Who's Going Turkey Hunting This Spring?

jtduncan · February 8, 2001, 12:08 PM

I'm heading to almost the Bristish Columbia, Wahsington/Idaho border to Stevens County WA to go turkey hunting this April 15th.

It's a 6-hour drive each way but I'll probably camp out there. yeah, it's a far drive but it's the best turkey hunting in the state.

I'm trying to find an experienced turkey hunter to lead me. Any tips?

But just wanted to know who else is going gobbler blastin.

gfrey · February 8, 2001, 02:53 PM

I got a WI tag this week in the mail.

May 2-6

Heading for Eau Claire, WI area.

First Turkey hunt on my friends farm. He claims there are 2 flocks, one has about 20 birds and one has "at least 50".
Pete is known to understate the obvious.

I didn't see any turkeys last fall when deer hunting there, but the weather wasn't what I would call cooperative. (but I did see trespassers).

Don't think I can travel out of state to hunt them yet, maybe when I can take kids with...

The Mommy said I wasn't going to hunt this year like I did last year, I said great, two kids by fall means I'll have to hunt twice as much! (I don't think she meant I'll hunt less, nah she couldn't have!)

Gfrey

Poodleshooter · February 8, 2001, 03:36 PM

I've got to pattern my Mossberg still, but I have some 3" nickle plated #5's waiting in the bullpen for the first gobbler I see. I'll be hunting this spring, that's for sure.

Jay Baker · February 8, 2001, 05:08 PM

JTDuncan, I'll be hunting Spring turkey, but in the s.w. part of Idaho, near Garden Valley. Can't help you on the area you listed. But, best of luck to you. Get a nice one!

J.B.

Jack Straw · February 8, 2001, 05:53 PM

Oh yeah...I'll be there. I prefer chasing gobblers to any other kind of hunting. I've got a good place here in Georgia with plenty of birds. While deer hunting this past fall I saw one bird that I would really like to meet again; he had at least a 10inch beard (maybe he has even put on a few inches since November).

One tip always comes to mind...be patient!!! Actually there are so many "tips" that I wouldn't know where to begin.

Just because you don't hear gobbling doesn't mean that they aren't there. If you have done a thorough job of scouting (I think that is the key to successful turkey hunting) and know that birds are there, don't start thinking that the turkeys have left the area just because you aren't getting responses to your calling. It might be a matter of sitting down and waiting for them to return to that area. The first bird I killed gobbled just once and that was mere seconds before I pulled the trigger. After hearing nothing all morning, I sat down at about 10:30 and started calling. About 40 minutes later I heard footsteps in the leaves to my right. He walked on into view right in front of me about 17 yards away and let out his last gobble. It seemed like a long time as it was happening but from the time I heard those first steps until the time I shot was really no more than 30 seconds. Things can turn around quickly when turkey hunting.

That is a technique I use frequently. During the day, if I can't locate a gobbling tom, I will sit down in a good area and start calling softly and sporadically. I will gradually build up the intensity and volume of the calling until I reach a peak about 30-40 minutes later in which I will be using every call I have as loud as I can and just making absolutely as much turkey noise (you name it: yelps, cutting, cackles, aggressive purring, and maybe a gobble if I think it is safe) as I can for just a few minutes and then tapering the calling off over the next 30 minutes or so. Then I sit and wait for as long as I can. I don't know how many birds I have called in like that. However, consider yourself warned -- they will probably come in quietly so be still.

If you do get on a gobbling tom, adjust your calling to meet his mood. Don't start off too aggressively, but if he seems to like that then let him hear it. I call quietly to a bird that doesn't sound very fired up, but I won't give a red-hot tom any slack either; if he keeps responding, I'll keep calling (usually).

I promise I'm not a salesman, but last spring I ordered a Summit Trophy Chair from Cabela's. Last season was the most comfortable I have ever been while hunting. I can't sit on the ground for very long (even with the various cushions I have tried over the years) without getting sore and squirmy after a very short while. I could literally sit in the Summit chair for hours without even shifting around at all; comfort goes a long way in making me more patient.

Okay I'll shut up now, but I could go on and on when it comes to turkey hunting. In fact, just typing this has me fired-up!!!! How quickly can March 24 get here?

Jack

Remington · February 9, 2001, 10:10 PM

Count me in!! I've got the first season. I didn't get a permit last year. I hunt in Monroe County Wisconsin

handgun357 · February 10, 2001, 12:04 AM

I will if I get the draw for Pigeon River Game Reserve.

solo · February 10, 2001, 07:17 AM

Count me in too. I recently purchased a Super Full Choke for my Rem.870, it gives a real nice tight pattern. I will be hunting in E.TN.

jtduncan · February 11, 2001, 11:54 AM

Thanks for all of the great tips.

I was talking to one of WA state's best turkey hunters, Dan Blatt and you guys were saying the same things.

Patience gets the bird. Honker done and call them to you.

I just turned in my tax return cause I'm not letting unlce sam get in the way of my April 15th hunt.

deanf · February 12, 2001, 06:25 AM

I hunt deer in the general area where you are going. Curlew. Vulcan Mountain. Not quite as far East; same country, though.

I go to Klickitat County for turkeys. I would go where you go, but the guy I hunt with doesn't like the long drive. Haven't bagged a bird yet, but I've seen a few down there.

Let us know how you do.

jtduncan · February 12, 2001, 11:33 AM

Klickitat County on the Oregon border was my first pick too.

It's only a 4 hour drive but Blatt wants new turkey hunters to be successful so he's telling me what's the extra 2 hour drive worth? 6 hours more birds, 4 hours less birds.

I'll make the drive.

bergie · February 16, 2001, 11:39 AM

the late hunt in the Verdigre Unit in northeast NE. A couple of units here are split into early and late seasons to break up the pressure. I prefer the late hunt, for a couple of reasons, first the weather is a little more dependable, second more people are hunting the early season trying to be the first at the toms, and third and most important, the main part of the mating season is over. The toms will come to calls a lot easier when they are actively looking for the last few hens they haven't bred than when they are surrounded by them. The guys that rush out for the opening weekend are not only competing against all the other early hunters, but trying to convince a tom that a bird in the bush is worth two in the hand

It just aint that easy.
I use a technique similar to Jack Straw, but I limit the variety of calling a little more, just trying to sound like a lonely hen or maybe a couple of hens rather than a whole flock. If and when you get an answer you do have to try and figure out what he will respond to to get him in and that is when the fun really starts.
bergie

ERRainman · February 16, 2001, 01:05 PM

I'm still waiting on the final say from the State DNR, but I requested the traditional opening day of Turkey season off. It seems I'll be upsetting one of my aunts by "shootin' her turkeys" again this year. She doesn't mind me killing deer from her doorstep, shootin' squirrels, crows, or even an occasional quail, but she gets a wee mite angered at the sight of me draggin' a big gobbler up from the bottoms.

I even put off getting my newest bird dog puppy until May just so I could have extra time to spend in the woods.

Wish you all a great season!

February 8, 2001, 12:08 PM	#1
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,686	I'm heading to almost the Bristish Columbia, Wahsington/Idaho border to Stevens County WA to go turkey hunting this April 15th. It's a 6-hour drive each way but I'll probably camp out there. yeah, it's a far drive but it's the best turkey hunting in the state. I'm trying to find an experienced turkey hunter to lead me. Any tips? But just wanted to know who else is going gobbler blastin. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

February 10, 2001, 12:04 AM	#7
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	I will if I get the draw for Pigeon River Game Reserve. __________________ Always identify your target before you shoot. NRA Member

February 11, 2001, 11:54 AM	#9
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,686	Thanks for all of the great tips. I was talking to one of WA state's best turkey hunters, Dan Blatt and you guys were saying the same things. Patience gets the bird. Honker done and call them to you. I just turned in my tax return cause I'm not letting unlce sam get in the way of my April 15th hunt. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

February 12, 2001, 06:25 AM	#10
deanf Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 1999 Location: N47º 12’ x W122º 10' Posts: 1,599	I hunt deer in the general area where you are going. Curlew. Vulcan Mountain. Not quite as far East; same country, though. I go to Klickitat County for turkeys. I would go where you go, but the guy I hunt with doesn't like the long drive. Haven't bagged a bird yet, but I've seen a few down there. Let us know how you do. __________________ I'm a constitutional fetishist. Airplane Pictures

February 12, 2001, 11:33 AM	#11
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,686	Klickitat County on the Oregon border was my first pick too. It's only a 4 hour drive but Blatt wants new turkey hunters to be successful so he's telling me what's the extra 2 hour drive worth? 6 hours more birds, 4 hours less birds. I'll make the drive. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

February 8, 2001, 02:53 PM	#2
gfrey Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Fort Atkinson, WI USA Posts: 143	I got a WI tag this week in the mail. May 2-6 Heading for Eau Claire, WI area. First Turkey hunt on my friends farm. He claims there are 2 flocks, one has about 20 birds and one has "at least 50". Pete is known to understate the obvious. I didn't see any turkeys last fall when deer hunting there, but the weather wasn't what I would call cooperative. (but I did see trespassers). Don't think I can travel out of state to hunt them yet, maybe when I can take kids with... The Mommy said I wasn't going to hunt this year like I did last year, I said great, two kids by fall means I'll have to hunt twice as much! (I don't think she meant I'll hunt less, nah she couldn't have!) Gfrey

February 8, 2001, 03:36 PM	#3
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	I've got to pattern my Mossberg still, but I have some 3" nickle plated #5's waiting in the bullpen for the first gobbler I see. I'll be hunting this spring, that's for sure.

February 8, 2001, 05:08 PM	#4
Jay Baker Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2000 Location: S.W. Idaho Posts: 1,294	JTDuncan, I'll be hunting Spring turkey, but in the s.w. part of Idaho, near Garden Valley. Can't help you on the area you listed. But, best of luck to you. Get a nice one! J.B.

February 8, 2001, 05:53 PM	#5
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 362	Oh yeah...I'll be there. I prefer chasing gobblers to any other kind of hunting. I've got a good place here in Georgia with plenty of birds. While deer hunting this past fall I saw one bird that I would really like to meet again; he had at least a 10inch beard (maybe he has even put on a few inches since November). One tip always comes to mind...be patient!!! Actually there are so many "tips" that I wouldn't know where to begin. Just because you don't hear gobbling doesn't mean that they aren't there. If you have done a thorough job of scouting (I think that is the key to successful turkey hunting) and know that birds are there, don't start thinking that the turkeys have left the area just because you aren't getting responses to your calling. It might be a matter of sitting down and waiting for them to return to that area. The first bird I killed gobbled just once and that was mere seconds before I pulled the trigger. After hearing nothing all morning, I sat down at about 10:30 and started calling. About 40 minutes later I heard footsteps in the leaves to my right. He walked on into view right in front of me about 17 yards away and let out his last gobble. It seemed like a long time as it was happening but from the time I heard those first steps until the time I shot was really no more than 30 seconds. Things can turn around quickly when turkey hunting. That is a technique I use frequently. During the day, if I can't locate a gobbling tom, I will sit down in a good area and start calling softly and sporadically. I will gradually build up the intensity and volume of the calling until I reach a peak about 30-40 minutes later in which I will be using every call I have as loud as I can and just making absolutely as much turkey noise (you name it: yelps, cutting, cackles, aggressive purring, and maybe a gobble if I think it is safe) as I can for just a few minutes and then tapering the calling off over the next 30 minutes or so. Then I sit and wait for as long as I can. I don't know how many birds I have called in like that. However, consider yourself warned -- they will probably come in quietly so be still. If you do get on a gobbling tom, adjust your calling to meet his mood. Don't start off too aggressively, but if he seems to like that then let him hear it. I call quietly to a bird that doesn't sound very fired up, but I won't give a red-hot tom any slack either; if he keeps responding, I'll keep calling (usually). I promise I'm not a salesman, but last spring I ordered a Summit Trophy Chair from Cabela's. Last season was the most comfortable I have ever been while hunting. I can't sit on the ground for very long (even with the various cushions I have tried over the years) without getting sore and squirmy after a very short while. I could literally sit in the Summit chair for hours without even shifting around at all; comfort goes a long way in making me more patient. Okay I'll shut up now, but I could go on and on when it comes to turkey hunting. In fact, just typing this has me fired-up!!!! How quickly can March 24 get here? Jack

February 9, 2001, 10:10 PM	#6
Remington Junior Member Join Date: January 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 4	Count me in!! I've got the first season. I didn't get a permit last year. I hunt in Monroe County Wisconsin

February 10, 2001, 07:17 AM	#8
solo Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 1999 Posts: 211	Count me in too. I recently purchased a Super Full Choke for my Rem.870, it gives a real nice tight pattern. I will be hunting in E.TN.

February 16, 2001, 11:39 AM	#12
bergie Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 1999 Posts: 567	the late hunt in the Verdigre Unit in northeast NE. A couple of units here are split into early and late seasons to break up the pressure. I prefer the late hunt, for a couple of reasons, first the weather is a little more dependable, second more people are hunting the early season trying to be the first at the toms, and third and most important, the main part of the mating season is over. The toms will come to calls a lot easier when they are actively looking for the last few hens they haven't bred than when they are surrounded by them. The guys that rush out for the opening weekend are not only competing against all the other early hunters, but trying to convince a tom that a bird in the bush is worth two in the hand It just aint that easy. I use a technique similar to Jack Straw, but I limit the variety of calling a little more, just trying to sound like a lonely hen or maybe a couple of hens rather than a whole flock. If and when you get an answer you do have to try and figure out what he will respond to to get him in and that is when the fun really starts. bergie

February 16, 2001, 01:05 PM	#13
ERRainman Member Join Date: July 21, 1999 Posts: 76	I'm still waiting on the final say from the State DNR, but I requested the traditional opening day of Turkey season off. It seems I'll be upsetting one of my aunts by "shootin' her turkeys" again this year. She doesn't mind me killing deer from her doorstep, shootin' squirrels, crows, or even an occasional quail, but she gets a wee mite angered at the sight of me draggin' a big gobbler up from the bottoms. I even put off getting my newest bird dog puppy until May just so I could have extra time to spend in the woods. Wish you all a great season!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search