What's you plans for the season

[Russ McDonald]

I am taking out a first-time turkey hunter that is a paraplegic tomorrow.   Then, I am going to be an instructor at a turkey camp in Newport for first-time turkey hunters put on by NWTF WA and The First Hunt Foundation next weekend. 30 hunters paired up with mentors.  Teaching on Friday  hunting Saturday and Sunday.

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[nwwanderer]

Thank you!!

[kellama2001]

Very cool! I hope you have a great weekend! I won't be able to make it out for the opener this year, but I'm hoping to later this month.

[Rainier10]

Great job Russ getting so many new hunters involved.

I have stuff for the kids the next three weekends, 21st birthday for the oldest this weekend and volleyball for the youngest the next two weekends after that. Hoping to hit the woods in may.

Good luck everyone.

[10Key]

That's awesome Russ!

Headed east in 2 weeks, end if April. I was over end of March and saw a bit of action already.

[Russ McDonald]

Afternoon hunt.  Of course, the turkeys came in the wrong direction.  Watched a tom feed as close as 20'.  But we couldn't move his motorized chair to get a shot.  We were facing a direction that I knew birds came. Low and behold 15 minutes later here comes hens feom that direction.  At least 6 came in, then a couple toms jumped the fence.  We have small shooting lanes, and both walked where he couldn't shoot.  More birds are coming down the fence line.  A couple more were coming into the shooting lane.  Then bang bang, someone was hunting the neighbors on the property about 100 yards away.  Blew all the birds out.  Was calling got the birds gobbling but wanted to get the motorized chair out before dark, so decided to pull the plug about 7:15.  Got out of the blind and a couple of birds were behind us.  The disabled hunter had his brother with him and his disabled hunters card so his brother could shoot a bird for him.  He got out of the blind.  There were 2 tom's pit they spooked, but a jake was playing hide and seek with us.  Tried to get the brother in position the jake poles his head out, and I told him to shoot.  Bird down and look at this, this bird is all black.  This is most likely a late hatch bird.  One of those things last minute only an opportunity for them to hunt.  I told him it was a jake and he could shoot it when he was playing hide a seek.  First turkey ever.

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[MADMAX]

Hats off to you
Darn nice job
Congrats to the hunter 

[scooby]

Great job Russ, that's awesome to see!

I'm headed over NE first weekend in May for a 4 day stretch. Hopefully will fill at least one tag and if not, may re-organize some things to go mid-may.

[duckmen1]

This is what hunting is all about Russ. Congrats on the success and thank you for taking the time to mentor and bring people into our sport to enjoy time in the outdoors.

I was hoping to bring a first time turkey hunter with me on my first spring season this year as well. I have done many fall seasons with great success getting in on flocks doing spot and stock. But laying here reading on the site early last week I noticed season is upon us and I hadn't even realized it with so much going on. But do to scheduling and such no one was available and I had a short window to head out and try getting on a tom for my first spring season. Taking the drive over I saw a few birds with a tom flocked up stutting in a spot for the following morning about 45 minutes away from my camp site of choice. But that evening scout turned up 2 gobblers that I put to roost and had a fairly precise location on them. Next morning I was 75 yards from them when they came out of the roost and went the other way. Made a move and cut them off on a game trail. Approximate 15 yard shot on a canyon timber gobbler 45 minutes into the hunt. Later stayed on another pair of gobblers for hours and saw a couple other birds. Waited them out until time was right. Had set up on them and called a gobbler into low 20s yards and hammered him. First actual setup calling ever and got it done. 2 tagged turkey opening day. My take away is spring turkey is very addicting. Can't wait to do it again in the future seasons. Public ground is a whole new atmosphere compared to private land hunts I hear about with so many more variables to add to the hunt. Learning and adapting. These birds as well as a few others I got on were all lone or paired gobblers searching for hens. None in my area had hens but were very vocal in pursuit of hens.

[Machias]

VERY cool, congrats!!

[hunter399]

Great job russ!
Keep knocking them down!

[glocksWetrust]

That is awesome Russ, was this hunt on the westside ?

[Russ McDonald]

That is awesome Russ, was this hunt on the westside ?

Nope Cle Elum.  Second bird shot on this property with similar color.

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[glocksWetrust]

That is awesome Russ, was this hunt on the westside ?

Nope Cle Elum.  Second bird shot on this property with similar color.

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Right on! Do you camp or do you go out each day? This will hopefully be my first year turkey hunting . I got my turkey choke and turkey shells all patterned in. If you ever have an extra spot on the weekend , I would love to tag along and get some turkey knowledge . I’m 31 , live in mount Vernon and have only been deer hunting. Thank you for your time and have a good day Russ

[Russ McDonald]

That is awesome Russ, was this hunt on the westside ?

Nope Cle Elum.  Second bird shot on this property with similar color.

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Right on! Do you camp or do you go out each day? This will hopefully be my first year turkey hunting . I got my turkey choke and turkey shells all patterned in. If you ever have an extra spot on the weekend , I would love to tag along and get some turkey knowledge . I’m 31 , live in mount Vernon and have only been deer hunting. Thank you for your time and have a good day Russ

This was most likely my onr and only hunt for the spring till I get my back figured out.  This was private property we get to use for youth and hunts like this one.  I usually spend a week in the NE corner.  Most of my personal hunting is in the fall anymore.  It is when my wife can get some time and we go out together.

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[glocksWetrust]

That is awesome Russ, was this hunt on the westside ?

Nope Cle Elum.  Second bird shot on this property with similar color.

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Right on! Do you camp or do you go out each day? This will hopefully be my first year turkey hunting . I got my turkey choke and turkey shells all patterned in. If you ever have an extra spot on the weekend , I would love to tag along and get some turkey knowledge . I’m 31 , live in mount Vernon and have only been deer hunting. Thank you for your time and have a good day Russ

This was most likely my onr and only hunt for the spring till I get my back figured out.  This was private property we get to use for youth and hunts like this one.  I usually spend a week in the NE corner.  Most of my personal hunting is in the fall anymore.  It is when my wife can get some time and we go out together.

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I hear ya, I hope your back gets better soon 🤞

[birddogdad]

little different plan for me this year, dropping California hunt due to poison oak issues, took a new hunter opening weekend (first bird harvested). doing a veteran hunt in idaho mid may as mentor, looking for rios end of season for both oregon/wa border areas...  just trying new places this year... oh and with a 410 too...

[Meow]

I took the last two weeks of the month off with the plan of a week of turkey hunting then a week of bear hunting in Idaho. The weather was lousy looking this week, so I used the first week to go skiing instead. Yeah, I'm a wuss. But camping in the cold and rain doesn't sound as fun as great skiing.

Just today I decided on heading over to the NE part of the state to use my remaining week off to go for turkeys. My favorite part of hunting is interacting with animals, including calling. I'll go next week, and maybe another few days in early-mid May if I have a tag left.

Bears will have to wait until August.