All,

Any tips on areas or zones for over-the-counter spring turkey hunting?

I've never gone in NM before and was hoping to find something close by to ABQ. Looks like unit 14 (east of town, south of I-40) is available for OTC hunting but is archery only.

I've heard that around Mt. Taylor is a decent place within driving distance.


Anyone else going hunting this spring or just want to offer up some advice?

Turkey hunting around Mt. Taylor isn't too bad.  The best I have found is in unit 10.  I have always bagged a bird on the first day there.

We have a lot of turkeys here in NM.  Assuming you are talking Merriam's turkeys, unit 6 and 51 both have good numbers.  Have you hunted Merriam's before?  They are talkative.  Find an area and go out after dark.  Rip a set of yelps out on your loudest call.  If something doesn't gobble back, they aren't there.  But just because they gobble at you in the morning after fly down doesn't mean they are coming your way.  They will still yell at you, even as they are walking off.

Good advice, all. Sounds like I have to drive if I want to find any decent areas.

There are some Rio Grande Turkeys along the river south of Albuquerque.  Not far to go.  But accessing the areas that won't be swarmed with other hunters take a little more effort.  I prefer to head up into the mountains for Merriam's.  I have an opportunity to access private property for Rio Grande Turkeys later this season, but will spend most of my time in the mountains.