Elevation of the Merriams

[Jarredhs]

How far do you guys hike in elevation for turkeys? I’ve read that they will follow the snow line up as the spring progresses, but I want to make sure that’s the productive path to take. Also where I hunt the snow line only exist on a few select mountains in central Washington.
 I just shot my first turkey in my life in central Washington in April at 2500 feet, but after another trip back I couldn’t find any gobbling, or find any sign on anything on the ridges i hiked around at similar elevation. So I  am wondering, do I need to just go higher. If yes how high until I stop and say “okay this area doesn’t have turkeys and go to the next area”.  (Yes I know central wa isn’t great)

[Karl Blanchard]

Central WA is pretty vague but as a general rule birds are gonna be where they are by this time of year. Anywhere that still has considerable snow pack is higher than you'll find birds imo. Obviously I'm sure there are always exceptions to every rule but pretty good odds if you're in snow you are out of the birds.

And just a reminder, if you're in Kittitas or Yakima county it's a single bird limit 

[trophyhunt]

Karl, you have faaaarr more knowledge about turkeys than me I'm 100% sure of that.  But I thought NO way would we see a turkey when we checked out a spot a couple weeks ago, it had lots of snow!  As we were getting to the spot, I said to my son in law, no way there are turkeys up here.... just as the words left my mouth he says, look a turkey!!  Wouldn't have believed him it I didn't see it.  I know you said there are exceptions, you are correct again!! 

[Karl Blanchard]

Karl, you have faaaarr more knowledge about turkeys than me I'm 100% sure of that.  But I thought NO way would we see a turkey when we checked out a spot a couple weeks ago, it had lots of snow!  As we were getting to the spot, I said to my son in law, no way there are turkeys up here.... just as the words left my mouth he says, look a turkey!!  Wouldn't have believed him it I didn't see it.  I know you said there are exceptions, you are correct again!!

was it high elevation or just still snowy? Turkeys will live in deep snow no problem. Around Yakima/Kittitas the snow level is up pretty high (4k+ ish). I haven't ever run into birds that high in these parts. But as I said, exceptions to every rule.

[baldopepper]

I've never figured out what really makes the birds move. There seem to be resident flocks that pretty much stay in the same general area year around, and then are what I call the gypsy birds.They seem to be on the move all the time. It's not uncommon to see birds that are easily recognizable, different coloraization, odd feather pattern, etc and sometimes you'll see them miles apart from where you last saw them.  At times of the year there is plenty of feed everywhere so there's no real reason for them to move and I don't think they necessarily are motivated to find cooler Temps.  Maybe predators move them, but I think some have a natural wanderlust that keeps them on the move.  They can cover a lot of ground. Some years ago a big tom missing a notable feather in his fan hung around the house every morning.  Didn't show one morning and on a drive later that day I spotted him and his hens about 11 miles up the canyon from the house.

[Russ McDonald]

I think in WA, and this is mainly gor merriams, they seem to hang around 3000 feet.  They follow the snow line because that is where the new sprouts will be coming in.  Of course this is pretty much during the season.  They are also like any other animal that had a heavy fur coat or has dark coloring.  The warmer it gets the hotter they get.  If it gets steadly warmer in May you will see them in the fields early but as it heats up they will seek shade and water or move higher up where it might be cooler.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

Karl, you have faaaarr more knowledge about turkeys than me I'm 100% sure of that.  But I thought NO way would we see a turkey when we checked out a spot a couple weeks ago, it had lots of snow!  As we were getting to the spot, I said to my son in law, no way there are turkeys up here.... just as the words left my mouth he says, look a turkey!!  Wouldn't have believed him it I didn't see it.  I know you said there are exceptions, you are correct again!!

was it high elevation or just still snowy? Turkeys will live in deep snow no problem. Around Yakima/Kittitas the snow level is up pretty high (4k+ ish). I haven't ever run into birds that high in these parts. But as I said, exceptions to every rule.

not sure the elevation, but it was higher than our other spots

[slavenoid]

I don't know the answer but opening weekend I got way high into some nasty snow where no turkey should be. Once I got the truck turned around and pointed downhill I watched a bearded hen walk up the snow covered road right to me before she pitched off into the roost.

[CaNINE]

Set up camp last night around 3200’. Birds around but not much talking. The heat and pressure change probably isn’t helping. Will keep after it through the weekend.

[GASoline71]

I don't know the answer but opening weekend I got way high into some nasty snow where no turkey should be. Once I got the truck turned around and pointed downhill I watched a bearded hen walk up the snow covered road right to me before she pitched off into the roost.

Turkeys are like elk... just when you think you have them figured out, they pull a new trick out of their playbook! 

Gary

[Meow]

Set up camp last night around 3200’. Birds around but not much talking. The heat and pressure change probably isn’t helping. Will keep after it through the weekend.

I've made a couple of trips over to the NE corner this season. The only gobbles I've heard were on the roost on only one morning. I saw a strutting tom chasing a hen, but it was about 20 yards from someone's camp. 

I heard/saw hens anywhere from 2k to 4.5k ft, including an area just melting out. With the toms not talking it was hard for me to keep my stoke up, as that's my favorite part of turkey hunting.

[salish]

This is one of the more instructive threads I've seen in a while. Thanks to everyone.

[bearpaw]

Honestly I think elevation is irrelevant. It seems to me our birds flock up in the fall and spend winter near livestock feeding operations, humans who feed them, or slopes that bare off during winter where birds can scratch for food. In the spring the flocks start breaking up, some birds stay low, others spread out in every direction. Birds end up clear to the tops of local mountains, some are still along the shores of Roosevelt, and other birds are scattered in between.

The only ways I see that elevation is factor, in the winter birds come lower to get out of snow and find feed, in the spring birds spread out in every direction, but snow prevents hunters from getting into some areas until snow melts enough. Find the right food, cover, and escapement and you will find turkeys! We hunt all elevations and kill lots of birds at all elevations!

Just my honest 

[bearpaw]

Honestly I think elevation is irrelevant. It seems to me our birds flock up in the fall and spend winter near livestock feeding operations, humans who feed them, or slopes that bare off during winter where birds can scratch for food. In the spring the flocks start breaking up, some birds stay low, others spread out in every direction. Birds end up clear to the tops of local mountains, some are still along the shores of Roosevelt, and other birds are scattered in between.

The only ways I see that elevation is factor, in the winter birds come lower to get out of snow and find feed, in the spring birds spread out in every direction, but snow prevents hunters from getting into some areas until snow melts enough. Find the right food, cover, and escapement and you will find turkeys! We hunt all elevations and kill lots of birds at all elevations!

Just my honest 

To add a little more to this, this morning I killed two birds at about 1700 feet, another guide's hunter missed a bird at about 2900, then that hunter killed another bird at probably 1850, and yet another guide's hunter killed another bird at about 1700-1800, I happen to know the approx elevation of all those areas but elevation really had nothing to do with it, it's not anything we consider when deciding where to hunt, we simply go to traditional good turkey areas that will be home to birds every single year.