Turkey Hunting Success and Safety on Public Land
Bill Miller 04.23.15
For many of us, it’s a reality of hunting. We hunt public land, or we don’t hunt.
Out West, public land can mean areas where you hike miles into the wild to set up a tiny, primitive camp from which to base your hunt for elk or big mulies. On a hunt like that, you’re on public ground, but chances are you won’t encounter another human.
Sadly, that’s not the kind of public land most of us know. We hunt on wildlife management areas close to major metropolitan areas. These areas receive significant hunting pressure. Most days, especially on weekends, you see vehicles overflowing designated parking areas close to prime locations.
Even so, you can enjoy successful hunting if you plan your strategy carefully—and you’re willing to work hard. However, there are safety considerations, too. Number one is being seen!
It goes against nearly every strategy for hunting success, but it’s essential to safety. You want the other hunters around you to know where you are at all times. That’s why nearly all states require some form of blaze orange clothing for firearms hunting for big game, small game, and upland birds. Turkey hunting on public ground is the perfect example of the need for both concealment and visibility on the same hunt.
You do your homework and figure out the routine of a longbeard that’s taken to roosting on an island. Normally, the water’s too deep to wade to that island, but you watch the weather and river reports. You figure this weekend, if it doesn’t rain, the water will be down enough you can tip-toe out there without filling your waders. The walk in—and the walk back out—is through a half mile of public land.
You execute your plan. You take tom by surprise and bust him as soon as his toes touch down next to your decoy. You wade back to the mainland a little wet, but justly proud of the big bird.
But now you have to walk back through that maze of hunters you don’t know. To me, that’s the scariest part. Though I had to hide completely from that gobbler, I need to be seen walking out!
I accomplish that by wearing a reversible stocking cap—camouflage out for hunting, blaze side out for the daylight walk out through the public ground. I also carry a lightweight orange vest in my turkey vest. It goes over everything for the walk out, too. And it’s a smart idea to have blaze orange tote tucked in your vest, too, to carry your turkey—or at least a big hank of blaze orange fabric to wrap around the bird.
The blaze orange should broadcast your presence far and wide so you’ll arrive safely, but to be doubly sure, sing loudly as you’re hiking out. After all, you need something to get attention and gather a crowd so you can brag about the longbeard on your back!
These insights brought to you by Federal Premium Ammunition, Camp Chef, and the Quebec Outfitters Federation.
Bill Miller’s least favorite question is, “What is your favorite kind of hunting?”
He dislikes it so much because any answer may hint he’s willing to give up one or more of the lesser favorites. But if you press him really hard, his answer will be, “I really like anything I can hunt with a shotgun and over good dogs.”
At an early age, Bill became shotgunning addicted. Instead of an allowance in cash money, Bill earned shotgun shells for his chores around the family home. Then on Sunday afternoon’s he would haul an old Trius Trap out to the field behind the house on to the make shift “trap range” he’d mowed into the tall grass with the push mower. Then his dad would join him to supervise the shooting of the shells earned during the week.
About the same time, at age 11, Bill figured out he wanted to make his living experiencing outdoor adventures and sharing them with others. He wanted to be an outdoor writer. In the decades since, he has lived and continues living his dream.
He travels widely enjoying adventures close to home as well as on five continents. He shared his adventures on national networks hosing and producing shows for NBC Sports, Versus, Outdoor Channel, Wild TV, Sportsman Channel and others. He appeared on ESPN for 13 season on "Shoot More, Shoot More Often." During the production of “The Shooting Sports” for ESPN, Bill was honored to shoot frequently in the company of members and coaches of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team.
In 2012, participated in the Armed Forces Entertainment Outdoor Legends Tour to Afghanistan to entertain men and women serving in the military -- in his words, "...it was the greatest honor in my career and a life changing experience. His latest venture is a new book, "Reflections Under the Big Pine" he co-authored and published with K.J. Houtman.
