Spring Turkeys in the NE corner

[RB]

When is the "best" time for spring Turkeys in the NE corner? Is it early in the season, mid, later in the spring? Does it vary by unit? Just curious, been thinking about it since we saw a bunch last fall Deer hunting. Just a time frame not your "Honey Hole" hahaha 

[Mfowl]

Anytime you can get out there! But I know that's not what you are asking. The opener will be the most crowded. If you have private access then no problem, get after them. However, toms might be henned up and reluctant to come to calls. Mid season is good because hens likely will be nesting and toms can be vulnerable mid day once the hens have split off to lay. Late season can still be good but toms can be wary from pressure and worn out from the "rut." So tactics might need to be tweaked. Though I shot my biggest tom in the late season I prefer the front end, opener through early May. It's been my experience that you can find more birds willing to play the game in that time frame. Another thing to consider is the weather. A late, cold and wet spring may make for a tough opener as the birds might still be in winter patterns. Conversely, a dry warm spring might have the breeding season well underway by the time the season opens up. Hunting when you can is the best bet! Good luck and enjoy getting after them!

[turkeyfeather]

For me.....I have always had the most success the first week of May. Earlier than that the Tom's are much to preoccupied with the hens in their midst to go seeking out new ones. I wait till the initial breeding is over then go after the Tom's looking for hens they missed.

[bearpaw]

If you recognize the variations in spring turkey activity and adjust your hunting strategy and methods to accommodate those changes, you can be successful on nearly any day of the entire turkey season.

[Russ McDonald]

I would also say it is where to set up your hunt.  If you scout and find a roost tree set up early before sun up and you can be successful for most of the season.  As the season gets later and the hens go to incubating her eggs, they no longer go to the roost, so most roosted birds are toms and jakes.  You will have hens in the roost that haven't been bred to.  Most afternoon hunts I have found are alone tom's looking for love and come into your calling.  I have hunted in early season into mid May and have had success.  Early morning off the roost to mid afternoon.

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[RB]

Cool, thanks guys

[hunter399]

Snow might be still hanging around in higher elevations.
In the early season.
Otherwise I agree with bearpaw.

If you recognize the variations in spring turkey activity and adjust your hunting strategy and methods to accommodate those changes, you can be successful on nearly any day of the entire turkey season.

[jrebel]

In the area I hunt it is usually the last week of April fist week of May....but that is usually due to snow melt off and new growth / startup that the bugs love to frequent.  We have killed turkey earlier and later in the same area.....its just when they really frequent our spot in the masses. 

[Machias]

Heard my first gobbles of the season day before yesterday and this morning.  Can't wait!!  I always had better luck mid season and I also hardly go out anymore until 0830ish.  Most of my action comes between 0900 and 1130ish.

[Sakko300wsm]

Saw a nice group of 10 Tom’s and Jake’s yesterday- not a hen in the bunch

[buckfvr]

Im not seeing birds mixing yet, either all toms or all hens.

[Machias]

Im not seeing birds mixing yet, either all toms or all hens.

 

[KFhunter]

*not a turkey guy*

But even my unskilled attempts at calling turkey I can fanagle them in just about anytime

Sometimes they’re all flocked up so I call hens in like a bull that’s cowed up, get in close then challenge toms with a Tom or jake decoys on a submissive hen decoy

Sometimes the hens are all nesting and toms are running around in full rut trying to find a receptive hen so I use hen decoys and use feeding calls


I don’t know what I’m doing, so fwiw

I plan to hunt with a turkey guy this year so hope to learn a ton

I just like to take kids out for a turkey and hope to get better at it

[baldopepper]

This group wandered thru the yard this morning. All toms, no hens around yet

[idaho guy]

Heard my first gobbles of the season day before yesterday and this morning.  Can't wait!!  I always had better luck mid season and I also hardly go out anymore until 0830ish.  Most of my action comes between 0900 and 1130ish.

 


I had some gobbling today too. Took a short walk looking for horns. There were hens around with them also. Not really flocked up but kind of all over lol

[hunter399]

Right now....
Seems that birds are still in winter herds.
As the snow melts,they scratch through the dead grass looking for dormant bugs that can't get away from them.

[Sakko300wsm]

Right now....
Seems that birds are still in winter herds.
As the snow melts,they scratch through the dead grass looking for dormant bugs that can't get away from them.

Yep exactly. Just left our place in ferry county. Saw 4 groups of 8-10 Tom’s and Jake’s over the last 4 days. Actually never saw a single hen the whole time we were there

[Dan-o]

Shameless turkey sex right in the driveway north of Spokane a couple days ago.

[Machias]

Yesterday was the first time I saw a huge flock of hens and gobblers mixed together and had one tom strutting.  They are liking this warmer weather.    Love is in the air!

[hunter399]

Still haven't seen any strutting yet myself.
Not saying it's not happening,just haven't seen it.
Seen alot of turkey and deer in the fields yesterday ,on my way back from fishing.
The one group of toms I seen was still grouped up all toms in one group ,all hens in another.

This warmer weather will get it fired up ,I hope.

[syoungs]

got a picture of a couple toms starting to strut this morning, not in washington, but just across the border in northern idaho.

[Ridgeratt]

Off the back porch is alive with the sound of turkie luv. I had several different birds going off. While the dawg was doing her business.

[hunter399]

Took the kid to sight in his new red dot.
Took us a bit ,just to find a spot that wasn't snowed in.
Spring is dragging her feet this year.

[konradcountry]

The opener can be pretty crowded in some areas. The following weekend is definitely more relaxed.

I've talked to quite a few guys that preferred the first weekend of May but I'm usually busy then.

I would avoid the last week. It can be pretty warm and the Toms don't call back as much.

But I actually doubled once on the last week 

Luck beats any time of year.

[Ghost Hunter]

I'm about ready for the spring road trip.  Hoping trails will be loosened up enough that I can make it in.   

[baldopepper]

Snow is going out quickly down lower, but sides roads are a
 Muddy mess still. Still lots of snow up higher, 4' on Sherman pass . Lower roads should be good in another week if we don't  get another storm. Pulling Lake Roosevelt down quickly now, think it's about 1240 so some launches will be out of commission soon.

[10Key]

Snow is going out quickly down lower, but sides roads are a
 Muddy mess still. Still lots of snow up higher, 4' on Sherman pass . Lower roads should be good in another week if we don't  get another storm. Pulling Lake Roosevelt down quickly now, think it's about 1240 so some launches will be out of commission soon.

Snow is melting fast. Especially after days like today. Sounds like lake is to drop down to about 1240 and work on grand coulee for a couple of weeks...I hope they fill her up at least some come mid April.

[hunter399]

Snow is going out quickly down lower, but sides roads are a
 Muddy mess still. Still lots of snow up higher, 4' on Sherman pass . Lower roads should be good in another week if we don't  get another storm. Pulling Lake Roosevelt down quickly now, think it's about 1240 so some launches will be out of commission soon.

Snow is melting fast. Especially after days like today. Sounds like lake is to drop down to about 1240 and work on grand coulee for a couple of weeks...I hope they fill her up at least some come mid April.

I hope not.
I fish from shore though.
Lower the better ,when fishing in the mud from shore.

[shmacker]

Just had a lone Tom strutting in a group of a dozen hens on the ring camera.  Getting excited!

[highside74]

Was in contact the other day with the 2 farms we hunt. They both said it looks like more turkeys than last year. My boy and his buddy are pumped. Our Air bnb is dialed in less than 10 min from our hunting. Should be a bang flop kind of youth weekend. Can't wait.

[mcrawfordaf]

Hearing lots of gobbles and saw some shenanigans this weekend, Lincoln county. Seems to be heating up. FYI - we had about 2-3" of snow where I was on the opener last year.

[highcountry_hunter]

2 Tom’s all puffed up in the back field this morning. 5 miles out of colville


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[highside74]

Still patches of snow and everything is brown where we hunting not far from Fruitland.and Hunters. Nowhere near the numbers of birds as last year or the year before. Very little green in the fields. We will try and make the best of this weekend but it's not looking great.

[jrebel]

Still patches of snow and everything is brown where we hunting not far from Fruitland.and Hunters. Nowhere near the numbers of birds as last year or the year before. Very little green in the fields. We will try and make the best of this weekend but it's not looking great.

We are in the same general area and saw quite a few birds last weekend.  Lots of birds strutting.  The area we hunt still has lots of snow, which is very unusual.  It will pick up as the month goes on.  Not as many birds as a few years ago...but still quite a few running around. 

[highside74]

My buddies son with his 1st turkey

[RB]

Nice! 

[jrebel]

That's a very nice turkey....congrats. 

[Mfowl]

Great bird! Congrats!

[hunter399]

My buddies son with his 1st turkey

Heck ya!
 

[hunter399]

We did put a stalk on one Tom.
Got busted!
I did see a few toms strutted and puffed up.
Not very responsive to the call.
Weather is going freaking wild,snow,sun,rain,more snow,heavy wind.
Just all kinds of crazy.

[highside74]

Evening double for my son. Big flock with multiple birds of all ages. Smashed the Tom strutting our decoy then picked off a Jake at 40 yards. He asked if he could try and double and I told him only if he can see a beard. Boom shot number 2 rang out. He was a bit bummed about taking the Jake and walking up to it especially how he looked after flopping around in the water but that quickly went away with the joy of making an opening day double. We could have went 4 for 4 between the 2 of the boys on 3 different setups but we had some 1st ever hunt jitters at daylight. All in all a great weekend so far and we still have tomorrow morning.

[cjjcb]

 

[Dinkbears49]

Last year my brother in-law and I went end of April. For our first time we had a lot of success. called in 2 birds and saw even more. We found the middle of week to be best, less pressure in the nat. forest. couldn't get birds talking on the weekend, but weekdays was crazy! Good luck and don't be afraid to call your butt off and walk a bunch. I had no idea what I was doing, and managed. I am headed over May 4th-9th! super jacked!

[Rob]

The local Jakes are on full display right now in North Idaho!  Gobbling non-stop at times.

[Machias]

They were gobbling hard this morning!!  Good luck everyone and be safe!