I've been rethinking my past scouting techniques where I'm realizing I may have made a lot of mistakes. Last year, was going into the woods late morning or mid-afternoon. I found lots of J-hooks and feathers which indicated birds had been in the area. But that was it. Also, it turned out that I was scouting in areas many others were planning on hunting.

Next Spring I want to try a different approach. Tell me what you think:

I want to get out around 4am with a small flashlight. Just enough light for me to get around the woods without tripping and killing myself. Don't want to spook the roosting toms either. I want to get in there early enough so that I can allow them to gobble and give themselves away without me giving myself away. If they fail to gobble on their own, I thought I would occassionally get up on a high ridge and bust out with a peacock screamer or coyote howler (crow calls don't seem to work in Washington State as they are too common). I thought being up on a ridge would permit me to hear from greater distances. Finally, I want to mark the spot with my GPS so I can get back to the exact same spot.

Has this been your approach? What have the results been? Thanks in advance!

Now you've got the right idea. But, dont' forget to socut during the daytoo, and begin scoutng about two weeks before you plan to hunt. read T.R.'s Tips; Spring Turkey Scouting (just above your last post).

T.R.

T.R. Michels

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I like to get on a ridge across from the ridge I expect to hear the birds.I get there just before daylight.When they gobble it's easier to pinpoint them and I don't risk bumpin one from the roost.If it's a new area I'll go in there in the middle of the day just to get a lay of the land.While lookin across to where the birds are roosti ,pick a landmark and you have him pinpointed.example,100yd from the top and just to the left of the gully.Good Luck

Crow calls work great in Washington state. I live here and hunt the easterns. I get em to gobble almost every time if they are there.

I HAVE BEEN HUNTING THESE GOBBLERS IN WV FOR 5 YEARS NOW.IVE MADE TERRIBLE MISTAKES WHEN I FIRST STARTED SCOUTING HERE.NOT ONLY WAS I CALLING TO THE BIRDS I INTENDED TO HUNT,BUT I ALSO WAITED TO SEE THEM BEFOR SEASON.DONT EVER CALL TO A BIRD YOU INTEND TO HUNT!THEY EDUCATE FAST, I LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY.MY WAY OF SCOUTING NOW IS TO LEAVE MY CALLS AT HOME.LOOK FOR DROPPINGS AND SCRATCHINGS.LISTEN FOR EARLY GOBBLES.AND TALK WITH OTHER HUNTERS IN AREA WHEN AVAILABLE.GOOD LUCK AND CALL EM CLOSE...

david barrows