Headed west

[MerriamMagician]

Leaving tomorrow morning to go chase the easterns in the west. Hopefully can get one down to finish up my state slam 

[RadSav]

15 years ago getting an eastern was pretty easy.  These days finding any numbers has been driving me nuts!  I still see them regularly out of Pe Ell, but almost never outside of private property anymore.  Had found a spot out of Kid Valley a few years ago, but they logged that area heavy and they disappeared too.

Good luck to you!  Hope you are successful

[turkeydancer]

Good luck MM ... had planned on going Saturday, but to many irons in the fire for this weekend ... and the following Saturday is my granddaughters birthday ... maybe Sunday and/or the 3 day weekend after ...

Go nail a "Ghost" ....

[Gobble Doc]

Good luck.  Post pics!  A picture is probably as close as I'll ever get.   

[MerriamMagician]

Update: First evening and have found fresh droppings...

[yelp]

Update: First evening and have found fresh droppings...

You in the area I told you about? 

[Flick N Stick]

I talked to your buddy just a couple mins. ago and gave him some areas I've seen them around before, hopefully it helps out. Good luck

[Wacenturion]

Update: First evening and have found fresh droppings...

Great...good start.   

[mtnseth]

Update: First evening and have found fresh droppings...

That's a trophy right there!  Hen or tom? (spiral ice cream cone or j-hook?) Keep at 'em. 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Hey MM, got my eastern first thing this morning. Now I have to head over and get my Merriams to finish up my slam, If I do it. It will be the 10 year in a row for me. The birds have been really quite. Non-existant. Hit all my favorite spots, and a few more, with no sign. This morning I went back to a spot I hadnt been to in a while. Foggy, rainin. Hiked 5 or 6 roads, about 12 miles in. Came back wondering to myself why I still havnt heard or seen anything. And all the while, thinking I could hear gobbling. Ended up at the rim of the hill I started up. And long story short, I ended up calling a jake and a tom in. 18 lbs. 9 inch beard, and 1inch spurs. And I had almost given up. And I know better! When things get tough, as long as you dont give up, something always shows itself. Last year I got my eastern on the last day of season. Anyway good luck! I dont know if you tried any of the areas I told you about, but even though it doesnt sound of look like they are out there, they are! Good luck

[JPhelps]

Update: First evening and have found fresh droppings...

Shhhhh... People may be looking for you

I take it there were turkeys there?

[turkeydancer]

Hey MM, got my eastern first thing this morning. Now I have to head over and get my Merriams to finish up my slam, If I do it. It will be the 10 year in a row for me. The birds have been really quite. Non-existant. Hit all my favorite spots, and a few more, with no sign. This morning I went back to a spot I hadnt been to in a while. Foggy, rainin. Hiked 5 or 6 roads, about 12 miles in. Came back wondering to myself why I still havnt heard or seen anything. And all the while, thinking I could hear gobbling. Ended up at the rim of the hill I started up. And long story short, I ended up calling a jake and a tom in. 18 lbs. 9 inch beard, and 1inch spurs. And I had almost given up. And I know better! When things get tough, as long as you dont give up, something always shows itself. Last year I got my eastern on the last day of season. Anyway good luck! I dont know if you tried any of the areas I told you about, but even though it doesnt sound of look like they are out there, they are! Good luck

   Way to go David ... way to get'r dun ! Go give a Merriam a dirt nap too ! 
   You'll have to post your story and a picture to get us drooling even more !! 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Have to find my cable for the cam, when I get the third bird I will post pics, along with corresponding storys. Its been great fun. Also eliminated 4 turkey eaters, so far. (coyotes)

[MerriamMagician]

A few more droppings today. All hen and 1-2 weeks old. Found two tail feathers. Did spook a bird off an overgrown skidder way in there. Never had any shooting opportunity and couldn't even tell if it was a gobbler or hen. Checking a few other spots today and tomorrow before trying again there. Hiked at least ten miles already today.

[yelp]

Remember to be patient..they maybe coming and you may not be able to hear.  You able to do any locating this evening?  Good luck!

[The Gobble-stopper]

Yea, what yelp said. I've had easterns take over 2 hours to come in. Its usually such thick cover, they are very careful about every step they make, cause something is always out there to eat them. One tom actually came out at just over 100 yards stuck his head over the log and litterally stared at me for way over and hour, without movie. Nothing but blinkin his eye. And of course it was one of those days, when my bug repellent wore off, and the bugs were landing on my face. I held out somehow. Eventually he tucked down, and dissapeared. I ended gettin him or his buddy just down the ridge the next day. Then other days, like yesterday, he came in running and blabbin the whole way. Thought I was gonna be trampled to death.

[MerriamMagician]

No luck today. Hunted Johnson creek area all day. No fresh sign anywhere and no birds or gobbles. Gonna head to Oakville in the morning.

[The Gobble-stopper]

MM just sent me a message, caught a mistake in my wonderful story telling. I wrote that I went 12 miles in to get my eastern. It was actually 12 round trip. Maybe 12 as a crow flys, cause we all know they dont fly very straight. Took me about 3 and a half hours to find him. Hope this corrects any confusion. 

[MerriamMagician]

Came up empty today

[one more]

You aren't the only one.

[MerriamMagician]

Didnt happen for me this year.    Kind of got a little feel of the game and next year I plan to hunt much earlier and also get some preseason scouting done. Thanks to everyone who provided tips and suggestions on places to hunt, especially wacenturion, gobble stopper, mtnseth, and yelp. 

[MerriamMagician]

EEEk the plot thickens. After a five day hunt and only being home 4 hours my buddy texts me and said he got a random tip where a hot gobbler was on private ground we can hunt the entire time I was over there.    What a hearbreaker... 

[turkeydancer]

   I only live about an hour away and I could go kill him Sunday for you ... 

[MerriamMagician]

Alright turkey dancer hes located in Lewis County. Good luck! 

[jennyfell55]

Lewis County? Well why didn't you say so! That's less than an hour drive for me!! 

[turkeydancer]

Alright turkey dancer hes located in Lewis County. Good luck! 

I'm on it MM !!!   

[oneshot12]

  good luck guys cant get out for a few more days