Preparing for 1st time Spring Turkey Hunt

[Willburrrr2003]

Good Afternoon Everyone!  I am starting preparations for my first Turkey hunt in Spring of 2022.  I have made a list of gear and supplies, and came across a good find today.  I located a guy about 30 mins north of me selling 3 rubber decoys (2 hens and 1 tom) along with a slate call and a turkey pack as well all for $25 .  I will be picking this all up tomorrow.  I am working on virtual scouting currently with On X hunt APP, checking out around Cle Elum /Teanaway area.  I will be reading lots  posts in the the turkey section looking for tips and advice, and already have a good start on that . 

Regards,

    Will

[huntnfmly]

Welcome to the site
Lots of good info on here
Sorry I can not help you out on the areas you picked we normally go outside of Omsk

[Willburrrr2003]

Welcome to the site
Lots of good info on here
Sorry I can not help you out on the areas you picked we normally go outside of Omsk

Thanks for the welcome, and you are right lots of great info here!

[ellensburgpo]

Look at harvest stats for central vs ne Washington. Just flat way more birds in the NE corner.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

like he said It's open over there, East now!

[Willburrrr2003]

Thanks for the advice guys on looking further to the NE corner, and I am considering this, but that will definitely limit my ability to get over and scout before the season opens that was a part of the reason why I was thinking of Cle Elum as it only takes me about an hour to get the the Cle Elum area From my house.

Here is my Shotgun, it is a Stoeger Condor O/U, and these are the choke tubes I will be using as well.  I will be using Federal TSS turkey loads.

Regards,

    Will

[Willburrrr2003]

I picked up some used gear last night.  A H.S Strut Black Magic pot call (looks like it's an aluminum over glass )with both original strikers, and an Epeards-Lounge Turkey pack/vest. plus two foam hen decoys in the bunch as well all for $25.  IMHO I think the call was worth that on it's own

Regards,

    Will

[northwesthunter84]

The biggest thing I can say is pattern your gun, save some money and shoot some cheaper lead shot, that TSS is expensive.  Know your effective range.  Also if decoying don't place the decoys too far out otherwise birds have a tendency to hang up.  I like my decoys at about 15-20 yards depending on terrain.  Also don't worry about sounding perfect, every bird is different and wants what he wants. If the Tom responds keep at it because he likes what he is hearing.  And my final 2 cents is never think you are going to beat a turkey's eyesight, it wont happen.  Slow movements inside you outline and full camo is the key.

[salish]

The biggest thing I can say is pattern your gun, save some money and shoot some cheaper lead shot, that TSS is expensive.  Know your effective range.  Also if decoying don't place the decoys too far out otherwise birds have a tendency to hang up.  I like my decoys at about 15-20 yards depending on terrain.  Also don't worry about sounding perfect, every bird is different and wants what he wants. If the Tom responds keep at it because he likes what he is hearing.  And my final 2 cents is never think you are going to beat a turkey's eyesight, it wont happen.  Slow movements inside you outline and full camo is the key.

Agree on the patterning. I shot my spring merriam this year with a load of Herter's #5 high base upland loads. The bird was hit at around 38 yards and went down immediately. I'm probably going to try the TSS in my 20ga next spring but I can vouch for old standard lead loads.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Sounds like a Salesmen. Yay that, Get the tag and get ready to hunt them like Grouse!

[Iveexcaped3]

Will,
Welcome to the site. I have scouted many hours in that area. Let me know if you have any questions. One tip I will give is a lot sit on private early spring and I’ve noticed it gets hit pretty hard during youth opener the few times I considered hunting there. I would start practicing with a mouth call now for when they get close and you shouldn’t move. There’s an advantage and disadvantage to each call (box, pot, mouth). I have yet to hunt the NE mainly because that’s where everyone goes. From where I am to there I pass lots of turkeys so it doesn’t make sense to me. Even if you’re not successful there’s always something to learn from each outing.

[hunter399]

NE WA ...........
That's all I'm saying bro .
Welcome to the forum.
Goodluck
Mark any area off the list ,head to NE WA.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Now its sounnds like olde school here, Turks are all around in Eastern Wa,

[Dan-o]

Welcome to the site, Will.

Lots of good advice in here.

* Definitely pattern your shotgun.
* Don't try to beat their eyes.
* Personally, I really like hunting with decoys.
* The people pointing you to the NE corner aren't lying.

You can have some nice turkey hunts in Central Washington.   Some guys are regularly successful there.
But check out the turkey pamphlet.   Harvest numbers don't lie (much).

It really speeds up the learning curve to have turkey encounters, and you will have way more turkey encounters in the NE corner.  I started turkey hunting around EBurg/Cle Elum because I refuse to drive 4+ hours for a bird.   I had some great hunts......   even almost got a turkey a time or two.

But when I headed NE I started killing turkeys immediately due to having lots of chances.    I feel like I'm a somewhat competent turkey hunter now.     It usually takes me 2-3 days to get my birds, but that's because I hunt a bird dense area.   

https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02209

Look at the harvest data.....   and then decide how quickly you want to put your rookie mistakes in the rear view mirror.

[KNOPHISH]

Put some tick spray/deet on yer list.