Scouting for Turkeys

[M16LR.50]

So I went scouting some public land for turkey signs and found some tracks...


What I also noticed was a herd of 10 adult sized WT deer on the land adjacent to where I was. I was able to sneak about 90m of them before they noticed and stood up - they didn't do their ninja disappearance act.. I also noticed that there was ALOT of deer droppings along the border. Alot, as in every 2 meters for at least 100 meters there would be dropping... So to the Ontario WT experts, would this be considered a "well travelled trail?" And worth setting up salt blocks in the vicinity? Also, how far out of hunting season would one start placing salt licks? July? August? October? Is it even necessary?


Thanks

 

[Chad LeBreton]

put them out now if you want then monitor them every month

 

[brybenn]

I salt year round for deer. I salt off of natural trails in moreopen wooded areas. Does and fawns use it year round. I hunt ridge lines and pans close to the salted areas. Rutted bucks run the ridgelines looking for does. They walk right into my sights

 

[finstr]

The does will be dropping fawns within the next month so they're eating as much as they can and pooping a lot too. It's very possible you've tripped onto their main bedding area. When they get up from a sleep their first job is to poop then move on.
Putting a salt lick anywhere can't hurt but you may not want to hunt this exact spot come fall. Your best bet is to be between this bedding spot and their preferred food source. That way they won't relocate and leave you with nothin.

 

[M16LR.50]

The does will be dropping fawns within the next month so they're eating as much as they can and pooping a lot too. It's very possible you've tripped onto their main bedding area. When they get up from a sleep their first job is to poop then move on.
Putting a salt lick anywhere can't hurt but you may not want to hunt this exact spot come fall. Your best bet is to be between this bedding spot and their preferred food source. That way they won't relocate and leave you with nothin.

Interesting... The poop trail literally runs along the property line. Facing west the farm is on the left, the woodlot/public land on the right and the trail runs right up the middle... So where would be ideal to setup come fall? Inside the woodlot ?

 

[finstr]

Interesting... The poop trail literally runs along the property line. Facing west the farm is on the left, the woodlot/public land on the right and the trail runs right up the middle... So where would be ideal to setup come fall? Inside the woodlot ?

First and foremost you want to be down wind of any bedding area so they don’t smell your approach. You need to find out where they feed. Crops, acorns, whatever. If they travel thru the woodlot to get to their food source then that’s where to be.