NE Ohio turkey hunting

[shotgun]

Hey, i just found out ill be in clevland on opening weekend of turkey season. I have to go up there for some stupid college function. Anyhow i have always wanted to hunt ashtabula county, or some of the surrounding counties for turkeys since ive heard so much about the numbers up there. Me and my brother will be up there and i was wondering if anyone up there has some land that they wouldnt mind if a couple of college kids from southern ohio camped out on and hunted for a couple days, if not could anyone please direct me to some decent public land up there? I just got into hunting turkeys a few years back and enjoy chasing them down here in the hills of southern ohio but like i said would love to hunt some up north, plus it would make my trip to clevland a little worth while. any information will be greatly aprreciated

[geezer]

Check out Grand River, New Lyme, Dorset & Shanago public wildlife areas if you don't connect with any private spots - you can get maps on the Ohio wildlife web.

stay safe

[shotgun]

Thanks geezer, yeah i was hopin for some private but if not i definately wont turn my nose up to some public land. Ill be in clevland fri morning and heading home in the southern tip of the state so ill actually be able to hunt pretty much anywhere in eastern ohio. Where do you all think some of the best places to hunt are? I could always drive back home friday and hunt there but i figured since im already up there and like hunting new places id try to find a place to hunt for a day. I dont thik i could go wrong anywhere in eastern ohio just thought id get some opinions as to which area holds the most birds. I know ashtabula and surrounding counties are always way up there in the numbers but i think that has to do with good turkey numbers but also to the fact that they are close to some bigger cities then you will find in most of eastern ohio.

[geezer]

Shotgun - Well i would pick dorset or mosquito creek which i forgot to mention - they are only about 15-20 minutes from each other - they both offer open fields, marsh, and woodland - dorset is 1000 acres and mosquito creek is 9,515 acres but a lot of that is in a refuge and you can't hunt - but there is still a lot of hunting area at mosquito - if you go to dorset i would try north of tower road - there are some camping areas around mosquito lake but i don't know if they are open yet and there is a nice rest area on route 11 - between mosquito and dorset - my third choice would be grand river - 6,820 acres and lots of access roads - you need to download maps of these areas from the ohio div of wildlife -

i would slip into the areas that interest you the weekend before the season after the youth hunters leave at noon to get the lay of the land - if you hunt these areas get there early cuz it is public hunting and there will be other hunter -

Shanago creek is rough and hard to get into and New Lyme is small -

Well you guys have a tough decision to make head noth east or head home - good luck and stay safe

ps i am partial to dorset cuz i got my first turkey there

[Buckmaster]

Don't forget about West Branch. There are state game lands there. Also, the Akron LaDue properties. I've taken birds off those lands in years past.

[shotgun]

thanks for all the info, hopefully ill be able to scout out some areas the day before the hunt, if not ill be there before the sun and hope for a little luck. What is the hunting pressure like on these areas. I imagine since its the first weekend it will be crowded but hopefully if i get there early i can find a bird to work.

[geezer]

Shotgun - well i can't tell you about the hunting pressure on the weekends - i am retired and do not hunt public land on the weekends - during the week some guys pop into these areas in the morning and then leave for work - i stay untill legal time is up - have taken birds in the late morning at dorset on field edges

[shotgun]

sounds awesome the areas i hunt at home are on the wayne national forest so im not really used to field hunting. All my hunting takes place deep in the woods in hollers and ridges. A little north of me in jackson county there are more fields and i think thats a major reason they kill more turkeys then lawrence county everyyear. That and the fact that a lot of people in this county dont check there animals in.

[geezer]

Shotgun - i usually set up 2 or 3 decoys about 15-20 yds from the edge of the fields when hunting open fields - some times i also use a jake in the spread but not too often

[bluedog]

Youth season hours are until sunset this year.

geezer, sounds like you know Dorset pretty well. I live one block over from Dorset and will often drive the block around the property to count vehicles. During youth season, opening day and on the weekends early in the season, I have often counted up to 14 different vehicles parked around the perimeter of the property. I don't know how anyone hunts in there under those circumstances. During the week is not as bad. I have never personally hunted over there, but I know people who do. Youth season can be a nightmare with all the people. Maybe having it all day will spread the pressure out some. I will be doing some observing this weekend and if I remember I will report what I see on my "vehicle check".

Funniest Dorset Wildlife story. A couple years ago I drove the block. I counted 6 vehicles parked along Kyle Road. Surprisingly no one was parked on Tower Road. Three huge gobblers were strutting in the field near the main parking area on Tower Road. I just chuckled that everyone was parked on the opposite side of the property.

Diane

[geezer]

Bluedog - thanks for the update on the youth spring turkey hunting hours. Well the pressure at dorset is increasing somewhat since they put in the water impoundment and signs. I didn't think they needed the water deal with all the other wetlands in the area - they cut right through a nice stand of trees - The first couple of years i hunted dorset there were not many hunters - A lot of hunters like to walk the oil roads and stay close to the parking lot - i got a couple of spots that i have had success with at dorset - and have not been bumped by other hunters - i get there early and stay to the end of legal hours - a lot of hunters leave around mid-morning -

My best dorset story is that upon returning from an unsuccessful day at dorset my wife reported that there were turkeys in the back field of our property - ha

I know from your previous writings that you own a large farm that you hunt - hunting on public is a whole different deal and you have to figure out a way to make the most of it - most people in your area have there land posted and refuse to give permission to hunt.

Good luck this season - stay safe

[bluedog]

Thanks for the update on dorset geezer. I didn't know they put in a water impoundment. I'll have to go exploring over there (not now, maybe late summer/early fall).

I do know what you are saying about public land. I like to hunt the month of May so much and since our season now ends mid-May I have been toying with the idea of getting a PA license. A friend of mine hunts the state game lands right over the border from Pierpont and told me that if I look, there are a lot of places over there were you can hunt just like you do. Get in early, out of the way and stay late. He said he rarely runs into other hunters when he does that even though he is on public land.

There is a beautiful property across the road from my house. The turkeys often (but not always) roost there. I've tried to get permission, but the owners don't allow any hunting period. Too bad, it is beautiful there. I'd rather hear that they allow some to hunt, but don't want any more hunters over there. But hey, that is there choice and I respect it.

Our property is 140 acres, but most of it is in crop production, pasture or open field. Only 40 acres or so of woods. Since my husband and I hunt probably 4-5 days a week, I don't allow turkey hunting because I don't think it can handle the pressure. I have given permission to about 7 people to deer hunt. Most of the people have no land of their own to hunt and all but 2 of them primarily bow hunt. Also we have people hunt rabbits and coons. I do like to let people hunt our property. I'm just sort of selfish when it comes to turkeys. LOL!!!!

Good luck next week. I am getting so excited!!!
Diane

[geezer]

Bluedog - the water impoundment is right off the main parking lot on tower road - i think its great that you let a few hunters use your property - too bad more people do not follow your example

best of luck this season - stay safe

[Sassikid1008]

I didn't realize the ours have changed this year! Thanks I really appreciate it...

[Limbhanger]

[QUOTE
I do like to let people hunt our property. I'm just sort of selfish when it comes to turkeys. LOL!!!!



I don't blame you bluedog,I'd do the same for turkey hunting if I was fortunate enough to own 40 acres.People don't realize it takes a good chunk of land to seperate hunters when turkey hunting.40 acres is a fair piece of land but put a few hunters on it with one hot bird sounding off and you know where they'll all be.I don't blame ya abit,I wish I had 100 acres all to myself for turkey hunting,wishful thinking,and it sure would be nice not having to worry about some moron shooting at ya too.Good Luck

[bluedog]

Went out early this morning to do a little listening for gobbles before I have to go to work. Saw one truck parked in my neighbors' property. I thought I might stay until flydown and listen for a gunshot, but decided to head over to Dorset Wildlife area to see what was happening. I am in TOTAL shock. I drove the block around Kyle and Tower Roads and there was not one single vehicle parked ANYWHERE at 6:30am. It was only a few years back during the first youth season there that I had counted 10 vehicles parked around the wildlife area on Saturday. Wow, what a difference. I'll do a quick loop again when I get off of work at noon and see if it is any different.

[bluedog]

OK, here is the Dorset Wildlife Area drive-by report for the rest of Saturday. Drove the block on my way home from work at 12:30pm. Saw only one vehicle parked on the whole block (it was at the east end of the big field on Tower Rd.)

Drove down Tower Rd. at about 6:30pm. No vehicles, but there were 8-10 turkeys in the big field by the east end. Two strutters. Didn't have my binoculars with me so I couldn't get a real good look.

I wonder if Sunday will be any different?

Diane

[ron]

Hey Bluedog do you have any single sisters?? I could use some
help scouting for birds.....lol...Its real quiet here in P.A. right now.
In the area I am in anyhow.

[bluedog]

LOL Ron!!! I didn't make it over to Dorset today. I did do some listening to gobbles (from the road) by some new property I have permission to hunt this year. Lots of gobbles on the other side of the road. Saw a jake cross the road when I was leaving. I will be hunting my farm tomorrow morning. Saw about 10 turkeys crossing my field heading toward my neighbors (where they roost) early this evening. I know there will be hunters over there too. Hopefully Mister Big Boy that was leading the way makes it safely over to my property and right toward my set-up. LOL! If nothing is happening, I may move to the other property around 9-10am.

Diane

[geezer]

Hey Bluedog - i was surprised to see all the new building going on in your area - but i was more suprised to see all the trashbags and junk thrown along the back roads in the dorset area - everything from tires to furnitue - i really think your area is great too bad about the junkies

haven't had too much action turk hunting so far - yday the last hour i had two turks come out into the edge of a large open field - i tried to crawl out around some brush and stick up a couple of decoys but got busted - they saw me and ran back into the woods - just goofed -

the storm last night blew a few pieces of trim off my house so i need to take today to fix that but hope to get out again before the weekend - i don't hunt on the weekends as i am retired so i leave that time to the working guys and gals

LOL
stay safe