What happened to the Wenas area?

[Ron21]

I was told that 2-3 years ago hunters heard lots of gobbles and saw some nice birds. I went several times this year and never heard a gobble and no sign of birds. Talked to several other hunters that had the same experience. Did they winter kill during the severe winter a couple of years ago?

[Oh Mah]

The safe zone was made.You can see hundreds of turkey in the safe zone all the way down Wenas to the large irrigated meadow (private property)Ask the dfw why they made the safe zone and why they don't exclude turkey from that zone..

[kevinlisa06]

I was told that 2-3 years ago hunters heard lots of gobbles and saw some nice birds. I went several times this year and never heard a gobble and no sign of birds. Talked to several other hunters that had the same experience. Did they winter kill during the severe winter a couple of years ago?

My lips are sealed 🤐 I got my bird and my dad got his in there


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[lucky7]

I heard the safe zone was made because an arrow flinger hit a passing car

[Karl Blanchard]

There's never been more huntable birds in the wenas in my opinion.

[Oh Mah]

I heard the safe zone was made because an arrow flinger hit a passing car

I was told and i quote in disbelief by a warden:

IT WAS MADE BECAUSE ARCHERY HUNTERS WERE CAMPED THERE AND ON OPENING MORNING THEY KILLED A BUNCH OF DEER THERE..

[Oh Mah]

There's never been more huntable birds in the wenas in my opinion.

You are right Karl lots of turkey in the Wenas area.Most will be on the borders of anti hunting property owners that feed them,one property owner off Jones rd. used to raise turkeys.

Come hunting season between the safe zones and the property owners that pushed for these safe zones where do you think most wild turkeys are gonna be?

[Karl Blanchard]

There are turkeys throughout the unit, not just down low.  Don't give them that much credit.  They don't migrate to a different area due to pressure.  They will live their whole life in a very small area.

[Oh Mah]

I agree Karl but the ones (that i chase) up around moms camp border the property all the way up.Yes there are turkey from top to bottom,never have i seen a turkey between Jones road and the elk fence bordering the private property to the east of the feeding station to the top of Clemens,I have seen hundreds on the property running along the Wenas to the edge of the safe zone.

[Oh Mah]

The Wenas is huge i have not been everywhere,the op asked i gave my op. if people don't like the opinion i gave give a location of this turkey haven and i will go check it out.

[kevinlisa06]

It has been my experience that once the snow starts to fly they head down low then in the spring they head higher, common sense. Of course there will be birds that hang out low year round if there is a food source and a safe place to be. We have been hunting the same few canyons off and on the last 15 years. Just like any hunting you need to put your time in and pound the ground.
I hardly ever hunt the NE corner anymore. Lots of birds means lots of hunters and I prefer to be in an area where I don’t see anyone. Central Wa birds to me are more of a challenge and we  never see another hunter in the woods.


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[Hilltop123]

Some things I've learned about turkeys, from living here in the Wenas area for the last 15 years.
1. Turkey numbers are up, from 15 years ago. Considerably.
2. Just like deer and elk, there are 2 types of turkeys. Resident birds and migratory birds. We have a flock that migrates through here, that you can literally set your clock to. Normally no birds, right where I live, except for one week a year. Public ground birds tend to be migratory, private ground birds tend to be resident birds, I'm sure pressure is the reason.
3. Most hunters don't burn enough boot leather. With the gates we have up here for seasonal closure, most birds by the time season starts are miles from these gates, can you find a bird close to them, sure. But most of the birds close to these gates have been called at and harassed for at least a month prior to the opener. As soon as the toms start gobbling, there are people up here, schooling them to the sounds of hunters with turkey calls.
JMTCW

[runamuk]

Not in the Wenas but I lived where the turkeys migrated, and now work where there are migrating herds of birds. They dont always go low for winter. I had a herd show up at 4000 ft the end of summer to be joined by more herds it was insane how many birds wintered in a snowpark.  I falsely believed all the banter on huntwa about turkeys migrating low. I know better now.

[boneaddict]

Just saw a couple flocks of this years crop.  🦃. Going to be a bunch of jakes in the spring.

[kevinlisa06]

Just saw a couple flocks of this years crop.  🦃. Going to be a bunch of jakes in the spring.

Saw 5 Jakes this year in the area we hunt. Plus a few Toms and bagged a couple birds as well.


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