We pass through a flat meadow with last summers brittle grasses the color of a deers pelt laid low by wind and a few deep winter snows. But thats not necessarily because of where they live. Through the pines, at 75 yards, I see him in full strut, and still coming. Theres just enough light to see the shimmer of Tajique Creek. I waited another hour or so, but never heard him fly down. The trailhead to reach the observation area is on the west side of the road at Capilla Peak. Weddle takes a careful approach in the woods, striving to minimize his impact and avoid bumping birds. The white tips of his fan are the first things I see as he comes over the rise, then his beet-red head. In hunting turkey, Gary resurrects how the mountains of northern New Mexico have been used by Native peoples since about the time the wind began to blow. spooked podcast robert the doll; When the tom stepped out at 35 yards, I switched to the over barrel and smoked him. As the bird spots the decoy, I am staring down the barrel of a CZ Reaper Magnum over/under at a gorgeous Montana Merriams at 35 yards. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Full disclosureExperts agree that turkeys on public ground are generally tougher to kill than their private-land cousins. Box calls, slate calls, wooden peg yelpers, gobblersnothing provoked a response. I learn that my hunting buddy for the week is Matt Rice from Vista Outdoors and our guide is Terry Honkanen, a seasoned turkey expert. Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. We hike a big loop around to get in a better position and use the rolling terrain as cover to move within 100 yards. He had been in the area the day before, and heard two toms gobbling. The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness lands found within wilderness (private, state government, local government or tribal inholdings and edgeholdings from the Bureau of Land Management's National Surface Management Agency Area Polygons - National Geospatial Data Asset). The main components of suitable turkey habitat include water, roost sites, nest sites, and summer/brood areas. Females will be buff-tipped, To conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation (Read more), Phone: (505) 476-8000 | Toll-free (888) 248-6866, The fall turkey season allows for the harvest of one turkey (either sex). When you reach the T intersection of NM 55, take a right, which takes you west and into the small town of Tajique. The Manzano Mountains provide a great day hunt for turkey. Page 12 of 19. manzano mountains turkey hunting5 importance of transportation in nigeria. monzano mountains NM and Turkey's | Hunt Talk Almost instantly, four jakes appear out of a thicket, gobbling, and catch a glimpse of Terry holding a fan in the air, slowly twisting it back and forth. America's Top Public-Land Turkey Hunting Destinations Here's a list of potentially productive public properties across the country, courtesy of state turkey biologists. The end of August to the beginning of November marks the migration season for raptors such as the sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and turkey vulture, which keep watch for small prey from the . N, 106 deg. Were all feeling good, and I eagerly hop out to open and close the last gate of the trip. It can be easily adjusted for windage and elevation so youre dead on when the time comes to make the shot. Centrally located, this peaceful, secluded park in the Ponderosa pine forest of the Manzano Mountains will relax and invigorate you. So we went back to the same area, arriving just before daylight. Authorized work such as roost site maintenance is partially funded with these dollars. Also, the state has secured access agreements on private land: myodfw.com/articles/hunting-private-lands-access-habitat-program. As you peruse your maps, check for hard-to-access public areas at the lowest elevation you can get to without trespassing. Thats how the beautiful light feels falling on my teenage daughter, Willow. Not available. Kansas: The state has more than 759,000 acres of public access during spring turkey season, including more than 328,000 acres through the Walk-In Hunting Access Program in 2021. With that, we decide to change gears and head over to a new property to see if we can find some fresh birds for Matt. The idea here is to position yourself so the turkey has to come into gun range to see you. Manzano, Torrance County, NM Recreational Property, Hunting Property By Posted google sheets script get row number In los angeles skateboard deck Facility Offers (viewing campsites) AttentionThe water potable water hydrant at the park dump station is available for visitors 24 hours per day. The most distinguishing feature of adult male and female turkeys is their breast feathers. When U.S. Army topographer Lt. James Abert skirted these mountains in 1847, making a map for the newly arrived military, he was among the first English speakers to pass this way. The end of August to the beginning of November marks the migration season for raptors such as the sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and turkey vulture, which keep watch for small prey from the . I dont do anything different, he says. Fair enough. Although I couldnt make it out opening day, some friends offered to take me turkey hunting the first weekend. Teddy Roosevelt harvested his own food. All of this wilderness is located in New Mexico and is managed by the Forest Service. Most of his turkeys were taken on public ground. The most significant benefit of this gun is the ability to have two barrels with different chokes. Manzano Wilderness Study Area | Bureau of Land Management Published Jun 3, 2021 4:00 PM EDT. Overall, this is a beautiful hike to enjoy the solitude of Manzano Mountain Wilderness Area. Your rifle is your most important hunting tool, and knowing how to properly clean and store it when hunting season comes to a close is critical in keeping it in tip-top shape. Here are some tips for differentiating the sex of turkeys, both adults and juveniles, Copyright 2016 New Mexico Department of Game & Fish | All Rights Reserved, New Mexico Turkey Subspecies Distribution Map, Aging Spring Turkeys by National Wild Turkey Federations, (505) 476-8000 | Toll-free (888) 248-6866. Hawkwatch International - Manzano Mountains, NM They wont even shut their engines or the radio off, and then theyll hoot or crow call and then drive off. 8 Overlooked Spring Turkey-Hunting Hotspots | Field & Stream Regulations require that a spring harvested turkey be bearded. Some food options include grass leaves and seeds, forbs, pine nuts, juniper berries, acorns, invertebrates, and cultivated crops. Willow shoulders her 20 gauge, stock-still. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "The wild turkey really deserves a place beside the deer [and elk]; to kill a wary old gobbler by fair still-hunting, is a triumph for the best sportsman." The Most Beautiful Towns in Bavaria, Germany To reach the trailhead, take FR 245 to New Canyon Campground. Land for Sale Under $200K : Page 605 of 606 : LANDFLIP Nothing. Almost everywhere in New Mexico is dry right now, including the Manzano Mountains east of Albuquerque. Your email address will not be published. In recent years, New Mexico has completed several translocations of Goulds turkeys from Arizona. The Manzano region of Cibola National Forest also fosters a critical wildlife mission: the Manzano Mountains Raptor Migration Project. Discover 824 listings of farms for sale over 5 acres, under $25K. Montana Turkey Adventure: How to Hunt Open Country Merriam's Gobblers Not a peep from those sneaky toms. The imported wild birds quickly adopted their new home . I am standing there like a kid who knows he is about to get in trouble, and there is no way out. hunting, Manzano Mountains, turkey. Easily find farms for sale at FARMFLIP.com. Louisiana: Kisatchie National Forest, in western Louisiana. As part of that, he actually tries to keep a longbeard as quiet as possiblenot encouraging him to gobblewhile working the bird. Teddy Roosevelt harvested his own food. As I shut my eyes in disbelief, I know that I just locked myself on the wrong side of the gateagain. Up to two persons may apply per application. Favored riparian areas are generally in open landscapes at elevations lower than 6,000 feet. Spring Turkey Season Takes Flight: Great Spots to Find Gobblers There is a profound sense of freedom that comes from hunting public land turkeys unlike anything else I know. I dont think I spooked him, because he was still gobbling. Im not the only one whos been here! Hunting mountain Merriam's is hard and unpredictable work (as all hunting should be), but also incredibly exciting and rewarding. I expect gobbles all around as we step out of the truck to listen, and the initial silencesave for the constant whoosh sweeping over across the prairie and through the scattered pineshas me instantly, and unreasonably, down on our prospects. An ideal scenario can be the turkey located below you under a steep slope. Matt and Terry are in hysterics again and all I can do is accept it. The tradition here is to be on him fast, if the turkey flops over the brink of the hill you may in for a long retrieve of your prize. He still behaves like a turkey and does turkey things. This is an ancient endeavor, and theres a moral message to be discovered in harvesting your own local, free-range organic food. The crest of the mountains in the wilderness varies from elevations of 8,200 feet (2,500 m) to 10,098 feet (3,078 m). Your email address will not be published. It wraps around to our right and leads to a big openinga perfect place for the tom to cross. Manzano Mountains | Calls of the Wild Arkansas: The Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis national forests, which comprise almost 2.7 million acres. We had hoped to give Bubbles, the new decoy, a chance to strut her stuff, but she had to leave without a date for the day. 3. New York: The New York City Department of Environmental Protection allows hunting on many of its watershed lands in the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions. For listings of NYS DEC- and NYC DEP-managed lands, go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7844.html. Further, the greatest public grounds Ive ever hunted pale in comparison to the greatest of private grounds. Manzano mountains, New Mexico, USA. Brian Lovett Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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Published Feb 2, 2021 10:00 PM EST. They inhabit brush areas near stream and rivers that contain large trees for roosting. I could only see his tail fan and head above the scrub oak brush. The subspecies distribution can be found here: New Mexico Turkey Subspecies Distribution Map.