I was wondering if anyone here hunts in the chillwist unit

[hoyt450]

I have been hunting there for years with no luck. I know there are birds there. I have seen them. Any suggestions for this area.

[yelp]

If you want the truth hunt more areas..the CHiliwist gets hammered..most of those toms are so educated it makes it tough.  Most birds are on private.  Go towards Twisp, towards Loop Loop.  Also try doing the opposite of what you have been doing.  So many hunters get on here and wonder why they are successful.  Most of the time it is how they are hunting..You said for years with no success.  How much time do you actually spend? If it is a weekend here or there..I suggest you go where numbers are better..North of Spokane for instance.  I have killed birds in the Chiliwist but its work..90% of the birds get played with from the county roads. I have lots of spots that I know I can get some responses from but it took me years to get some of the patterns, finding roosting sites, etc.  Good Luck.

[Phantom Gobbler]

I totally agree with Yelp.        I spent the first few years of my turkey hunting adventures just heading over for a quick one or two day hunt.    I did not start harvesting birds until I started taking a week off at a time to pattern birds and determine where and when to setup.  

P.S. I also hunt the NE part of the state vs. North Central.  

I live on the wetside and it always takes a few days to start finding the birds.  Seems like there are some differences each year, although certain areas always have birds.  It really helps to hook up with other hunters who have experience scouting and calling etc.

The more pressure......the more you have to get off the beaten path that's for sure.  

Good luck and stay tuned into this forum for sound advise.

[HoofsandWings]

I hunted it back in 2004. At the end of one of those back roads is a ranch that raises turkeys. I talked to the owner once. Late in the season I tried going toward Loop Loop. Did not find turkeys, but did find snakes.
I found the turkeys do stay close to water there.

[509er]

used to untill my dad and brother both got shot one opening morning some years ago.

[DUGANDEER]

used to untill my dad and brother both got shot one opening morning some years ago.

WTF? I think I heard about that. Thats is messed up!!

[MtnMuley]

I would recommend heading to the NE or even Ferry County.  A lot more birds per hunter ratio.

[Birdguy]

used to untill my dad and brother both got shot one opening morning some years ago.

That would be more then enough to get me to stop hunting there or anywhere else for that matter. That is awful .

[turkeydancer]

 

That's tough ... was hunting private land a few years back and had a early 20's wearing brown coat and jeans cross a well posted fence line from state land ... he started walking down the plowed and planted field trying to stalk my dekes ...WTF ...  I had to call out in a loud clear voice that if he peppered my dekes, I would pepper his "a _ _" !  He tried to tell me he didn't realize he was on private property !!!     I guess I must look stupid ....

I wasn't shot at least ! I think that 99.9% of all people are usually very safe and cautious ... but that 0.1% scares the begeezous outta me ... you really need to be alert out there.

[boneaddict]

A lot of people chasing a few birds.  More hunter/hunter confrontations encounters than I have ever seen elsewhere turkey hunting.