Anyone worried about this early spring?

[Diehard0123]

I just hope the birds are willing to play come opening day. 

[sisu]

South West Stevens County: I've seen hens (probably 20-30) and several toms with all their finery out in the last couple of days!
But this is in the State Park along State Highway 291

[Gobble]

Oh ya, I'm betting a good portion of the hens will be bred up early and hunting will be difficult. The past couple of years it was the opposite, I didn't even go out the first couple of weeks because of the cold weather but this year will be interesting

[Huntbear]

Not sure spring is here yet.  They are predicting snow for this weekend, at least over night.

[BPturkeys]

Oh ya, I'm betting a good portion of the hens will be bred up early and hunting will be difficult. The past couple of years it was the opposite, I didn't even go out the first couple of weeks because of the cold weather but this year will be interesting

  Don't bet the farm on this one. The primary stimulus for breeding is the amount of daylight, not the temperature. Weather does contribute to the day-to-day activities of turkeys but breeding for the most part is triggered by the daylight cycle. 
  Also, after the hens are bred can be some of the best hunting. The Toms start to panic and do some really dumb things as the hens are no longer available for that morning romp in the grass. 

[turkeydancer]

I never worrying about the weather, because it will usually only vary the season a couple weeks one way or the other at most.  Even during the season your tactics, the way you call the birds, etc need to adjust dependent on the mode the birds are in, hunting pressure, weather, etc.  You may want to get your hands on Knight and Hales Gobbler Guide ... it's a short read but will get you thinking and hunting/calling differently.
 

[WAcoyotehunter]

more worried about early budding on trees and shrubs followed by a bad freeze!

[wastickslinger]

I am more worried about what MuleySniper will eat before our 4 hour truck ride together.  I am not going to forget the can of frebreeze this year you stinky sucker.   

[7mmfan]

It looks like winter may be trying to make a comeback over here. Their calling rain all week with lows in the low 30's. I bet our snowfree hills get some dust on them again.

[bearpaw]

Not worried, if the hens breed early and all go to setting, the toms will be vulnerable looking for hens to breed. Even if that ends early, the turkeys do not get on a space ship and leave, they are all still here, you just have to alter your methods of hunting. We kill far more turkeys by understanding where they want to feed and using that to our advantage.

It's still February, anything is possible, the last week seemed like the first week of April, but snow is forecast tonight and tomorrow here in Stevens county.

[Turkeyman]

All good information learn how to hunt turkeys when they are in different stages of there breeding cycle. Any one can kill a tom that comes running to anything that sounds like a lonely hen. I have seen birds in different stages of the breeding cycle in the same county. It can vary from drainage to drainage. Each part of the breeding cycle should have a different approach to how you hunt and call to the birds. Turkey dancer is right the knight-hale gobbler guide is a great tool for a new turkey hunter. It will give you the knowledge of how turkeys enter there breeding cycle and what calls to use and how to hunt them. I used to pro staff for them they have allot of knowledge on turkeys and how to hunt them through out the year. The more you no about the wild turkey and why they do what they do the more successful you will be. When i give seminars the best advise i give people is if you respect the wild turkey like you do deer and elk and learn every thing you can about them hunting them is not difficult.

[jackelope]

I'm looking forward to it, maybe the birds will be a little more active than they have been the last couple years for the opener.

[bearpaw]

turkeyman, I think the turkeys require even more respect than deer or elk. Turkey hunters who can be successful every week of the season are few and far between. I have a much harder time finding consistently productive turkey guides than I do finding productive deer and elk guides.

[turkeydancer]

Well said T-Man and BearPaw ...

It's just like when I hear people saying the birds were too henned up ... no, just means you have to approach things a little different.  It also cracks me up when they leave for breakfast and the motel/RV/etc by 8:30 am and don't come back until after 4:00.  Hey, the hens drifted off about 8:45 and came back about 3:45 ... you missed all the turkey fun in between. You can harvest birds anytime, anywhere ... no matter the weather, hunting pressure, their breeding mode, etc if you adjust your tactics and calling as needed to fit the situation.
 

[Turkeyman]

You are right bearpaw that's because allot of people don't understand turkeys and they dint look at them as a big game animal. I think allot of people thank they are just another game bird so lets go hunt them like a grouse. If people put as much time and effort into hunting turkeys like they do deer and elk. They would be more successful. You find this out her in the west where turkey hunting is not a tradition. You give me a good turkey hunter and they will be a good elk hunter.

[WARHORSE]

agree 100 %  and if turkeys could smell i dont think we would ever kill one! they deserve alot more repect then most would think!

[yelp]

I think we will have good hunting.  The way I look at it is Spring Break is coming early to Washington and them Toms are getting all jiggy.  They will have a chance to get busy with lots of hens..prior to us chasing them around...This may mean more hens bred possibly a higher number of poults?  I am an optimist.  How do you know we had a warm winter early spring..  When you see this..LOL

[turkeydancer]

Just when you think you've seen it all ... just too funny! 

[bearpaw]

You are right bearpaw that's because allot of people don't understand turkeys and they dint look at them as a big game animal. I think allot of people thank they are just another game bird so lets go hunt them like a grouse. If people put as much time and effort into hunting turkeys like they do deer and elk. They would be more successful. You find this out her in the west where turkey hunting is not a tradition. You give me a good turkey hunter and they will be a good elk hunter.

agreed tman, if they have figured out how to hunt turkeys throughout the season they are usually a good hunter for most anything they want to be good at...

lots of other good comments too, and I agree optimism is king, if we get the dry summer everyone is worried about, we should have a great hatch.