Turkey hunt questions and help

[serjey]

I've been reading and educating myself on turkey hunting. I might be too late for some spring turkey hunting, but I would like to prepare for fall season. My current location is Tri Cities and I know that there aren't any turkeys around here, unless you drive an hour or more. I read that there are some in Walla Walla area. I've been looking at WDFW GoHunt small game map and they have free to hunt areas. Do I just pick area drive up there and listen and look for birds?

Also, when it comes to gear. I do have a Remington 870 12ga shotgun with 20" cylinder barrel. I was working getting a new barrel with screw on chokes. Any recommendations on turkey calls?

Thanks,
Serj

[MuleySniper]

I use various mouth calls 75% of the time. Get a few and start practicing. It took me awhile to get the hang of it but now that I can use them well Im glad I learned. I like to use a slate early in the morning with softer calls then as the day goes on I get more aggressive with the calling and do pretty well finding birds. As far as locating them I locate an area I want to hunt about every 100 yards. You'd be surprised the reaction you can get by just walking another 75-100 yards quietly and locating. The stressful part is getting set up once you get a response. A hot tom can bust you real quick and have you pulling your hair out but thats half the fun Wastickslinger taught me everything about turkey hunting about ten years ago. I never had a clue. You learn a lot just by going with someone who knows a thing or two then you will develop a style.

[Big game archer]

 
It's never too late for spring turkey until the season is over. If you haven't used a turkey call, get one as soon as possible  and start practicing. Good calling is the difference between getting a mature tom to respond and getting him to actually come. Box calls are the easiest to operate. Slate and mouth calls take a little getting used to. Good luck, you will find turkey hunting is addicting once you start to locate birds and get responses.

[PA BEN]

In the fall turkeys are in flocks. They tend to travel the same route each day and close to the same time each day. Sit and ambush. You can follow a flock and when they go over a rize, sneak over and most of the time you will have a shot. Filling a tag in the fall is not to hard. Unless you are just after a Tom, they group up too and take the same routes also.

[serjey]

Thanks for the feedback. Can any one point me to an area that I can scout around Walla Walla or Prescott?


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[Machias]

In the fall turkeys are in flocks. They tend to travel the same route each day and close to the same time each day. Sit and ambush. You can follow a flock and when they go over a rize, sneak over and most of the time you will have a shot. Filling a tag in the fall is not to hard. Unless you are just after a Tom, they group up too and take the same routes also.

Ambush?!?!?!  Sacrilegious!!! 

[Gobble Doc]

 

[zike]

Rent or buy some turkey hunting videos. It will give you a lot of tips and also help with what to say and the cadence of your calling.

[serjey]

Thanks guys for all the feedback. I'm planning on going camping on Memorial Day weekend somewhere near Tucannon and hopefully see some turkeys.

[Machias]

Good luck, very pretty country!!

[PA BEN]

In the fall turkeys are in flocks. They tend to travel the same route each day and close to the same time each day. Sit and ambush. You can follow a flock and when they go over a rize, sneak over and most of the time you will have a shot. Filling a tag in the fall is not to hard. Unless you are just after a Tom, they group up too and take the same routes also.

Ambush?!?!?!  Sacrilegious!!! 

[Gobble Doc]

Get a couple CDs to listen to in the truck.  You can practice and listen without driving the rest of the house crazy.   

[serjey]

Get a couple CDs to listen to in the truck.  You can practice and listen without driving the rest of the house crazy.   

Any starter mouth call recommendation? I am planning on getting Primos Wet Box Friction.

Thanks

[Gobble Doc]

My first was a Primos call because it came with a CD.  But the Phelps calls are great.  Called in a nice bird for my son last year with one.  You can get a 6 pack. 

[baldopepper]

Ok, I'll take a little flak, but calling and calls are somewhat overrated in my opinion.  If you are out and about around turkeys much, you'll find that they are a lot like people.   Actual calls vary a great deal-some almost high and squeaky, some almost horase like they've got a cold.  I hear them off and on all spring and summer and sometimes I laugh at how silly some of the old hens will sound.  I think how you use your call is more important than how you sound or even the cadence of the call.  I think many hunters way overcall and pay much more attention to calling than they do to not moving and being patient. If you find a  tom that's hot and in the mood they just aren't that hard to call in unless you really screw up, the key is finding one and then getting hidden up before he busts you.  The last few years I've taken a bird on the opening day and had the luxury of just going out fooling around with them for the rest of the season, it allows me to just observe and listen and I've learned a lot without the pressure of trying to actually shoot one.  Scouting and observing their habits come way ahead of calling ability to me.  Just my

[Wacenturion]

Ok, I'll take a little flak, but calling and calls are somewhat overrated in my opinion.  If you are out and about around turkeys much, you'll find that they are a lot like people.   Actual calls vary a great deal-some almost high and squeaky, some almost horase like they've got a cold.  I hear them off and on all spring and summer and sometimes I laugh at how silly some of the old hens will sound.  I think how you use your call is more important than how you sound or even the cadence of the call.  I think many hunters way overcall and pay much more attention to calling than they do to not moving and being patient. If you find a  tom that's hot and in the mood they just aren't that hard to call in unless you really screw up, the key is finding one and then getting hidden up before he busts you.  The last few years I've taken a bird on the opening day and had the luxury of just going out fooling around with them for the rest of the season, it allows me to just observe and listen and I've learned a lot without the pressure of trying to actually shoot one.  Scouting and observing their habits come way ahead of calling ability to me.  Just my

Good advice there.    When one starts putting him or her self in the mode of thinking and acting (i.e vocalizations) like a turkey, success usually follows.  Add a good pinch of patience.

[turkeydancer]

     Calling is less than 10% of a success hunt ... sometimes the best call is not to call at all.

[Gobble Doc]

Me.  Overcall?      If a little is good then a lot is better, right?   

[Machias]

In the fall turkeys are in flocks. They tend to travel the same route each day and close to the same time each day. Sit and ambush. You can follow a flock and when they go over a rize, sneak over and most of the time you will have a shot. Filling a tag in the fall is not to hard. Unless you are just after a Tom, they group up too and take the same routes also.

Ambush?!?!?!  Sacrilegious!!! 

I guess you missed the 2 smiley faces.  Don't hurt your head. 

[Tom Tamer]

Me.  Overcall?      If a little is good then a lot is better, right?