Big Tom's need shot (Twisp)

[yelp]

In this example its the species of wild turkey that is the give away.  Those were never released by WDFW and it is the most common type to order from game farms across the country.  It is not illegal to raise poultry as stock in Washington State.  However, as hunters we should be aware of history of the wild turkey in Washington.  We have hybridizing in certain areas, but for the most part three seperate subspecies.  The Okanogan areas recieved Rio Grande subspecies in several areas in which some did well (i.e. Chiliwist)  But after how the Merriams reacted to higher elevations and winter conditions in the NE that is when the Merriam focused releases happened in the late 1990's.  There never was Easterns released by the WDFW in the Methow.  Therefore it is easy to assume that these turkeys are a product of game farm raised or stock originated from game farm stock.  It is rare that a wild turkey reaches the 30# mark..another indicator of a genetically altered turkey designed to be grown for breast meat.  Also historically like previously mentioned the WDFW destroyed eastern turkeys from same area where these turkeys are currently.

[alecvg]

What do you guys classify as tame? cause Im gettin real confused


Tame for me would be walking right up to the flock and almost petting them.........

I see all sorts of pics on here of ppl feeding deer and elk on game cameras.......are those animals tame or wild?   

I have seen turkeys that are fed in the winter, and they are tame enough that you could walk up and pet them.  I have nothing against people shooting them, or paying to shoot them, but they are what I too would consider tame.

[lionhunter]

You have to have a license to hunt these birds here just like any wild turkey.  These carry no diseases or that would of showed up by now since they've been here about 12 yrs. now.  We have no sharp taile grouse here like we once had because all the sharptail habitat is being built on by the migrating west side city folks so theirs no habitat left for them.  If we ever do get some back then I guess you'll have to classify them as tame birds too because they will be living in peoples back yards being fed.  I do have a friend in Colville that feeds those turkeys so friends can come and get one lots easier than trapsing the woods for days.  It definitely gentles them down a bit making them easier to hunt.   I did have two bow hunters that were here 3 days and never got one because they couldn't get them to come closer than 50 yds.        lion hunter

[yelp]

12 years you have been raising them? Have you disease tested them? How do you know..just because none of them are dead or dying? Also feeding turkeys for the purpose of hunting is illegal.  Enough said..yelp

[JoeVon]

What do you guys classify as tame? cause Im gettin real confused


Tame for me would be walking right up to the flock and almost petting them.........

I see all sorts of pics on here of ppl feeding deer and elk on game cameras.......are those animals tame or wild?   

Good Point, Moss.   

[Wacenturion]

What do you guys classify as tame? cause Im gettin real confused


Tame for me would be walking right up to the flock and almost petting them.........

I see all sorts of pics on here of ppl feeding deer and elk on game cameras.......are those animals tame or wild?   

Good Point, Moss.   

No....it's not a good point.  Not even comparable to what being discussed here.  When you go deer hunting are you going after tame deer or elk in a city, park where ever...I don't think so.  If you are though....then these birds will fit the bill.

You don't need to get close enough to pet them....just close enough to shoot them with a 12 gauge without using camo, cover, or whatever to shield your approach......you know ....how tamed down animals react to your presence.  I don't even know why I'm spending time trying to explain it.....if anyone here thinks this at all resembles turkey hunting in it's true sense....then have at it.  Here's another spot you can try............

[Tom Tamer]

 

[mossback91]

Heck you should know your a tamer

Ok Im not doubting that they may have been farm birds on the loose........All Im trying to get at is how do you guys know exactly how these birds react?? have you been out to his property looking at these turkeys??

Im surprised the game department hasnt done anything about these turkeys if they are as big of a problem as you guys say they are.......I have a feeling this guy knows the game department well....just a hunch 


Anyways I dnt wanna hunt turkeys.......good luck on your quest lionhunter

[Wacenturion]

"Ok Im not doubting that they may have been farm birds on the loose........All Im trying to get at is how do you guys know exactly how these birds react?? have you been out to his property looking at these turkeys??"

Don't have to see them.....I can tell from the description of what they are, which tells me where they came from and consequently how they act.

Oh ...and the Dept. today could give a rats ass.  The powers to be would rather see them all die or get shot.  Has nothing to do with tag sales.

[mulehunter]

"Ok Im not doubting that they may have been farm birds on the loose........All Im trying to get at is how do you guys know exactly how these birds react?? have you been out to his property looking at these turkeys??"

Don't have to see them.....I can tell from the description of what they are, which tells me where they came from and consequently how they act.

Oh ...and the Dept. today could give a rats ass.  The powers to be would rather see them all die or get shot.  Has nothing to do with tag sales.

Wacentuires,
First of all. U have not proved us about it that okanagon is not wild turkey.. Why not u go there shoot one and explain this about this turkey aren't wild turkey???
Maybe I will go. And post apicture if I got lucky.

Yelp,
u may need give him some credit to welcome hunter with their rejoy turkey hunting season.  If u are Mr Perfection why not let him rejoy what he can have. He just want to give some oppourity to many hunters.
And not need negative thing about hunting turkey in okanagon co.

There is many many hunters that I know that feed turkey in washington. And some of picture u see them bragging their turkey was some feeding area to keep them stay around and being shot.

About me...

I went first time with guide 2 weeks ago. I thank him for his biggest heart to me. He spend 16 hours helping me to hunt turkey on public land. We got many Tom and jacks calling in.  We got nicest tom with spread feather walking by us with in 45 to 50 yds and it was my best part is see him  but I aim at him I didn't take a shot because it was not right time  my guide said u did right thing not to shoot and I thank Steve for amazing time helping me to make me very excited being part of turkey hunting.
I didn't fill my tag yet because there was many hunters but I am happy to see them out there and excited about turkey season.

I hope one day I wil fill my first tag. I never had got one for 8 years.  Maybe I should sign up with lionhunter and fill my tag. He sound like a very nice man I hope to  meet him someday and hope he can help  show me how to hunt a wild turkey.

Mulehunter

[Wacenturion]

Wacentuires,
First of all. U have not proved us about it that okanagon is not wild turkey.. Why not u go there shoot one and explain this about this turkey aren't wild turkey???
Maybe I will go. And post apicture if I got lucky.


First of all there are wild turkeys in Okanogan County.....Merriams released in the 90's that were trapped in the NE.  There are also probably some remnants of Rio Grande turkeys released in the early 90's on the Sinlahekin WA.  Those releases and their offspring are indeed wild.

The Easterns in the Twisp area......listen closely now......were not wild trapped turkeys that were disease tested, relocated and released.  The only place they could have come from was either game farm stock eastern eggs, poults or adult birds purchased by someone who wanted to start his own turkey flock.  Game farm birds pure and simple.




 

[jackelope]

Maybe I should sign up with lionhunter and fill my tag. He sound like a very nice man I hope to  meet him someday and hope he can help  show me how to hunt a wild turkey.

 

The Easterns in the Twisp area......listen closely now......were not wild trapped turkeys that were disease tested, relocated and released.  The only place they could have come from was either game farm stock eastern eggs, poults or adult birds purchased by someone who wanted to start his own turkey flock.  Game farm birds pure and simple.

seems pretty cut and dry to me.

[mulehunter]

Maybe I should sign up with lionhunter and fill my tag. He sound like a very nice man I hope to  meet him someday and hope he can help  show me how to hunt a wild turkey.

 

The Easterns in the Twisp area......listen closely now......were not wild trapped turkeys that were disease tested, relocated and released.  The only place they could have come from was either game farm stock eastern eggs, poults or adult birds purchased by someone who wanted to start his own turkey flock.  Game farm birds pure and simple.

seems pretty cut and dry to me.

Jackp,
I hope the turkey I will shoot will be great delicously and not dry meat. I will see...
I hope so... if I can replace my ear.

Mulehunter   

[yelp]

"Ok Im not doubting that they may have been farm birds on the loose........All Im trying to get at is how do you guys know exactly how these birds react?? have you been out to his property looking at these turkeys??"

Don't have to see them.....I can tell from the description of what they are, which tells me where they came from and consequently how they act.

Oh ...and the Dept. today could give a rats ass.  The powers to be would rather see them all die or get shot.  Has nothing to do with tag sales.

Wacentuires,
First of all. U have not proved us about it that okanagon is not wild turkey.. Why not u go there shoot one and explain this about this turkey aren't wild turkey???
Maybe I will go. And post apicture if I got lucky.

Yelp,
u may need give him some credit to welcome hunter with their rejoy turkey hunting season.  If u are Mr Perfection why not let him rejoy what he can have. He just want to give some oppourity to many hunters.
And not need negative thing about hunting turkey in okanagon co.

There is many many hunters that I know that feed turkey in washington. And some of picture u see them bragging their turkey was some feeding area to keep them stay around and being shot.

About me...

I went first time with guide 2 weeks ago. I thank him for his biggest heart to me. He spend 16 hours helping me to hunt turkey on public land. We got many Tom and jacks calling in.  We got nicest tom with spread feather walking by us with in 45 to 50 yds and it was my best part is see him  but I aim at him I didn't take a shot because it was not right time  my guide said u did right thing not to shoot and I thank Steve for amazing time helping me to make me very excited being part of turkey hunting.
I didn't fill my tag yet because there was many hunters but I am happy to see them out there and excited about turkey season.

I hope one day I wil fill my first tag. I never had got one for 8 years.  Maybe I should sign up with lionhunter and fill my tag. He sound like a very nice man I hope to  meet him someday and hope he can help  show me how to hunt a wild turkey.

Mulehunter

Mulehunter.. I have never said I was perfect?  Far from it. 

I just hate seeing uncontrolled releases of game farm turkeys by landowners who think they are doing good...ruin all of the hard work the WDFW and other non-profit groups to establish disease free wild turkey stock around Washington.  What is going to happen in the Methow valley now is a bunch of retarded looking turkeys that are part Eastern Hybrid with the Merriams..The local biologists I bet love this problem..I sure they have a positive outlook on turkeys up there...One of the reasons for establishing seperate flocks around the state was to make sure the WDFW had extra populations of Merriams and Rio Grandes.  That way lets say we get a disease that wipes out a Majority of the Merriams in the Republic Area, the WDFW could trap and relocate disease free stock from Stevens County...etc..Similar to what they do with Bighorn Sheep around the state..If lionhunter wants to raise game farm hybrid turkeys on his property he can  free country...If he wants to advertise and ask for donations from sportsman to feed his turkeys...its a free country.  When those tame turkeys step off his property and on to USFS..that is where I have a problem.    Oh and after reading your last comments lionhunter would be the perfect outfitter for ya. 

[turkeydancer]

Well put WaCent and Yelp ... We also know that for the same price they could pay an responsible outfitter to take them on a guided hunt for one of the truly wild birds. But if they want to pay $ 250 for obviously at one time game farm birds that were never inprinted by a wild hen and therefore will never truly be wild birds, and want to call that wild turkey hunting ... well, then they will never learn the true meaning of the sport that we enjoy.  However, if they can get some satisfaction from it, it is their nickel.  My fear is the same as yours that avian disease will be spread to the true wild populations and kill off the good work that was put in to get the populations started.  Four guys in Belfair did the same thing a few years back ... coyotes took a week to kill all 50 released by each of them. WDFW also paid them a quick visit ... needless to say 4 guys out of the "wild turkey business".