shaunpm

Hi all,

This year will be my first year hunting for turkey.
Does anybody know where good places on the west side of washington for tukey are?
or any info on turkey in washingotn state?

Thanks in advance,
shaunpm

slee

Let me be the first to say welcome aboard. We're an odd bunch, but we're pretty friendly. I think you need to define "good" for the west side. From my Mississippi standards, there aren't any "good" spots. The places that have good numbers are very well known, and heavily hunted. My suggestion is to join your local NWTF chapter. They can offer some good local info, and will try to help you along the way with your skills. I hope to do so this year, but I've located a few spots in my short time here through phone calls, e-mails, and a few conversations with local hunters. Most people know about the Johnson Creek area around the Skookumchuck reservoir, which probably has the highest concentration around the Puget Sound. Decent turkey numbers, high hunters numbers. There are some isolated pockets of birds scattered all along the I-5 corridor, but you'll need some guidance finding them in the jungles, or you'll waste a lot of gas and time trying to find them.

As far as best bird numbers, definitely Stevens Co. on the east side. Again, high hunter numbers, but there is a ton of birds and lots of public land to roam around in. My best advice no matter where you go is to learn how to hunt them before you step in the woods. It can be a dangerous sport for rookies(and many idiot veterans) if you don't know the ropes. Start practicing your calling now, concentrating on friction calls first as they are usually the easiest to master. If you have experience with calling elk on diaphragms, you'll pick up turkey calling pretty quick on mouth calls. It's all about consistency and rhythm. Get good at yelps, clucks, and purrs, and you can kill any tom in the woods when it's your day. Invest in an audio tape, and maybe a video or 2. Primos makes a good one on mastering calls, plus it has a few hunts too.

There are a few guys on here who are pretty serious about it, so we'll try to help where we can. You'll be hooked for life if you have any success at all. You will make MANY mistakes along the way, but that's what makes us better hunters. Based on that, I'd have to consider myself damn good by now. Good luck.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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

Edited by - slee on 01/31/2003 17:15:21

shaunpm

SLEE:

Thanks for all the info. me and my dad took a drive down there by johnsen creek and we saw a few flocks but they were on private land.My family has property on summit lake by capitol forest. I grew up tromping threw those woods so I know the area pretty well.I talked to a guy last week who said there were some turkeys spred out over there so last weekend I went and hiked around up there.I didnt see any birds but I found alot of droppings.I have a couple beginner videos on the basics of turkey hunting and scouting.so I do know a tiny bit but just the basics.This saturday I am going to go back up there and look for more sighns,I have read alot not to call turkeys before the season starts so the birds dont get wise but does this include locator calls? I was gonna bring one just to see if i could get one to gobble in the early morning.Does the season and or weather have an affect on how quick they are to gobble? Sorry about all the quistions,Its just that those instructional videos and magazines dont explain everything.

slee

Yeah, I looked around the Capital Forest a few times last March, but didn't see any birds. I've also heard about around Summit Lake too. And everybody has seen those birds in the fields around the winery along Johnson Creek Rd. I think that's why that area is so popular, because you can actually see birds in the area.

NOOOOO, don't call to them with turkey calls before season. You would only be educating the same birds you would be chasing when season opens. As far as locator calls this time of year, you're probably wasting your time. While turkeys will gobble any time of the year and at just about anything when the mood strikes them, this is really too early to expect an answer. Usually a shock gobble occurs during the time they will be gobbling anyway. I've had good luck with a coyote howler and a peacock. I've also had luck with an elk bugle. As season gets underway, I think turkeys figure out what is a call and what is the real deal, so make sure you mix up your locator calls too.

Welcome to the world of schizophrenics because that is what a turkey is. They gobble for who knows why and when. The weather does seem to affect their activity. If it's windy or rainy, they'll stay on roost longer. If it was thundering the night before, don't expect vocal birds. They might blow the treetops off(I've had that happen too), but generally not. It has been my experience that there is no golden rule to them shock gobbling. You may get one to gobble one morning, and not the next. He may be there, but he just doesn't feel like talking. Or there may be a more dominant bird in the next tree or hillside, and he doesn't want to draw attention to himself and get his butt kicked before he has a chance to steal a few hens from the Boss.

As far as scouting goes, I would just familiarize myself with the general areas they are using. It will all change to some extent when it starts greening up and food sources change. They'll also break up into smaller groups as the spring approaches. If there is enough food in the area, they'll probably still be there. I've seen them winter on one property, and move completely off when spring rolls around because their preferred food source changes. Be flexible.

Ask all the questions you want. If somebody on here can't help you, we can point you in the right direction. I've got about 15 years of experience with Easterns primarily back in Mississippi, a little in North Carolina, and now 2 years under my belt here in WA with both Easterns and Merriams. As a beginner, read and watch anything you can get your hands on. Go to any seminars in the area. The Duffle Bag in Lakewood will have one coming up in March or early April put on by the local Primos rep. There are several good websites that are dedicated to turkey hunting too. All of these things will give you pieces to the puzzle, but it's up to you to put them together each time you go to the woods. And it's a different puzzle every time, even if it's the same bird. That's what makes it so addictive. If I can help, let me know. I think you've got a pretty good idea of how to get started. You're enrolling in the School of Hard Knocks, so don't worry about screwing up. It's part of the process.

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

WAYNE1

shaunpm...Ya might try this site for alot of good information.. http://turkeyhuntingsecrets.com/ I would really suggest that for your first couple of time's out...to go with an expericenced Turkey hunter. And listen to everything Slee has to say..We here refer to him as &quot;The Turkey God&quot;...

Enjoy hunting, racing, and hope to be able to train my new lab pup

slee

Let me put my waders on before you start flingin' that kind of crap Wayne.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> If it can happen to a turkey hunter, it has happened to me. Prime example: Last season on the first morning my partner and I were hunting on the east side, we had 2 toms fired up at daylight. Moved in to within 150 yards and set up. When it was all said and done, I had pulled one of the toms from his hens and had him strutting at 20 yards. One problem, he was strutting from one side of a bush to the other not offering me a shot. After about 5 minutes of his show, my partner sitting to my left about 25 yards away decided to end it. He says he thought something must have been wrong with my gun, so he didn't want him to spook and leave. I've got a million of 'em just as heartbreaking. But I keep coming back for more. I am currently working on my doctorate at the School of Hard Knocks. I just try to spare others the pain and agony I've gone through. I absolutely love to hunt 'em though.

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

Edited by - slee on 02/02/2003 02:36:06

WAYNE1

Slee....<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>....That's why I suggested to shaunpm...to go with a veteran {his/her's} first season....If I'd a known, my first season out...without knowing what the heck I was doing...I shoulda vido'd it...I'd a made a Million $$$$ selling it...titled..&quot;5,005 thing's Not To Do While Hunting Turkey&quot;.... You still planing on coming over here to do some pre-season scouting..??...let me know..!!

Enjoy hunting, racing, and hope to be able to train my lab

slee

Wayne, I doubt I'll make any pre-season trips. Just too far to drive when I've got a good area that I'm already familiar with. I'm definitely coming, but haven't made my mind up whether it'll be early or late. We've done great going the last week of season the past 2 years, with great weather and the group tagging birds both years. I just don't know if I can make myself change to an early hunt with iffy weather, heavier hunting pressure, and henned-up or tight-lipped birds. Decisions, decisions,... I definitely want to get together for a go at one with you this year though. I'll keep you posted.

Shaunpm, absolutely try to find somebody WITH EXPERIENCE who will let you tag along. If I'm free, I'd be glad to go with you. I spent the first 5 or 6 years of my turkey hunting career running around the woods with my head up my butt. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, didn't know how to scout, and was hunting in areas that didn't have many(if any) birds. I never scouted the areas, but I could sing a tune on a turkey call. I thought that was all that was needed. WRONG!!! I eventually made a few trips with some &quot;real&quot; turkey hunters that really taught me a lot. It'll cut the learning curve in half for you. Feel free to e-mail me if I can help. Good luck.


PS. If do you find somebody to go with, make sure their experience isn't just walking around in the woods like I did early in my career. Find somebody that has actually called in birds. Otherwise, you probably won't learn a thing, and they may actually screw up your chances when the moment of truth arrives. Been there too.

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

WAYNE1

Slee.... ...The way the weather's going....I believe I'll be able to do lot's of scouting up there earlier than usuall. Don't know if Kris is going to come over early or not, we both do alot up there in that area. We generally come in from the next road up the Hwy., then cut across to where you were hunting last year. With my new atv...it give's me a great excuse to scout more.. ...I'll let ya know what I find.. [:}]

Enjoy hunting, racing, and hope to be able to train my lab

shaunpm

Hey Wayne thanks for the website.

Slee, thanks for all the great inormation.You have been a great help so far.I had no idea about the simenare at the duffle bag I am defanently going to look into it.If you are going to go scouting or even hunting and you don't mind I would love to go and tag along with you sometime I am a good student I know how to shut up and watch and learn.I am a pretty avid bass fisherman and I know how much of a pain it is sometimes bringing someone along who doesent know anything.So if you go sometime keep me in mind!I am also good at buying breakfast!!!Thanks for all the help.

Shaun