First turkey hunt trip report (fun!)

[ljsommer]

I had my first weekend turkey hunting and it blew my mind. I am so hooked, and it's really given me a taste of what hunting can be.
I had met a few people online and tried to line up some sort of mentoring/tag-along situation but it didn't work out. I did get some pointers from some of the people despite not being able to meet up, and that advice definitely gave me a helping hand.
 
The drive over was about 6 hours but very beautiful. I initially had no idea where to go - I didn't know where I was driving to, aside from a highway name. I pulled into Kettle Falls for some bbq lunch and then decided I was going to head over towards Republic, to this big forest on the map. Keep in mind, I had no idea what sort of habitat I was looking for, or where the flocks were. I picked a highway and started driving up the many fire/access roads until I reached one that had a sign. Well, it sounded as good to me as anything else. I drove that for a few hours, taking some decent off-road trails and eventually found a nice little camp spot. I set up shop, made a fire and enjoyed my evening. I saw my first turkey (a hen) walking down the road to me. She setup camp about 500 feet down the road in her roost and we both went to sleep.
 
The next day I put on my gaiters (the ticks are no joke) and went exploring. The terrain is beautiful. The animal sign is everywhere. If you've hunted Western Washington you know that finding animal sign can be an exercise in futility at times. I genuinely couldn't go five minutes without seeing sign. There was so much moose sign that it's a wonder that tag is OIL (once in a lifetime). It's everywhere. I spooked a couple white-tail but saw no other turkeys and found no sheds (antlers) which really surprised me considering how much game sign I saw. I had a blast just exploring but decided it was time to move on to a spot that was recommended to me by a contact. I packed up, and made the painfully gorgeous drive over to the new spot which was high up on a hillside overlooking a charming town with a river.
 
I set up camp and then went out for an amazing evening of walking around in the woods. There were no turkeys gobbling or replying to my calls so I just found a little ridge and sat down to enjoy the sunset in the silence, by myself. Within an hour, three mule deer (a doe and two fawns) bounded up the hill, unaware of my presence. 10 minutes later, a very large and beautiful light gray coyote came hot on their trail with a bloody snout. I think he must have decided that three weren't worth his trouble because I found those three deer again on my way back to camp.
I made a fire, made some dinner, grabbed a beer and a cigar and watched the stars come out. I had found some bear sign in the area and that far north-east you don't really know what you've got to deal with so I slept with a loaded 10mm Glock 20 close at hand. I stoked the fire high and went to sleep listening to the wind.
Throughout the evening I awoke to a variety of spooky noises (noises become particularly spooky when you're by yourself in the mountains with no cell access) including coyotes, annoyed deer (probably at the coyotes chasing them around the basin), and something stomping heavily nearby my tent - guessing just more deer passing through.
 
Overnight I woke up at 3am to a fully lit tent. I was freaked out – I thought a truck had pulled up to my site and had left his headlights on. It took me a few minutes to work up the guts to get out of my tent and check it out. The moon had its high-beams on and was bathing the entire basin in the brightest moonlight I’d ever seen. The stars were pulling their weight, too. I could’ve gone for a walk and been perfectly fine picking out a trail. It was incredible.
 
I had set my alarm for 5am - and that wasn't nearly early enough. Those turkeys were gobbling at 5:15 sharp. I missed the bus. I got up and was shocked at how cold it got overnight. It couldn't have been above 20 degrees outside - everything was iced over as soon as it got exposed to the air. I made some breakfast and coffee and broke down camp and loaded the truck so I could hit the road promptly once I was done for the day (plus, I was waiting for legal hunting light).
I set off for the day with a general plan of areas to hit, but alas - all quiet. I turned the day into a scouting mission, along with shed-hunting. I climbed a peak and got some nice views, had some lunch, and then set off again to try some more calling. This time I was getting responses.
Let me tell you - this was the most fun I've ever had hunting. Full camo head to toe with a bow sneaking through brush trying to position myself well for a tom (adult male turkey) or jake (juvenile male turkey) who is talking back at me really makes you feel like a woods-ninja. I spent easily 2 hours just chasing turkeys around in the woods. This is probably just an indicator that I suck at turkey hunting, but at some point, who cares? It was just a ton of fun. I genuinely wished I could just keep doing it day after day. Hunt all day, explore, nap in the sun, sit by the bonfire and then wake up and do it all over again.
 
This is definitely a yearly tradition for me now, and I'll be taking more time off work to do it next year as well. By far the most fun, most rewarding hunting I've ever done, and in an area that actually makes you feel like "Wow, these woods have LIFE in them!" unlike our Western Washington woods, in which I've never once seen a game animal during a hunting season. It really saps my will to hunt Western Washington.
Do I want to drive for an hour, then hike for 2 hours, to spend 10 hours in the woods not seeing any signs of life day after day, or do I want to drive for 6 and immediately start hunting woods where I can see what more than 10 feet ahead of me and the animals are everywhere? I think I've figured out my decision!

Questions/thoughts:

1.) I was using a box call and getting plenty of responses from the boys, but they were responding and then slowly drifting away from me. They never stopped calling, but they just sort of meandered away. I followed one for at least a couple miles and he never took off quickly, nor did he stop chatting at me, but he also sure as heck didn't come my way. What's up with that?

2.) Can anyone recommend some good reading material for educating myself on turkey hunting strategies?

3.) What is late May turkey hunting like? I was thinking of making a 3 day weekend trip over Memorial Day weekend.

4.) I have yet to harvest an animal of any kind but I think I can make it happen with turkey, anyone want to mentor me/guide me? I can repay with good conversation, lunch, and beer (when safe and appropriate)!

[WSU]

Sounds like fun!  I know almost nothing about turkeys, but do know what you describe is why half the westsiders head east to hunt.  More critters, more access, better terrain, and an all-around better time.

[kevinlisa06]

Sounds like a great time in the woods to me, can’t wait for the weekend!
The Tom most likely had a hen with him and she was taking him away from you.


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[Tracker0721]

That area you were in on Sunday is a good spot isn’t it! If you’ll be up again I won’t have my son memorial weekend and we can go get one of those toms. Maybe that coyote too. Sorry I missed meeting you and I’m glad you had fun!

[cougforester]

Sounds like a great trip! Heading east for turkeys this weekend, reading this got me excited!

[Parasite]

I'd go with you, but a business trip May 12 to June 8 is going to make any time I have left betweeen now and then limited unless I take some time off work ... Which I might just do.

[Big game archer]

1) The toms were likely henned up and the hens were pulling them away from you. However, experience will teach you that some birds are just finicky. Sometimes I'll have a tom that will be moving away from me just as you described and I'll just stop calling and sit for 30 minutes. I've had more than a few times where the tom became interested after I stopped calling and decided to come in and see if the hen was still there. Also, sometimes it seems they just have their mind made up about where they want to go and no call will change their mind. That's what makes turkey hunting fun lol

3) 1st and 2nd week of May is my favorite time to turkey hunt. Most toms will be roaming and birds will not really be in flocks anymore. This definitely makes it harder to find them because from my experience a lot of the toms are on the move and are not roosting in the same area every night (unless your hunting a field or good food source). Sometimes it takes me a few days to find them. However, when you find a hot tom that time of year, it's normally a quick, action-packed hunt. 

[TheStovePipeKid]

I've been out since Sunday night. Weather's been great, hen's have been all over the place grabbing all the toms. I'm glad you had a great time. I've been making the 6 hour drive each fall for turkey. Done a couple of spring hunts without success. Third times the charm hopefully. And yes, the ticks are no joke. They are everywhere! Good luck next time.

[fjp971]

Great recap!  I'm going to the Little Pend Oreille area soon on my second try.  Worse case scenario it's a learning experience and camping trip.  Got bit by a tick last year. Gator time!  Good luck.

[Russ McDonald]

If you get a tom to respond don't keep walking towards them and keep calling.  Even if he is henned up you can still get him interested if you would have stayed put.  Now out scouting you can call to locate but that us what locator calls are for, crow, owl or coyote calls.  Ben Thompson Basic Turkey Hunting.  He is a local guy from Enumclaw that loves to turkey hunt.  If you can't find onenof his books online PM me.  I can get one for you.  Funny how different areas have ticks.  I was across the river from where your were this last weekend 0 ticks.  I have hunted the property for 3 years and haven't seen a tick one.  Glad you had a good time.  Welcome to the addiction.

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[Machias]

If you can spend even half a day with an experienced turkey hunter you will shave quite a bit of time off the learning curve.  Early in the spring you can even sleep in.  Does the classic turkey hunt happen?  Yes, but not as often as you would think.  Classic hunt?  Roost a tom or two the evening before.  Then before first light, get in and set up 100 to 150 yards, depending on how open the terrain is.  Even better if you set up where he normally flies down (pre-season scouting!).  Right at first light give a few soft tree yelps, probably met with thunderous gobble.  Wait a bit, give a fly down cackle while slapping your hat on the side of your leg simulating a hen flying down.  Probably met with a thunderous gobble.  Give a nice series of yelps while you are on the ground.  Probably met with a thunderous gobble.  Tom flies down and lands near you and gobbles and strutts into your lethal range and boom, tag filled.  What normally happens is all the above, but several hens run to your gobbler and he gobbles at you as they wander off.  He stops gobbling, but what you don't realize is every time you call he still hears you, but he just fans, spits and drums, waiting for you to join the other ladies.  What I do most of the time now is sleep in, get up around 0700 and have breakfast.  Hit the woods around 0800ish.  Any bird that answers me after 0900 is very likely to end up with my tag on him.  Not always, but normally by around 0900 all the hens have been bred and Mr. Tom is standing around all by himself, feeling a tad lonely and he is much more likely to respond in to your calling.

[ljsommer]

If you can spend even half a day with an experienced turkey hunter you will shave quite a bit of time off the learning curve.

Yeah that's what I am trying to make happen

[Machias]

Next time you are headed over, let me know and if I am not already doing something, I'd be happy to go out with you for a morning.  I don't have a WA hunting license, but I'd be happy to call for you.

[scotrobe]

Love this story. This is the exact reason I love hunting even if I don’t come home with anything. I’m a new hunter as well (only been doing it 2 years) and also started with turkey which is a ton of fun. I also live in Western WA and agree th hunting over here sucks. Ticks are definitely an issue. I didn’t use any spray my first time and brought home a bunch of them which my wife didn’t really appreciate. 😀

Keep at it. You’ll be successful soon, I’m sure. Good luck!


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[scooby]

Dude, I was going to write up my own first time turkey hunting (or any hunting) story but you wrote an almost identical post as I would have. Including the same questions! I went to the Republic area as well and just got back a few hours ago. I hunted two full days and heard gobbles everyday, and finally even SAW two turkeys but couldn't seal the deal. I have so much to learn but learned a ton about what I NEED to learn in the next few weeks. I'm so hooked. I'm in Olympia, maybe we can roll out together sometime before the season ends, if not, we can meet up and talk turkeys sometime soon.

[ljsommer]

Dude, I was going to write up my own first time turkey hunting (or any hunting) story but you wrote an almost identical post as I would have. Including the same questions! I went to the Republic area as well and just got back a few hours ago. I hunted two full days and heard gobbles everyday, and finally even SAW two turkeys but couldn't seal the deal. I have so much to learn but learned a ton about what I NEED to learn in the next few weeks. I'm so hooked. I'm in Olympia, maybe we can roll out together sometime before the season ends, if not, we can meet up and talk turkeys sometime soon.

Hey I'd love to, shoot me a PM!

[Karl Blanchard]

Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

[ljsommer]

Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

I really needed this trip, this reinvigorated me and gave me a taste of what hunting can be. The chase was intoxicating. I could do that all day every day.
I was really surprised that they started firing up at 5:15am. I thought for sure I'd be ready for them if I set my alarm for 5. Nope!

[scotrobe]

Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

I really needed this trip, this reinvigorated me and gave me a taste of what hunting can be. The chase was intoxicating. I could do that all day every day.
I was really surprised that they started firing up at 5:15am. I thought for sure I'd be ready for them if I set my alarm for 5. Nope!

It depends. Sometimes they sound off on the roost a lot before sunrise and still don’t come down until well after dawn. Other times, they are off the roost before dawn. I experienced both just last week.


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[Karl Blanchard]

I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down

[Skyvalhunter]

Now that's funny there!!

[Karl Blanchard]

Now that's funny there!!

  It couldn't have been worse lol.  To top it off, when he finally pitched out he just hopped down and started my way.  It was way more open than I like so I saw him at about 80 yards.  He was taking his sweet time strutting his way in.  I was gonna kill him at 60 because I was frozen and needed to get up.  About that time here come the gang of 6 Jake's! They mobbed him and ran him up the hill then came strutting and gobbling into my set! I was so pissed

[Limhangerslayer]

I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down

I've found the full moon screws with them too. In Oregon last Friday the birds started at 4:40 and I slipped in where I wanted to be and the tom was hammering by 5.  He hit the ground in my lap at 5:20!  And no I didn't make a single peep to make him fly out.  I almost never call till they hit the ground or are very close to flying out.

And yes the tom got away!

[Karl Blanchard]

I had an all time best on opening day.  Bird was hammering off the roost. I moved in and setup. I sat down at 0540.  Damn bird didnt pitch out until 0715!!!!! It was 27°. I was certain I was gonna freeze to death.  I was shaking violently

This time of year I'd say 0600-0615 is pretty normal for fly down

I've found the full moon screws with them too. In Oregon last Friday the birds started at 4:40 and I slipped in where I wanted to be and the tom was hammering by 5.  He hit the ground in my lap at 5:20!  And no I didn't make a single peep to make him fly out.  I almost never call till they hit the ground or are very close to flying out.

And yes the tom got away!

yep big mistake guys make is beating them up on the roost. Over call and they are gonna pitch out to a strut zone.  Give em just enough to get their attention and then make them come look for you.

[Machias]

Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

Also if you can get on the same level or slightly above, you'll have better luck as well.  Helps to know the terrain and make sure there are no obstructions.  They rarely like to cross a fence. thick heavy brush or cross a stream.

[Karl Blanchard]

Good stuff dude! Keep at it.  I'm a bit more aggressive than others. If I have a bird walking away I hook him and get out in front. Lots easier to get him o commit if you are in the direction he's moving. He's either getting pulled by Hens or he is headed for a strut zone.

Fred pretty much nailed it but I'm different as I'm not missing fly down.  Kill percentage is lower but man it's fun trying.

Also if you can get on the same level or slightly above, you'll have better luck as well.  helps to know the terrain and make sure there are no obstructions.  they rearly like to cross a fence. thick heavy brush or cross a stream.

  two seasons ago I struck a bird that I was certain was on the far side of a terribly brushing nasty creek bottom. Off I went beating through the brush to get to the other side. I got over there and when I set up and called to him he answered from what I was certain was the other side of the creek. No big deal I just must have guessed wrong. Long story short I cross that Creek three different times trying to get on the same side as him because I was certain that no Tom Turkey in his right mind is going to Crocs that Creek. I've had them hang up on a God dang mud-puddle for goodness sakes. Well as I'm sitting there getting ready to give up on this bird I hear whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh of wings. Sure nuff this bird had been following me back and forth flying the creek every time. I sat still for a few more seconds and here comes that beady little head and as soon as he saw my decoy he hammered me with a gobble, went to full strut and I shot him in the face LOL.  I'm still in shock to this day!

[Machias]

    That is one of the fun things about gobblers, just when you think you can predict what they will do they do the exact opposite.  When I give turkey behavior, it is just generally speaking they do this.  The vast majority of birds will hang up, but some will certainly do exactly what you are sure they won't do!! 

[Karl Blanchard]

  That is one of the fun things about gobblers, just when you think you can predict what they will do they do the exact opposite.  When I give turkey behavior, it is just generally speaking they do this.  The vast majority of birds will hang up, but some will certainly do exactly what you are sure they won't do!! 

yep! Pretty good rule of thumb to get on their side of literally anything, and dont try and work them downhill to you, but eventually a bird will prove you wrong on pretty much anything   I'm sure you've watch a good number of birds hang up and then walk away because of a foot wide stream, an old laid down fence, or even a stupid little dead snag

[Machias]

Oh yea, I've also looked up while stradling a barbed wire fence and have this gobbler standing there staring at me.     When I first started hunting turkeys in WA State in 1995 I bumped more birds than I had my entire life.  The mountain air makes them seem further away than my Eastern Birds did back in the midwest.  I ran into several birds trying to cut the distance down here.  I killed my first gobbler in 1975 in the Ozark hills of Missouri.  We had a 2 week season that ended at noon every day.  They would kill 56,000 gobblers in those 2 weeks.

[TheStovePipeKid]

I just spent two days chasing the same birds back and forth. I'd set up on one side and they'd fly down to the other. I set up on that side this morning and they walked right past where I was yesterday and hung around my car so they could blow raspberries at me. Live and learn. I'll be hunting them again in the fall, so I'll get the tag filled one way or the other

[Yelper Guy]

It took me 4 years of solo turkey hunting before I bagged my first bird, a jake.
I tromped through good bird holding areas, not really knowing what I was doing.
After several busted attempts, and bird-less hunts, I started connecting the dots.
I attended the school of hard knocks, and I think I've finally graduated.

[Nededog]

Dude, I was going to write up my own first time turkey hunting (or any hunting) story but you wrote an almost identical post as I would have. Including the same questions! I went to the Republic area as well and just got back a few hours ago. I hunted two full days and heard gobbles everyday, and finally even SAW two turkeys but couldn't seal the deal. I have so much to learn but learned a ton about what I NEED to learn in the next few weeks. I'm so hooked. I'm in Olympia, maybe we can roll out together sometime before the season ends, if not, we can meet up and talk turkeys sometime soon.

Ljsommer and scooby,

Same here on the first time Eastern Wa hunt story!  I’m from NE Tacoma and went out to Eastern WA for the opening day.  Heard from a few locals to go to an area just south of Colville, found the birds as well as the ticks!  I’m trying to go out east again before the season ends.  Give me a holler if you guys want to get together for a hunt.