TacomaNWTF.org

Just like anything of value, finding flocks of wild turkeys on public land takes work. And if you yearn to take a Grand Slam of gobblers on public land, opportunities are getting better each season. If you’ve got your heart set on taking Eastern, Rio Grande, Florida and Merriam’s subspecies toms on public land, some "kitchen table" scouting will help put you on the right track. To help in your search, we’ve put together some of the top picks for each subspecies of the Grand Slam on public-access areas. 

Three simple approaches to finding public access hotspots for turkey hunting are to contact state game and fish agencies, the USDA Forest Service and private timber companies. These three groups control millions of acres of prime turkey habitat, and hunting is affordable. If these three options aren’t enough, then try the turkey hunting on one or more Indian reservations out West. 

In your search for places to turkey hunt with public access, start your search at the state level. Contact the state game and fish agency biologist who is their resident wild turkey expert. The National Wild Turkey Federation convenes a meeting at their national convention of the top turkey biologists from around the country each year to award grants from the NWTF Wild Turkey Super Fund for wild turkey research. Many of these biologists have worked hands-on in their states’ wild turkey restoration and management programs, and are willing to lend their expertise to hunters looking for public access turkey hunting areas. 

Another avenue for locating public access areas is to contact the USDA Forest Service. Some of the best turkey hunting this nation has to offer can be found on Forest Service lands. It is possible to hunt for all four major subspecies on Forest Service lands. The first step is to contact a Forest Service regional office for contact information on the forests within the states you wish to target. Then, contact the Forest Supervisor for the particular forest you wish to hunt for details on hunting in their area. Beyond hunting information, these folks can provide you with camping area information and other tips to make your trip more enjoyable. 

The next piece in your turkey hunting jigsaw puzzle is to learn about public hunting opportunities on private timber company lands. In many cases, state game and fish agencies manage these lands and can provide access information. A good example is Tennessee’s cooperative program with several timber companies. 

Local license vendors also often sell special permits that allow use of these lands. Maps and some sage advice on where birds have been harvested in past seasons can be had for the asking. With the above information in hand, you have the key to putting together your own special public-land grand slam together.