Post by: Jarredhs on May 01, 2023, 09:28:28 AM
I just shot my first turkey in my life in central Washington in April at 2500 feet, but after another trip back I couldn’t find any gobbling, or find any sign on anything on the ridges i hiked around at similar elevation. So I am wondering, do I need to just go higher. If yes how high until I stop and say “okay this area doesn’t have turkeys and go to the next area”. (Yes I know central wa isn’t great)
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 01, 2023, 10:39:58 AM
And just a reminder, if you're in Kittitas or Yakima county it's a single bird limit :tup:
Post by: trophyhunt on May 01, 2023, 12:14:27 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 01, 2023, 12:26:17 PM
Karl, you have faaaarr more knowledge about turkeys than me I'm 100% sure of that. But I thought NO way would we see a turkey when we checked out a spot a couple weeks ago, it had lots of snow! As we were getting to the spot, I said to my son in law, no way there are turkeys up here.... just as the words left my mouth he says, look a turkey!! Wouldn't have believed him it I didn't see it. I know you said there are exceptions, you are correct again!!was it high elevation or just still snowy? Turkeys will live in deep snow no problem. Around Yakima/Kittitas the snow level is up pretty high (4k+ ish). I haven't ever run into birds that high in these parts. But as I said, exceptions to every rule.
Post by: baldopepper on May 01, 2023, 12:37:59 PM
Post by: Russ McDonald on May 01, 2023, 04:44:51 PM
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
Post by: trophyhunt on May 01, 2023, 05:03:29 PM
not sure the elevation, but it was higher than our other spotsKarl, you have faaaarr more knowledge about turkeys than me I'm 100% sure of that. But I thought NO way would we see a turkey when we checked out a spot a couple weeks ago, it had lots of snow! As we were getting to the spot, I said to my son in law, no way there are turkeys up here.... just as the words left my mouth he says, look a turkey!! Wouldn't have believed him it I didn't see it. I know you said there are exceptions, you are correct again!!was it high elevation or just still snowy? Turkeys will live in deep snow no problem. Around Yakima/Kittitas the snow level is up pretty high (4k+ ish). I haven't ever run into birds that high in these parts. But as I said, exceptions to every rule.
Post by: slavenoid on May 01, 2023, 07:57:18 PM
Post by: CaNINE on May 04, 2023, 01:08:07 PM
Post by: GASoline71 on May 04, 2023, 06:59:32 PM
I don't know the answer but opening weekend I got way high into some nasty snow where no turkey should be. Once I got the truck turned around and pointed downhill I watched a bearded hen walk up the snow covered road right to me before she pitched off into the roost.
Turkeys are like elk... just when you think you have them figured out, they pull a new trick out of their playbook! :o :chuckle:
Gary
Post by: Meow on May 04, 2023, 07:12:35 PM
Set up camp last night around 3200’. Birds around but not much talking. The heat and pressure change probably isn’t helping. Will keep after it through the weekend.
I've made a couple of trips over to the NE corner this season. The only gobbles I've heard were on the roost on only one morning. I saw a strutting tom chasing a hen, but it was about 20 yards from someone's camp. :bash:
I heard/saw hens anywhere from 2k to 4.5k ft, including an area just melting out. With the toms not talking it was hard for me to keep my stoke up, as that's my favorite part of turkey hunting.
Post by: salish on May 05, 2023, 09:17:25 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2023, 09:58:57 AM
The only ways I see that elevation is factor, in the winter birds come lower to get out of snow and find feed, in the spring birds spread out in every direction, but snow prevents hunters from getting into some areas until snow melts enough. Find the right food, cover, and escapement and you will find turkeys! We hunt all elevations and kill lots of birds at all elevations!
Just my honest :twocents:
Post by: bearpaw on May 05, 2023, 10:11:50 AM
Honestly I think elevation is irrelevant. It seems to me our birds flock up in the fall and spend winter near livestock feeding operations, humans who feed them, or slopes that bare off during winter where birds can scratch for food. In the spring the flocks start breaking up, some birds stay low, others spread out in every direction. Birds end up clear to the tops of local mountains, some are still along the shores of Roosevelt, and other birds are scattered in between.
The only ways I see that elevation is factor, in the winter birds come lower to get out of snow and find feed, in the spring birds spread out in every direction, but snow prevents hunters from getting into some areas until snow melts enough. Find the right food, cover, and escapement and you will find turkeys! We hunt all elevations and kill lots of birds at all elevations!
Just my honest :twocents:
To add a little more to this, this morning I killed two birds at about 1700 feet, another guide's hunter missed a bird at about 2900, then that hunter killed another bird at probably 1850, and yet another guide's hunter killed another bird at about 1700-1800, I happen to know the approx elevation of all those areas but elevation really had nothing to do with it, it's not anything we consider when deciding where to hunt, we simply go to traditional good turkey areas that will be home to birds every single year.