Authority passes along turkey-hunting tips
Garnet Wilson didn't consider hunting as a sport worthy of her participation until she won a Mossberg 500 Bantam youth model 20-gauge shotgun a few years ago. This particular tom was taken near Colville during a fall hunt. Notice how well the barrel of the shotgun blends into the surroundings.
MOSES LAKE - Spring is a special time for turkey hunters. These critters, the hunters, will lay in wait, not moving a muscle, for an hour or longer, while waiting for a tom turkey to advance within range or the weapon he or she has at hand. This is great sport and required great skill or just a lot of luck.
Turkey hunting has proven to be an economical shot-in-the-arm to the communities in northeastern Washington. Cities such as Colville, Chewelah, Kettle Falls and others have seen the turkey season become larger than the fall deer hunting season as far as the number of participants and money they spend is concerned.
Washington usually provides an overall statewide harvest of some 4,000 to 5,000 birds. However, those hunters who know where the birds are might pay attention to the advice below.
While my wife, Garnet, and I enjoy our turkey hunting, especially during the fall season, it is prudent to pass along tips from another hunter who is seemingly all consumed with pursuing the big bird.
Greg Miller is a Michigan man and on the Pro Staff of Mossy Oak brand of camouflage. His turkey hunting is mainly back east, but his tips apply to this region as well.
He prefers hunting with a compound bow and his main focus is whitetail deer and turkeys. Here are some choice words of wisdom Greg passed along during a recent interview. Glean what you can from his advice.
Q: Can you give me a few general tips on how a hunter can be more successful this spring?
A: If you haven't used decoys in the past then give them a try. Take the time to practice with your weapon, so you will know what your effective range is. If you have a bird coming to your calls, once you see him, back off on your calling and make it soft and seductive.
If you have trouble sitting still or you're trying to take a child hunting with you then get yourself a ground blind. It will make things much easier on you.
Dennis note: We always use a ground blind. This way we do not need to remain absolutely still. In fact, we take reading material and plenty of food, for a day's hunt.
Q: How much scouting should I do before the season?
A: If it's a new property to you then you should do plenty. Find out where the turkeys roost, like to fly down to and like to feed and hang out during the day. Don't waste your precious hunting season trying to figure these things out.
If it's the same old place you hunt then not as much is needed. You still need to get out there and find out where they are roosting, because birds will change it up every so often. You also need to see if any crops got changed around because that will affect where the birds feed and hang out year to year.
Q: Is there a best call to use?
A: For me it's the diaphragm call. It's the call that can do it all. You can make it loud and aggressive all the way down to soft and seductive. The best thing about it is there's no motion required to make a sound and it's a hands-free tool.
Q: Do I need to learn to use several different calls?
A: Yes you really should. There is not just one call out there that is going to work every single time you hunt. Some birds just won't respond to certain calls while others will. So it's good to have different calls on hand and know how to use them. This way you can find the one that strikes his fancy.
Q: What do you do to take care of your calls?
A: I always keep them stored in my turkey vest, so I know right where they are at all times. I'll prep them before I go hunting, rough up surfaces and chalk anything that needs it. I prefer to keep my diaphragm calls stored in a small plastic case, so no debris can get on or in them that could affect their performance.
I also make sure when I'm using my diaphragm calls, if I want a drink of something I make sure it's only water. If you drink anything like soda, the residue in your mouth can get between the reeds, which most of the time makes them stick together rendering the call useless.
Q: What is a common mistake that turkey hunters make?
A: They don't sit still enough, they call way too much or they are not wearing the proper camouflage for the area they are hunting.
Q: Do you use decoys? If so how?
A: I always use decoys. I'll put a Tom or Jake decoy closest to my set up say 20 yards out, this distance will vary a little depending on if I'm using a bow or gun. Then I'll put 2 hen decoys another 10-15 yards out and spread them apart, so that all three decoys make a triangle pattern. I always put the Tom or Jake closest to me because if a Tom comes in, that decoy will be the first one he confronts. Once a Tom is inside the triangle not many make it back out.
Q: What should a hunter do if he/she goes out and doesn't hear any gobbling?
A: If you know there are birds in the area you're hunting, don't give up on your set up. Not all toms come in gobbling their heads off. Some will come in all quiet and catch you daydreaming or packing up to move.
Q: If a hunter can hunt all day, is there a best time to hunt?
A: Early morning right around dawn, when they are flying down from the roost. Also midday, like noon to 3 p.m. give or take an hour. The hens will go to nest and leave the toms, which are always looking for a new mate, all alone.