Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: HoofsandWings on October 26, 2009, 09:25:46 PM

Title: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: HoofsandWings on October 26, 2009, 09:25:46 PM: Should I go for a tom or a hen? Which are the best eating in the fall?
I got a hen for the early fall season, but it was a tough bird. Like trying to eat shoe leather.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: NWTFhunter on October 26, 2009, 10:18:03 PM: Guess it depends where your hunting... I think most of the 100 units is beardless only even for the late hunt.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on October 27, 2009, 08:21:17 AM: I'll have to oduble check, but I thought 101 thru 124 were open for 1 either sex from Nov 20 - Dec 15. By the way, nothing like a mature tom in my book.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: wannabhntr on October 28, 2009, 01:47:37 AM: It is either sex in GMU's 105-124. Since were on the topic of fall season, do you call in the fall, and if so, what calls do you use? Another question. I have had decent success calling in the spring, but I think I'm doing something wrong with my decoys. For what ever reason, the birds seem to spook when they get close (20 - 30 yards) . I haven't hunted in a couple years, but the last year I did, I called in around 11 different birds and not one came in strutting. It's almost as if they flare when they see the decoys. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: alwinearcher on October 28, 2009, 06:40:54 AM: Quote from: wannabhntr on October 28, 2009, 01:47:37 AM
It is either sex in GMU's 105-124. Since were on the topic of fall season, do you call in the fall, and if so, what calls do you use? Another question. I have had decent success calling in the spring, but I think I'm doing something wrong with my decoys. For what ever reason, the birds seem to spook when they get close (20 - 30 yards) . I haven't hunted in a couple years, but the last year I did, I called in around 11 different birds and not one came in strutting. It's almost as if they flare when they see the decoys. Any suggestions?
I am a fan of calling lots in the fall, they are grouped up in big flocks and vey vocal.
The kee-kee call works great ad I also like to imitate the loudest most vocal hen I can get to respond. That will usually piss her off and get her coming along with the rest of the flock.
As far as decoys, call me crazy but I have never had very good luck with decoys in wa, even more so if they are hunted birds. It will also depend on what decoy you are useing though, alot of the decoys on the market look like crap and the turkeys know it once they move in a little.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on October 28, 2009, 12:21:47 PM: I only call only if I need to and then usually sparely, especially if they aren't calling much ... but I do use the fall kee-kee-runs mostly, and hen assembly calls if the kee-kees aren't working as well as I like (ie - piss the lead hen off as stated above) ... sometimes I mix both. I even use gobbles and gobbler yelps. remember if you want a tom to come in then make tom sounds, and if you want a hen, jake or jenny to make their sounds.

As far as decoys, I usually won't use them much early in the spring season, because the birds are still henned up and the hen will often times not want to share her tom ... sometimes I will just see if they shie away or not. Later on in the season, I will use them more often, but have taken the store bought dekes and used model car paint to make them look more realistic.
Do not set them to close together, because birds "bunching" up is a sign of danger to them. I also set them out only about 15 - 20 yards maximum, because it is not natural for them to hear a bird calling in one location and see the birds in another location further away (they can pin point to within a foot or two where your calling location is from fairly great distances). Sometimes a passive jake works better than an agressive jake too, especially if he's not the dominate bird in the area (he just doesn't want another whipping). I also like to sit in a position anytime of the year that they are within harvest when they get to a point they can visually see my setup ... I don't care if I see them come across a 1000 yard field, I can't shoot that far (most of my birds have been harvested at 20 yards or less).

Good luck ... :twocents:
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: wannabhntr on October 28, 2009, 04:38:07 PM: Thanks for the info. I'll make a note of it and hopefully it pays off.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: Dustin07 on October 28, 2009, 06:31:51 PM: i've been told that since they are not horny in the fall you can rush the flock to split them up just before roosting, then call them in the morning when they try to regroup with each other. otherwise, they aren't too attached to the opposite sex since its not breeding season.. just what I read? but noticed that calls pulled in less response last month so.... :dunno:
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: WhiskyRiver on October 29, 2009, 01:07:49 PM: Quote from: turkeydancer on October 28, 2009, 12:21:47 PM
and hen assembly calls if the kee-kees aren't working as well as I like (ie - piss the lead hen off as stated above) ... sometimes I mix both. I even use gobbles and gobbler yelps. remember if you want a tom to come in then make tom sounds, and if you want a hen, jake or jenny to make their sounds.

Hi Everyone...

I have what is probably an idiodic question, but I'm still a newbie so I'm hoping it's allowed ;)... I've seen on various topics a few times reference to "hen assembly calls" and honestly I'm not sure what that is!!! I know the kee-kee, yelps & gobbles but would someone be so kind as to let me know what an assembly call consists of/what to use (mouth, box, slate, etc)...

Thanks! :D
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on November 10, 2009, 06:03:18 PM: Suggest going to www.nwtf.org and clicking on their turkey sounds then the assembly call (its a series of about 15 yelps).

Splitting the flock is good anytime of day ... however it requires more than one person rushing the flock if you want to really scatter them to the four winds versus pushing them all in one direction. If you do succeed in a good scatter, sit down at the breaking spot and wait for a few minutes. Usually need to call sooner than later for getting the toms back ... if wanting to take a hen or poult wait 30-40 minutes.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on November 11, 2009, 07:48:48 PM: Here's the link:

http://www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkeys/calling_tips.html

Just pick the turkey sound you want to learn, listen, and then practice, practice, practice both the rythmn and inflections.

Good luck ....
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: yelp on November 12, 2009, 04:58:59 PM: A fall longbeard..nothing better. :) Taking the wife out ..sounds like I get to wear the snow camo again...pic from a few years ago..
Title: Re: Late Season is underway
Post by: HoofsandWings on December 03, 2009, 09:36:22 AM: Hey Yelp,
I am hearing of reports of some mighty large turkeys over by Colville. I still have a tag to fill.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkey slayer on December 03, 2009, 02:17:05 PM: Hoofsandwings,

Just got off the phone with my uncle and he said that the birds are really starting to pack in at his dairy. To taday first thing he said that he had over 300 bird at his place. Should be a good weekend for you guys with the cold weather staying here for a while. Good luck if you come over.

Slayer
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on December 04, 2009, 11:42:37 AM: Hoof and Wings and Yelp,

Better hurray over, there only may be 298 birds left by the time you arrive!! ;)

Good luck with your Fall Turkey Adventures.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: yelp on December 05, 2009, 01:44:26 PM: Thanks for leaving a few..
any Toms left?
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkey slayer on December 06, 2009, 08:38:11 AM: well yelp, There is 297 left on the dairy, and a few tom and jakes. I'll do a write up later with pics. Good luck
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: yelp on December 06, 2009, 06:49:12 PM: We tried but we got out there late..we both missed turkeys. My wife shot at one and it was to far. I shot at a nice tom and he ducked when I pulled the trigger. Oh well. Saw lots of birds and hiked my butt off. My son was excited and bored all in the same hour. Maybe we will get up there again..We had a blast..no pun intended. :) The cold air smelled good.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on December 06, 2009, 07:44:58 PM: I went over Friday and got to my landowners about 1 pm, dropped off some thank you gifts, and then went hunting. About 3 dozen birds came in feeding about 50 yards up the hill from my setup about 3 pm and were heading slowly my way and I could see another group of over 3 dozen coming behind them a hundred yards back. A neighbor up the hill from my landowners came out about 3:15, started banging on a bucket of feed and started throwing out handfulls. Got to watch every turkey in the neighborhood change direction and head on up there until nearly dark ... ended up about 80+ turkeys that I got to watch fly up from the neighbors versus from my landowners like usual. :o

Well, figured I'ld just set up the blind along with the tripod stool and 5000 BTU heater for the cold of the next morning (and so glad I did ... brrrr). Got into the blind about 6:30 am the next morning, watched them fly down about 07:20, and then start slowly feeding my way. At 8 am, they had fed to within 20 yards and I dropped my bird. Made it home by 3:30 pm anyway and have 4 wild ones in the freezer even after cooking 1 for T-day. :drool:

There was still at least 8 huge toms and a lot of jakes for the spring. Can hardly wait ... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: Birdguy on December 06, 2009, 08:45:31 PM: Sounds like a great trip Turkeydancer. Hope the winter is easier on them then the last couple. Perhaps the neighbors feeding program will help :bash:. Glad all went well and you are home safe. It is also nice to know the gun is still shooting straight, maybe it is the cold weather :chuckle:.
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkey slayer on December 06, 2009, 09:47:36 PM: yelp,

did you go over to my uncles?
Title: Re: Late fall season is a month away
Post by: turkeydancer on December 07, 2009, 07:12:30 AM: :hello:
Thanks BirdGuy - I must have pulled the trigger at the right shake (bbbbrrrrrr), had both eyes closed, or similar. :chuckle:

How did you do Yelp? :dunno: