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