Spring Turkey hunt 2021

[local.604]

Planning my first turkey hunt for this upcoming spring. From what I've dug up in forums, we will have to drive at least as far as rock creek. Much of what I've read is people suggesting door knocking until you find a property that will let you on. Given the current covid situation, I don't think many people will be receptive to out-of-towners showing up at their door and so we will stick to public lands.

Should I go at this like whitetail and set up on public land nearby the private and hope to catch something on the right side of the fence or are there good odds of finding one deeper into the bush?

So far my plan was to find a powerline/gas line cut and spend the first day or two walking it until we hear or see some action. Then we will have another couple days to sit and try to call one in. Curious what suggestions people would have for me, whether or not I'm on the right track - dont want your spot, just what type of environment I should be looking for.

[JSaw]

Spring time - South aspect with mix of good tree cover, open grass and some brush cover. Look for areas with large-branched roosting trees, don't worry about slope I've found them on 40%+ slope and flat ground and everything between.

No need to hunt the edge of private unless you know there are turkeys going between private and public. Calling them in is very difficult and finicky. I've had better luck being persistent and putting on kms until I hear or see one. Dawn is when I've found them to be the most active/noisy.

Goodluck.

[Bubbacanuck]

If you can, get out before the season opens and scout. Find where there are turkeys in a general area. when season opens, get back to that area and get out well before first light. Use an howl call, see if you can shock gobble a tom. Once the sun comes up, use a crow call. if still no shock gobble, get up and scout to see if you can locate them. Don't go after them or let them see you if you do find them. Watch them and try to watch what tree your target tom flies up into at the end of day to roost. Get back to that spot at 3am and sit and wait. once you hear the first couple birds, let out some light hen clucks and wooo in your tom. a couple decoys don't hurt if you got them. full camo as their eyesight is incredible. No movement, they will see it. Event watch your binos in the sun, reflection will give you away. they are much faster on the ground than you think, if you do spook them. They are tough to hunt but super fun. Locate, setup, call and blast them. Make sure you have a good turkey choke & shot and sight in before hand to ensure you have a good spray of pellets in the kill zone. Watch for ticks, they are out and will get all up in your shit if your not careful. Rock creek is the very edge of their zone. They are there but the further east you go the better your odds get. Good luck!

[cameron0518]

If you can, get out before the season opens and scout. Find where there are turkeys in a general area. when season opens, get back to that area and get out well before first light. Use an howl call, see if you can shock gobble a tom. Once the sun comes up, use a crow call. if still no shock gobble, get up and scout to see if you can locate them. Don't go after them or let them see you if you do find them. Watch them and try to watch what tree your target tom flies up into at the end of day to roost. Get back to that spot at 3am and sit and wait. once you hear the first couple birds, let out some light hen clucks and wooo in your tom. a couple decoys don't hurt if you got them. full camo as their eyesight is incredible. No movement, they will see it. Event watch your binos in the sun, reflection will give you away. they are much faster on the ground than you think, if you do spook them. They are tough to hunt but super fun. Locate, setup, call and blast them. Make sure you have a good turkey choke & shot and sight in before hand to ensure you have a good spray of pellets in the kill zone. Watch for ticks, they are out and will get all up in your shit if your not careful. Rock creek is the very edge of their zone. They are there but the further east you go the better your odds get. Good luck!

You can't get better advice than that. Well stated

[walks with deer]

If you can, get out before the season opens and scout. Find where there are turkeys in a general area. when season opens, get back to that area and get out well before first light. Use an howl call, see if you can shock gobble a tom. Once the sun comes up, use a crow call. if still no shock gobble, get up and scout to see if you can locate them. Don't go after them or let them see you if you do find them. Watch them and try to watch what tree your target tom flies up into at the end of day to roost. Get back to that spot at 3am and sit and wait. once you hear the first couple birds, let out some light hen clucks and wooo in your tom. a couple decoys don't hurt if you got them. full camo as their eyesight is incredible. No movement, they will see it. Event watch your binos in the sun, reflection will give you away. they are much faster on the ground than you think, if you do spook them. They are tough to hunt but super fun. Locate, setup, call and blast them. Make sure you have a good turkey choke & shot and sight in before hand to ensure you have a good spray of pellets in the kill zone. Watch for ticks, they are out and will get all up in your shit if your not careful. Rock creek is the very edge of their zone. They are there but the further east you go the better your odds get. Good luck!

I have done approach above..have just walked areas i seen them in past clucking tell i got a gobble have still hunted them like deer. all with good luck..my favorite though is drive east as far is you can for the day tell lunch..stop at pub for lunch have two three beers buy a 6pack of overpriced warm offsale and drive roads along the snow line blarring classics like copperhead road until you see a tom gobbling get out and shoot..lol

[HighCountryBC]

Best to get out and do a bit of scouting before the season if you can. If not, it usually doesn't take more than a few hours to locate some birds and you're in the game.

Turkeys are pretty habitual, even after they've been spooked. Figure out their daily routine and you'll have some success. I like to get in well before first light to have a few decoys set up. They will make a difference on a hung-up bird if they're laid out correctly. Afternoon is better than the mornings a lot of days as the hens have gone to the nest and the gobblers are out looking for love. Mornings can be tough if the toms fly down and link up with hens right away. During the evenings, I'm not very aggressive as the birds are making their way to the roost. Once roosted, it's game on the next day. We've killed a lot of birds this way.

Learn the different types of calls and when to use them and you'll have a ton of fun. I prefer mouth reeds as they're hands free and turkeys will pick up movement easily.

[Krico]

One thing I’ll add - don’t over call once you get a response. Less is more. The fact he’s gobbling away doesn’t mean he’s coming in - more likely it means he’s staying put waiting for you. In nature the hens go to the toms, not vice versa. You want him to hear you, then get curious and come looking. He knows where you are - EXACTLY where you are. Their sense of location, even from long distance, is incredible.

[browningboy]

Just curious, how do the birds taste? I've heard you don't even try the legs as they are tough as heck, but would the main body be good or are they requiring a lot of spices and basting?

[Krico]

Just curious, how do the birds taste? I've heard you don't even try the legs as they are tough as heck, but would the main body be good or are they requiring a lot of spices and basting?

They are just leaner than farmed birds. Taste is great. I’ve roasted, deep fried, slow cooked, even grilled them - all good but I prefer deep fried. Legs are tough as they spend their entire life running - I just use them for soup after the big meal.

[walks with deer]

They are just leaner than farmed birds. Taste is great. I’ve roasted, deep fried, slow cooked, even grilled them - all good but I prefer deep fried. Legs are tough as they spend their entire life running - I just use them for soup after the big meal.

yuo taste was great I marinate the legs than smoke than roast to soften them up.

[Redthies]

Just curious, how do the birds taste? I've heard you don't even try the legs as they are tough as heck, but would the main body be good or are they requiring a lot of spices and basting?

The turkeys I’ve shot have been some of the tastiest game meat I’ve ever had. I have a secret weapon in my wife as she can cook!

[Bubbacanuck]

Just curious, how do the birds taste? I've heard you don't even try the legs as they are tough as heck, but would the main body be good or are they requiring a lot of spices and basting?

Meat Eater cookbook has an amazing recipe for a Turkey Pozole that uses all the tough meat other than the breasts. I think wild turkey is some of the best game meat there is. I just wish I didn't have to drive 7hrs to get one :( Hopefully, the continue to thrive and expand their territory

[Krico]

I just wish I didn't have to drive 7hrs to get one

When I started turkey hunting I lived up north and used to drive 12 hours to get there lol.

[walker1985]

I seen there's a turkey season on the island. Has anybody done any hunting over there? Are they similar size compared to the Kootney area?

[Bubbacanuck]

I seen there's a turkey season on the island. Has anybody done any hunting over there? Are they similar size compared to the Kootney area?

I've looked into it and it seems mostly around the Shawnigan lake area. They are there but there isn't much crown land to hunt them on. Most tend to stay on or close to private land for the most part. They are a hearty species though, so I am sure over time they will expand their range. Best to get out and see if you find any

[Springer]

As far as calls go and the variety used, Can Electronic Calls be used in BC? im thinking of the variety of Coyotes, Crow etc used for shock Gobbling.

[HighCountryBC]

As far as calls go and the variety used, Can Electronic Calls be used in BC? im thinking of the variety of Coyotes, Crow etc used for shock Gobbling.

It's outlined clearly on page 15 of the regs under "It is Unlawful":

39. To use recorded or electronic calls to huntwildlife except Wolf, Coyote, Cougar, Lynxor bobcat or any bird listed in Schedule C(see “What is Wildlife?” Section).

Pretty easy to just use a hand call whether it be coyote, owl, crow etc. A lot easier than packing around an electronic call to get a shock gobble.