Believe it or not, Oregon has some great turkey-hunting country. In the past few decades, the turkey population has grown exponentially, and the hunting opportunities are near boundless. The Rio Grande Turkeys of Oregon occupy most of the mid-to-lower Willamette Valley, most of Southern Oregon, the Ochoco National Forest, and the Wallowa Mountains in the Northeastern part of the state. 

Private or Public Land

As the area is varied, you can tailor your hunt to fit the type of hunt you are envisioning, If you are looking for a public land turkey hunt deep in the forest far from civilization, then your best bet is heading to the national forests.  The Ochoco or Wallowa national forests for example. If you are looking for a more urban hunt near civilization and among lush farmland, then Western Oregon would suit you just fine.

Much of Oregon turkey country is located in-or-around private property, especially in the more densely populated Western part of the state. Although there are ample public areas throughout the state, turkeys are often drawn to the food-rich environment that private property provides. 

While one may be hesitant to approach a landowner to ask permission to hunt, it’s important to understand that in many areas the turkey population has grown to the point wherein the birds have become regarded as a nuisance. Many landowners complain of issues of noise, excessive droppings, and damage to bird feeders to name a few. 

In these cases, many landowners are likely to welcome the opportunity to host someone willing to help them control the population.  Tools like OnX allow you find the names of landowners so you can try and connect with them via online tools or mail a letter.

Find The Roost

Oregon turkeys are no different than their counterparts in other states in regard to their daily routines. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, not much deters them from following a relatively rigid behavioral pattern in a specific area. 

Your first job as a turkey hunter is to find a way to stealthily place yourself within that routine. First and foremost, understand that turkeys typically roost in the same spot every evening and come and go from said roost at almost precisely the same time every day. 

Therefore, your best bet is to find a way to place yourself as near to their roost as possible. In the forest, you will look for large sturdy trees with adequate wind protection near food and water. Their roosting tree will likely have an abundance of feathers and droppings underneath. 

E-scouting technologies such as Google maps, OnX, GoHunt, TopRut, or others are often helpful as well. However, a much easier option is that you can simply ask people in the neighborhood around your hunting area.  The birds typically leave their roost at the time people are going to work and return around the time people are coming home, you can bet people see exactly where the birds go every night.

(Pinetrees and Solitude may earn a commission from affiliate links in this article.)

Calling

Once you find the birds, you must be able to speak to them. Keep in mind that here in Oregon we have a spring and a fall season The types of conversations turkeys have changes by what season they are in and what they are doing. 

You will want to use a varied approach such as yelping or clucking to find them, gobbling to get them excited enough to find you, and purring to calm them down enough to position them for a good shot. Whether you use a diaphragm, box, or slate call, it is important to be well-versed in this language before you head out, as poor calling can have the opposite effect.

Now, what to bring. Your first gear consideration when planning a turkey hunt should be your camouflage. I cannot stress enough that you should never underestimate the turkey’s faculties of vision and hearing. For that matter, there is really no such thing as too much camouflage when turkey hunting. 

Every part of you should be darkened and camouflaged. Furthermore, you will need to consider the terrain you are hunting in, as camouflage that may be suited for hunting in the Oregon high desert would make you stick out like a sore thumb in the more lush Willamette Valley.

In order to reduce movement and noise, it is important to be as unencumbered by your gear as possible. That is why most turkey hunters wear a good vest which both carries and conceals gear. 

You will want it to be able to carry the maximum amount of gear while still being as silent and breathable as possible. There are many brands and styles out there which means it could take a while to find the one that works best for you but it will be well worth the extra time.

Method of Take

With your firearm choice, even more important than gauge, brand, or action is how acquainted with it you are. This is because when it comes time to bring your gun into the action, you will want to be as smooth as possible in order to avoid unnecessary movements. 

First and foremost, make sure your firearm is in working order and is completely ready before you step into the woods. You will want to use a camouflaged firearm or find a way to conceal the shiny glint of your stock and bluing.

In Oregon, you can legally use any gauge of Shotgun 10-gauge of smaller, including muzzleloading shotguns as well as with compound or recurve bow. Most Oregon hunters these days opt for a 12-gauge pump or semiautomatic option. 

These are often considered the most versatile options with a wider range of available ammunition choices. In recent years, however, there have been a growing number of hunters opting for smaller gauges such as 20 gauge or even the .410. Hunters who do so are mostly looking for the challenge of calling the birds in closer for a better shot.If you would like to learn more about turkey hunting in Oregon, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife provides a very clear and concise website containing seasons, regulations, and many tips.

If you enjoyed this article, check out these articles from Pinetreesandsolitude.com: 

• 3 Tips For Hunting Western Turkeys
• Where To Find Turkeys: Tips For This Season
• What’s The Best Turkey Call? Top Picks

(This article was originally published on Pintreesandsolitude.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.)