Turkey behaviors and scouting tips

[Kyleb100]

A couple of friends and I decided to bow hunt for turkeys this year and it's a first for all of us.  We drove all around the outskirts of Walla Walla and hiked quite a bit to try and find a decent spot with turkeys.  The only luck we had, was finding some foot prints and poop.. yet when ever we did see turkeys, they were in somebodies yard strutting around mocking us.  I'm not one for knocking on doors and asking for permission, so that's why I am coming to you guys for some tips.  We were out and about right at day break and didn't see a thing, yet we found poop that appeared to be fresh.  We followed all the ravines and creek beds we could, still nothing.  It was a pretty windy day, does this cause them to hunker down?  Do they seem to like the brushy areas or wooded areas?  And what sort of behavior patterns do they seem to have?  Birds of habit, or completely random?  I'm used to hunting animals that have predictable behavior patterns so this might be a tough one for me.

Last but not least, should I forget about Walla Walla all together and head out to the Tucannon area to start scouting, or is it worthwhile to stick to the Walla Walla area since it is closer to home?

Thanks in advance!

Kyle

[yelp]

First of all Welcome to the site.  I would say that if I was you I would do some reading on the internet about turkeys. There is a lot of info on this site for starters.  

I guess in simple terms...Think elk in the rut!  That is what is going on right now.  Wild Turkey Toms have a pecking order and they will fight eachoother and then seperate and cull out hens in the early spring and then go into a breeding routine.  YOu have satelite toms that try and take hens away..So right now the flocks are breaking up and they are moving out into traditional breeding/nesting areas (somewhat patternable).  

The best way to find turkeys is to roost them via shock gobbling.  I drive roads and coyote call night before dark to locate toms.  This narrow the field.  Then try and set up on them in the morning.  Early season hunting means competing with hens.  90% of the time hens go to the gobblers to be bred.  Turkey hunters try and do the opposite of what hnormally happens.  The Walla Walla Area has birds but the Tucannon Area does too.  I would start knocking on doors if you haven't already.  In May many of the flocks will go up drainages to higher elevations later in the Spring.  Hens dictate these movements.  Many hens will move into nesting areas some of these are traditional.  Usually where there are hens there are toms.  

Good Luck this spring and if you are finding sign..that is a great start.  Look for *censored* that looks like cigarette butts (j shaped) vs a corkscrew shape (hen)..If it feels warm its really fresh..LOL  Just kidding.  But that is a true statement..LOL.  The best advice is if you hunt private land..treat the landowner with respect.  Public Land also can be a zoo, especially the Tucannon.  Mid week hunting can be good vs. weekends.  

[Kyleb100]

Yelp, thanks for the great reply.  I haven't knocked on doors yet and hadn't planned on it, because I hate bothering people.  I am sure they get cornered by hunters plenty as it is.  I primarily do most of my hunting on private land as it is, but the only thing it doesn't have on it is turkeys I'm afraid!

When you go out and coyote call the night before, do you make a howl/challenge call?  From what I understand, shock gobbling is using a call to startle the turkey and when startled they tend to gobble back?

We tried calling from the truck quite a bit, but never received a response.  I'm wondering if it's still to early and they aren't being very competitive yet.

I'm starting to think the Tucannon area is a bad idea since it's such a hot spot, there would be quite a bit of competition.  I'll most likely stick to the Walla Walla area, plus it's only an hour drive from Tri-cities.

[yelp]

Howl..once softley then wait a minute and howl agian but louder.  Don't tip your hand..don't turkey call until you have moved in and set up..I use crow, woodpecker, goose and coyote calls to locate a gobbler before setting up and then calling to him.  Landowners are landowners..many of them do get bothered but they realize that you are making an effort to do things the right way.. Also you may not see turkeys on your property now but maybe later this season you will keep an eye on it.  Good luck.

[JKEEN33]

We tried calling from the truck quite a bit, but never received a response.  I'm wondering if it's still to early and they aren't being very competitive yet.

I see a lot of guys doing this where I hunt. They don't get a responce and think there are no turkey there. I walk in half a mile to a mile and a half and they are everywhere. I avoid calling from my truck or anytime soon after exiting my truck.

If you found tracks and poop you probably have a good spot to start.

I'm not sure about the Walla Walla area, but I just got back from a trip up North to take a look around before the youth hunt and it was cold, snowy and the birds were still flocked up.

[Kyleb100]

I did purchase a crow call and it was pretty simple to pick up on since I have called ducks quite a bit.  Same basic principles anyway..  We tried calling when we were hiking around too... we probably walked about 4 or 5 miles on hilly terrain, wasn't too fun since I am still recovering from a  flu/cold combo.  Didn't get a single response when walking or driving.  Could also be because my friend is still picking up on how to use his diaphragm call, but it's sounding very convincing to my untrained ear.

The birds were still flocked up in Walla Walla too, groups ranging from 5 - 15.  Saw a couple of groups with more than one Tom.

Has anyone used a fawn/rabbit distress call for shock gobbling?  I already have one of these.  I'd like to avoid having to explain to my wife why I had to buy a howl call since she already thinks I'm nuts for buying as much stuff as I have, just to shoot a turkey.

Thanks for the help, hope I can pay it forward one day.

[Kyleb100]

I may get the cojones up to knock on a few doors next weekend, we'll see.  The thing I like about turkey season is that it's really long compared to other seasons.  It'll give me some time to adjust if I need to find a different or better location.

Do turkeys tend to stay in cover until the sun breaks?  And do they tend to walk around throughout the day, or do they hole up for most of the afternoon?

Forgot to mention, I've been a rifle hunter all of my life until a month ago.  My friend invited me to come shoot bows with him and his dad and I decided why not, it's better then sitting around the house.  Next thing you know his Dad handed me his "spare" to plink with and then I was asking him how much he wanted to sell it for.  The rest is history.  So to break into the archery scene I'd like to bag a turkey for my first accomplishment.

I plan on using broadheads instead of the guillotine style since I will more than likely pick an easier body shot rather than shooting the head.  Plus I have heard mixed reviews on the guillotines.  Any tips from all of you archery hunters out there?

[JKEEN33]

I did purchase a crow call and it was pretty simple to pick up on since I have called ducks quite a bit.  Same basic principles anyway..  We tried calling when we were hiking around too... we probably walked about 4 or 5 miles on hilly terrain, wasn't too fun since I am still recovering from a  flu/cold combo.  Didn't get a single response when walking or driving.  Could also be because my friend is still picking up on how to use his diaphragm call, but it's sounding very convincing to my untrained ear.

The birds were still flocked up in Walla Walla too, groups ranging from 5 - 15.  Saw a couple of groups with more than one Tom.

Has anyone used a fawn/rabbit distress call for shock gobbling?  I already have one of these.  I'd like to avoid having to explain to my wife why I had to buy a howl call since she already thinks I'm nuts for buying as much stuff as I have, just to shoot a turkey.

Thanks for the help, hope I can pay it forward one day.

Don't bring up prices. As soon as you get one to gobble back to your call, you will understand the addiction. I hunt just about everything you can in WA, but this is by far the most fun I have every year. Calling one in for the kids where you get to call and watch the kid hunting is a lot of fun. I Prefer it to getting one myself anymore.  Take your wife out and call one in for her. Everyone I call a turkey in for gets hooked on this.

Good luck!

[Kyleb100]

She would probably really enjoy me calling in a turkey for her, especially if I promise to clean it and cook it.  Maybe I'll give that a shot once I get good enough so I don't make an ass(even bigger) out of myself.

[Kyleb100]

Thanks for all of the responses, this should lead me in the right direction.  You saved me a bunch of time scouring through other web sites and forums by putting it all into one thread.  Appreciate it.