GMU 121 Gobble Report

[Nature Boy]

Hi folks - I'm brand new to the forum.  Been hunting turkeys in Stevens County for 10 years.  Went over 4/26 - 4/30.  The birds were real quiet.  Covered a lot of ground and didn't get a single bird to respond to my locator calls.  Did strike one Tom mid-day one a hen yelp.  Called that bird in and my buddy was able to kill him at 6 yards.  It was a cool hunt.  Other than that one bird I couldn't find a responsive Tom to save my life.  I know there are times when the birds just go silent.  I'd like to bring my 12 year old daughter over in the next week or two.  She's excited to get a opportunity for her first turkey.  Does anyone have any intel on if the birds are starting to talk in the huckleberry range? 

[buckfvr]

Way less birds this year, and Im seeing lone hens more and more, so the toms should be out and about and responsive..............good luck, watch the weather.

[bearpaw]

Way less birds this year, and Im seeing lone hens more and more, so the toms should be out and about and responsive..............good luck, watch the weather.

   Some hens are disappearing completely which means they are starting to set on nests. We found a few toms gobbling today, you need to cover ground and you will find action.

[NOCK NOCK]

Spent the last 4 days in Colville/Chewelah area. Hunted all day and covered lots of country. Only heard 1 group of 3 gobble at us, and they came in to us on a string.

[Jester052]

I was out in Colville opening weekend heard a lot of gobbling in the morning but tapered off about an hour after they flew down. In the 4 days we were out there we only saw 2 hens and the rest were Jakes in bachelor groups and a couple long beards (one of which we got) but the birds were quite. I got a ton of success this year with my gobble call. It was my first time using it in the woods and I got gobbles not only from the close birds that I roasted but birds from way off. So I guess what I'm saying is try different things until you tune into what the birds are looking for

[djnoodle]

I was there in Colville Apr 24-27. Got into some pretty responsive gobblers the first morning of hunting (25th.) Took a bit to figure out how to get them to come into my calls, but they were responding nearly every time.


Called two in close enough to shoot them, shot one, the other got away.


We left town that Sunday as the snow was coming down. The birds really went silent after that.

[CamoDup]

We were in Chewleah on friday, saturday and sunday. The birds were very very quiet.  We one had gobble at us on saturday morning but that was it. I was able to kill my first bird saturday evening. Came in silent. Other then that, not a lot of action. We did see quite a few of lone hens while driving.

[Nature Boy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  If the weather is favorable we'll make a run over this weekend or next.  My plan will be to cover a lot of ground and pull out all of the stops on locator calls.  Hoping I can call in a bird for my daughter.  We hunted in Thurston County during the youth season and actually located some Easterns.  They were pretty fired up but wouldnt leave the hens.  Took her over to the Klickitat on opening weekend and we got blanked.  Next year I'll take her to the 121 for youth season.  The kid is having dreams about turkeys so I think she's hooked. 

[WaltAlpine]

We went on a guided trip in the Southeast of the state.  A few different private places and a lot of public ground this last weekend. LOTS of lone hens. A few groups of toms and a group of jakes. ONLY ONE gobble the entire time and they just ran the other way.
We did not shoot any turkeys. It was exhausting.
The feedback from the locals and land owners is that they thought they were probably done mating for the most part and that's why the hens were alone and the toms were not responding.
We also went to an area where the guide and land owner said they usually had hundreds of turkeys nest...and there were none. None. It is a SURE THING most of the time, but nothing this year.

[Nature Boy]

I'm back in the 121 for a few days of hunting.  Climbed up high last night and listened for roosted birds.  Nada.  Hunting down low in farm country today.  Not a gobble to be heard so far.  About 1:30 I spotted a long beard and 6 or so jakes together in a field about 150 yards below me.  They looked my way when I purred and clucked.  Soft yelps didn't phase them either.  They entire gang basically gave the finger and fed slowly the other way.  I've repositioned and set up my decoy.  I'll spent the rest of the day here and see what happens.  They sure weren't acting too lonely.  They may be all "petered" out for the year.  I'll keep after it.

[270Shooter]

Was in 388 this morning, no gobbles though it was a bit windy, did see a lone hen by herself, figured she'd be on a nest by now or have a gobbler with her but not today. It was warm, seems like they are pretty much shut down right now, but if I can get one to fire off tomorrow I think we'll have a good chance of killin him.

[Deer slayer]

I also hunted 388 this morning. Was into birds but they wouldn't commit. Last night after work they were hot and called two into my lap. Busted them on the swing because they came in to hard and the wrong side.

[270Shooter]

I also hunted 388 this morning. Was into birds but they wouldn't commit. Last night after work they were hot and called two into my lap. Busted them on the swing because they came in to hard and the wrong side.

gobblimg much? Maybe I'm just not in the right area.