Fall turkey season advice

[Russ McDonald]

So advice from you all.  I won a one day guided turkey hunt from YJ Guide Services, one of our awesome site sponsors.  They are in unit 133.  I didn't fill my spring tag so I am good for fall hunt.  I have a choice of either this fall or wait for next spring.  What would you guys do?

[turkeyfeather]

Wait for next spring. Fall turkey hunting is a little anticlimactic to me. 

[CedarPants]

Agree with turkeyfeather.  Fall hunting can be fun if you can scatter a flock and call them back, but nowhere near as fun as calling in a fired up tom in the spring 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

If you can wait till spring. Fired up T-Tom Turkey is where its at!

[Russ McDonald]

The prize when put up was just for fall hunt but contacted Craig this morning and he said he would do the spring.  I was like yup that is where it is at.  I have hunted fall and spring when I lived in California for Rio's.  Spring by far was the best.  I am really leaning towards the spring hunt.  The one thing is fall turkey falls in the late archery elk season too.  Thanks for the input.

[turkeydancer]

My vote is for the spring ...  more fun for sure chasing the gobbling toms.

I returned to 133 this spring after hunting other areas for the last few years. I stayed at the Black Bear Motel (good folks) where most YJ clients stay.  I was able to meet YJ  this year (nice guy ... good visit).     

Wonder if my turkey feathers are still blowing around the parking lot?   

Not sure if I'm going, but was thinking about an early fall hunt this year.  I think you can take 2 hens plus an either sex bird (but will verify with my friend the local game warden if I go ... another very nice guy).

[Russ McDonald]

Yeah I decided to do the spring hunt.  Talked with Craig and YJ and we are all set.  Looking forward to the first WA turkey for me.  Be cool to get a Merriam (sp).  I have a nice Rio fan on my wall for California.

[Mfowl]

You could still go punch that tag on a Jenny at the end of the month. I agree with the others about the spring being a much more exciting hunt but a fall Jenny eats way better. Plus you can grouse hunt, fish or even deer hunt at the same time depending on your tag.  The early fall season is a great time to be in the NE. The birds usually aren't too difficult to find on public ground either.

[turkeydancer]

FYI - If 133 is the Roosevelt (North Lincoln County), those are Rios ....

Merriams are more to the north over the Spokane River and past the reservation all the way to Canada.

Just got back from a week in California visiting the wife's relatives ... turkeys are now all over were she grew up (Oakdale area).  Also stopped and saw a cousin of her's in the Grants Pass, Ore area and he had 50 birds in his yard ... 

[Russ McDonald]

FYI - If 133 is the Roosevelt (North Lincoln County), those are Rios ....

Merriams are more to the north over the Spokane River and past the reservation all the way to Canada.

Just got back from a week in California visiting the wife's relatives ... turkeys are now all over were she grew up (Oakdale area).  Also stopped and saw a cousin of her's in the Grants Pass, Ore area and he had 50 birds in his yard ... 

I knew that the Merriams were over there just didn't know where.  Another good Rio on the wall would be cool.  California has slowly climbed to one on the top ten places for turkey hunting.  As long as they still can hunt in the state.  This is the picture of the turkey I got 2 weeks before season started in California 4 years ago.

[turkeydancer]

Wife went to California when I went out for spring hunt 3 years ago ... she calls me on the cell to tell me she'looking out the window at 2 dozen turkeys ....  "thanks dear"       

[Russ McDonald]

Here is that turkey after I was done.

[turkeydancer]

Good picture Russ ...  congrats !