Hope to meet some new friends

[jc3000]

Just wanted introduce myself and say hello. I was born and raised in WA, but I have not lived here for the last 7 years or so. I just recently moved back because of a job and am hoping to call WA home again. I grew up hunting with my father in Western WA but did not really get into it until I went to college in Colorado. I hunted everything in CO, whitetails, elk, mulies, turkeys, pheasants, etc. I am somewhat of a hunting enthusiast and love being outdoors.

I am not really looking for handouts or info, mostly just trying to develop some new hunting relationships/friends. I live in Kitsap county and don't know anyone that likes hunting, besides my father, but he is getting to the age where he cannot get out and hike with me. Believe it or not, I got my fiance to do hunter ed classes in CO and she goes out with me occasionally, but she just goes because she likes getting outdoors, not because she enjoys hunting (this is a work in progress). I tentatively have a few trips planned to NE to hunt turkeys in May. I am trying to convince my father and/or fiance to join me but we will see, I might end up flying solo. I would love to meet some new people to hunt with.

[northwesthunter84]

Welcome back to the area.  If you need some info I might be able to help. Just let me know.

[kevinlisa06]

Welcome back to the PNW! NE corner should lighting up soon with the gobblers firing off!


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[oneshot12]

welcome back .  Best of luck getting out this spring ,  might be able to point you in the right direction  depending on where you plan to hunt  feel free to ask

[scottcrb]

welcome home. lots of great people and info on here.

[turkeydancer]

      

[jc3000]

Thanks for the warm welcome. Needless to say, I am excited to get out and starting learning (re-learning) how to hunt in WA. I have been sifting through the 40 some pages of turkey posts in the forum...there is a ton of info on here. It's great.

I do have a question for you guys. I have seen mixed responses about this. A few people I have spoke to said that the birds in NE WA are very domesticated now and will not stray far from the lowlands/wintering areas, but others have said they consistently see them up to the high elevations. Does this have to do with what kind of winter the area gets? How far will they migrate from the wintering areas? How high in elevation will they get? I think some other people have said they will follow the snow line, but it has been a rather light winter correct?

PS - In CO I hunted rios in the river valleys. It was VERY easy to locate birds. They would roost in the same trees, feed in the same places etc. In fact, the last few years there I started bow hunting them to make it more challenging. Sounds like the hunting out here in WA is a bit different.

[Birdguy]

Welcome home JC . There are lots of us on the Kitsap Peninsula that make the trek east each spring to hunt turkeys. I can just speak for me and my experience but there are turkeys in all places you asked about and at all elevations. A lot of birds on public ground do not roost in the same trees each night after being hunted. They are found around homes/farms but also in the woods and at and above the snowline. Places that held hundreds of birds a few years ago hold very few now. Places that had no birds last year will have birds this year. I have hunted from Okanogan to Colville and down to Hunters/Springdale over the years. I may not make it out this year with work and kids activities, but if I do it will likely be back over to Colville area.

Just FYI we have a group of us from the greater Kitsap area on Hunt-WA that get together every now and then, watch for the next meeting and make it if you can.

[turkeydancer]

     Birdguy is correct. 

The birds spread out 360 degrees as their winter mode comes to an end and breeding/nesting start.... some stay where you see them in the winter and others move higher.    If nothing changes their habits, you will find them roosting in the same trees or at least in the same areas.  When their food supply or habitat changes they will move ... hunting pressure will move them .... weather will move them.   

   Bottom Line: Turkeys in Washington won't differ much from what you're use to in Colorado or anywhere else.

[Jester052]

Welcome!!!