New to Turkey hunting and need some help

Doc Dowdy · 04-12-2006, 11:20 AM

My friend and I were trying to plan a turkey hunt this year and the deadline for tags is the 15th. I was wondering if any of the iFishers here have hunted in Eastern Oregon, and if they could provide some helpful information. Thanks in advance for any help.

BrianMaguire · 04-12-2006, 11:42 AM

You do not have to buy your tags by the 15th. Turkey is different than Deer and Elk in that regard. Sorry can't help you in that area. Good luck.

Beeatease · 04-12-2006, 12:05 PM

I can tell you I've seen turkeys when doing the archery elk hunt in Chesnimnus.......

If you were more specific as to where you were heading.....

I know there are lots of them just out of Elgin too

Doc Dowdy · 04-12-2006, 01:05 PM

We were hoping to have an area to hunt within an hour drive of the La Grande area. We don't know what is private land vs public land or where we could go. I have seen them all over in the cathrine creek park, but none on public lands.

Hunt'nFish · 04-12-2006, 01:19 PM

Doc, PM Mad Mikey he'll be able to help.
You really need to do some scouting. Pockets of turkey all over the slopes there in the G.R. Valley. Weston side of the Blue Mt. also holds lots of gobblers. Breaks of the Grande Ronde out of Elgin. Slopes over by Cove, Union and Summverville. The slopes over by Anthony Lk out of Haines should also hold them. The area south of Baker up toward Suptner should also hold birds, lot of private land but I bet a lot of the mixed juniper/pine forest is BLM or NF. But the short of it is you really need to get out and do some scouting for sign and roosting sites. Scat, track and preening feathers are what your looking for.
Good Luck,
Hunt'nFish

Limbhanger · 04-12-2006, 05:32 PM

A good map will help you figure what is private and what isnt. Like HuntnFish said, you have to spend a lot of time scouting and putting in time learning. There are tons of birds around La Grande and there should be plenty of them on public ground. Good Luck.

ogrejager · 04-12-2006, 05:40 PM

Your local Oregon Forestry Department office has great maps that detail who owns what land....

Bill Monroe · 04-12-2006, 06:14 PM

I've seen turkeys on the Starkey experimental forest and throughout the unit here and there.

Duckwheat · 04-12-2006, 07:10 PM

Go out about 10 oclock with a 22 pistol. Shoot it off and listen for any gobblers that may gobble at the noise. Get a flash light and home in on the noise. Shine it up into the tallest trees that have a few bare limbs. Little glowing balls of red mean you have found yourself a turkey.

Wait a minute. I am not sure how I know all that. Must have heard it somewhere.

Time for Mr. Ethics to show himself......

Duckwheat with a crick in his neck

007SPRIG · 04-12-2006, 07:56 PM

Go into the ODF&W office and ask. They'll know.

oregonoutdoors · 04-12-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Time for Mr. Ethics to show himself......

Personally, like the idea.

lentz · 04-12-2006, 09:06 PM

Hey Doc, I could tell you where the private vs public land is, but as far as geting you to the gobblers i have not a clue. I sent you a PM about you're situation.

Limbhanger · 04-12-2006, 09:12 PM

Its funny to joke about, but here is a true story:
One evening I tailed a bird to his roost and hung around till he flew up. I never called, he was gobbling like crazy on his own. When it got dark I snuck out of there and planned to be back in the morning to give him a go. Well, someone else who heard all the gobbling snuck up there while I was sneaking out and blasted him out of the tree. I heard the "thud" of him hitting the ground. We had no idea each other were there. It was after DARK so he must have only been able to see movement against the last whisp of light in the sky. I boogied to the rig and flew down the road and beat him out. I got his plates on my way by and turned him in. They got him the next day. If a guy needs a turkey bad enough to shoot one out of a tree AND in the dark he is a sorry creature.

Beeatease · 04-13-2006, 05:27 AM

It would have been easier to just go to Safeway.....

BrianMaguire · 04-13-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

It would have been easier to just go to Safeway.....

Yeh, you walk into Safeway all in camo with a shotgun and tell me how easy it is

ogrejager · 04-13-2006, 08:53 AM

Will they let you set up a blind in the frozen foods section? I hear there's a TON of turkey there!

Mike P. · 04-13-2006, 09:39 AM

We have seen a number in the area near Minam & Elgin towards troy when we were spring bear hunting last year.

Beeatease · 04-13-2006, 11:54 AM

You need artic camo for the frozen food section.....

Use the produce section and you'll be just another nut.....

ogrejager · 04-13-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

You need artic camo for the frozen food section.....

Son of a gun. That explains it. You know, I'd noticed that I kept flairing all the wildlife. I thought I'd done a great job--I'd knocked on doors and finally found a store manager that would let me hunt on her property. But every damned critter--even those not-so-observant 2 legged ones--keeps flairing. I'd figured it was the dog in my decoys (see this thread) but that makes sense. I'll go get some of those cammies. Thanks!