Turkey Hunting Bozeman, MT

MSUhunter

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Anyone know of any good turkey hunting spots around the Bozeman area? I'm a college student looking to chase a gobbler here in a few weeks. Also, looking for a hunting partner if anyone is interested!
 
Any turkeys I ever found were on the private along the rivers near Bozeman, so you would have to ask. I always hunted state land and got some private permission between Big Timber and Billings. I would focus more out east and scout public lands close to creeks and rivers.
 
Anyone know of any good turkey hunting spots around the Bozeman area? I'm a college student looking to chase a gobbler here in a few weeks. Also, looking for a hunting partner if anyone is interested!

This is fantastic. A young man, going to college , wanting help with his turkey hunt. I wish I was younger and lived in Montana, I would find a way to get you on a turkey!

We need youth in our hunting fraternity, we need college folks in our fraternity, as more and more places of high learning are turning further and further to the left.

Young man, some states have "state" hunting forums. If Montana has one, join that one and ask for help as you have done here. Sometimes you can get help by calling the state fish and game or also look through their online guideline's as some states allow for advertisers to advertise on those pages and possibly you can pick up a lead there. Local hook and bullet shop might have a bulletin board--plus there are a LOT of Montana folks on this forum, I am sure some of them will help you.

Best of luck on your hunt and in your studies
 
Wish I could help. Been here a few years, and I can't think of a time I have seen a turkey on public land anywhere around here. As mentioned above, look further east. There have to be some on some of the state and/or BLM land along the Yellowstone and its tributaries between here and Billings. Perhaps private access would be more readily attained for turkeys than for elk/deer. So, I'd check going up the Shield's River Valley. But then, I haven't tried up there, so I'm just throwing out ideas ;)
 
Your best bet is to make a college friend whose family has property with birds.
Otherwise it is totally possible to take a crack at public birds further East. I did this 25 years ago...pretty much clueless...but connected the dots. Now with over 50 birds killed I can say...go for it!! I did !
 
There are a couple fishing access sites along the Gallatin River that hold birds or can get you close to private land that holds birds. If you are tactful with your calling you can sometimes convince a bird to wander over and check out the scene. Shields Valley is productive, but there is door knocking required. The Bridger range holds turkeys on public land, they are there, but tough to find. Bear Canyon east of town is another mountainous area that holds birds on public land, both national forest as well as state sections.

Get your OnX out and start e scouting to find the public lands on the rivers or mountains close to private that may hold birds, visit spots around dawn and dusk and see if you can catch a tom or hen chatting.

Good luck.
 
You could check out the BMAs in the area, see if any specifcially signed up for spring turkey hunting. If not, you might still be able to call and get access with them. Frankly, you're prob a bit behind the curve; I imagine most locals have already been knocking on doors. Also, call the R3 bio and see what they have to say about local birds.
 
You could check out the BMAs in the area, see if any specifcially signed up for spring turkey hunting. If not, you might still be able to call and get access with them. Frankly, you're prob a bit behind the curve; I imagine most locals have already been knocking on doors. Also, call the R3 bio and see what they have to say about local birds.
I've actually been looking for information like this for region 4. I found this document, but it doesn't list regions 3-5. Is this because nobody has registered for it or is there another doc?

http://fwp.mt.gov/export/sites/FwpPublic/gisResources/docs/hunterAccess/BMA/BMAmapsSpring2019.pdf
 
I've actually been looking for information like this for region 4. I found this document, but it doesn't list regions 3-5. Is this because nobody has registered for it or is there another doc?

http://fwp.mt.gov/export/sites/FwpPublic/gisResources/docs/hunterAccess/BMA/BMAmapsSpring2019.pdf

R4 Turkey hunting is by draw only, 20 tags total. That's probably why there isnt' any BMA for it.

I also talked with Dale, R5 BMA coordinator and he says turkey numbers are so low, no one wants to sign up.
 
Make a road trip to Idaho and Washington. Turkeys galore.
 
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