The bearded hen that just walked through the yard sure look's tempting...lol

I heard 2 birds this morning around Skookumchuck, but I ain't sayin where.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> It wasn't too crowded because of the rain, so I'm hoping they'll shut up from now until next Sunday so I can go after him alone. The first shock gobble courtesy of a mouthy coyote between me and him at 6:30am. The second fired off to a peacock courtesy of me at about 7:45am. Unfortunately they were both about a miles walk from me, and I had to leave by 9:00am. I'll chase 'em next weekend. If I don't get him, it'll haunt me until next year. A bird still talking at 7:45 means you've gotta a decent shot at him if you can get on him and stay with him until his hens go nest at 10:00 or so. I won't have anywhere else to be next Sunday. It'll be a showdown with a longbeard if I can beat the other hunters to the spot. Looks like I'll be rolling out EARLY next Sunday. I can't wait.

Wayne, you gotta get those birds talking before we come over a week from Thursday. Are they still henned up, or are they just not interested right now? What's the weather been like the last couple of days?

Wash, from what I have seen around here, the birds are spread out and it's too dang thick to see 'em in the woods. And there ain't as many as they would like you to believe. How the heck would they know if you can't see 'em to count 'em. These birds are just like Easterns get everywhere. They don't like to talk much, unless they are hot. I also wonder how much the weather has to do with it around here. Our current temps are what it's like in early March back in MS. They don't really fire up until it warms up some later in March there. Just wondering if that may affect it. It's the things that make you go hmmmmm.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

Edited by - slee on 04/28/2002 01:02:24

Slee,when you say thick stuff, are we talking a 10 year old cutting with salial up to your hips, the doug fir are 10-15 feet tall where the trees shade out sunlight?? I see alot of this kind of cover, with only deer trails, well they are more like deer tunnels. Is this the kind of thick stuff we are talking about???? Turkeys are in this?????If thats the case, then you can have them!!! I wonder if my confusion is based on a differing opinion of what thick stuff is??? Because frankly, I see a turkey having a hard time getting around in some of this stuff. JMTCW

Wash, while turkeys prefer more open areas, they will go through that kind of stuff. They usually don't hang out in it because they can't see predators in it. When I say thick stuff, I mean knee high to waist high stuff with intermittent open areas. You usually can't see into these places, and they spook before you get to 'em. I haven't been at it around here very long at all, so I can't say where exactly they hang out. I haven't had any luck finding them either, but it would stand to reason that an accurate count would be impossible to make in this type of terrain. They usually make counts based on observations in open areas or at bait sites, and enter them into some type of formula for estimating total population(I think). If the birds don't come out to either, they probably aren't counted. But if most of the birds in an area come in, you get a skewed population estimate of more birds than are actually there. I have a hard time believing Easterns are doing as well as they seem to think. Wayne or WANWTF can tell you how they come up with these magic numbers, but I don't believe there are as many running around here as they say. I think the populations are spotty. And what I call a good population of Easterns and what they call good are probably 2 totally different things.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

slee....as of last week ....they were still henned up....this week-end...I have no idea....could'nt even get one to gobble....or even get a hen fired up.....sure hope thing's change soon... !!!

Slee, the stuff you describe sure sounds better than the stuff I had invisioned, and the stuff I was hunting! But I did find turkey turds, in the really thick stuff. I wonder if they winter there,or ride out bad winter storms, and are now moving to more open areas for the spring and summer? Question after question from me, I'll give you all a free autographed copy of the book I'll write, when I have answers to all these turkey question!!!!!! Slee have you ever harvestd a turkey from the west side of the state???

No, I haven't even had the opportunity to match wits with a vocal tom around here. I only went once for Easterns last season, and twice this season. Like I said, I'm having a helluva time findin 'em. At least now I know where 2 gobblers were yesterday. I'll go back after them next Sunday since I know they at least frequent that spot. Back home, I have seen Easterns come through a cut-over that you would have to crawl through. They will go anywhere, they just don't spend much time in those kinds of places because they become too vulnerable to yotes and bobcats. Turkeys are dumb as rocks, but they are very paranoid.

Wayne, let me know if they start talking. I've got 2 guys in MS that are very interested, besides the 2 guys here in western WA that will be accompanying them to Kettle Falls. I didn't like chasin those tightlipped birds last year, and I ain't wanting to do it again this year. Sooner or later they gotta get vocal. It's pretty much later now.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

Well, I was hoping to hear a little better news from over your way Wayne. I'm bringing my father over Wednesday to try and get a long beard. This will be the third year in a row that I have tried to get him a turkey for his birthday (he will turn 69 tomorrow). Sounds like we will have to target a mute one!

Heck Slee, maybe you are going to time your trip just right. I think I am returning the 5th so I will try to give you an update before you leave. Hopefully things will heat up REAL soon!

Wash, I know what you mean about those darn Easterns (&quot;you can have them!!!&quot. It's hard emough for me to kill a Merriams!

Hope everyone is doing well.

AFTERNOON ALL, HOPE ALL IS WELL IN WASHINGTON, HOWS THE WEATHER BEEN??? ITS BEEN TERRIBLE HERE, RAIN AND GAIL FORCE WINDS, GOTTA LOVE IT. WORK IS THE SAME WE ARE NOW ON 12 HOUR SHIFTS BECUASE SOME ONE MESSED UP SO THE WHOLE SQUADRON IS PAYING THE PRICE.

Robb you aren't helping the tourist industry with your weather reports. I don't think I'd ever want to come visit you. Do you guys ever see the sun?

Wash, shoot me an e-mail and tell me where you've been chasin 'em in the Capital Forest. I'll tell you the spots that I've been told to check out. Maybe between the 2 of us, we can figure out where to find you a bird. I won't get down there to hunt this year, so I'll tell you everything I know(which ain't much) about the birds there. If you ain't findin birds, I may not get down there next year either. What is the hunting pressure like in there? I've been told by several that it is pretty bad, plus you've got hikers and bikers in there.

Moose Eyes, I'd really appreciate the report. Where are you taking your father? If you want to shoot me an e-mail, I can give you a report on some spots we found last year in Kettle Falls. I'll even tell you where a good campsite is with birds right behind(practically in) camp. And those mute ones taste the same.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!