Spring Turkey Migration?

[snoco]

I've been doing some research trying to get prepared for next spring's turkey season and I have a question for you veteran turkey hunters out there.  I'm wondering if knowing where the turkeys tend to congregate in the Fall means that they will still be in that same area come spring time?  According to the articles I've read it seems that they scatter and go to higher ground to breed and nest.  How high do they go?  Where I see turkeys in the fall is in a creek drainage around 2700', but the creek drainage extends up the ridge to 6500' over the course of 4 miles or so.   I've read contradictory information about hunting the snow line, some say hunt below it and some say it doesn't matter and that gobblers will go to their strut zones if there is snow there or not.  Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  I searched all over the forum and couldn't find anything on this, so I hope I didn't miss a bunch of posts and am now asking you guys to repeat yourselves.

[BOWHUNTER45]

To make it short and sweet I will do a quick run down ...Birds flock up in big flocks in the fall ... Seeing birds now is a start to finding where turkeys are living but once spring comes they will start to break up and disperse all over the Eastern side of the state ...If I was scouting and looking for places to hunt I would wait until the end of March and The 1st week of April ... good chance they will be close by and depending on the weather and the feed .

[snoco]

Thanks bowhunter.  I appreciate it.

[turkeydancer]

  To add to BH45 good advise -

 My experience is that some may remain in the fall/winter area, while the rest will disperse in every direction ... I have seen them follow the snow line up and even be found above the line in several inches of snow.  JB is right that you want to start scouting as opening day gets closer ... I hunted a place for several years that the birds didn't show up at until a day or two before start of the season.   I would start at the 2700' level and work up and around the drainage as needed to the very top when doing my scouting.  I like to go out before first light and do a lot of listening and glassing ... use only locator calls before the season (use of turkey calls will only serve to educate the birds and make them harder to harvest later on), and use your woodsmanship and stealth to move and not spook the birds out of the area.

[snoco]

Turkeydancer.  Thank you for your help.  There is a powerline easement that runs right up the side of the drainage.  So what I think I am going to do, as you suggested, is hike up the powerlines from the bottom until I see them or reach the snow line, in which I will expand my search out from there.  I'm bound to run into them at some point I would guess.  Thanks again for the information.

[turkeydancer]

Always glad to help.    I will be at Cabelas-Tulalip on Sat Feb 22th doing a 2 hour seminar from 1 - 3 pm just up the road from you (see a previous post).   BowHunter45 (JB) may also be there if you have any additional questions.   

[BOWHUNTER45]

I think he is wanting to chase those easterns  since he mentioned power lines 

[turkeydancer]

      Doesn't the dryside have power lines  .... could of sworn I've hunted a few over there?   

Who would want to spend time chasing the "phantoms" of the wetside (hhhmmmm - other than me I mean).   

[BOWHUNTER45]

     Doesn't the dryside have power lines  .... could of sworn I've hunted a few over there?   

Who would want to spend time chasing the "phantoms" of the wetside (hhhmmmm - other than me I mean).   

yeah I know ...I just threw it out there ...I have power lines in areas I hunt too ....Should be a good season ! Can not wait 

[snoco]

No, I'm heading east into Kittitas.  I'll chase the Phantom Eastern Turkey eventually.  I actually have a spot all picked out by researching topo and aerial maps, but without scouting who knows.  Seems like it is going to be pretty mild this winter, so this season could be incredible, as long as we don't get hammered in March/April.  I'll be there at Cabelas for the seminar, sounds like a good time.  I'm glad you guys are willing to share some of your experience and knowledge, and I'm sure a lot of the other hunters appreciate it too.  If we don'

[turkeydancer]

There are birds in that area, but I think the state harvest percent in that area is just below 5% whereas NE Wa is around 68%.  Just saying .... 

But I guess that beats NW of less than 1/2% and SW of approx 1-1/2% ....     

[kevinlisa06]

Lots of birds in central Wa and next year will be even more than last year. We went 3 toms out of 4 hunters that was a fun couple of weekends last season. We have been hunting central Wa now for 3yrs and have whacked 6 Toms. It just takes time and patience to figure out where the birds are. I have invited a friend of mine to the seminar this year Al he and his fiancé will be there.


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[turkeydancer]

 
The more the merrier .... I love it when the room is full and questions are flowing .... hope to see you guys again this year too !

[turkeydancer]

Correction - Katie changed the clinic date to Sat Feb 22nd from1 thru 3 pm.

[irishevox]

Always glad to help.    I will be at Cabelas-Tulalip on Sat Feb 22th doing a 2 hour seminar from 1 - 3 pm just up the road from you (see a previous post).   BowHunter45 (JB) may also be there if you have any additional questions.

Keep my posted on this seminar

[JKEEN33]

First turkey I ever ran into in Washington was in the snow. Saw a huge bird track while elk hunting. Looked at my brother in law and said look at the size of this bird! Walked a little further and ran into a turkey. Got home did some research and I've been an addict since. I like to hunt the snow line. Seems to me the mature Tom's Will get up high earlier than the young birds to stake out some ground. Just my .02

[bearpaw]

I've been doing some research trying to get prepared for next spring's turkey season and I have a question for you veteran turkey hunters out there.  I'm wondering if knowing where the turkeys tend to congregate in the Fall means that they will still be in that same area come spring time?  According to the articles I've read it seems that they scatter and go to higher ground to breed and nest.  How high do they go?  Where I see turkeys in the fall is in a creek drainage around 2700', but the creek drainage extends up the ridge to 6500' over the course of 4 miles or so.   I've read contradictory information about hunting the snow line, some say hunt below it and some say it doesn't matter and that gobblers will go to their strut zones if there is snow there or not.  Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  I searched all over the forum and couldn't find anything on this, so I hope I didn't miss a bunch of posts and am now asking you guys to repeat yourselves.

I'll add this for you to think about. The fall flocks stay flocked up till spring breaks, when they migrate back up all depends on snow melt. If the snow melts early before season the birds will be widely scattered. If we have a late winter, many birds will still be flocked up near cattle feeding operations landowners who feed them, or bare ground exposure where they survived through the winter.