When do you start scouting?

[HoofsandWings]

On the Eastside, the wintering areas are a little off the beaten track. I was in Pasco recently when just outside the city limits, I saw some toms. They must have followed the Snake River.

In 2009, the limiting factor was snow. I was surprised at the amount of unmelted snow in the foothills.
In 2008, in the Palouse, my usual places had 3 feet of snow.

[Intruder]

Scouting too early (east) can give you false sense of hope.  As already pointed out, snow levels and weather can greatly affect where you'll find birds in the spring.  Years ago, I would go out and locate large flocks of birds to find that they where greatly dispersed by hunting season... sometimes miles away.  I've literally killed toms in May in areas that had 2+ feet of snow on the opener. 

I'm a huge advocate of scouting and getting to know your hunting area but IMO you can spend a lot of time for little reward scouting turkeys too early in the year. 

[Dustin07]

what are you guys seeing in the far eastern part of the state this year in terms of weather compared to last year? it is incredibly mild on the west side.

[Intruder]

what are you guys seeing in the far eastern part of the state this year in terms of weather compared to last year? it is incredibly mild on the west side.

Same

[Dustin07]

should be good for the turkey population then i'd think.

[turkey slayer]

Well said Intruder,

Scouting is the key and learning the areas that you are going to hunt

[Intruder]

I never really scouted for turkeys, I just waited for the opener, found them, and shot em.  It's really that easy.

Other than what Yelp described as far as scouting out getting permission.... I tend to agree w/ ya Miles.  One of the things I see a lot of new hunters do early before the season is go out and call to make the birds gobble.  Not a good thing to do....    

[Turkeyman]

 

[Wacenturion]

As far as westside birds...........never too early to scout, even though they do move from winter areas to spring.....at least the excess.  Also.....as was said above, leave the damn turkey calls at home while scouting.  You'll just be screwing yourself.

[bow4elk]

You'll just be screwing yourself.

And everyone else!!  There are more owls and crows per square mile in late March and April than any other time of year!  Use your eyes and ears only, please!

[Wacenturion]

You'll just be screwing yourself.

And everyone else!!  There are more owls and crows per square mile in late March and April than any other time of year!  Use your eyes and ears only, please!

I tried to appeal to their inner self...lol.

[arintime]

Other than keeping quiet, should I wear camo when scouting? I am planning on wearing neutrals like green and brown because I don't think I am actually trying to get close to them, but I don't want to "screw myself or others!" I have never scouted anything other than fish so, any info would be great! When work lets up a little, things are going to be better!

[Wacenturion]

Other than keeping quiet, should I wear camo when scouting? I am planning on wearing neutrals like green and brown because I don't think I am actually trying to get close to them, but I don't want to "screw myself or others!" I have never scouted anything other than fish so, any info would be great! When work lets up a little, things are going to be better!

Camo is fine, as is regular clothing.  If you run into birds you're just something in the woods......no big deal.  When people use turkey calls in particular to get birds to respond they are just educating them as to what isn't a turkey.  In some areas where people hammer them with calls from the road, gobblers probably wake up opening morning and say to themselves....oh...there's the guy in the red Toyota, and there's the guy in the blue Ford....you get my drift. 

If you walking and scouting using turkey calls to get responses, then expect opening morning for the birds that may or may not have seen you but heard you and never saw the bird that was doing the calling, to be somewhat hesitant to play the game as intended.  I personally don't think locator calls (crow/daytime...owl/before light as examples) used sparingly do much harm.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As a bowhunter for these f'ng birds I suggest putting on your full hunting outfit and covering groud looking for them, that way you can see what items on you make noise, shine, get in the way etc., there is nothing worse than finally knowing where to go then having your hunt ruined by some strang item on your gear giving you away, or interfering with your shot.

I had a miserable day a few years ago because I didn't do this and my dekes rubbed against my pack and made strange noises, and I had to stop every 20 steps to pull up my damn pants.

[HoofsandWings]

Well I know where some turkeys used to be. I was elk hunting the Winston unit when a game warden came by.
In the back of his truck were several dead turkeys. Apparently he was driving a back road when he came across some yahoos carrying these turkeys they shot with rifles.