former game call prostaffer

[strutnrut1984]

former prostaffer willng to give some tips. been chasing toms for 30yrs. transplanted here 4 years ago from pennsylvania.

[saylean]

Well then...lets hear em!

[bow4elk]

What company?  Tell us about yourself.  Welcome!

[Turkeyman]

What company? I was with hunter specialties for four years and Knight- Hale for four years.

[strutnrut1984]

butski game calls in pennsylvania

[bow4elk]

Do any good on Western Wa easterns yet?  They'll give you fits 

[strutnrut1984]

did my first hunt for them last season around rochester. but with no real knowledge of the area. i wsnt able to locate any hunted 2 day was all. this year ill be gettin down here way before season . i went over eastside  2 trips passed on a bunch of jakes and satellite toms

[bow4elk]

Sounds like a plan.  Yeah, westside can be a drag but they are around in pockets.  East of the cascades there are great numbers of Merriams and Rio's.  The Klickitat area and north around Kettle Falls hold good bird populations, but statewide turkeys are doing very well.  I've stumbled into Easterns in unlikely places so I know they are always expanding their range throughout western WA.

[Turkeyman]

They are the hardest turkeys i have hunted. I have hunted in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Kansas, Florida.The easterns in washington are tough because the terrain is so thick, hard to pattern beards and move where you need to be to kill them. It is a fun bird to hunt if you can kill them consistently you can kill turkeys anywhere. I have killed five and helped friends get there birds. I will post pics. later still trying to figure it out.

[bow4elk]

I guess your are "Turkeyman" for a reason!  Congrats on your birds!  I once had a big eastern Tom erupt from the salal not five yards in front of me one morning.  Yelp, clucked, and purred him into my lap and he never made a peep.  I slowly stood up to leave for work and he came out of there like a 20 pound grouse on steroids.  I about soiled myself.  Never called him back in or even heard a gobble in that area the rest of the season.  But I know he was there.  Found feathers, droppings and tracks.  I'll give anyone $20 to find a consistent roost tree in Western WA.  They have so many choices and in my experience, they don't roost in the same tree consistently.  I've seen birds in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan use the same dang trail/path to their roost tree daily from my treestand.  I love turkey hunting but I've been focusing more on shed hunting the past few springs.  I'm planning to take my 7 year old daughter on her first turkey hunt with me this spring.  I mainly just want her to go through motions and see some birds so I'll probably head east.

[Turkeyman]

You are right easterns don't roost in the same tree and some times not the same area. If you find a area where there is a decent population and a good number of tom's they can be very vocal, those areas are few hand far between. Keep hunting them they will make you a turkey killing machine.

[bow4elk]

I know a lot, read a pile of books, and put in many years...but I'm a ways off from being a "machine".  I've never tagged one yet!  Called them in for others and switched to shotgun after a few years with the bow.  True, I don't high number areas and typically just a few days per year, but I really enjoy it.  It's like my spring elk hunting with cooler weather and the added bonus of finding some sheds when I'm runnin' and gunnin'.

Having kids is good justification for a new Double Bull blind  and will make for some great times ahead...

[Turkeyman]

Double bull blinds are great i have one and love it, it makes killing turkey's with a bow allot easier. They are great for kids also they can move around all they want. I have had some great eastern hunts with kids, but the east side the will see more birds. good luck and its great you are taking your kids out.

[bow4elk]

I take my kids out every chance I get.  They love the outdoors and get to learn so much more than any classroom can provide.  When I cut my deer I had my four year old daughter stamping the packages for the different cuts.  I let her hit them with her other rubber stamps to "decorate" them.  They both love wild game and have no illusions about where our food comes from.  Gotta keep kids grounded in reality these days!

[Wacenturion]

You are right easterns don't roost in the same tree and some times not the same area. If you find a area where there is a decent population and a good number of tom's they can be very vocal, those areas are few hand far between. Keep hunting them they will make you a turkey killing machine.

Just might add.....even if you get into an area with vocal westside easterns, you may not hear them depending on the lay of the terrain,as the vegetation eats up the sound bigtime.  Another unique characteristic of huntng western Wa. easterns.  The best of the best as far as hunting gobblers go.  Quite easy if you do your homework....lots of scouting....and then even more patience.  When you see sign....you have to believe in it, as that what you'll be hunting alot of the time....just sign....no sound....no visual...nada!   BELIEVE!