Snow birds

[Billy74]

Just wondered how the snow in the NE is affecting everyones opener?  What changes did you have to make ect. 
Im headed up around colville Sunday.  Looks like sun but planning for mud


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[buckfvr]

Sun and cool Sunday, after that its several days of varying amounts and types of moisture.  You can still find plenty of mud but things look pretty good below 2500 ft.

[Russ McDonald]

No chnages other than hunting out of a blind got this dad and his son on a double.

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[deweyc]

Im so glad I pulled an audible and drove from Goldendale up to the NE.  It was a zoo down there.  Saw more hunters than birds.

Other than being bitterly cold it was great. Some of the FS roads were a no go with the snow, but most were OK.   Birds where still out doing their thing.  Got my gobbler a little after 7am.  Decided to go home with one tag notched.  I'll come back in May when it hopefully warms up a bit. 

[Russ McDonald]

For the most oart it is cold.  It has snowed and couple times but melted off.  Starting today I dont see it dipping below freezing except Wednesday but that is a overnight dip.

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[ASHQUACK]

Hunted the 1st 2 days in what I believe to be the weirdest turkey weather I've been in. Started Friday morning with cold and overcast just before fly down. Had 2 birds gobbling above me and thought oh its on. Well as soon as it started snowing the birds moved and quit talking, completely.  Day 2 was much of the same find birds, then snow and no birds. Slept in this morning and hoping this little warm up and no precipitation turns things back on for us. Our group has 1 bird down and 1 miss for 6 hunters. But as they say you can't kill em from the couch.

[Sakko300wsm]

Got myself a snow bird in Ferry county

[bearclaw_guajolote]

Saturday morning we woke up to a dusting of snow in West Okanogan county and were hoping it would keep the birds at roost a little longer so we could get a better position and set a few dekes. It was so bright with the moon reflecting off the snow and it seemed to make the birds come out of roost earlier than Friday morning, so by the time we got to the spot they were already on the ground, and not nearly as talkative as Friday. Decided to hike the ridge and call every so often and got a gobbler to bite. Dad and I posted up up off the ridge edge and I ditched my pack. Dad kept calling, alternating the reed and gobble to keep his interest, as I snuck downhill on my hands and skidding on my butt. Finally got to what I decided was my "spot" and just caught a glimpse of his beard and head in the underbrush about 30 yards out and downhill. Decided that once he cleared the lip he'd be in range of my ol' 870 Wingmaster 2 3/4 fixed full choke. Soon as he hopped up I let him have it! First mature Tom for me, and so happy to have my dad call him in.

Did some midday chores and took a nap, then decided to go looking for an evening bird at a different spot for Dad. Narrow strip of public land that we had some intel on from a friend who owns a cabin across the road. We showed up around 3 and got out to look...didn't even grab the guns  . Got to the edge of the public land and let out a few yelps to an immediate response from a gobbler. I told dad to keep him talking and jetted back to the truck to grab guns and shells. Made it back to dad sweating like a pig and out of breath. Dad hid out in a brush patch just at the edge of the clearing and I took a vantage point higher up the hill. From there it played out like an episode of a hunting show. Over the next ten minutes, that tom responded to every call and came in on a string, gobbling and flashing his fan all over the place. The combo of Dad's yelps and my slate calls brought him right into range and Dad smoked him. Awesome way to start the season! Time to start trying out some of my new recipes!

[bearclaw_guajolote]

Dad's bird. By this time the snow melted off

[hunterednate]

Saturday morning we woke up to a dusting of snow in West Okanogan county and were hoping it would keep the birds at roost a little longer so we could get a better position and set a few dekes. It was so bright with the moon reflecting off the snow and it seemed to make the birds come out of roost earlier than Friday morning, so by the time we got to the spot they were already on the ground, and not nearly as talkative as Friday. Decided to hike the ridge and call every so often and got a gobbler to bite. Dad and I posted up up off the ridge edge and I ditched my pack. Dad kept calling, alternating the reed and gobble to keep his interest, as I snuck downhill on my hands and skidding on my butt. Finally got to what I decided was my "spot" and just caught a glimpse of his beard and head in the underbrush about 30 yards out and downhill. Decided that once he cleared the lip he'd be in range of my ol' 870 Wingmaster 2 3/4 fixed full choke. Soon as he hopped up I let him have it! First mature Tom for me, and so happy to have my dad call him in.

Did some midday chores and took a nap, then decided to go looking for an evening bird at a different spot for Dad. Narrow strip of public land that we had some intel on from a friend who owns a cabin across the road. We showed up around 3 and got out to look...didn't even grab the guns  . Got to the edge of the public land and let out a few yelps to an immediate response from a gobbler. I told dad to keep him talking and jetted back to the truck to grab guns and shells. Made it back to dad sweating like a pig and out of breath. Dad hid out in a brush patch just at the edge of the clearing and I took a vantage point higher up the hill. From there it played out like an episode of a hunting show. Over the next ten minutes, that tom responded to every call and came in on a string, gobbling and flashing his fan all over the place. The combo of Dad's yelps and my slate calls brought him right into range and Dad smoked him. Awesome way to start the season! Time to start trying out some of my new recipes!

Congrats! Beautiful birds, and a great memory with your dad. Glad it worked out for you guys.