Post by: AKBowman on April 06, 2011, 07:37:16 PM
I enjoy hunting public property much more than private, I find it really gratifying even if I am not successful.
I was planning on getting up into either the LPOWA or the Colville National Forest areas. Or possibly looking at going into the Huckleberry Mtns, looks like there are some good roadless areas in there. I was planning on looking for areas that were at least 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile off the road.
A couple questions I had are:
Am I on the right track or totally wasting my time?
If you get off the river or valley bottoms can you find a good amount of public property that holds birds that time of year?
If anyone has any additional info they would like to share I would gladly accept PM's.
I plan on posting pics of the hunt. Thanks again.
Post by: prophet on April 06, 2011, 08:49:03 PM
Post by: oldleclercrd on April 07, 2011, 07:56:01 AM
Post by: AKBowman on April 07, 2011, 09:39:03 AM
Also if the snow is completely gone by then will the birds work their way up to the tops of the hills?
Post by: quadrafire on April 07, 2011, 09:52:20 AM
Post by: 10Key on April 07, 2011, 10:02:48 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on April 07, 2011, 10:32:04 AM
And no real expert,
but my advice for hunting turkeys "over the hill" in the second week of season and later,
The turkeys have been listening to at least a week solid of every "locator" call, been bumped, pushed prodded etc, by a lot of hunters.
The dumb ones and Jakes have been shot.
Probably your best bet would be to treat it like Elk hunting, just at dark, drive or hike to ridgelines, and cover as much ground in the next hour as you can, try to get a "shock Gobble" from a roost, if you get one, remember (or mark) spot and move on, find as many as you can so you have a place (or places) to hunt in the morning.
Use something different, everybody and their uncle has been crow calling, owl hooting, etc.
Try an Elk "Bark", coyote "yip" or predator call.
Hopefully the hens will be laying, so hunt all day, when they leave the toms to go to their nests, the toms get pretty lonely, and might come looking for a "new girl"
If you see hens, stick around, there will be a tom somewhere close.
Good Luck !
Post by: turkeydancer on April 08, 2011, 06:43:12 AM
Post by: AKBowman on April 08, 2011, 08:44:20 AM
Appreciate the help.
I've got an old (1932) Ithaca "featherweight" side-by-side choked in Full and Improved Mod I killed a Jake with at about 40 yds back in college. Patterns out good with #6 shot out to about 40yds max. My dad's killed everything with that gun from Foxes to Greater Canada's. Dont know what happened to the pics I had when I killed the Turkey in college (no digital camera back then) so I really want to get one down with the Ithaca and get some nice pics to send to him and my uncle back in Wisconsin (my uncle has an identical gun my grandfather bought two from a door to door salesman in the 1950's for $35!)
Anyhow, thanks for the help and I will be sure to post some pics up regardless. Best of luck to you guys/gals!!
Post by: AKBowman on April 08, 2011, 08:59:02 AM
Goos luck at getting one on the Wet side with your stick, Ive been kind of keeping track of your saga/quest for a west side turkey for quite a while. I hope you accomplish your goal!
Post by: Seatown5 on April 08, 2011, 09:22:26 AM
Post by: AKBowman on April 08, 2011, 01:03:14 PM
Good luck!