Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Mark251 on June 13, 2015, 02:33:46 PM
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I just drew a Turnbull modern rifle cow tag for the first week of November. I've heard that scouting at Turnbull is limited to one day before the hunt. Have any of you had experience hunting Turnbull in the past? I've already started studying Google earth and I'll be contacting the folks at the refuge to get more information. Any other advice about how to get started? Thanks!
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it is my understanding (note; i have not hunted turnbull) that they will give you a map with the area you are allowed to hunt. not much to scout, but knowing what the land looks like would be beneficial. you're in spokane, you can go hiking out there all summer and get aquainted with quite a bit. I hope you have a great hunt and bring home a fat cow! :tup:
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You might review the rules I think you also have to haul the guts out.
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Thanks for the good information. I'll contact Turnbull to see if I can get a copy of the regs and plan on hiking there this summer. I appreciate the help, gentlemen!
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it is a small area. get there early. mike w
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Thanks Mike. Do you know if they assign the designated hunting areas now or do they wait until just before the hunt?
Mark
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With a rifle tag you will be in the SW area. You can access hunt info on Turnbull's website. If your using lead you will be required to pack the guts out. If you want to scout about all you can do is hike the Columbia Plateau Trail. I wouldn't bother with the day before. You can PM me if you like. I have hunted it.
Good luck
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Sounds great. Thanks so much for the help, Rick!
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I had one of the late tags (January raffle) a couple of years ago. There was a foot of snow on the ground and I never seen an elk or even cut a set of tracks. I was only able to hunt the CPWMA properties, so I would hunt the refuge if you can. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
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I had one of the late tags (January raffle) a couple of years ago. There was a foot of snow on the ground and I never seen an elk or even cut a set of tracks. I was only able to hunt the CPWMA properties, so I would hunt the refuge if you can. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
The regular draw permit is only for the refuge, does not include land outside the boundaries. I had it last year, fun tag, once you find their pattern, it should be pretty fun. The area is bigger than you'd think, I think just because it's pretty flat. I bought a box of Barnes bullets, no way I was bringing out the guts. Worked fine.Enjoy, should be fun.
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I drew one of the archery tags on the Turnbull, they have have already contacted me and said they will send out a map and rules? It sounds like it is pretty regulated? I hope you do not have to contend with the tree hugger crowd? My daughter drew a youth cow last Feb in the farmlands over by the coast and we had people yelling at us from the porches ?
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I drew one of the archery tags on the Turnbull, they have have already contacted me and said they will send out a map and rules? It sounds like it is pretty regulated? I hope you do not have to contend with the tree hugger crowd? My daughter drew a youth cow last Feb in the farmlands over by the coast and we had people yelling at us from the porches ?
Not a problem, at least I didn't encounter anything like that, in fact most folks around there seem to want some thinning of the animals. Actually pretty need hunt, I enjoyed it.
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I drew an archery permit for the southwest unit last year, killed a nice mature cow on my third day. The unit is actually quite large, i walked over 15 GPSd miles on my scouting day. Never saw another hunter in the woods. the road system is very good and was even mowed prior to the season. if you don't have one, buy a game cart, it makes getting her out very easy. We brought mine out whole 1.3 miles.
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Sweet Thanks Britt-dog, I have a game cart, this is starting to sound like a pretty good cow tag glad i did this. :tup:
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its a great tag. I live in Cheney, and would love to have this tag every year.
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I just sent you a PM Britt-dog
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Do you guys know if there are any moose here. I was contemplating checking it out for some photo ops.
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Do you guys know if there are any moose here. I was contemplating checking it out for some photo ops.
moose are movin good right now you won't have much problem getting some good pics. When does the moose calendar come out?
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Bone, my fiances parents live at Williams lake and couple weeks ago they saw a calf, cow and bull moose right off the road by turnbull. Not exactly where but was off the main road coming from Cheney.
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Do you guys know if there are any moose here. I was contemplating checking it out for some photo ops.
There is moose in Turnbull. Seen a couple bulls around there over the years.
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They allow hikers on established trails in the northwest section of the refuge. My wife and I saw a bull moose in that section this past summer. The ranger told us that several moose are seen on the refuge throughout the year.
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i've got pics of cows and cow/calfs, but have seen two bulls as well. one was BIG :yike: :yike: :yike: and the other was a spike/fork. all right off the road, seen while driving out to go fishing.
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Thanks guys. I might have to check it out.
Probably next year Ben. Ive been out of the moose "business" for a bit. Time to get back into it.
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Good luck, boneaddict! I have one of the antlerless tags for the 1st week of November. I'll send you a PM if I see any moose...
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Thanks Mark. I've never checked it out. I love the looks of the country. Might be some good photo ops there. I have no idea if there are any quality animals there.
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Mark251, just sent you a PM.
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Tagging. This sounds interesting. Good luck on your hunt!
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This is a great hunt! I had the permit last year and was not able to fill my tag because I had some personal issues going on at the time and only spent two days out there. I was in Elk everyday. What I noticed in the unit they assigned me was that I had to get back at least 1.5 miles before I started seeing good sign. It is true they only allow the day before your season to scout, it is helpful but you need to have a mission to some places other wise you just wander around. You may take one person with you as a helper but they may not carry a firearm. You can't camp on Turnbull so if you live far away get a hotel in Cheney or something. It was a great hunt and the Elk really did not seem pressured at all when I was out there and I did not see anyone else. In my area they used the swamps as an escape route. Look for them in the coulees and places that you can look down into the area and around the aspens. Have a blast and good luck!
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Got word from some friend's that all the elk on Turnbull seem to be in the SW corner this year with all the ponds drying up and no other water. Should help your hunt tremendously! Try not to choke when a monster bull steps out with his monster buddies. They will be in the area... I have some nice shed's from this area. Lived here 25 yrs.
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Thanks guys! I'll try hard to avert a case of the shakes when the time comes :)
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Just hunted the SW area with my son on Tuesday for the youth hunt. The elk were on the Northern to Northwest portion of the SW area. Not a lot of elk, but they're in there. He got his cow as did another youth that was hunting the same area.
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Just hunted the SW area with my son on Tuesday for the youth hunt. The elk were on the Northern to Northwest portion of the SW area. Not a lot of elk, but they're in there. He got his cow as did another youth that was hunting the same area.
Seems similar to last years hunt for me, towards the back of the unit. Great hunt for sure.
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Thanks for the information guys. My scouting day is a week away and I'm so excited about the hunt... I appreciate the help!
Mark
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So Mark how did it go? I drove thru to Cheney a few days ago and saw a cow got hit right next to the parking area for the Northern portion.
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Thanks Mark. I've never checked it out. I love the looks of the country. Might be some good photo ops there. I have no idea if there are any quality animals there.
I'd be driving about 30 minutes farther east for LOTS of moose.
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It was really an enjoyable hunt. We was able to scout on Monday - walked about 10-12 miles checking out the terrain. We saw a cow moose and her calf within 800 yards of the parking area but no elk on our scouting day. Tuesday was the first day to hunt. It was 37 degrees and raining with partial fog throughout the early hours. We found elk by about 6:30 in the morning, tried to figure out which direction they were heading and then got set up in front of them. Within a half-hour or so we found our cow moving through the trees about 200 yards away. The hunt was over by 8:00 a.m. but it was a great experience to get to hunt at Turnbull.
Thank you to all of you who shared your information and your expertise to help me prepare for the hunt. Turnbull is a great tag. Thank you!
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congratulations! :tup: :tup:
