JBLM turkey's?

[JMTaylor]

 Is it worth even attempting around the base. I didn't get the chance to go last year or even look around. I know what it takes to get a good bird back home in Iowa but not sure yet around here. So I was just wanting to know if anyone knows how the birds are around the base.

[cem3434]

Few and far between.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't waste my time. If you want to hunt turkeys you have to go where there are turkeys.

[Wacenturion]

If you want to put in the time, it might pay off.  Try looking in the southern areas of the base, toward Tenino, Ranier, or even off the base on Weyerhauser lands.  Birds are there and have been since the mid 80's, but you have to burn the shoe leather behind gates to find them. Key is looking for droppings as you probably won't see of hear any.  The vegetation eats up the sound.  You'll find them in small scattered bunches, usually in and around reprod next to taller older timber.

One good thing is, if you locate some, you generally have them all to yourself.  Usually the last thing you see coming in before you shoot them in two dark sticks (legs) walking through the bush coming at you, that is unless you catch them moving on a skidder road.

Different than any turkey hunting you have ever done, even though they are Easterns like those you hunt in Iowa.  In fact some of the gene pool in those areas are from Iowa birds brought in and released.

[JMTaylor]

I'll see what the wife says maybe I can find some thank you for the info

[Dan-o]

IMHO, you've got about a 50X better chance at turkey if you can drive 2.5 hours from JBLM.

There just aren't the numbers near JBLM (again, my opinion).

Look at the harvest stats (in the turkey regs) and you'll see that ALMOST ALL of the turkeys are killed In East or south central Wa.   You can access passable turkey hunting in 2.5 hours.   Really great turkey hunting within 3 - 3.5.

[Mudman]

Never seen one on jblm.  Behind Rainier there may be a few, but very few and far between.  Might as well be looking for a moose if ya get my drift.

[Wacenturion]

Never seen one on jblm.  Behind Rainier there may be a few, but very few and far between.  Might as well be looking for a moose if ya get my drift.

Not so...but as I said above, you need to learn how to find and hunt these birds.  All you have to do is look at the harvest data over the past years.  While harvest is extremely low in comparison to the rest of the state it has steadily increased as those willing to work and educate themselves have become  successful.

Admittedly the most difficult of the three subspecies in the state to hunt, but also the best of the best when it comes together.  Ask anyone who has done a single season slam or even a multi-season slam.

[JMTaylor]

I've shoot plenty of Easterns what are the other subspecies and where they can be found I'd like one of those.

[bobcat]

You might look at the turkey regulations. It has all the harvest information and maps showing the distribution of all three species.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01367/wdfw01367.pdf

[Mudman]

Never seen one on jblm.  Behind Rainier there may be a few, but very few and far between.  Might as well be looking for a moose if ya get my drift.

Not so...but as I said above, you need to learn how to find and hunt these birds.  All you have to do is look at the harvest data over the past years.  While harvest is extremely low in comparison to the rest of the state it has steadily increased as those willing to work and educate themselves have become  successful.

Admittedly the most difficult of the three subspecies in the state to hunt, but also the best of the best when it comes together.  Ask anyone who has done a single season slam or even a multi-season slam.

You know alot more than I do.  I only know one small area that holds some turkeys jblm area. 

[Dan-o]

Look at the data in the regs bobcat posted.   Almost no turkeys killed in P50.....    And most that are killed in P50 are farther south like Mossy rock, Chehalis area.

The only guys I know that have gotten Easterns have gotten them off private land in the Mossy Rock or Chehalis.

I'm sure that the VERY OCCASIONAL bird gets killed within 1/2 hr of JBLM, but not many.

[bobcat]

I have seen quite a few Easterns over the years, in Thurston and Lewis Counties. Even saw some in Capitol Forest. There's a few around the Tenino area, and I've seen them near Pe Ell. Seen a couple in Minot peak, several in Lincoln Creek. But, I think there's less than there was 10 years ago. I could be wrong but I just don't see them anymore. Never have tried hunting them, they're just too scarce for me, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

[Mudman]

Ya they are out of skookumchuck. Alot of turkeys in the private fields J. Creek.  But I have seen em off Waldrick rd. and a few other places but rarely.  Never would of thought Capitol forest held any!

[Wacenturion]

One thing about these western Washington Easterns is that they prefer a certain age group of habitat in most cases, not all, as evidenced by those that you may see on private fields along Johnson Creek.  Others on Weyerhauser, DNR, etc. change locations after a few years.

They initially settle in to an area that they like, but after a few years of growth, that area is less attractive and they seek out new areas that somewhat duplicate where they once were.  Just think about how quickly areas you hunt in western Washington change over 5-6 years.  That's why you hear statements such as those that Bobcat made above.  It's not so much that they are gone, it's more of they have moved.  One has to be prepared to start looking after a honey hole that has held birds for years dries up.

They generally are not far, but one has to search 360 degrees to be successful.  May just be a ridge or valley away, may be further.  Couple that with you are likely to not see or him them while scouting, that is unless you have spent the time to figured these birds out.  I have helped several guys in the past and after a great deal of time scouting and being patient, they have been harvested birds or come close.  Some even have harvested additional birds in subsequent years.   

Again, if one doubts that they have decreased over the years just look at the harvest reports for the areas from Olympia south and east to Vancouver, and west to the coast.  It has steadily increased, even with the perceived difficulty of finding and hunting them.

Without question, the hardest turkey to hunt in this country....bar none. There is a reason people refer to them as "Ghosts".

[Wacenturion]

I've shoot plenty of Easterns what are the other subspecies and where they can be found I'd like one of those.

JM.....plan to go to the NE area...Colville...Stevens and Ferry counties for Merriam's.  The state's highest turkey densities occur there.

South from there in Lincoln county there are Rio's.  However you will not find the abundance of public land in Lincoln like you have in Stevens and Ferry.  There is some...you'll need maps.

Lots of birds in Lincoln also, although not as many as the Merriam's areas to the north.

[mtnseth]

If you're from Iowa, I recommend heading to the NE part of the state as others have suggested.  Chasing those crazy gobbling Merriams in the dry pine and more open country will give you a true Western US turkey hunting experience.  If I was going to introduce someone to Washington turkey hunting, that's where I would go.  Birds are thick and vocal, there's an abundance of public or publicly-accessible land, and you'll get the chance to hunt in the sunshine, which doesn't happen too often chasing wet-side Easterns. 

I don't want to discourage you from exploring around the base for birds.  Get out and have fun, just be prepared to do a lot of hiking and not a lot of killing.  Listen to Wacent, he knows what he's talking about.  There are definitely birds around, but it's a completely different type of hunting, more akin to torture than those gobble-filled mornings listening to Merriams on the roost.  I put in many hours before seeing my first Eastern droppings, many more before seeing my first bird, and many, many more before carrying one back to the truck over my shoulder. 

[JMTaylor]

Sounds like a fun challenge to me. Hopefully game on.

[turkeydancer]

    
 For these ghosts, you will spend tons of shoe leather just locating your honeyhole.  They also are not as vocal or prevalent as the other 2 subspecies we have in the state, but as said it's well worth spending some time getting after them.  I always say even a blind man can find turkeys in the NE corner of the state ... I like to go over and nail the 2 birds allowed over there, and then come back to Western Wa. to regain my humility. 

 

[gasman]

I would not waste my time with turkey on JBLM.
15 years ago, sure I knew where they were, but the yotes out there have increased and the birds have decrease.

There never was a huge population out there but there was a few planted but they never took off in population growth 


Im hoping to head NE this spring.

[Wacenturion]

Not necessarily so...As I said earlier, they change their locations every several years.  Where one may have seen birds for years, eventually is void of birds due to habitat changes.

Turkey harvest (1996-2010) P50 (Southwest): All 500 GMUs EXCEPT 568, 572, 574, PLUS GMUs 633-681

The Tenio, Rainer and neighboring JBLM areas are in Units 666 Deshutes and 667 Skookumchuck.  If the coyotes got them all and they didn't take off after releases beginning in 1987 in that general area, then explain the following.  They should be non-existent after 26 years.  Part of the P50 harvest comes from the areas in and around and in all directions from the Johnson Creek area where initial releases were made. 


PMU 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
P50    26    36     40    46     48    47     54    52    54     53    77     62    50    65     89


Certainly not going to compete with harvest elsewhere in the state, but those increases over time in the P50 harvest suggest a couple things.

1.  Birds are there and expanding, otherwise there would be no birds to support those increases in harvest numbers.

2.  Turkey hunters willing to spend the huge amount of time necessary to learn how to hunt these "Ghost" birds are becoming more proficient and therefore harvesting more birds.

Its tuff locating and hunting for sure due to a lack of seeing and hearing birds.  However for the hard core hunter who like a challenge, there is nothing to rival it.  Getting one of these wetside gobblers in your sights at point blank range after all the effort, is like nothing else in the turkey world as far as I'm concerned.   

 

[gasman]

I am specifically talking about JBLM.

There are tons of turkey out Johnson Creek road and around Vail. See them often when Im out there, but as for turkeys on JBLM, i have not seen one in many years. Not saying there are none but I spend lots of time out there, more then any place else and have not come across any turkey sign in years out there.

 

[Wacenturion]

That could pretty well be.  Could be some other factors out there influencing numbers, like tank movements..... maneuvers.... war games....drones....

[Mudman]

Ok, Waldrick rd/Old Military RD.  area of jblm behind Ran./Ten is a good spot to start.  Buddies property real close to there and sometimes we have some turkey there.  Thats all I know and I hope it helps ya guys.

[gasman]

Yeah, them drones play hell on all the hears out there 

Except the yotes 

[Dan-o]

Go check out the pic board at the WAC.

You'll see deer, bear, even elk, lots of ducks.  I bet you don't see a single gobbler pic.

I'm with Gasman on this one.   Most of those P50 turkeys are killed on private land an hour south of JBLM.

[JMTaylor]

I just know that the birds back home are easy and stupid. Maybe I need to try a wet side bird to prove that I am the turkey slayer I think I am. 

[Wacenturion]

Another thing I forgot to mention in regards to the lack of sightings, mention or pictures.  With all the work involved with locating these Eastern's, most hunters that are successful, including myself, are super secretive about drawing attention to our areas.  No better yet...paranoid is a better descriptive word.

Not sure what picture album you are referring to, but I certainly would not post a picture of a bird.  Eastside bird...perhaps.  Westside bird....no way.  Someone might recognize a fern or two, piece of a stump, or a rock in the photo and my honey hole is toast.  

Let me put it to you this way.  If you want to be successful in finding these birds, you better plan on starting in earnest to scout for sign, primarily droppings, by early February, and stick with it at least once a week minimum until the opener.  Walk into as many areas as you can behind gates.  Use a owl or crow call or airhorn early in the a.m, you might get lucky. 

If you hear one, he is most likely within a 100 to 200 yards or so.  Much further and you won't hear them.  If you don't believe me take a buddy, go out into the typical understory and while you stay put, have your friend go away from you 50 yards or so at a time, where upon he will stop and both of you call loudly to each other.  Then repeat the process.  Eventually at about 200 plus yards, more or less depending on vegetation, you won't hear each other.  That is part of the problem when hunting these birds.  You can be near and never know it unless you find sign.  Once you locate droppings, you have to have the patience and fortitude to stick with it when you start hunting.

Hunting them is another education in itself.  Personally I go prepared to be comfortable for extended periods of at least a minimum of two hours to a potential maximum of all day in one or two spots.  The reason is I believe due to the droppings I've located, birds are in and around me somewhere.  I'm basically hunting the droppings for lack of a better description.   

When I say a minimum of two hours, it is due to the way I hunt these birds.  I call softly like a content hen feeding every 15 minutes or so.  I try to think like hen and vocalize as a hen would normally.  I try to avoid PMS hens and loud continued non stop calling.  After two hours in my mind, I have now convinced any bird within hearing distance, that I'm a real turkey.  Now the game actually begins.  Make take an hour, may take all day, but sooner or later I fully expect to see two dark sticks (gobbler's legs) coming though the understory toward me.

If I do get responses from a gobbler then at least my odds improve.  I now know approximately where he is.  If he above me, chances are he'll tease me and nothing more.  If this does happen, I relocate.  If I take an hour or two off to get above his position by going around the long way, then sit up, he generally will commit suicide by committing to my soft calling.  Of course anything can happen, it's turkey hunting.  Have had hens walk over me.

Believe me when i tell you these birds know to the square foot where you call is coming from.  Oh, and watch out for big putty tats....they are super quiet when they come in looking for what they perceive is a turkey dinner.

 

[JMTaylor]

I've thought about that beofe with the big cats. I don't think I will be able to nap in the woods as easily as I do back home. And I love my timber naps. 

[Mudman]

NO Naps!!! :chuckle:Seen several.  Creepy.

[Wacenturion]

I've thought about that beofe with the big cats. I don't think I will be able to nap in the woods as easily as I do back home. And I love my timber naps. 

Yeah the woods out here are different.  Missouri has squirrels, we have cougars.

Tell you what is spooky.  After spending February, March, and the first part of April crawling around looking for sign with nothing more than a can of coke and a sandwich on you, then sit down when the season opens and have a couple cougars show up less than 12 yards away.  It takes you back all those weeks prior and makes you wonder if you were being watched while crawling around. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

[dawei]

I've thought about that beofe with the big cats. I don't think I will be able to nap in the woods as easily as I do back home. And I love my timber naps. 

Yeah the woods out here are different.  Missouri has squirrels, we have cougars.

Tell you what is spooky.  After spending February, March, and the first part of April crawling around looking for sign with nothing more than a can of coke and a sandwich on you, then sit down when the season opens and have a couple cougars show up less than 12 yards away.  It takes you back all those weeks prior and makes you wonder if you were being watched while crawling around. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

That is the EXACT REASON I carry a 4" barrel 41 Remington® Magnum revolver on my hip while turkey hunting.

[JMTaylor]

I was wondering about carrying a side arm if it was legal while turkey hunting. I got my 44 mag here too that will be traveling with me on my hunts and probably while scouting too.

[Mudman]

Yup.  A .22 big enuff for cats but bigger is better!  Coyotes too!  Alot of em around Where I suggested.