Talk Turkey with me!?

[Alaskageek]

Howdy from CO everyone,

Hope the MO winter has been kind to you all and you've been keeping your lines wet.  I know this isn't a hunting forum, but I really respect the members of this forum and the advice they have given me over the past couple of years, helping me and the family make the most out of every trip we are able to take to Pomme or Truman.  (although the Pomme forum seems to be much better than the Truman one)  I'll try to keep it short and sweet.  My oldest son is turning 13 in April, and I am planning a surprise father/son only trip over. We are hoping to hit some great crappie fishing as all the 7-8" dinks we caught the crap out of last summer/fall should be good eating size come April.  (should be around the spawn, right?)   I stumbled upon the fact that the Spring Turkey season will be going on while we are over there, which got me thinking about how great it would be take my son on his first actual hunt (something almost impossible over here in crowded CO), maybe not shooting, but at least hunting.  Basically, I'm wondering where we could go, as well as what our chances would be to even see a turkey, let alone call one in for a possible shot. (bought my first box call and mouth call about a week ago, still working on sounding like a turkey)  I've looked for public land around the Hickory and Benton county area, seems to mostly be around the lakes and rivers, but I have no idea if you can access those areas by truck or boat, or if they have any turkey in them, and have no way to scout them before we come over.  I'm also hesitant about public land, as the experiences I've had here in CO are not good.  Crowded and over hunted.   Any advice you have would be music to my ears, even it it's "... wrong forum moron, try this one www. xxxxxxxxxxxxx.com"

[grizwilson]

Lots of turkey around Pomme, unfortunately most know exactly where the state park ground is and no shooting allowed, I have a picture of a tom in full strut by a state park boundary sign.  Used to hunt the corp ground until a buddy got shot 3 years ago,.... worse than Colorado I assure you.  They will drive you insane crappie fishing gobble gobble everywhere.  On a good note those 7-8 inchers should be 10 now.  Will keeping thinking and looking. 

[MOPanfisher]

There is a ton of public hunting ground, Bentonville and Hickory Counties both.  Persobally I would much rather crappie fish and mushroom hunt than turkey hunt.  However there are places accessible by boat and some not.  Some on Truman Lake is smack in some of the best crappie fishing around as well as white, hybrids and walleye.

[Alaskageek]

Been looking at what maps I can find for Pomme and Turman, showing public lands, Corps land, and WMA land.  Found a good Turkey hunting forum, based in MO that I've been getting info from.  Not narrowed down as granular as this forum, but getting some info from hunters in the Hickory, Benton, St. Clair area.  

Always look forward to any info from you MOPanfisher, you've put me on the fish more than a few times.   I am right that during that time frame the crappie should be about to spawn or spawning, right?   Fish the shallows, right?  Or should I stick to the standing timber and brush piles in 7-20 feet of water?  You mention whites, will they be catchable that time of year?  Same kind of jig trolling that I get them with in July? or something else?

Thanks again for getting me all knowed up on all things MO!!!

 

[MOPanfisher]

Depending on weather the crappie should be spawning.  Don't worry about any other style of fishing, toss jigs at the bank or around spawning cover and you will catch crappie, whites, and the occasional walleye.  Scout an area th evening before, roost a couple birds while catching a few crappie.  Next morning slip in quietly and speak that language of love to them.  Then pick up a few morels that you nearly stepped on, load your turkey, and morels in the boat, maybe catch a few more crappie on the way back, and enjoy the "Missouri Spring Hat Trick"  google earth is your friend, don't forget where you parked your boat either! 

[Alaskageek]

MOPanfisher......... that sounds like a dream day in the outdoors to me.... only problem is I wouldn't know what a morel mushroom looked like if I sat on it.  Might have to add that to my research!!  Learned long ago in the wilds of Alaska..... always mark a GPS way point for your transportation.  (learned after getting stuck out an extra day when I got turned around hunting moose and couldn't find the canoe for awhile)

[MOPanfisher]

Definitely down load a picture of them. 

[Ranger520vx]

The Crappie will really move to the banks in the evenings. Like Mopan said hit shallow cover. You will hear a lot of turkeys gobbling while on the water. And I 2nd the finding morels nothing better than crappie and mushrooms.

[Basfis]

the tally bend area on Truman is a good area for all 3. Relatively easy to navigate by boat, some “open” areas for strutting, ridiculous numbers of crappie and few roads for competition coming by land. I’ve seen turkey many times in butler hollow  

Same can be said about the slice to the north at the grand river tebo confluence (long shoal/State park) though I’ve seen a few hunters boats tied up. Tons of gobbles    

There are many other good areas that require knowing the channel to navigate safely or efficiently. 

All that said, you bringing a boat? Would change suggestions significantly. 

[zarraspook]

"" only problem is I wouldn't know what a morel mushroom looked like if I sat on it ""

https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/yellow-morel-common-morel