Out of State Hunts

Looking for an out of state hunt for 2024. I’ve been to Kansas and it was great. I’m looking at Tx, Ky, Mo. I am open to any state with good hunting that doesn’t require a plane ticket. I’m not opposed to public land and may go that route, but mainly looking for an outfitter. Fair chase no frills, just turkey hunting. Any advice on experiences and who to go with is appreciated.

If you go to TX be sure there's running water and enough land to get away from feeders. 10k acres is enough

Ky or Mo would be my picks

Have you ever hunted in Texas before?

Yep.

Ten four, I was just a little confused by your reply, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

OP, regarding TX hunting, I would not let the presence of feeders or the lack of running water deter me from hunting a place. Some of the finest hunting land in the state is watered by a tank every one or two thousand acres. I would rather hunt the right 1000 acres in Texas than 10000 acres of the rest of rio country I’ve hunted. Good luck with your search.

My experience as well.

Everyone and their brother has become a turkey outfitter/guide/videographer.

Buyer beware. OP states mentioned ain’t as good as they once was.

Better make sure you do your homework. Now a days, you get what you pay for is just a saying too. I’ve been on some good hunts that cost much less than some of the poor ones I’ve experienced.

I’d start by calling state biologist that deal with turkeys and narrow down an area where the populations are good, then look for outfitters in those specific areas.

Thanks for the responses. Jstocks, you are absolutely right. Thanks for the advice.

East KS currently has every pinhoti/hunting public wannabe YouTube famous star driving around in their Toyota Camrys.

My brother is in Southern KS right now and they are covered up with them too.

Turkeys or wannabes?

Wannabes. He said there were multiple truck/cars at every WIHA he went by.

I finally got away from them and we’ve killed two.

They were all over the pine ridge area of NW nebraska last week also

Seems like more turkey callers, and crawlers than ever before. I started in 1999 and most mornings could hear several turkeys.

It is getting bad. I initially supported Dave and the other YouTubers and I think most of the have good intentions, but it is out of control. I have been taking multiple out of state trips for the better part of 20 years and am finding areas I’ve had to myself on multiple occasions covered up with people.

It’s everywhere. Used to be the further you got from the southeast, the less and less crowded it got. Especially if you went to a one bird state. Now you can be on the canada border and have people everywhere.

Has anyone had a good experience with an outfitter they would recommend?

Illinois was more crowded than ever. I was hoping that post pandemic the crowds would be less but that was wishful thinking

Sifted through really bad…

The more I see what these YouTubers have done, the madder I get.

But hey- they got theirs so who cares. Problem is, almost all have done it for pennies on the dollar.

They are now their own worst enemy. Soon will be gone the days where they can just drop in a state and buy an NR tag. Nebraska already limited NR tags this year and they were all gone by opening day. Kansas is doing the same thing next year.

I bought my NE tag one Friday evening and went back to purchase a second that Sunday and they were sold out.

Trying to fill our second KS tag now and it’s very difficult to find gobblers. Several jakes around.

NE and KS were once some of the best turkey hunting land in the country. TV and internet hunters let the word out and ruined the fun. I've hunted both states multiple times over the past 12 years and it's been worse and worse. After my last couple of trips, I wouldn't waste the time to go back there, especially for 1 bird.

Let a good Alabama turkey hunter loose up there and the carnage piles up fast. Once everybody figures out they can go do it, the resource gets exploited pretty quickly

I leave for Kansas tomorrow. With only one tag and rumors of a lottery next year, this is probably my last trip. Used to, two birds were a given but for the first time in eight years, neither my buddy or I got a bird last year. Didn't even see many birds and it's getting harder and harder to get our permissions. I'll miss it for sure cause there's nothing like chasing those big Rios but all good things must come to an end.

Had a bird we’ve had several 50-60 yard encounters with get shot right out from under us this morning. Probably be my last trip too. Hearing a bunch of birds but coming to find out about 99% of them are jakes. Nowhere near the birds that used to be out here.

Sorry to highjack the thread. I’ll answer your question. I’ve heard good things and know ppl who’ve killed birds with Kansas Trophy Whitetails.

That's dangerous.

My 13 year old son and I were 60 yards apart trying to split up and kill a very call shy bird we’ve come close to killing the last two mornings. When I figured out what was going on, and my son had no clue, I risked busting the hunt to get back to him to make sure he didn’t get shot. I made it back to him without spooking the bird but he got shot moments later right in front of us. I had permission to hunt the private beside the WIHA and I don’t know if this guy did or not but he shot it over the fence.

They are doing to Turkeys what the Duck Dynasty wannabe's did to duck hunting. I have NEVER told anybody they should get into turkey hunting. In fact all I do is tell them how hard it is and make it out to suck. (which is true a lot of mornings lol)

The last time I hunted public land in Al, several guys parked right next to my truck walked in and set up calling. Too much for me, I got up and left. Not worth it to me

I’m in agreement with a limited traveling hiatus until things change. I’ve killed five and watched three others get punched out. A buddy and myself came to a one bird state and scratched on public. We saw plenty of hunters from the Southeast. I soft yelped and clucked at two and they shut down for thirty minutes.

I can hook you up with a KS outfitter. He’s not the cheapest, but he has yet to have a client NOT to kill on day 1 this year. I’m meeting up with him next week and going after Merriams in WY.

BTW, KS will limit the number of out of state turkey tags starting in 2024. The tags will also be unit specific. They haven’t decided if the set number of tags/unit will be first come, or lottery draw like deer.

I’m glad I got to see Kansas when it was good.
The last several times I’ve been up there, things were getting worse and worse, between the increased number of hunters and permission getting harder to come by.
I’ll take my boys up there when they get a little bigger, but have zero desire to go back right now.

Thanks C Gardner. PM to you.

Man, that is awful. I'm sorry your son had to see that.

I've had some great trips to KS, but 2019 was the last year for me. I only got one that trip and could tell the population was trending down. It flooded most of the trip and even closed the interstate down, and I would think all that rain had a detrimental effect on nesting success.

I would lov to find a good miss and ga spot - need to take care of my border states

Shouldn't be a problem, bet there a ton of them just like all the good spots we have here in Alabama.

PM'ed you my phone numbers, I can give you a few leads.

I’m in New Hampshire now and it is making its way to the northeast as well. Saw two guys this morning trying to crawl some turkeys next to a road I’ve never seen anyone hunting on numerous trips. They were both wearing pinhoti hoodies and gaiters on their legs. YouTube will ruin what we love to do as bad as I hate to say it.

I’m looking for leads as well I’ve only been to Texas and Florida! I don’t mind payin for outfitters just want to enjoy a good hunt away from folks

That figures, I don’t understand why any hunter would want to video and put it out for everyone to see. You know what’s going to happen

Attention whores, look at me, look at me. Advertising to screw the rest of us up.