So my hunting season so far...Pretty much disappointing! We started our trip out from Sequim Wa, on a far drive to our hunting place at Black Horse Canyon Ranch in Hunters Wa.
Got there on Sunday the 14th, went on a little hike with my hunting partner, and heard some turkeys, so we came up with a plan for the morning of the 15th.
15th - Setup where we thought the birds would be, sat there for a few and heard some birds across the canyon but came up empty handed. We finally talked to the land owner and he pointed out where the birds most likely would be, so got in the truck and drove to it, right as we got pass the gate, sure enough there was a tom strutting his stuff, he was with some hens, we tried to make a move on him but alas he had other ideas and beat feet! We scoped out the new area and came up with another plan of attack. We cane back that evening to put them to bed, we put 4 to bed, and backed out for the next mornings hunt.
16th - Setup the new plan and had birds talking and yelling all morning!!! The way the place was setup was there were 2 roads that ran parallel with each other and the birds were above us so I thought well when they come out of the roost they should fly down to one of the two roads, and sure enough they did, just they landed on the upper road and where were we? Well on the lower road!! So I started to call and they gobbled at first with force...They gobbled for a good hour and then nothing, so I stopped calling for a good half an hour...Then I gave out a nice soft yelp and boom they were still there, and as I called and they answered the whole time, it was awesome...They were there, now just to get them to come to me, I called and they yelled back...I was thinking how in the heck am I going to get them from the upper road to the lower road....I would call and they would call back, so I knew I had there interest...I'd call and they'd gobble back and I knew they were coming, I just didnt know where they would come from...We were set up on both sides of the road that came into a clearing and we had out decoys setup...I was on one side of the road and 2 other hunters that were with us were across the road from me and my other buddy was behind me...So the birds were coming, I mean they were coming, now mind you the 2 hunters that were across the road from me have never been turkey hunting before...So I knew they were on the road and on there way...So I look out the corner of my eye and one of the hunters flashed four fingers at me, so I knew they were coming, I just could'nt see them...So it took a few more minutes and here they come on a frickin rope, running...I had my gun up ready to blast, when all of sudden one of the turkeys looks to where the other 2 hunters were and put the breaks on and turned around, and took the other 3 with him, they were at about 65 yards, so I really didn't want to shoot because I didn't believe it was going to be an ethical shot...Well as the birds went back up the ridge to the other road, I tried to call them back and they gobbled a little but they were not having it!! So as we get up and start talking, one of the other hunters said "Sorry man I think I spooked them, because my sweatshirt hood was in my face so I had to get it out of my face and as I did they saw me" So needless to say I was furious, as I have turkey hunted in Washington state on and off since '99 and still have yet to bag a bird...But I bit my tongue and marked it up as a lesson to let new hunters know, when the birds are on the way do not move at all!!
So that day was pretty much a wash!!
17th - Had birds talking across on DNR land, so myself and my hunting buddy that has hunted before made our way to where we believe they were...We parked the truck and walked in, gave a few small yelps and boom there were 2 toms real close...So we setup to where we believe they are coming...I give some more calls and they call back...Then I hear a hen calling just a ways from us...I see my buddy give me a finger, as one is coming, but he just did not come within shooting distance...I saw him but was in some real this stuff, and pretty much he followed his GF, so that was pretty much for that day as we came back and put them to bed.
18th - Had to make this one quick as we were driving home...We setup where we thought the birds would come, well they had another plan and they totally went in the other direction!!
All in all this was a fun hunt but I did learn some good lessons from it that I will use the next time I go!! With living so far from the Eastside I am hoping to make a quick weekend drive and see what I can do before the season is over.
