The 2022 Turkey Thread!

[Redthies]

It’s time to start thinking about it...

https://i.postimg.cc/jddn2hY2/ABF4-FE00-2-E68-4939-A089-F5-D53-C810-A9-D.jpg (https://postimg.cc/JtvzdZnC)

[gbrown001]

Last year I ran into more turkey hunters than any other year in my experience since the general open season. The bored covid crowd was probably a factor. I'm not looking forward to the crowds on an easter long weekend. I just hope I can find a little patch of bush for me and my 2 young sons to do some calling without someone taking a bead on my decoys.

[Redthies]

Let’s hope it’s a quiet but productive season. I was shocked by the number of people in my spot last year, but we had 3 birds down in the first 1/2 hour. Saw the same group wandering around looking for birds a couple of times. I’m sure they were shocked by the number of shots we let out very quickly, and how fast we were wandering back to camp carrying our birds!

[upperleftcoaster]

I just got a new pot call, time to start practicing! I think my diaphragm calling will be better this season after having a good fall with the elk calls.

Got into birds last year but didn’t get one. Looking forward to this season!

[Redthies]

Good luck ULC. I have had no luck with diaphragm calls. I just can’t get the darn things to make a sound. I’ll try again this year, but I have had enough success without a mouth call to not be too concerned.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

I think it best to wait until the first week of May. Let the people have their fun Easter weekend. Let a little more green grass grow, a couple of the boss hens get bred, and go out a little later. April 30th or better May 7th if you dont have Mother's day commitments heck even the last weekend... that's the one I'm gunning for! Not to mention just increases your odds to run into a little bear meat too. Though I've seen two each both of the last two years scouting the opener.

I'm headed to MX to hunt Gould's. My excuse for missing the BC Opener.

[maze]

First year hunting more than waterfowl. Me and a buddy are really looking forward to putting our practice into play. I've been working hard on learning to call with multiple types of calls, and i'm hoping that contributes to a successful hunt.

Got my black bear tag in case.

[Redthies]

Don’t call too often...

[maze]

Don’t call too often...

Any tips to further that tip? I'll be using decoys if that changes anything.

[Forks]

Any tips to further that tip? I'll be using decoys if that changes anything.

Stay hidden/camo as best you can. When you hear the turkeys coming in, Minimize movement. I learned last year that not having the gun ready is a bad idea. the slight movement to shoulder it got a couple gobblers running.
Be patient

[maze]

Thanks a lot! i got a leafy suit, so i think i'll be okay camo-wise haha.

[HighCountryBC]

I don't really subscribe to the idea that you can over call with turkeys. We've been killing multiple mature birds every year for a long time. If a tom is henned up, you need to get aggressive so you can either pull him away from that group or agitate the lead hen to the point she wants to come investigate. Hens have a hierarchy as well and they don't appreciate random ladies on their turf. We've watched mature toms (not jakes) strutting around with hens for hours with us calling back and forth until we either split one of the toms off from the group or have a hen come running over. Lots of times it has lead to the entire flock heading our way.

Most hunters don't realize that it's the hens that go to the toms, not the other way around.

A pretty successful tactic that we've used over the years is this:
We keep it pretty low intensity for the evenings as birds are heading to their roost trees. The goal is to locate birds for the next morning and figure out where they're likely to fly down and start strutting. No point spooking them and having them fly down the mountain as they'll glide considerable distances. Hike in early in the dark without headlamps and get our decoys set up. Most times the birds will start sounding off on their own but a little bit of encouragement never hurts. Your set up is most important (no decoys in front of you on the same line the birds will likely come in on, gun at the ready and stay nice and concealed). This has resulted in a lot of dead birds shortly after first light.

I'll never set up in a spot if I don't have birds roosted or located. In this case, it's just a matter of covering ground and getting a bird to answer back - game on. Crow calls are great for getting a shock gobble and locating a tom. In the late morning and afternoon, I'm usually just walking and using a variety of hen calls to try and get a response. We don't always use decoys but they can be great for getting a tom to commit when he's hung up out of range, strutting back and forth waiting for the hen to come to him.

That's what's worked for us over the years. Hope it helps a few of you.

[maze]

Well, i'll be in the woods for 4 days, so i'll be giving this strategy a try haha! Thanks HighCountry.

[walks with deer]

How about scratch this thread and focus on upcoming harvest policy.

[Forks]

How about scratch this thread and focus on upcoming harvest policy.
care to elaborate? is this in reference to the 7A/7B/6?

[HighCountryBC]

How about scratch this thread and focus on upcoming harvest policy.

Plenty of attention on the harvest policy amendments and what resident hunters can do to contribute.

We'll keep the focus of the turkey thread on turkeys. Thanks, Chief.

[Bubbacanuck]

How about scratch this thread and focus on upcoming harvest policy.

How about contribute to the thread or move on lol. The nerve of some people on this forum is beyond comprehension. Ego's galore

[Bubbacanuck]

Spring turkey hunts are a ton of fun. I've been lucky to harvest a few birds over the past years.

High Country has it well laid out. I try to locate birds during the day/afternoon/last light. Watch from a distance and see where I think they will roost or even try to watch which tree they roost in. A key factor is determining how you will get to the birds the next morning. I've made the mistake of just looking at maps but then I get there in the morning and the snow at a point in the road is way to high to pass by and created for a much longer hike in than planned. This led to me coming down the skidder road hearing the gobbles from the roost. Not what I planned. Next, it is really important to understand the direction birds will want to pitch out of the tree. Most birds are on a hill somewhat, and they will typically pitch up hill and land in a somewhat open area. Don't setup under their roost tree lol.

You can sneak in on the birds if you are slow and quiet and have cover. Otherwise, bad idea as they will see you and be gone never to be seen again.

Roost the night before. Scout your way into the area. Setup above the birds in the dark before they are awake. Think 3am in your spot. Ticks are there, so tuck your pants into your socks etc. After your hunt, ensure you inspect for ticks well.

If you get into position before the birds wake, setup your decoys and wait. In my experience, birds will sound off on their own. I don't call while in their roost, as I've seen them pitch and glide km's away never to be seen. They will see your decoys and likely come in on their own.

Another thing, if the birds do pitch and glide a distance away don't assume they knew you were there. Many public land birds are sketchy and don't trust anything. There is a good chance they will circle back around and come from another direction to check out your decoys. Be patient and stay put. Have the gun at the ready and ensure you can see all directions that they will come from.

Try to be well away from any roads, as there is a good chance a road hunter will come along and try to shoot your decoys. If a road is near, ensure you don't setup your decoys between you and the road otherwise you might get shot by some other hunter. Best is to go to a spot where there are no roads, less chance of other hunters hiking in and you eliminate the road hunters that shoot from their trucks.

Another method that has worked for me is to find an area where the birds travel regularly between roost and strut zones. Setup on this trail and wait. Dropped a nice Tom this way. Again, patience is key.

Remember, these birds have incredible eye sight. Full camo. No movement. Watch if you glass with the sun in your face, they will see the reflection. Just because you think they can't see you, doesn't mean they won't. They are prey to everything, so they will run away at the slightest sign of danger even if they don't know what it is.

Pattern your gun, choke and ammo before so you know your range. Owl call in early morning or crow to locate. watch and roost. Get in early and setup uphill. Be patient and still. Good luck!

[HighCountryBC]

All very valuable intel from BC.

Just a touch over 2 weeks from opening day. This is one of the funnest hunts of the year. Hope there are lots of hunters getting out and taking advantage of this great opportunity.

[DJK]

There's a GOS in 8-26 and 8-22, anybody have any experience with finding birds in these areas? Any point in blowing thru fuel heading to that neighbourhood?

[HighCountryBC]

Talk to the guys at Westside Stores in Salmon Arm. They're pretty well versed with turkeys and might offer up a suggestion or two. Definitely birds throughout 8-22 but most of the ones I know about are very close to neighborhoods.

[Bubbacanuck]

There's a GOS in 8-26 and 8-22, anybody have any experience with finding birds in these areas? Any point in blowing thru fuel heading to that neighbourhood?

Can't speak to 8-26/22 specifically, but I do know the farther south and east you go...the better!

[300H&H]

13 days and a EARLY wake up.

[bcfirefly]

8-22 the issue is finding public land or access to public land. lots of birds running around to the point it pains me. 8-26 a bit more options to explore but focus on the south aspects

[Getbent]

First year for me to give hunting turkeys a go now that we have moved to the interior. I have read quite a bit and been practicing calling both with slate and diaphragm. I’m pretty pumped as I have quite a bit of time to look for birds and with any luck I hope to just find some, even just to observe and learn behaviour.
I plan to work in around the Carmi area first as it is an area somewhat close to where I am located. Anyone have any luck in the area in the past? I know the more East and South is better for sure but for now am looking in this area for starters.

Good luck to everyone.

cheers

[300H&H]

First year for me to give hunting turkeys a go now that we have moved to the interior. I have read quite a bit and been practicing calling both with slate and diaphragm. I’m pretty pumped as I have quite a bit of time to look for birds and with any luck I hope to just find some, even just to observe and learn behaviour.
I plan to work in around the Carmi area first as it is an area somewhat close to where I am located. Anyone have any luck in the area in the past? I know the more East and South is better for sure but for now am looking in this area for starters.

Good luck to everyone.

cheers

If you happen to see a silver F-150 with a landscape rack on the back, stop and say hi to me.

[Getbent]

If you happen to see a silver F-150 with a landscape rack on the back, stop and say hi to me.
Sounds good 300…thanks!

[Redthies]

I spend a ton of time around Carmi and Beaverdell. I’ve never seen a turkey that far north on 33. Even Rock Creek area seems to be thin on birds the past few years. So far this year I’ve seen by far the most birds on the hills surrounding Tech Cominco in Trail. I heard a couple of gobbles around town in Christina Lake, but have not seen a single bird there.

I did meet my new neighbors though. They said “how are you doing”, and I think were slightly put off by my response of “glad to eat you”?
https://i.postimg.cc/Qx2tC613/FF0-CAA15-B018-41-C6-B15-A-9831104-AEB08.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mtSR6ymX)

[HighCountryBC]

Heading out today. Going to be a late departure so no time to roost a bird this evening but the excitement level is still high!

Good luck to all those getting out on opening day tomorrow!

[maze]

I work till 8pm near the coast, but me and my buddy are driving 8 hours right afterward to be able to get out there for the hunt. I feel like a kid before christmas!

[Redthies]

Good luck guys!

[DJK]

Hoping to get out after the weekend. First time out for turkey, just me and dad's ol' A5.

[HighCountryBC]

Good luck to everyone this morning. Looking forward to hearing about some successful hunts!

[eastkoot]

Slept in !!!

[imack91]

Beautiful morning spent out around Trail today, lots of hunters and long weekend campers out in the bush. Didn’t manage to connect with a gobbler. How did the rest of you west koots folks do today!?

[HighCountryBC]

You guys forgot to tell us it’s still winter here in the WK!

[eastkoot]

Yes it's cool for sure, put your long johns on..

[mastercaster]

My daughter shot one this morning,,,,her first. Her husband and 5 and 7 year old daughters are tenting it but those girls are tougher than most!

[Allseasons]

Was it a tough winter? Arrived in my usual spot to find no turkeys, and no turkey sign…. 422

[Redthies]

It was definitely cold this weekend. I heard a hen while walking the dogs, and saw a Tom’s tracks that ran along a two track for a couple of kms. He must have had a hot date waiting! I didn’t hunt them this weekend, but will get after it next weekend. Ticks are out though!

https://i.postimg.cc/d071zKWT/9-EFB4-CBA-70-AC-4875-84-A5-9373-B0-CA5-EF3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/NycBHZvg)

[Allseasons]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8714&stc=1
My first bird. Younger bird, but I am super happy. 2.5 days to get my poop in a group.

[Redthies]

Congrats on the bird! What region were you hunting? Did you call him in?

[Getbent]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8714&stc=1
My first bird. Younger bird, but I am super happy. 2.5 days to get my poop in a group.
right on! Congrats!

[Allseasons]

Congrats on the bird! What region were you hunting? Did you call him in?

Started in 4-22, after countless miles walked/travelled, moved to 4-7. At first light we were surrounded by birds, lots of calling but couldn’t pull Tom’s from hens, bush went silent around 945am. Backed out, re-tuned pot calls, ate a sandwich, went back in. When the hillside fired up again, we were short on calling back, string together 2 or 3 clucks and purrs, then waited over 15 mins to make a sound, let out 3 clucks and a gobbler lit up. A 2 quick squawks lol, and hen and Tom ran straight to us from 100 yards out to 19 yards and I let drive.
same scenario in the same exact spot an hour later, we called in a gang of 4 jakes. Took the biggest one out of the group, cleaned birds up and home by 11pm. Was pretty cool. There was bigger Tom’s we caught glimpses of, but they weren’t leaving the hens.

[Redthies]

That’s cool! It’s definitely hard to lure toms away from hens. The birds in hand so to speak…. 4-22 to 4-7 is a haul! We are going to check out a spot in 8-15 tomorrow, where my neighbor says he saw a bunch of birds, and if that doesn’t produce, we’ll head back over to my “spot” in 4-8. With gas prices and driving a 3/4 ton gasser, I’ll hope to connect close to home;)

[Gateholio]

Congrats on the turkey! I wonder if they will ever migrate west to visit us here? :)

[Redthies]

They are in the Okanagan now. Maybe some will hitch a ride over the pass and work their way towards the Fraser. You could just whip over the Duffy and visit them in Lytton. Pre-smoked turkey…. Mmmmmm.






Too soon for Lytton smoke jokes? I think we’re good by now.

[Redthies]

Well, we saw birds, including a cranker of a tom with a beard dragging on the ground, but alas, he must have had the iHunted app that tells all the wildlife when they are on private land! The only birds we found on public lands were hens. We “chased” the one tom after hiking a LONG way around the private property, calling and being answered regularly, but never saw him again. All in all, not a bad trip. Saw tons of elk, whitey, mules and the biggest ruffed grouse I’ve ever laid eyes on. He was half way to being a turkey! We sat and watched him hoot on a grassy knoll for about 20 mins. There were lots of other grouse out as well. Looks like it might be a great season again…

https://i.postimg.cc/05SPLmzD/779-BC697-17-D8-42-FB-9164-C9657-F7023-F9.jpg (https://postimg.cc/yW7MRDX8)

https://i.postimg.cc/25ggwcFJ/03-FDFBB6-D83-C-4-B52-B3-C5-E0641-EB265-A6.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jWQ8qh1Q)

https://i.postimg.cc/L8nybkXM/5617-E856-B049-476-E-8-BB9-B1-A4607-C1-FCD.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xXVykzMs)

[Redthies]

Anyone else been out?

I heard gobbling from my new front porch the other morning. Going to have one more kick at the can this coming weekend. Taking my wife’s best friends son out. I got him into his first duck and goose this past fall, so hopefully we will get him on a Tom or Jake too!

[Krico]

Did the annual trip with my OG crew, we went 4 for 4. Then I took a friend out for his first turkey hunt - only had 2 days, we had a bunch of action but stubborn birds and situational challenges proved to be too much and the birds took that round.

[xlcc]

Nice to see you guys are getting some turkeys.
A friend and I gave it a try in the east Kootnies for a week.Camped out and had a great time.Saw a lot of elk,mostly cows.Probably about a hundred.Many whitetails and mulies too.Saw 6 bucks in one group.
We saw a few turkeys but they were smarter than us.I'm new to this turkey hunting but it is great fun.A lot of gobbling in return to our calls but wouldn't come in.I need to learn the proper calling methods no doubt.
I could hear a gobbler late in the day near dark but couldn't find him.I think he was roosting in a tree.In the morning we could hear him again near camp and tried a setup in a nearby meadow.Lots of gobbling from him but he must of known we were up to no good or did not want to leave his hens.
Always nice to walk around new country.

[Redo]

Well I got out around Trail for the final weekend and had a blast. Didn't know the area at all so felt a little like finding a needle in a hay stack, especially since the Toms didn't seem to be too vocal. Spent a day putting on miles trying to locate some birds, lots of area covered and literally zero gobbles. Saw a couple of hens on the road throughout the day so we knew we were in the right area. Right around the end of the day, we spotted 3 strutting Toms about 200 yards away. Killer eyes these guys have and off they went. We were pretty encouraged, considering our goal on Friday was just to locate the birds and we were successful at that.

The plan on Saturday was to set up before daybreak in the area that we had spotted the Toms the night before. Easier said than done, as we were hunting with 3 teenage girls. They were troopers and definitely up for the hunt but we didn't make it to our spot until about 20 minutes after first light. As we approached, we let out a hen call and immediately heard Gobbles right where we hoped to set up. Was able to move in for a glance, and saw 4 strutting Toms with hens. Worked at them for a bit over an hour without success. Headed back to camp for a nap, did a little more scouting before heading back to set up for the afternoon sit. As we approached, I could see a fan through some thick brush. Was able to move in, concealed by the brush to about 30 yards and successfully took my first Tom.
What a great hunt and to be able to do it with good friends and my daughter was icing on the cake!

Trying to upload photos.

[upperleftcoaster]

this is a bit late, as season is over and i went out for the opening Easter weekend, but here goes.

left early on Good Friday. Picked up my wife from her night shift, loaded the dogs and off we went eastbound on highway 3. pretty drive, and after a long day made it to the kootenays. we made camp and as dinner was ready just after dark, the gobbles started. i had been there last year and was super glad to be in the zone right away. it snowed that night a few inches, and with our elevation we got hit pretty good.

after a short sleep and an extra early pre-dawn wake up call i started to hike out of camp. a rooster crowed, the morning birds sang, and then spring thunder filled the air. i picked out the direction and crept in. i was within 100 yards of the roosting trees. Three, maybe more, gobblers going back and forth. i crept up the hill behind some brush to get in line, and waited. unfortunately i got busted trying to setup in front of my hiding spot, and i watched the last tom pitch off away from me. the rest of my morning i spent chasing gobbles a few kilometers up the valley where i had pushed the birds.

i then got some elevation and started working my way back to camp. i picked up a subtle hen put and setup for a calling session. no luck drawing in any birds. I did find this giant cedar and a huge rub though. i kept looking for sheds, but none were to be found. I carried on, side-hilling and keeping my elevation. trying my best to stay in the open mature trees and out of the alder choked hell holes and underbrush. i wanted to scope out the area going into the roost trees and hopefully ambush the birds on their way back. another calling session about midway back and nothing. so i went for lunch.

the cedar tree. mossburg 500 for scale
https://i.imgur.com/7SM9vUsh.jpg

after a lovely lunch in camp i headed back up to the roosting tree area. my intention was to sit until dark, either killing a turkey or getting onto their roost tree. so i got up there and waited with a decoy setup and laid down my sexiest hen calls. i was surprised when after about an hour i heard gobbles, but from the opposite direction i was expecting the birds from! they had gained even more elevation and circled around, now coming down and back to my zone. perfect, so i changed my setup a bit and it also moved to more open terrain. and by open i mean lots of space in between the bushes, but mind you still on this stupid 20 degree pitch on the mountain side.

this was now the highlight of the trip - i called in a tom to shooting distance. problem was i could not see him. he was on the other side of the bushes and slightly above me. but it was really cool, and i almost had him but then the other toms showed up, and some hens. it was a full on turkey party. it was amazing to hear all of the different turkey sounds they make naturally. much better than some hack on youtube squeaking out calls without context. very cool. now in hindsight i probably should have been way more aggressive at this point, stood up and tried for a shot. but all my turkey hunting knowledge is from my buddies back east, and i was applying their strategy of utmost patience.

well i followed the birds for the evening into the sunset. not many calls from me, but i was able to track them and find the roosting zone again. just at dusk i let out a little chirp and maybe 30 yards away i saw this ugly white turkey head poke up. i was behind a bush but i froze solid. i then watched 5 other birds all walk into that little gap, stick their head up, look right at me, and walk off. should have shot one of them too.

https://i.imgur.com/AnAlipMh.jpg

put those birds to bed, confirmed the roost zone on my dark hike out by listening to their gobbles, and then back to camp for a short rest. without the inclement weather like the last evening, i cooked up a campfire dinner for us. ribeye, veggie packs, and sweet potato. it was excellent.

morning came quickly, but i was ready. i started hiking before dawn but got trapped in some thick nasty shit, and without good moonlight and only a headlamp it was very hard to navigate. so i had to backtrack and add about a kilometer to my hike to go around and up the other side of the ridge. partway up as the sun was rising i heard the first gobbles. i was a bit behind because of my detour and just kicked it into high gear. it turns out those turkeys had gone to a higher elevation than i thought, and i gained about 250m just to get even with them. i chose not to call until i could get right in the zone. with light coming quickly and the birds not hanging around in the roost forever i decided to setup but there was a small draw in between me and the birds. they could easily come over the top edge of it or fly over it from the roost, but i didn't have time to hike higher and around to them. my calls were met with gobbles and then i gave them some time.

my last stand. the toms were roosted across the draw from me, with some nasty shit in between.
https://i.imgur.com/6izdqu1h.jpg

unfortunately right before they flew down this hen starts yelping away right under them. what a bitch! so i started mimicking her and trying to make the toms come my way instead. she was having none of it, and it was a pretty fun interaction. nothing beats the real thing in the end and the toms flew down and started working uphill and dead away from me. dang it. i would have chased them down, but this was the end of my allotted hunting time. the trip was far from over, but this section was. i did take great pleasure in looking down the hill 300m elevation at all the road hunters driving by 20 minutes after the gobbles stopped though, not knowing what they had missed.

made it back to camp for a late breakfast and then we packed up. from here the trip turned into a wonderful exploration of the west koots: we made it to nelson for lunch, then nakusp for dinner. we stayed at a lovely B&B just outside of the town and then carried on our way easter monday towards the Okanogan. Took highway 6 west, crossed at Farquier, and made it to Vernon mid afternoon. We have friends in Kelowna, so met them for dinner down there and stayed the night. Tuesday was back home to the lower mainland.

in summary, this was such a great turkey hunt for me. having only been out last year and it sucked, this played out really well. it had all the right makings with responsive birds, roosting trees i saw, seeing actual turkeys, and enjoying some fun interactions while calling. i learned a lot about these merriams and will apply that next year. it really felt a lot more like a mule deer or elk hunt with all the mountain hiking, but was definitely a blast. i know i would have got one had i stayed a bit longer, but it was a nice vacation and exciting to bring my family with too.

this looked like a killer whitetail spot, saw tons of them, so i may be back in the fall. perhaps i will get lucky and see a turkey at the same time.

until next spring...

[high horse Hal]

Sounds like a nice trip, glad you posted up the story, tfs

[Redthies]

Sounds like you had a great trip ULC. It’s pretty country for sure. Next time you should try the ferry over to Galena Bay and drive out through Revelstoke if you haven’t gone that way before. It’s really nice through that area.

[wideopenthrottle]

WATCH: Wild turkey faces off against Canadian pol…: https://youtu.be/Bl45dugTZDE

[Redthies]

The birds are starting to show themselves. Haven’t seen any for months, but today saw a couple of big groups wandering the streets near me.