NM/CO turkey trip

[JEandAsGuide]

I have decided to make this years turkey destination NM and CO. I usually make a trip somewhere different every spring and hunt a couple different states. Last year was WY and SD. The goal is to kill a long beard in all 49 states that have them. Looks like I will be able to get away the last week of April through the first couple days of May. Probably headed to unit 34 in NM. Based on limited research it has a good number of birds but with good birds numbers comes a lot of pressure. Haven't exactly nailed down a place/unit in CO but have been looking at the southern units. I have worked almost everyday since mid January so my research has slacked tremendously. Anyone else hunt turkey's in southern CO or unit 34 in NM?

 

[boiler]

That's a pretty cool idea. How many states so far?

 

[Slugz]

http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/TS-MerriamsTurkey.aspx

I know this will sound a little basic but its what works for us....you gotta eliminate land so use the above link.

We hunt NF land within the green.....it takes us a lot of scouting but once we find some roost trees year after year it remains consistent. I think getting a big tom on NF land is one of the hardest hunts out there ( not including sheep/goat ) Its been pretty wet so far this year but if it gets dry we target the drainages that have water.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

That's a pretty cool idea. How many states so far?

7. LA, MS, TX, KS, NE, SD and MO.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/TS-MerriamsTurkey.aspx

I know this will sound a little basic but its what works for us....you gotta eliminate land so use the above link.

We hunt NF land within the green.....it takes us a lot of scouting but once we find some roost trees year after year it remains consistent. I think getting a big tom on NF land is one of the hardest hunts out there ( not including sheep/goat ) Its been pretty wet so far this year but if it gets dry we target the drainages that have water.

Thanks! I spent most of the night at work on the website doing exactly what you have suggested. At least now I have better idea of where I will be.

 

[Doe Nob]

havent' hunted 34, but I hunted them unsuccessfully one year in 36. We were in gobbling birds every day.

 

[Jdd2035]

Unit 5B in New Mexico is pretty good for turkey too.

 

[ScottR]

Really cool idea, please post pictures!

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Unit 5B in New Mexico is pretty good for turkey too.

Thanks! I will take a look at it.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Really cool idea, please post pictures!

Will do! Hopefully I will have some to post. Haha

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Well work shortened the trip by one day on the front end so we got started a day late. Made it to NM Wednesday and should have killed a bird that evening but I misjudged the distance and didn't shoot because I thought he was farther than he was. Had another bird hang up at 80 yards the next morning. That afternoon and the next morning were tough. Had 30mph winds to deal with. Got it done with a double on day 4 after several inches of snow.

Move to CO that night with only 2 days left to find Forest Rds closed to plans A, B, and C of places I had picked to hunt. Foolish of me to make the trip without giving the FS a call and checking on the road status. Won't happen again. Ended up poking around a couple places we could access with no luck and decided to come home a day early so I could catch my sons baseball game.