1st year turkey hunting

[tkropelnicki]

so here we go,this is going to be my first year turkey hunting,don't really got the time or funds to travel to the east to so im going to try it out on the wet side.my question is when im scouting out a spot what should i look for ,do they prefer a certain side of the mountain or terrain or vegetation,i don't want to know about anybody's honey holes,for me half the fun is finding them,i plan on attending a seminar this weekend up in tuilup,but i will take any advise or tips and tricks from more experienced  members,thanks in advance

[lostbackpacker]

I know the Cabelas in Tulalip is putting on a turkey seminar this coming weekend.  You might check the cabelas down by you for the same thing. 

[MerriamMagician]

Wet side is a hard, hard place to try to get into turkey hunting. Few birds and they are very spread out. I learned how to hunt on the east side for my first 15 years of turkeys hunting with tremendous success. I've hunted the west side the last two years and have only seen a single hen. Suggest you drive at least two hours east and hunt around Cle elum/ Ellensburg.

[turkeydancer]

Go back and read some of the Eastern Topics in this forum for some great info.

Mainly you're looking for turkey sign --- droppings, feathers, tracks, wing strut marks, dusting bowls, vee shaped scratching in the leaves, etc.

Easterns usually are found closer to fresh water sources that the other subspecies .... I usually look for where three habitats intersect --- 1) forest openings that are large enough they can see any predator that may try to rush them when they flydown (not necessarily a clearcut ... can be just a small opening ... even a road opening); 2) reprod type area where the hens will make their nests; 3) somewhat open forest where they can roost and later the tom can hang out while the hens are nesting.  I also find that often they like south and east facing slopes so they can warmup by the first rays of the sun in the morning, but that's not always the case with turkeys.

[PA BEN]

There are birds around Centralia, don't know the area but my son-in-law said he has seen them around town.

[turkeydancer]

Skookumchuck Reservoir area is the area most Easterns are harvested, but since everybody knows that, it also gets the most attention from turkey hunters especially on the weekends early in the season.  By then they've heard ever call, been overcalled to way too much, and been bumped/spooked so many times that it gets extremely hard to get them to even respond (ie - their normal very wary nature is soon off the charts).   Add to that, they are already the quietest of the subspecies, are located in brush/vegetation that goobles up their sounds, are exist in very small groups vice the other subspecies, and the least population of the subspecies scattered all over.   That's why you see all of Western Wa where the Easterns only make up 1% of the total state harvest.    You have to make multiple scouting trips burning up tons of shoe leather to even locate the birds .... and then getting them to come in and play the game is another story. In 2011 out of a total state harvest of 5,551 turkeys only 60 were harvested on the Wet-side .... not good odds even for a seasoned turkey hunter.
 

[tkropelnicki]

wow didn't know they were so scarce on this side,it might be worth it to drive to east side,like i said im still a rookie hunter and im looking forward to the seminar up in Tualup,my son is too were hoping to start this journey together,