Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: strutnrut1984 on May 16, 2009, 09:36:28 PM

Title: going for the slam
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 16, 2009, 09:36:28 PM: well 2 down 1 to go im doing some serious research to get my rio grande, i have 8 days to hunt before the season is over. trying to put a trip together now to se washington. hopefully it comes together,its been a great season. i usually go back east to hunt pa and ohio. this season i decided to hunt here in washington. im glad i got the tough one out of the way early the eastern on 4-20 in whatcom county, and the merriams in okanogan on 5-13. i really appreciate all the good info from this web site and im always willing to return the favor to anyone. thanks again strut
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: jackelope on May 16, 2009, 09:38:17 PM: good luck strut.

lots of turkeys in 175 lick creek up asotin creek or out of pomeroy.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 16, 2009, 10:20:41 PM: Good luck strut, Hope you can get it done! :tup:
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: Wacenturion on May 17, 2009, 07:55:44 AM: Good luck....hope you are successful.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: turkeydancer on May 17, 2009, 11:02:00 AM: :yeah:

My best wishes too ... let us know and post your pics ....
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: tlbradford on May 17, 2009, 03:20:40 PM: I wish I could help, but I haven't sone any turkey hunting down that way. Good luck and shoot straight. Hope you complete the slam.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 19, 2009, 04:53:39 PM: heading over next wednesday to try and complete the slam
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: Wacenturion on May 19, 2009, 06:30:31 PM: Going to SE Washington or Lincoln County?
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: mtnseth on May 20, 2009, 08:08:51 AM: Good luck! I picked up my third down in the SE last week. Long battle. Hopefully the warm weather will get them fired up for you. They were silent and generally disinterested when I hunted them, but the weather was terrible. Got any pics of your eastern?
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: boneaddict on May 20, 2009, 08:12:32 AM: You guys are some dedicated Turkey men.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: Wacenturion on May 20, 2009, 08:18:56 AM: Quote from: mtnseth on May 20, 2009, 08:08:51 AM
Good luck! I picked up my third down in the SE last week. Long battle. Hopefully the warm weather will get them fired up for you. They were silent and generally disinterested when I hunted them, but the weather was terrible. Got any pics of your eastern?

Mtnseth.......here's the link with the photo of his Eastern.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,25701.0.html
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: mtnseth on May 20, 2009, 08:55:56 AM: Quote
You guys are some dedicated Turkey men.

If you're talking about me, I think you mean "deranged"... :chuckle:

I had no intention of pursuing the slam before the season started. I thought I would chase some easterns this season and probably not see or hear anything again (like all of last season), then go east and bag one in Stevens or somewhere.

But once I called up and killed my eastern tom on opening day, I had to give the slam a shot. Then I became obsessed. I bagged the Merriam the next week, then it took me another 8-10 days of hard hunting (spread over three weeks) to get my Rio. That's a lot of driving from Tacoma. I don't think my wife (who had to look after my new gsp pup in my absence) has forgiven me yet!

The Rios were a real challenge. Until the moment it all came together I was pretty convinced I would have to settle for the multiple season pin. Quiet woods and bad weather were making for some tough hunting, plus the last weeks of May were filling up fast.

I've got the three fans and beards drying out right now. It's funny: My eastern's fan looks a little light on the tips for an eastern. But it's basically indistinguishable in color from the bird I shot in Stevens, which was very dark. Then I bag a Rio in Columbia Co. that is solid white on the tips. Go figure...

Good luck to you. There are a ton of birds down there (if you go SE), and I hope you find one willing to play!
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 20, 2009, 11:04:26 AM: lol yes my obsesseion with turkey and deer hunting was a big part of why im no longer married
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: ratherhunt on May 21, 2009, 07:31:47 AM: Good Luck on the Grand Slam !!!!
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 27, 2009, 10:22:23 PM: well my season is over, wasnt able to go over and try to complete the slam too many obligations. oh well it was still a great season. once again thanks strut
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: turkeydancer on May 28, 2009, 07:09:22 AM: Too bad Strut ... but getting the Eastern still makes you one of the more successful, elite Wa. turkey hunters out there this year .... congrats again.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: strutnrut1984 on May 28, 2009, 11:03:10 AM: thanks dancer, that eastern was a culmanation of 4 yrs of hard scouting. up here in the north sound. there arnt many birds but they can be found. would love to see a trap and transfer program started up here with easterns. the habitat is perfect i think even mor so than sw washington
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: turkeydancer on May 28, 2009, 11:47:39 AM: Currently only 0.1 % of state harvest is on the westside north of I90 area and a little over 1% south on westside where hunter populations are greater. That needs to change for sure ... WDFW has been the hold up :mor:
My understanding is that national (NWTF) is to send out 2 biologists and together with the local biologist work with WDFW to fire up traps and transfers beginning in your area and the westside in general. But don't hold your breath .... :twocents:

Until we get something better going on this side, I guess we have no choice but to burn shoe leather in search of the phantoms .....
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: Wacenturion on May 28, 2009, 01:05:24 PM: Lets hope the two from National exhibit some common sense this time and pursue the continuance of Easterns in western Washington. Their last recommendation for Rio's was absurd, and eventually led to nothing happening. If they come up with that again, I'll be opposing them at every turn. Frickin morons.........
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: Wacenturion on May 28, 2009, 01:06:54 PM: Oh...and Strut....congrats on your great season and getting that Eastern. Sorry things came up and derailed your Rio attempt. Those things happens some times.
Title: Re: going for the slam
Post by: turkeydancer on May 28, 2009, 02:24:52 PM: Maybe everyone can get in on the ground floor next time and try to use a common sense approach ...
:violent1: