Okanogan Turkey

[pickardjw]

Heading up to the Okanogan area for "opening weekend" of Turkey next weekend, my buddies don't want to go all the way to Eastern and we want to avoid adding to the likely crowd. I've been scouting on OnX and searching the forum as much as possible for some tips and I think I've hit a wall.

I currently have some spots marked out in the Chiliwist Valley, Loup Loup state forest south of Hwy 20. Any tips in this area or around there?

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

There aren't a ton of birds in that area but there are birds in pockets. Highway 20 has birds from Mazama to Idaho.

Sticking to the area you are trying to stay I would recommend getting a little more north and around Conconully or west of Hwy 153/Hwy 20 around Twisp/Winthrop.

[Dan-o]

I know this ain't responsive to your question, but if you're willing to drive to the okanogan you should seriously consider tacking on an extra hour + to get into serious bird numbers. 

The harvest report doesn't lie.      Head east young man!  Head east!

Wayyyyyyy more birds and they are accessible on NF behind farms etc. 

Good luck.

[pickardjw]

Yeah we're aware that the birds are more sparse there. I usually hunt the Colville area but my buddies don't want to go that far (even though it's not much further all things considered...). We'll probably head that way the rest of the season.

Trying to identify some watering holes and small meadows that might hold birds. Also looking for public that butts up to private with the right characteristics. Kinda using this to get to know the area for deer season too.

[Jingles]

Can tell you there are tons of birds in the Methow, however most are on private property or in town he77 have 3 different roosts that can be heard from my porch sounding off every morning between 430 and 600  and regularly have 8 to 12 walking through the yard daily.

[Birdguy]

Plenty of water up there right now, we were over last weekend and with the melt the seasonal streams and ponds are full. The turkeys we saw and heard were later in the morning between 0630 and 0730. Nice thing is in areas you can hear them for over a mile, bad thing is in areas you can hear them for over a mile. The ones we saw still had hens, group of about 20 a couple toms and a few jakes in the group. Weather is to be fun, 60 and rain on Wednesday and 80s by Saturday. Good luck.