Stevens County Scout Trip

[baldopepper]

Just got back from a little trip over to Stevens County to see how my cabin wintered (and of course check out the turkeys) and thought I'd report what I saw.  As I suspected, turkeys are pretty much still in winter mode with big flocks hanging around their usual winter spots.  Did see a few "splinter groups" here and there but for the most part they are still in winter mode.  Absoulutely no interest in calls at this point and even one small group of jakes (usually very responsive) barely lifted their heads when I gave them a short burst of yelps.  Snow level is still pretty low and even around the lake there are drifts still in the shady areas.  Higher roads are pretty much impassable, and last night only added as it rained hard by the lake and dropped more snow at approximately 1000'.  Lake Roosevelt is very low (no trouble launching at Hunters Campground however)  Youth hunters would be well adivsed to figure to stay lower down as even if you can get up higher, the birds are at least a week or two away from m oving up much.  I must say I did see some very, very nice toms-one group of 21 isolated a little from one of the big winter flocks were all long beards in the 9-10" range with a couple of "draggers" in the group.  Very encouraging. 
On a side note, I went over below a hillside this morning that I know roosts a huge flock of wintering birds (I estimated close to 300 after fly down this morning)  and it was quite amazing.  It was the equivilant of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of turkeys.  Gobbles and yelps from that many birds was really really cool!! Anyone who thinks that a yelp or gobble has to sound perfect should have been there.  I heard yelps that sounded like someone running their fingers over a blackboard to yelps that sounded like a big dog.  Gobbles that were almost high pitched squeaks to gobbles that sounded like the bird had a microphone to his beak!! Went on for about 15 minutes before they started flying down-wish I'd had a tape recorder!! Also, watch your gas prices over there-s much as 35 cents per gallon difference  (as low as 2.58/gal in Fruitland ) to 2.90/ gal off the freeway in Ephrata.  Pays to look around a little. I'll head back over in a couple of weeks and probalby get a more realistic look at how the opener will go, but this trip did get my blood running a little better!

[benhuntin]

You must mean $3.58-3.90

[elkaholic]

Thats what I was thinking. If gas was that low, I was on my way. 
I am going to try and get out this week and see what the birds are doing

[BPturkeys]

Sounds like a nice way to spend a weekend. Won't be long now before I am there, sitting under some big old pine, tryin' to catch a nap

[turkey slayer]

Sounds like a good weekend. Talk to my uncle 2 nites ago and he still had 50+ toms and 200 hens still at his dairy in Cedioa. The youth hunter should have there pick.They should be brook up for are opener. Good luck everyone get out and scout. Birds mite be a littel lower this year in SW Stevens County.
Thanks for the post baldopepper

[birdmanwa]

I noticed the same thing scouting. I was around the western part of Stevens county. The birds weren't talking except on the roost. I did find one strutter working about 50 hens. I think the late season this year is going to be better than the opener.

[baldopepper]

Wish 2.58 wasnt a mis print, but alas I did mean 3.58

[PA BEN]

The wife is off for spring break from Collage and went over to visit family in Chewelah. She called to say the toms are strutting w/the hens.

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice report. The reason Lake Roosevelt is low is because they are anticipating a high runoff at the Canadian portion of the Lake due to the high snow pack. They are lowering the lake to 50 feet below normal level.

[gasman]

The wife is off for spring break from Collage and went over to visit family in Chewelah. She called to say the toms are strutting w/the hens.

Was over there this weekend with pjb3. We also saw toms strutting, but only on private property.
The snow level is pretty low still, we woke up to it snowing this morning and we weren't getting far up the NF either, to much snow 

[Birdguy]

That is the report I too am hearing. Snow level low this morning, still have five days to get the weather straightened out for the youth hunt .

[NWBREW]

I just came back from my cabin in N. Steven county. I got there Thursday and was suprised by about a foot and a half of snow on my driveway. Started snowing again this morning but turned to rain around 11:00. It is melting fairly quick.  Did not see much for turkeys (not really looking though) but heard a few gobbles. Deer look to be many and in good health. No sheds  . But we did set up 4 trailcams.    Fishing sucked way up North but did hear it was better lower.

[NWTFhunter]

Hope that snow melts soon, and thank you for the report.
Esp liked your description of the Choir !  Its amazing what a few hundred birds sound like....

[Phantom Gobbler]

Thanks for the report, sounds like things are starting to shake and bake in the NE!   

[br8kitoff]

Taking the 5th wheel over to the Addy area tomorrow....should come back with a decent scout report....in general.

[kevinp16]

Thanks for the report. I'm going calling tomorrow in Ellensburg area. Being that i'm on the westside, it's perfect for a day trip. Me and a buddy already went a few weeks ago and heard nothing. Not even a track from them. makes me a little nervous as i only get the opening weeekend to hunt this year.

[NWTFhunter]

Just remember.... The more you call at em the more educated they become.
Suggest using a crow or woodpecker call.

[kevinp16]

After hiking all day yesterday in Ellensburg/ Cle Elum area, we didnt see a thing. Not even a track in the snow or droppings. Just lots of Elk and deer. Talk about a bummer. This was my second trip this year to scout for turkey.

I used a crow and owl call to try and locate them. Only the Ravens responded.

[turkeydancer]

Peacock calls work well ..... 

[baldopepper]

Boy, I hate those peacock calls-that sound grates my ears, but they are very effective.  (I actaully use one a lot!)  I would'nt get to discouraged about not finding birds on your scout, they just havent really broke up yet and, frankly, it's really not that unusal for them to not really be respoding much to calls yet.  That can all change quickly with turkeys-once the winter flocks start breaking up they can spread out fairly quickly.  You can probably go back to that same area in a couple of weeks and run into birds.  I think right now the best way to scout is be in an area well before daylight and listen to them on the roost-it might surprise you how many you'd hear before fly down in the same area where you heard none during daylight periods. It's kind of like hunting them in mid to late May when they've shut back up-gotta find them before daylight when they're talking. I'd try to get back out the week before the hunt, besides the birds you find now are likely to be gone out of the area by the opener anyway.

[Wayne1]

I've used the peacock for years..  and love it...   another locater calls alot of hunter don't use is their elk bugel....   just don't blow a long one or you'll miss the gobbling. Call's I'll never use again and have'nt for over 10 years is the owl and crow.

[Gobble Doc]

We left for our scouting on Thursday morning.  Got to Steven's pass at 6:00 to find out about the slide.  Pouring rain.  Turned around and went back to Monroe, back down 405 during rush hour and then back east over I-90.  Our blind is up and our place picked for the Sat. morning.  My son has been practicing with his bow but it is going to be a big challenge.  Luckily we have seen turkey so he is excited.  I let him the truck on some back roads and played a rare game of pinball tonight with him so we're having a great time.  Good Luck Everyone. 

[br8kitoff]

Ohh how I forgot about the splitting headache you get after driving for 8 hours!!!!  Anyway, go the 5th wheel set up and located many birds.  Mostly on the winter feeding grounds...private land.  They are still bunched up but the Toms are definately strutting around and starting to push each other around...saw a couple of 10 second fights!!!  The snow has receeded alot but there is still some up high.  11 days until we get back over there!!!!!!  The little pend orille preserve was still closed and wont open until 4/15 so we hiked in a bit.....tons of deer but no birds only hiked about 3.5 hours in and around.