First time turkey hunting suggestions?

[JeffRaines]

Hey guys -

So this spring I was hoping to get into some turkey hunting(and hopefully a bird) just to take up some time and get myself out in the woods. With that said, I've researched weapon choice, decoys, blinds/etc. My question is about area... looking at the harvest statistics, it seems the highest amount of success comes from the far eastern portion of the state, with the central and finally western portion coming up last. I don't mind driving out to eastern Washington at all. In fact, I'd be willing to go out once or twice during the season and just spend the weekend(s).

If you were in my shoes, where would you go/focus? What would your approach be(set up a blind and decoys? walk gated logging roads? etc)?

Thanks guys.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Plenty of birds ..you just need to do the scouting and get permission from a landowner ..lots of state land to hunt too ...

[Birdguy]

Get out and get started! Decoys, calling, where and when will change with the birds you are hunting. We usually start with no decoys and add them if the birds hang up or seem to weary, we have found often times that the birds we hunt have seen enough decoys that if they see decoys they get even more weary. Over the years I think I have only shot one bird with decoys out. I have ambushed birds, called them in with no decoys, called them in with a friend but it is different every time we are out. It is addicting and lots of fun. The first bird you call in and shoot will be an amazing feeling for sure. Good luck!

[JeffRaines]

Get out and get started! Decoys, calling, where and when will change with the birds you are hunting. We usually start with no decoys and add them if the birds hang up or seem to weary, we have found often times that the birds we hunt have seen enough decoys that if they see decoys they get even more weary. Over the years I think I have only shot one bird with decoys out. I have ambushed birds, called them in with no decoys, called them in with a friend but it is different every time we are out. It is addicting and lots of fun. The first bird you call in and shoot will be an amazing feeling for sure. Good luck!

Thanks Birdguy. I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting after them!

[tgomez]

Keep it simple your first year. One hen decoy, a box call, and a push button call. If you can get decent with a slate call, they make excellent calls and in my personal opinion the best of them all. Try to just have fun and get into some turkeys. Good luck to you.

[Seatown5]

Public land near colville, if you don't have a map, just head for the hills. Go behind gates ask forest service, whatever. Just go and start learning the roads and country. The turkeys are everywhere eventually you will start finding them. Knowing land is better than anything it gives you options, areas that don't seem great one da uh could be great the next day. So pay attention to sign. Also if a turkey ever gobbles after ten am, do what you can to get closers to him and hunt him. More often than not if they gobble after ten they are ready to play the game. This is why I say just learn areas. Hard to scout to much area during prime times of the day. So while they are not as active you can figure out other things and maybe luck into one. But spend every daylight hours either driving forest roads learning areas or out actively hiking.

[Bob33]

You might consider going with a guided service like Bearpaw. You can advance your learning curve by many years.

[JeffRaines]

Public land near colville, if you don't have a map, just head for the hills. Go behind gates ask forest service, whatever. Just go and start learning the roads and country. The turkeys are everywhere eventually you will start finding them. Knowing land is better than anything it gives you options, areas that don't seem great one da uh could be great the next day. So pay attention to sign. Also if a turkey ever gobbles after ten am, do what you can to get closers to him and hunt him. More often than not if they gobble after ten they are ready to play the game. This is why I say just learn areas. Hard to scout to much area during prime times of the day. So while they are not as active you can figure out other things and maybe luck into one. But spend every daylight hours either driving forest roads learning areas or out actively hiking.

Thank for the advice! I had originally considered grabbing a ground blind but I've changed my mind and I'm just going to be covering ground, mostly by hiking. I feel like its probably the best strategy for the reasons you listed.

You might consider going with a guided service like Bearpaw. You can advance your learning curve by many years.

I've considered it, but with a kid on the way I can't really justify spending more money on top of the cost of gas/food/etc... besides, I really enjoy learning things for myself. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment? Haha.

[RadSav]

A Bearpaw map would get you started in productive areas.

[Buckmark]

Buy some tick tweazers... 

[JeffRaines]

A Bearpaw map would get you started in productive areas.

I may consider a map. Thanks again RadSav - is there anything you don't know?

[Kit Carson]

Tag. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[RadSav]

I may consider a map. Thanks again RadSav - is there anything you don't know?

I believe if you screw up enough things in life you become wiser and more experienced.  If you ask my mother she will supply a long list of things.  Pretty sure she has it close by at all times just in case someone stops by.  

[RadSav]

The first time the wife drew a spring bear tag we purchased a map from Bearpaw.  After four days I was convinced he had mistakenly given me a turkey map instead of a bear map.  I saw turkey everywhere we went.  If we weren't seeing turkey we were hearing turkey.  We saw turkey hunters a couple times out and about, but not nearly as many as I expected to find with that number of birds around.  Not a day passed where I could not have killed a turkey with my bow.  Crazy up there on public land!

[Seatown5]

And just where was that also, did she end up getting a bear

[RadSav]

And just where was that also, did she end up getting a bear

Between Colville and the Canadian border

She had opportunities at bear.  Passed on some ugly ones.  If she had not been legally blind that year I'm sure she would have pounded a monster cinnamon.  She has put in for that area again since her surgery.  A year later I took a nice bear in one of Bearpaw's spots too!  I also got attacked by a bear in one of his spots.  Little guy gave me everything a 15# bear had to give! Ferocious little dude.  I finally had to buck kick him off the trail I was walking.  Won't soon forget that!

[JeffRaines]

And just where was that also, did she end up getting a bear

Between Colville and the Canadian border

She had opportunities at bear.  Passed on some ugly ones.  If she had not been legally blind that year I'm sure she would have pounded a monster cinnamon.  She has put in for that area again since her surgery.  A year later I took a nice bear in one of Bearpaw's spots too!  I also got attacked by a bear in one of his spots.  Little guy gave me everything a 15# bear had to give! Ferocious little dude.  I finally had to buck kick him off the trail I was walking.  Won't soon forget that!

I was just about to ask if his maps worked out well for you, but someone beat me to it!

I'm thinking I'll purchase one for turkey and if it works out I might buy one for bear as well. Me and the wife are expecting in August and it would be awesome to be able to get out and hunt some while saving some money/time. Not to mention the bear meat I've had before was delicious!

[turkeykid32]

Go up into cle elum and ellensburg, plenty of access for a hunter to get access. As well as trying to obtain private. Got to do the work though

[Jarhead Chase]

tag.

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[simondude]

If you don't like ticks I would get some tick spray and spray all your camo. Sawyers I think it's called makes some good stuff.

[RadSav]

If you don't like ticks I would get some tick spray and spray all your camo. Sawyers I think it's called makes some good stuff.

Good advise.    

I too use Sawyers permethrin.  Haven't had a tick in over 25 years.

[E35alex]

How does someone contact Bearpaw?

This is my first year hunting birds and I'm taking my 7 yr old son with me. He's been practicing his archery.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.


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[emac]

How does someone contact Bearpaw?

This is my first year hunting birds and I'm taking my 7 yr old son with me. He's been practicing his archery.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.


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PM him

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[E35alex]

Thanks. I found them online and sent an email.


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[Camp David]

WDFW web site has the harvest areas. Look at the one for Turkey and find where there have been high harvests. It a good place to start any new hunting adventures.

[E35alex]

Personal suggestions:?

Central wa or eastern wa? I've seen that both have them but NE has more.


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[jbanich]

Stevens county is loaded with turkeys I live in the county and turkeys are abundant.  Dont stress about much they are very easy to kill and hunt. The population is as good as ever.  State land has a ton of birds and if see them on private ground you have a great chance to get permission from landowners.  If you can make multiple trips I'm sure you can kill one.  Not many people hunt them around here because of the cost and how easy they are to kill for the locals.  Just ask permission or hunt state land by farms or fields and will be on birds. 

[Mfowl]

Personal suggestions:?

Central wa or eastern wa? I've seen that both have them but NE has more.


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Head to the NE corner as previously stated. Central Wa has birds but unless you already know areas to find them it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Especially for a newbie. The NE corner has the best population and will afford you the most opportunity to find birds and there is plenty of public ground as well.  IMO the best thing a new turkey hunter can do is hunt where the best odds are. There's a learning curve involved and you need the best odds in your favor as a beginner. 

[270Shooter]

If you don't live here in central WA it's really not worth the time to hunt here. Better off driving farther east and having way more birds to hunt.

[E35alex]

Thanks guys, I do appreciate the info. I've started looking up all the public land up there. Hopefully I'll land something this spring!

And good luck to all ya'll!!


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[bb76]

Amazon usually has good deals on calls and the Sawyer tick spray.

[hdshot]

3 things. learn how to mouth call, learn how to mouth call, and most important learn how to mouth call.  Might seem impossible if you have not learned but keep trying.  My worst move was to use box calls and no luck at all instead of keeping up learning with the mouth call which I didn't know they were that more effective anyways.  I gave up turkey hunting all together until a new friend got me back into it who used only mouth.  I took back up learning and called in two nice tom's last spring 1 bad shot and 1 good shot equals 1 tom bagged.