Turkey season shut down chances.

[kevinlisa06]

Yep, toms only. It’s officially open next Tuesday. I’ll be chasing the birds next weekend. Finally. It’s gonna be a bit tougher since to peak of breeding is over. Ambush tactics.

This is when I start my season now, for the last few years. On normal years less hunters and lots of Toms ready to play.


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[salish]

My hunting area is in the Chief Joseph unit, and I'm in Puget Sound. Far too long a drive for a day trip. If I was to park very judiciously and backpack in to one of my places with a tent and bag (to ensure social distancing) what do you think my chances would be of WDFW enforcement issuing me a big fine?

Less than 1% chance

Thanks Thurston & CBOND, I have some decisions to make. Appreciate you input.


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It’s actually 3-4% but with so many unknowns that number is likely below .01%

[ctwiggs1]

My hunting area is in the Chief Joseph unit, and I'm in Puget Sound. Far too long a drive for a day trip. If I was to park very judiciously and backpack in to one of my places with a tent and bag (to ensure social distancing) what do you think my chances would be of WDFW enforcement issuing me a big fine?

Less than 1% chance


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It’s actually 3-4% but with so many unknowns that number is likely below .01%

You'll need to review the data to form your models.  From there, you can make decisions that are always based off worst-case scenarios. 

[ridgefire]

No turkeys around Monroe so I will be heading east. Teanaway or Deer Park, here i come. Hopefully they won't be patrolling the woods because i will be spending the night as well.

[Henrydog]

No turkeys around Monroe so I will be heading east. Teanaway or Deer Park, here i come. Hopefully they won't be patrolling the woods because i will be spending the night as well.

With Fuel prices now you could make Deer Park and back a day trip.  

[KFhunter]

Still seeing a lot of toms not all henned up, some really nice birds running around in singles

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[hunterednate]

Yep, toms only. It’s officially open next Tuesday. I’ll be chasing the birds next weekend. Finally. It’s gonna be a bit tougher since to peak of breeding is over. Ambush tactics.

This is when I start my season now, for the last few years. On normal years less hunters and lots of Toms ready to play.


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I'm with you. I've had my first trip scheduled for May 8th since January. Will be interesting to see how this delayed opener affects hunter numbers. Peak breeding is over, but in my experience, the peak time to call in a lone gobbler is just beginning....

[SHED HEAD]

Deer Park is more than a day trip for you buddy!!! Hopefully you have private land access, not more than 200 acres of public land within 20 miles from Deer Park.
My RV property borders one of the 3 access spots.

[Shooter4]

Deer Park is more than a day trip for you buddy!!! Hopefully you have private land access, not more than 200 acres of public land within 20 miles from Deer Park.
My RV property borders one of the 3 access spots.

no kidding

[The Gobble-stopper]

Yep, toms only. It’s officially open next Tuesday. I’ll be chasing the birds next weekend. Finally. It’s gonna be a bit tougher since to peak of breeding is over. Ambush tactics.

Correction, also turkeys with visible beards!

[HAGEMANIAC]

Yep, toms only. It’s officially open next Tuesday. I’ll be chasing the birds next weekend. Finally. It’s gonna be a bit tougher since to peak of breeding is over. Ambush tactics.

Correction, also turkeys with visible beards!

  includes jakes and bearded hens!

[Russ McDonald]

So  this is what we got out of tonights meeting with WDFW.  Hunt local if you can.  Minimize travel, recreate responsibly, pack it in pack it out, be 99% self-sufficient. Make sure you bring everthing you need.  If you do travel your impact on the local area should be unnoticeable.  We are continuing a discussion with WDFW about a possible bag limit increase for this fall due to property damage areas.

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[Turkeyman]

I’m sure they will jump all over the fall bag limit increase. They don’t give a *censored* about our turkey population. Trap and transfer backs to much sense.

[Russ McDonald]

I’m sure they will jump all over the fall bag limit increase. They don’t give a *censored* about our turkey population. Trap and transfer backs to much sense.

They need to have a turkey plan for that which expired 10 years ago.  We had wdfw write a SOP for trap and relocate but that got left on a desk somewhere ready to sign 3 years ago.  They small game person left and turn over in that position has been bad.  So back to square one.

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[baldopepper]

Bigger limit in the fall won't have much effect. Even with the higher limits last season there were very few hunters in our area. Frankly, it's not really a hunt it's just a drive around and see which 1or 2 or 3 you want to shoot and not that many seem to want to spend $15 per tag to do it. There were several winter flocks of well over 250 birds in the area and they really could use some thinning down. Just seems that tag price keeps guys away and not that many interested in taking a hen