Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: Platensek-po on February 21, 2019, 04:11:52 PM

Title: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Platensek-po on February 21, 2019, 04:11:52 PM: Hey guys!!

I just got a 16ft whitewater raft for doing multi-way float trips and I would love to incorporate hunting trips into it! Does anyone have any advice they would be willing to share on rivers or river sections that would be good to float for spring turkey?? Would prefer a multi day section or somewhere with public land access to camp on. Any help will be greatly appreciated. After this season I plan on trying to take others out for turkey and deer float hunts.

Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Parasite on February 22, 2019, 12:32:51 AM: I've done this in the midwest, but not here in WA since I'm new here. I will say that since you have three subspecies in this state, that you should concentrate on rivers that run through Rio Grande turkey habitat. Rio's are a riparian bird (riverbottoms) and stick pretty close to those type of areas.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: ian_padron on February 22, 2019, 11:43:16 AM: Float the snake!
Quote from: Platensek-po on February 21, 2019, 04:11:52 PM
Hey guys!!

I just got a 16ft whitewater raft for doing multi-way float trips and I would love to incorporate hunting trips into it! Does anyone have any advice they would be willing to share on rivers or river sections that would be good to float for spring turkey?? Would prefer a multi day section or somewhere with public land access to camp on. Any help will be greatly appreciated. After this season I plan on trying to take others out for turkey and deer float hunts.

Thanks!!!

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Henrydog on February 22, 2019, 12:00:15 PM: Only river that comes to mind is the Grande Rhonde which I have floated many many time. Lot of Rio's down there but I have never seen one on the river...and you would really have to pay attention to property lines
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: WSU on February 22, 2019, 12:11:27 PM: The Klick might be a good fit.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: PA BEN on February 22, 2019, 12:24:32 PM: Lake Roosevelt
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: bearpaw on February 22, 2019, 12:52:37 PM: Lake Roosevelt is slower moving and you might want a motor, but you can hunt up to the 1310 line and wherever government land lies above that line. You might also try the Kettle River.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: hunter399 on February 22, 2019, 01:35:34 PM: Not sure , But I thought you had to be 500 feet from lake Roosevelt to hunt.Meaning you can't hunt game animals that where down getting a drink etc.but I could be wrong.Cause I see coyote tracks down along river all the time and looked into it once long time ago.But I would call WDFW and check first.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on February 22, 2019, 01:54:23 PM: I'm just wondering how you're going to keep the turkeys in the boat (float trip for turkeys)? :chuckle: Sorry, couldn't resist.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Platensek-po on February 22, 2019, 04:49:18 PM: Thanks guys!! Gives me some starting points to check out!!! I used to guide whitewater on the bake in Wyoming! Would be fun to do it in wa! Hahahaha i will be keeping them in the boat if we get any!! Hahaha thanks again guys!!!
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on February 22, 2019, 05:44:36 PM: Good luck Plat, hope you figure out a good float hunt ;)
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: 7mmfan on February 22, 2019, 06:56:12 PM: PM sent
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Oh Mah on February 22, 2019, 07:46:19 PM: Yakima River in the Canyon (between Yakima and Ellensburg) has all of what you mention,and turkey frequent the hillsides beside the river. :tup:
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: hunter399 on February 22, 2019, 08:03:07 PM: I asked another friend he said that it's 500 feet from camp grounds which is some of the public land along river. And that you would have to be very aware of where public land is and private land. Good luck.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: bearpaw on February 23, 2019, 10:48:15 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on February 22, 2019, 01:35:34 PM
Not sure , But I thought you had to be 500 feet from lake Roosevelt to hunt.Meaning you can't hunt game animals that where down getting a drink etc.but I could be wrong.Cause I see coyote tracks down along river all the time and looked into it once long time ago.But I would call WDFW and check first.

There is a minimum distance you must be from campgrounds. Also you cannot shoot from a motorized boat until movement from the motor has ceased. I've hunted ducks, geese, deer, and coons along lake Roosevelt. A couple times a sheriff deputy showed up when I was coon hunting because someone reported me thinking I was a deer poacher using a light at night. As soon as the deputy found out I was coon hunting no problem.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: outdooraddict on February 23, 2019, 05:06:42 PM: so you can hunt waerfowl on roosevelt? somereason i have never heard people talking about hunting it, that body of water should have some good waterfowling id think, lots of beaches to pull up to and build a blind
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2019, 06:40:10 PM: Lots of waterfowl hunters on Lake Roosevelt....at least in front of the Lodge. I had one hunter that would come up in Dec. and bring his black lab. He would shoot a turkey the first day and hunt waterfowl for the next few days.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: avidnwoutdoorsman on February 23, 2019, 07:02:19 PM: I was going to PM you but good for everyone else speaking up and naming the best ones!

My #1 would be the Grand Ron. Excellent for turkey, deer, elk, and upland. I’ve floated it countless times in my drift boat and in the summer time in a raft (beer float reunion with HS friend) Great river because you can choose how long you want to float. If you put in, in Oregon you can float for 5 days easy. You can shorten this to a 2 day float too. Fair amount of public land.
#2 would be the Yakima for all of the above as well. However this is typically a 1 day float. Could make it two but you wouldn’t really hunt the first day. You can make it even longer if you get a shuttle around the diversion but anything above Ringer and there isn’t too much huntable land.
#3 The klickitat I’ve only done steelhead drifts here before I got into hunting but there is plenty of other game to chase.

You can shoot from a drift boat too. No motor = cast and blast all day. I’ve done a ton of steelhead drifts with my shotgun by my side to shoot ducks. But yes, know where you are and don’t go shooting like a wild man.

Want any details or want to go on a float PM and I’ll help you out.

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Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: bearpaw on February 25, 2019, 10:47:23 AM: Quote from: outdooraddict on February 23, 2019, 05:06:42 PM
so you can hunt waerfowl on roosevelt? somereason i have never heard people talking about hunting it, that body of water should have some good waterfowling id think, lots of beaches to pull up to and build a blind

It's not a major flyway but there are birds and it gets hunted some.
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Machias on February 25, 2019, 08:16:00 PM: I did this a couple of years ago in Missouri on the Eleven Point River. 3 weeks, never saw another soul. It was awesome. I was on a 16 foot cataraft. I've since sold that one and have a new 14 Sotar Cataraft. Killed my first turkey when I was 16 by floating in a canoe on what is now Truman Lake. Back then they had just dammed up the river and began forming Truman, creating hundreds of little hilltops in the flooded landscape. Toms were getting stuck on all these hilltops and were really lonely!
Title: Re: Float trip for turkeys??
Post by: Platensek-po on March 01, 2019, 03:58:45 PM: Thanks guys!! I really appreciate all the input. I have floated the Yak before and I agree it’s more of a day float type of thing. My first choice would probably be the Klickitat due to location and amount of birds.. I will let you all know how it goes and if it works out I would be happy to set up a group trip for next year! Seriously appreciate everyone who took the time to help out!!