tip of the day from strut

[yelp]

PA BEN what year did you shoot your first WA turkey?

[PA BEN]

1990 

[yelp]

I hunted Cedonia in the early 90's.  Killed my biggest Tom there 24.3 lbs.  I love that country around Sand Canyon-Cedonia Area too and the Blue Lake area out of Addy. 

[fishunt247]

Well PA Ben, you are in Merriam heaven. Maybe your birds up there and the birds I hunt are different animal, maybe because of the totally different terrain and because you have thousands upon thousands more birds. But sounds like our experiences are different, somewhat. I've learned a lot of what I know from my dad... he started hunting them in 86, killed two gobblers a year every since besides three years when he only killed one. 

[PA BEN]

I miss my home, it just doesn't feel like home over here on the west side. O'will, maybe I'll be able to retire someday and move back

[yelp]

fishhunt247 - There was a time when you were only allowed one turkey a year, then they allowed you two harvest two one of each subspecies in designated GMU's for Rio and Merriam, then they allowed one of each subspecies (WA SLAM) (but still only allowed certain harvested from designated GMU's), Now a days they allow you to harvest two birds in Eastern WA and one In Western.  They also now have general fall seasons.  I would have to go back and look but in 1986 I believe the limit was one bird.

[Wacenturion]

Well PA Ben, you are in Merriam heaven. Maybe your birds up there and the birds I hunt are different animal, maybe because of the totally different terrain and because you have thousands upon thousands more birds. But sounds like our experiences are different, somewhat. I've learned a lot of what I know from my dad... he started hunting them in 86, killed two gobblers a year every since besides three years when he only killed one. 

Not to change the subject but I don't believe you could take more than one bird in the NE until the 90's.

[fishunt247]

My dad never hunted the Northeast. 1986 was a year that he only killed one bird. I believe 87 was too. I think he drew the Wenas Tag the second year they had it. He would mostly hunt Rio's in the Blues until he shot one, then hunt Merriams. 1998 was the other year he only killed one bird.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I hunt the Easterns near my home and so far they only roost in the same tree once or twice then go somewhere else, as soon as I figure out any pattern they move again.

[Turkeyman]

Thats eastern's for you get used to it. Most of the time they arn't far from the area though. It depends on where the local flock is at in the breeding cycle on how much they will move around in a area. Early in the cycle before hens start nesting the wont be far from day to day roosting, but when hens start nesting toms will start to move more looking for hens. I have found they like to roost close to a water source creek, river, pond or lake.

[PA BEN]

It was a one turkey limit until the early to mid 90's.

[fishunt247]

Maybe I misheard my dad? I'm sure nobody has an old rule book laying around do they? I'll ask him tonight. I thought he said about 87 or 88 he would kill a rio and a merriam. I'll post back later.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thats eastern's for you get used to it. Most of the time they arn't far from the area though. It depends on where the local flock is at in the breeding cycle on how much they will move around in a area. Early in the cycle before hens start nesting the wont be far from day to day roosting, but when hens start nesting toms will start to move more looking for hens. I have found they like to roost close to a water source creek, river, pond or lake.

I keep hearing that but in the area I was in I checked stream beds, swampland and other pockets of water (everywhere last spring) and the best sign I found was on logging roads and it was fresh in one spot and I would find it further down road the next day, looked like they moved about 1/2 mile to a mile a day and pretty much all headed towards a central location that I found at the end of season, about 4 miles from original area. I heard gobbling in 3 different spots before season started and did NO calling to birds until opening day. They all quit gobbling and sign was extremely scarce except for a dropping occasionally on (coincidentally) on the same road. This year I am going to start at the end and work backwards.

[yelp]

I have only killed one eastern so I am no expert. but after my experience Most hunters over on the coast when they know birds are in the area tend to move if they don't hear anything.  When I killed mine it sounded like a dog barking or a vibration something not right "noise wise"..The habitat is so thick sound doesn't carry.  So you may have birds coming and sitting as long as you can may help.  I also noticed the edge factor...most of the activity seems to be along edges of clearcuts, tree farms, swamps, etc.. 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Not only was I not hearing anything but the droppings in the road would be fresh ( I would stomp,rub out and cover ) would not be any more fresh stuff next time until I walked further down road. I had to walk past prior spots each time in and out due to accessing from  3 different gates. They were moving further into unit no doubt in my mind. I finally found a spot I believe had some nesting at end of season and believe I had located lone Toms at beginning of season and once they found hens they followed them.