Father and Son, want to Turkey hunt for the first time

[dfarley33]

My son and I began hunting ducks this past fall, and we both are really excited to try for a turkey.  I have called some guides but there is no way we can afford the prices they are charging.  Everything I have read indicates that we should head towards the Colville area, but I do not want to end up on top of 100 other guys shooting at eachother.  Would anyone be willing to provide a dad with some information on places we might try, and if we really need to use a guide?   We both have been reading and watching turkey shows, trying to gather as much information as we can.  Any  help would be greatly appreciated.

[General Disarray]

Honestly if you're wanting to learn as you go, skip the opener and take a couple of days off during the week in late April and head out.  There won't be a hunter behind every tree and the birds should be very huntable still.  The opener can be frustrating for even the most experienced turkey hunters let alone rookies.

[dfarley33]

It is looking like we can get out the second week of May, are we going to be out luck if we head out that late?

[carpsniperg2]

Honestly if you're wanting to learn as you go, skip the opener and take a couple of days off during the week in late April and head out.  There won't be a hunter behind every tree and the birds should be very huntable still.  The opener can be frustrating for even the most experienced turkey hunters let alone rookies.

x2 very well put you might have to do a little more foot work but unless on private ground it can get very crazy and at time unsafe

[ICEMAN]

I would go back and read all of the Turkey board posts. Lots of great info there... Just get out and try it! Good luck!

[dfarley33]

We found someone with about 40 acres with turkeys on them, and the price is reasonable.  Is 40 acres enough land?

[baldopepper]

To Me, it kinda comes down to whether you want to go hunting or "harvesting"  - some of the "guide" services offer hunting for fed birds that are literally coming into the same food plot or feeder as they have all winter and you simply walk out, choose your bird and shoot it.  May as well take your gun to the frozen meat section at Safeway.   Personally, the most satisfying part of any hunting is the scouting and footwork that goes into locating your game, actually pulling the trigger is almost anti climatic.  I would suggest you try to take a day or two and go to the 40 acres, make sure it's not a "harvesting" situation and go from there.  I think you're refering to the 40 acres on Craigs list.  That area has a lot of birds, but also a lot of private property that needs permisson to hunt.  Hate to see you strike out on the 40 acres and then find you really have no other place to spend your time.  Time with your son out in the outdoors that time of year does not necessarily have to mean coming home with dinner for it to be a great hunt.

[jackelope]

You might want to hit Dale up from Bearpaw outfitters on here. He offers turkey hunting maps and info for a price through his website www.bearpawoutfitters.com
he goes by "bearpaw" on here.

[Birdguy]

Just go do it! There will not be a better time, get out there and give it a try. Take the advice about no hunters a little later into the season and go see what you can do. The first time you get a gobble back you will know why the rest of us do it and your son will think it is really cool. Good luck.

[yelp]

We found someone with about 40 acres with turkeys on them, and the price is reasonable.  Is 40 acres enough land?

Yep that would do it..where abouts???  NE part of the state?  Do you have a parcel #?   

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

For the youth season i just packed up and went, never turkey hunted a day in my life and we found turkeys. We had to knock on some doors but it worked. We didn't harvest a turkey but we had one heck of a good time.

[Tom Tamer]

Just go do it! There will not be a better time, get out there and give it a try. Take the advice about no hunters a little later into the season and go see what you can do. The first time you get a gobble back you will know why the rest of us do it and your son will think it is really cool. Good luck.

  
Most on here just got out and went.....with the same knowledge you have aquired so far. It's still kind of a pioneering thing out here where most don't come from rich turkey hunting traditonal backgrounds. I read books, watched videos and went to seminars then fumbled my way through it . You do fine. I wish we'd had these forums ten-fifteen years ago It would've helped me a ton.

[bearpaw]

If you want to hunt on your own, come the weekend before season opens and scout. Stop by Colville for the local turkey banquet Saturday night the 10th and I am sure someone there will point you in a good direction. Plus we have quite a bit of fun. Message me if you want info on the banquet.

There is a lot of public land, some of it gets hunted hard, but there are birds. Stop by the Colville National Forest office in Colville and get a forest map which shows ownership everywhere. That will keep you in huntable areas.

[jackelope]

the first time I went turkey hunting in washington i pretty much threw darts at a map of the northeast corner of the state. the first day 3 of us killed 4 toms. I agree just get out there and do it. the northeast woods are full of cool experiences for you and your boy even if you don't find any turkeys. 

[penhuntsbirds]

Wow some great info here! So I took my son to a guide in Klickitat and it was awesome! He did miss his shot at a big Tom but the expierance was well worth it. I had never heard roosting birds gobble to one another and it was very cool

I too am very nervous about taking my 9 yo out in the public lands. And like you I also spoke to many guides and I got the same feeling they have fed birds that come to the same spot everyday for their food, they line up the kids in a shooting gallery and have at. Not interested in that! And at that cost WOW!

Our guide took us to private land and did call about 15 birds up on us, (the big strutting toms would not budge) when my son went for his gun to shoot a Jake it tangled with his back back (my bad) it was resting on and he could not get it clear, by the time he did the birds were running! We did cut off the flock as it was turning right in front of us and he took a shot at a big tom that now was wondering were his hens were going but missed! However it was one of the coolest things either of us have done! The guide called those birds in so close I though they were going to step on us (mostley hens) Oh yes we were in patchy snow and it was cold!

However it was money well spent and we are going back in a few weeks. This guide only charges $200.00 for a youth hunt and only $300.00 for a parent and child during the regular season and they have nice cabins you can rent. I say only $200.00 because of what the others charge and no we were not set up on fed birds cause $200 is still a lot of money in my book! But looking at what my son and I learned and the fun we had it was worth it!

What struck my son was that when we hunt pheasants the birds hide from us but with the turkeys it is us that hide and have to be sneaky!

I admire you all that go do it on your own and we are working our way up to that! The info here really is good! Only one time out and I'm addicted!

Thanks!