathers. We parked, snuck out and set up, and calledbut no luck. The woods are bathed in angular gold light that streams between openings in the trees. Likewise, a small ridge in front of you may have a turkey on the other side of it gobbling his brains out and you cant hear it. Theres a gobbler right here, he whispers. If you only have time for one of the sites, Gran Quivira is the best, but it is also the most remote. Sure enough, as soon as I had put everything in the car and slammed the hatch, I heard a gobble. And generally, the private property will have far fewer hunters to compete against. Theres also a public-lands lottery for Delaware Forest Service lands. I waited for the tom to gobble, then I called. Naturally, the guys give me a hard time back in the truck and go on to tell stories about other idiots whove closed the fence on the wrong side before. The biggest difference between public versus private is simply the number of birds found on a given piece of property, says Weddle. manzano mountains turkey hunting INTRO OFFER!!! Weddle said the effort is more than worthwhile. I tried to be quiet, but maybe he heard me? In most cases, you will shoot a male in spring (though up to 10% of the hen population may have beards). This morning were with our friend Gary Roybal from San Ildefonso Pueblo. Nestled in the wooded foothills of the Manzanos, this park provides a quiet retreat and is a nice family get-away. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Hunters continually find success in the Long Pines and Ashland areas of Custer National Forest in the Southeast (though wildfires moved through the upper . These permits are allocated through a raffle and an auction. The turkeys in this part of the world have been hunted since the days of Simon Kenton, and they are nobodys foolone wrong move at the wrong time and these turkeys are gone. The Manzano Forest Reserve was a short-lived name; reserve soon became national forest. In 1931, several forests in the middle of New Mexico were consolidated into todays Cibola National Forest. Matt wants to hold off for a tom, so we have some fun as the fired-up birds come to 8 yards acting all tough. In a typical year, our Manzano Mountains HawkWatch sees around 5,000 to 7,000 migrants of around 18 different species. My daughter is the fit one, a high school sprinter and state-qualified pole vaulter; she eases right along. Today, I hunted with an old friend and hunting partner, again in the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. Having a comfortable and light gun sling is crucial when covering big tracks of land. Wyoming: The Black Hills in Hunt Area 1. Ive known him for less than 24 hours, but Im already pretty sure that he doesnt get down on any prospects, turkey hunting or otherwise. 2. So we went back to the same area, arriving just before daylight. Of course, some people might wonder whether hunting public land is worth the extra difficulty. So far, our crew has counted 453 individuals of 18 different species, meaning there are lots more birds coming their way! 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. If everybody respects the land and takes care of the land as well as respecting each other, it can be wonderful, he adds. Rio Grande wild turkeys are found in river valleys in New Mexico. Site Access Drive-In. The stunning Manzano Mountains are renowned for turkey hunting and also sport good populations of mule deer and some elk. It was completely quiet until the sun was well up, then a couple of hens started yelping. It was still a blast seeing him so close. Saenger's licensed guides specialize in Eastern Wild Turkey hunting for all abilities, from first-time hunters to experienced marksmen. Heres a list of potentially productive public properties across the country, courtesy of state turkey biologists. 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. The breast feathers are the best way to determine a young of the years sex. Im not sure if he couldnt see the decoy, or if she just wasnt his type, or if I moved a tad too much. Important information - watch the whole video as campground site numbers have changed. Also, the Gila, Santa Fe, and Carson national forests, and the Smokey Bear and Sacramento ranger districts in the Lincoln National Forest, support decent turkey populations. Saenger Outdoor Sports, LLC offers hunting trips in the Catskills for turkey, deer, bear, coyote, and small game. If Im not in the woods hunting, Im driving and scouting.. Being able to hunt them every minute youre able to is important, he says. bP|]Sh#_3Dy?L3X20- w"D@ sZ. endstream endobj 70 0 obj <> endobj 71 0 obj <. It was too dark to see anything, but I heard a funky yelp/cackle south of the roosting site before first light, and then a few gobbles after the sun came up. Joined: Oct 2005. Type of Use Overnight. The 26 barrel also makes moving through the woods easy, and the already assembled railing makes mounting optics a breeze. Males will gobble to attract females and strut with their tail fanned. 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