Looking for advice on an Eastern Kansas Turkey Hunt

[Otto Syracuse]

We are heading to eastern Kansas to see some friends and we are planning to turkey hunt together. Has anyone ever hunted that area for Turkey? Looking for some guidance mostly on location, but also if the tactics are any different than hunting them in NY. (probably not)

We will be on public land and in the middle to northern part of eastern Kansas.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Bikewanderer]

Around here if you want turkey you can just walk outside and walk right up to it. No hunting required. 5 mins tops to get a turkey. Wish I could help more. I don't hunt them much.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Well, I guess that sounds encouraging. My friend has not hunted turkey there, but he has hunted deer on public land and seen and heard turkeys several times.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[PILOON]

LOL,
Just last week traffic (1 car) was at a standstill as 12 turkeys decided the wanted to cross the road single file fashion.
Been here over 60 years and this was my first sighting.
Seen everything else; deer, bobcat, moose, coons, fox, geese ducks and beaver but never gobblers.
Surprised as we have wolves and coyote in the area as well.
Heck a moose swam across the lake and climbed out next to my dock.

 

[kcflhrc]

Well, I live in Eastern Kansas and there are turkey everywhere. They taste like **** so I don't hunt them. I live south of Olathe about 20 miles. Public hunting around Hillsdale Lake. Eastern Kansas is a fairly big area.

 

[teejk]

Well, I live in Eastern Kansas and there are turkey everywhere. They taste like **** so I don't hunt them. I live south of Olathe about 20 miles. Public hunting around Hillsdale Lake. Eastern Kansas is a fairly big area.

Taste like ****? I kinda like the taste and texture of the wild variety that has been bred out of their domestic cousins.

 

[Citydude]

Um, don't expect a butterball type taste on the table for wild turkey. I don't know what **** tastes like but a well worn boot comes close to the taste in my opinion.

I guess you have to know the correct way of baking them. I sure don't.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Our friends live in Louisburg. We have been to Olathe with them for a soccer tournament their daughter was in. Thanks for the tip on Hillsdale Lake, I'll look into it.

Wild turkey taste great, but they need to be cooked properly. baking is probably not a good option unless you brine it overnight and cook it with liquids, like cider or white wine. I usually marinate them with seasonings, then either stir fry small pieces, or grill them . My friend did pluck one out and stuffed it like a traditional Thanksgiving bird, and it turned out terrific.

 

[teejk]

Um, don't expect a butterball type taste on the table for wild turkey. I don't know what **** tastes like but a well worn boot comes close to the taste in my opinion.

I guess you have to know the correct way of baking them. I sure don't.

I haven't oven roasted a domestic turkey in about 30 years (gas grill for me because a natural by-product of burning LP is water vapor) and have never attempted to bake one (not the way that meat works). Wild turkey will taste the same as their domesticated cousins (probably better), only a firmer/stringier texture. Most people only save the breast meat but if you like soup or stew you are missing out on a lot of tasty meat in the legs and thighs. Back to the breast meat...great smoking material for sandwiches or casseroles...and a friend likes to deep fry strips. And they are actually fun to hunt! Spring time and shaking the cabin fever...and in most places there is some skill involved with no guarantee of success. In the meantime the woods are coming alive and the sights of nature are worth the trip...fully camo gear, not unusual to see deer 10 ft away...in many places the grouse will be drumming and the song-birds singing.

 

[kcflhrc]

Our friends live in Louisburg. We have been to Olathe with them for a soccer tournament their daughter was in. Thanks for the tip on Hillsdale Lake, I'll look into it.

Wild turkey taste great, but they need to be cooked properly. baking is probably not a good option unless you brine it overnight and cook it with liquids, like cider or white wine. I usually marinate them with seasonings, then either stir fry small pieces, or grill them . My friend did pluck one out and stuffed it like a traditional Thanksgiving bird, and it turned out terrific.

Im west of Louisburg 10 miles