westside turkeys in the san juan islands

[weathergirl]

Lopez is our backyard, so this is an area we have personal connections with.  I went turkey hunting for the first time last year, on private land near the BLM land.  This was after careful negotiations with property owners, and letting someone we know shoot her turkey first. 

The area isn't as "easy" as this thread makes it sound.  BLM land is woven in between private land, with plenty of people against hunting.  Others that are OK with it, aren't going to let "just anyone" hunt there as there is trust that we've built up, by reassuring that we will follow their requests. 

Please don't have unrealistic expectations about this area.  I didn't get a turkey because, although in range, it was over the line that we were asked not to hunt across.  And people will call the sheriff in a heartbeat.

Please don't make a bad name for us hunters that are carefully building trust in the area. 

[irishevox]

i would not shoot one with my .357 that would be dumb.... lol and dangerous... i am gonna scout talk to locals read the regs over and over.... make sure i am 100% on point.. the fact is people on the Islands most of them are retired and older folks... they don;t want hunters there... i duck hunt in La Conner often... and i get dirty looks from locals all the time... some times they stand far off just staring at me with binoclars... so i stare back.. usually they go away... but... yeah.... alot of older people like the idea of less traffic and noise....   I am still a young buck at 28.... the Navy put me in Wa... not that i am upset about it... but in louisiana where i am from... i never have any issues what so ever hunting whatever/whereever i want....  I am still learning the ropes out here in Wa.... alot of different things like.. how many shells you can have on you.. having a plug in your gun.... during deer season... how much orange you have to have... the length of  the season... our modern firearm season over there goes from Nov-Feb  and our archery and muzzle loader go from sept to feb.    And turkey season already started.... sorry i digressed... hunting is just very different.  So yeah... i really appreciate all the help from ya'll giving me areas.. pointing me in the right direction. etc.... i mean if you know something i don't just fill me in... as far as rules.. i am not asking for your particular spot you will be killing the turkeys... etc... i am going to Colockum area... on the 15th.... i got a little area somone showed me... so good stuff... and BowHunter you have PM'ed me with tons of tips... i appreciate it more than you know... but being in Whidbey it mkaes it kinda hard b/c alot of GREAT hunting is really far east

[irishevox]

Lopez is our backyard, so this is an area we have personal connections with.  I went turkey hunting for the first time last year, on private land near the BLM land.  This was after careful negotiations with property owners, and letting someone we know shoot her turkey first. 

The area isn't as "easy" as this thread makes it sound.  BLM land is woven in between private land, with plenty of people against hunting.  Others that are OK with it, aren't going to let "just anyone" hunt there as there is trust that we've built up, by reassuring that we will follow their requests. 

Please don't have unrealistic expectations about this area.  I didn't get a turkey because, although in range, it was over the line that we were asked not to hunt across.  And people will call the sheriff in a heartbeat.

Please don't make a bad name for us hunters that are carefully building trust in the area.



i always talk to the local home owners in area to get where thier border might be etc... to make sure what is ok and what is not... on Lopez i talked to the lady that owned the little cafe place by the ferry ,super super sweet ,and she let me know where i could hunt and invited to hunt blacktail off her land sometime.  i declined... b/c i found better spot, but she said let her know if i wanted to hunt there in the future.   I love Lopez and like i said before some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

[TheSkyBuster]

Lopez is our backyard, so this is an area we have personal connections with.  I went turkey hunting for the first time last year, on private land near the BLM land.  This was after careful negotiations with property owners, and letting someone we know shoot her turkey first. 

The area isn't as "easy" as this thread makes it sound.  BLM land is woven in between private land, with plenty of people against hunting.  Others that are OK with it, aren't going to let "just anyone" hunt there as there is trust that we've built up, by reassuring that we will follow their requests. 

Please don't have unrealistic expectations about this area.  I didn't get a turkey because, although in range, it was over the line that we were asked not to hunt across.  And people will call the sheriff in a heartbeat.

Please don't make a bad name for us hunters that are carefully building trust in the area.

Very Well said Weathergirl,    
 I've had the opportunity to take several deer from private land on both Lopez, and San Juan Islands.  It can be very difficult for an outsider or "Mainlander" to get permission from a private land owner.   Hunting is a touchy issue out there, and much care must be taken not to cause any disturbance between neighbors if your planning on returning the next season. 

[irishevox]

which island did you see it on... there are a bunch of em lol
not including whidbey