Easterns in the the 505 thru 530's

[Heartsblood]

Hey y'all-

I am super excited for next weekend. This will be my fourth spring turkey hunt and I've stayed to a coupla areas in the Teanaway for the past 3 years. I've been fortunate enough to take birds in my first and third seasons (and an "almost" during the 2nd...) and feel fairly comfortable in that area.

Every year I tell myself I will branch out and try for a different species or a different area. I then proceed to spend all kindsa time looking at maps and new areas. But I never end up going somewhere different.

So this year, while I still intend to go to my familiar areas, I am going to dedicate at least one weekend to trying a different spot. So far I have my eye on either Easterns in the areas in the title of this thread, and/or I will be trying for Rios in a yet undetermined area.

My question is, am I wasting my time in gmu's 505-530? And if not I notice that not much of it is national or even state land. Is there legal hunting land in those units that I am just not seeing?

Any tips or advice is welcomed. I'd be happy to talk via pm's as well (might even be the best way).

At any rate, good luck everyone who will be out in the bush for any/all of the next seven or so weeks/weekends.

Thanks.

[Heartsblood]

Wow. Okay. While I seem to have found the answers to my own questions, I also have come away with more questions. I wouldn’t really say I have a good understanding. Just better than I did.

 After doing a coupla days of my own research (“mapsturbating”. My wife just won’t let that one go…), I have a better understanding of said land base ownership etc. As a matter of fact, I think I have a better understanding of what has happened in this state (and likely across the entire country) as far as land “stewardship” and private enterprise.

Perhaps this would be better off in a different board or thread. I did see a “private/public lands” thread. But the “private lands” in that thread seemed more geared towards the smaller landowners – the “little guys” rather than the multi national type corporations. What I guess I didn’t understand so well was the privatization of public lands aspect that seems to cover vast areas of our state.

So. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m clear about all “the ins and outs and what-have-youse” regarding land access. It’s seems very convoluted. Especially considering how many times tracts of land change hands from say Weyerhauser to Hancock, or Who-t-f ever. It seems that sometimes the name of the area changing hands also gets a name change. But. Then we have all you old timers and die-hards who still refer to those areas by their old (original) names. (I totally get that btw – you will never convince me that the surf spot I grew up surfing is now called anything other than Strands. Call me oldschool or old fashioned. I care not.)

Then there are all the different types of passes and permits (which also often have rule changes when the property gets bought up by the next big “steward”) to gain access, which range in price from ever changing fees to free. Call this number. Have your spouse with you “at the time of purchasing a permit” etc.

Is it me, or can it be a tangled web?

Not that I am giving up. I’m not. I think I am actually making good progress. I’ve learnt a lot in the past week.

One thing I am curious about is this:

How many of y’all consider Weyerhauser (or any other juggernaught corporation) land public? If they charge for it and give you a key, how is this different from say, the guy who offered to charged me 40 bucks for a key to his cornfield that borders the Skykomish river? That was a private land access that I was almost stoked to get (for a fee).

Finally, like some of you are talking about, gas prices are definitely a consideration for me and my family. I thought I would just be able to take the F-350 (diesel) wherever I wanted as often as I wanted this turkey season. Take the 5th wheel etc. Now I am looking at shorter more expedient cost effective trips – hopefully just zipping down I-5 etc. I am actually considering how great it would be to be able to take the fusion somehwere and walk in. It might just be me but, tht just feels wrong to me... So I am being forced to consider new/different areas than the ones I already know.

Maybe that’s a good thing. But I don’t ever remember gas prices falling after they get hiked. Hard to see the good in that.

Anyweys. Sorta rambling but.

I am really interested in what people think about the privatization of land management. Do we consider that public or private?

Thanks.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

  I see you have gotten the usual response when asking about Eastern hunting....
as far as your "other" question, I consider these lands private, with limited access.
When I am looking at new areas, I make sure to read any signage, and follow all rules.
I pretty much consider where I am and what gates look like, if it is the standard yellow gate, and there are no signs, or houses in area, I walk in.
If there is a house nearby, I will take the time to stop by and ask permission (I do this in "civilian" clothes, and bring my daughter (s) with me  )
I have not found any areas that require a permit (yet) but I hunt in 501 and 667, I have heard of Turkey along the Cowlitz River, but with only a weekend (or 2) to hunt, I would suggest going for a RIO, it will take several weekends just to find an area that holds Easterns, let alone figure out where those b'tards are !
(to explain, I have 7 good spots, feathers, droppings, tracks, but spend most of my season just trying to find the damn birds)

[Heartsblood]

Hey thanks for your response STIKNSTRINGBOW.

Yes. Due to financial constraints, this season looks to be much different than the past few. I'll need to be more selective. But, I still may go looking for Easterns for several reasons:
I love being out in the field regardless of taking game or not. Of course a succesful hunt is always a plus!
It sounds very challenging.
Easterns territory seems closer to home.
I am also interested in hunting Blackies which would be the same areas (more or less)
I don't mind hiking all summer long just to find my own "honey holes" or just to get to know a land base.

I'm sure there are many "unknown unknowns" as well. I almost always hunt solo, so it really is just a personal deal. No pressure or competition. I've been fortunate so far and hope to experience much more.

The only con I can think of in hunting Easterns is the weather on this side. I really love the East side weather. I'm a california boy so, sun and warmth are what get me motivated.

But Rios you say....

[Taras_ukrainian]

Hey y'all-

I am super excited for next weekend. This will be my fourth spring turkey hunt and I've stayed to a coupla areas in the Teanaway for the past 3 years. I've been fortunate enough to take birds in my first and third seasons (and an "almost" during the 2nd...) and feel fairly comfortable in that area.

Every year I tell myself I will branch out and try for a different species or a different area. I then proceed to spend all kindsa time looking at maps and new areas. But I never end up going somewhere different.

So this year, while I still intend to go to my familiar areas, I am going to dedicate at least one weekend to trying a different spot. So far I have my eye on either Easterns in the areas in the title of this thread, and/or I will be trying for Rios in a yet undetermined area.

My question is, am I wasting my time in gmu's 505-530? And if not I notice that not much of it is national or even state land. Is there legal hunting land in those units that I am just not seeing?

Any tips or advice is welcomed. I'd be happy to talk via pm's as well (might even be the best way).

At any rate, good luck everyone who will be out in the bush for any/all of the next seven or so weeks/weekends.

Thanks.

do not forget 501. thats where im going.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

do not forget 501. thats where im going.

there are no Turkeys in 501 ! 
Other than those of us hunting them here 
If you come down here good luck !
If you happen to see a white mini-van with Trad Archery decals, I am taking the day off of turkey hunting and am looking for mushrooms.

[Dustin07]

Hunting easterns is like buying a lottery ticket. You feel like a fool the first 3 or 400 times, but when you get one everyone else feels like the fool lol 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Hunting easterns is like buying a lottery ticket. You feel like a fool the first 3 or 400 times, but when you get one everyone else feels like the fool lol 

It is pretty amazing the number of people I talk to every year that think turkey hunting is easy, hunters and non-hunters.
I do know that after hunting Easterns only for several years, one gets spoiled heading "over the hill" and actually seeing more Turkeys in a day than you do over here in a year, cannot say that the hunting is ever easy, but finding Turkeys to hunt sure is !
I pretty much get excited every time I find a new spot that has sign, even if I dont see/hear any.

[Dustin07]

that is 100% truth. I have put in my fair share of effort in scouting easterns up and down I5 and to the east and west of it. up and down the river, etc. I laugh when I think about how many turkeys I've had opportunities to shoot at in ONE day of hunting in colville compared to weeks of scouting on the west side.