ROADHUNTER: TOUTING BEAVER STATE TURKEYS

ROAD HUNTER

Western Oregon is home to some of the highest turkey populations in the country, and the hunting here can be spectacular.

TOUTING BEAVER STATE TURKEYS

Well-traveled sportsman makes the case that Oregon is West’s best for gobblers and hunting variety.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

No sooner had the yelps from a diaphragm call passed my lips when multiple toms gobbled back. A few soft calls induced more gobbling and before I knew it, three toms rounded a green, grassy knoll. Their brilliant plumage shimmered in the morning light, pulsing like suits of armor as they quickened their pace in my direction. Instantly my mouth dried up and I dared not call anymore.

When the trio broke into a tiny opening, they stopped, pirouetted and gobbled numerous times. I sat nervously, gun balanced on my knee, heart racing. Then the tom on the left lifted its head and I covered it with the bead of my old shotgun – the one I used in all my bird hunting as a kid – and pulled the trigger. The bird dropped inside 30 yards.

Walking up on that stunning tom, its patriotic head at rest amid captivating wild flowers, it was more striking than I even imagined. The year was 1987, Oregon’s first turkey season, and thus my first turkey; from that day on, I was hooked on hunting these grand birds.

THE HISTORY When it comes to wild turkey management, my home state of Oregon is one of the country’s greatest conservation success stories. After multiple attempts, the first wild turkeys were successfully introduced to Oregon in 1961. Merriam’s were the first strain to thrive, followed by Rio Grande birds in 1975. Eastern turkeys

Not sure what to do with your wild turkey? Look no further than this simple yet flavorful recipe.

CAJUN INSTANT POT TURKEY

Wild turkey can be tricky to tame. Separating the breast meat and cooking it hot and fast in a stir-fry or pounding it thin for cutlets is a great approach. The rest of the turkey will always benefit from slow or pressure cooking.

If you’re looking for something you can do quickly with any or all of your turkey parts, look no further than this flavorful Instant Pot recipe.

3 pounds wild turkey 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped green bell pepper ½ cup chopped red bell pepper 4 cloves garlic, chopped 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon red chili flakes 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups chicken broth 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced ¾ cup sour cream

If using legs and thighs, separate at the joint. If using turkey breast meat, cut into large chunks, about the size of a fist. Place olive oil in Instant Pot or pressure cooker and sauté onion, bell peppers and garlic until onions are softened. Add seasonings and continue to sauté, one to two minutes. Add turkey pieces and brown on all sides. Add chicken broth and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure 25 minutes. When the meat has pressure cooked, use the quick release button and let the pressure o . Once it’s safe to remove the lid, remove all turkey pieces. Add sliced jalapeño peppers and whisk sour cream into the turkey liquid. Let turkey cool slightly and, using a fork, pull all the meat from the remaining bones. Add “pulled” turkey back to the Instant Pot and simmer, allowing the liquid to thicken. Serve in a bun, over biscuits or rice, or stir cooked pasta into the turkey mixture.

Editor’s note: For more turkey recipes, as well as tips for serving other game birds, you can purchase a copy of Scott and wife Ti any Haugen’s Cooking Game Birds at scotthaugen.com.

For over 30 years, author Scott Haugen has been turkey hunting in his home state of Oregon. He ranks it among the most productive states he’s hunted anywhere in the West, and with good reason. briefly lived in isolated pockets, but never took root.

Today, turkey populations have hybridized in regions where subspecies’ ranges overlap. Since the Rio Grande subspecies adapted better to the state’s diverse habitat and dominated relocation e orts, this is the one the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has focused on managing over the decades. More than 10,000 turkeys have been transplanted from established flocks and relocated to many parts of the state.

Thanks to high management success, Oregon o ers generous turkey hunting opportunities in the spring and fall. Today, turkeys can be hunted in every county during the spring turkey season, and in a growing number of counties during the fall season.

Oregon has many prime habitats that are favorable for the survival and perpetuation of wild turkeys. Southwestern Oregon boasts some of the highest turkey densities in the entire country. In many areas throughout eastern Oregon, wild turkeys continue to grow in number and expand in range, largely on public lands.

Not all of eastern Oregon’s prime turkey habitat is as rugged as this section of the Imnaha River Valley, but the region holds the best public land hunting opportunities in the state.

Relocating turkeys to public land is still a big part of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s objective when it comes to managing overpopulated flocks.

WESTERN OREGON TURKEYS In western Oregon, many turkeys have gravitated to private land despite being originally placed on public ground. They’ve moved to private land to escape predators, forage on easily accessible food throughout the year, raise broods, and escape hunters.

“I get a lot of frustrated hunters calling to book trips midway through the season,” shares one of Oregon’s most noted turkey guides, Jody Smith (jodysmithguideservice.com, 541-6436258) of Elkton. Smith averages 53 turkey hunts each spring and guides a growing number of fall turkey hunters.

Smith lives in the heart of the West’s golden turkey triangle, a region known to hold the highest concentration of the birds west of the Mississippi River. “Being fifth generation in this area helps me secure private land on which to hunt,” Smith smiles. “Turkey numbers can get out of control and landowners want them managed, but they don’t let just anyone hunt their property these days.” He has access to over 30,000 acres of prime, private land.

Smith notes that some out-of-state hunters will book a spring trip with him in western Oregon, then head to eastern Oregon to hunt public land on their own. “That’s one of the great benefits of having three spring tags, and a lot of hunting options to explore throughout the state,” Smith concludes.

Today, relocation e orts find ODFW members – along with volunteers from Oregon Hunters Association and National Wild Turkey Federation chapters – relocating overpopulated turkeys to national forest land near Tiller and up the Umpqua River drainages in the western slopes of the Cascade Range. Private timber company lands are seeing a growing number of turkeys, but hunting opportunities are limited at this time. If you want to experience some of the most exciting turkey action in the country, private lands are the best option when it comes to hunting western Oregon.

EASTERN OREGON TURKEYS The best public land for turkey hunting in Oregon lies east of the Cascades. Birds can be pressured here, meaning you’ll need to cover ground to find toms. Listen for toms gobbling from their roosts right before dark and at daybreak. Search secluded hillsides with quality optics, and don’t overlook

isolated canyons that require a bit of a hike.

The Umatilla National Forest is a great place to hunt, and the lower edge of the Whitman National Forest, from Medical Springs to Halfway, will also find you in birds. The Ochoco and Malheur forests, north of Burns, have some turkeys roaming around, but they can be spread out and are notorious for traveling great distances.

If looking to hunt around the southern face of the Wallowa Mountains, spend time in both the Eagle Creek and Pine Creek drainages, where bird numbers remain solid. The land between Halfway and Keating continues to see growth in its turkey numbers, too.

Before hunting any public land for turkey in Oregon, call regional ODFW o ces to get the latest updates. Ask about bird densities and spring conditions, then choose your best option. THE SEASONS Currently, three turkeys can be taken during Oregon’s spring season, which is open statewide. In the fall turkey hunting season, two turkeys can be harvested in multiple counties, and both males and females can be taken. Fall turkey hunters often combine hunts with big game or other birds.

Oregon’s spring season began April 15 and runs through the end of May, making it one of the most generous in the country. In addition, youth turkey hunters enjoy a two-day opener on a weekend before the general statewide spring season.

Fall turkey hunting season runs even longer than the spring season. This past year, Oregon expanded it to 16 weeks, starting in mid-October and lasting through January of the next calendar year. Dogs can be used to hunt turkeys in the fall, thereby increasing the fun opportunities to pursue these birds. Gun dogs can track, point, hold and flush turkeys. Dogs can also be used to bust up fall flocks, allowing hunters to move in, set up and call the flock back together with assembly calls and kee-kee sounds.

There’s also a controlled fall turkey hunt in Oregon, with the application period running July 1 through September 13. Turkey bag limits can vary in the fall, depending on which game management unit is hunted.

I’ve been fortunate to hunt turkeys throughout much of Oregon, and eagerly anticipate the coming of each spring and fall season. While many states throughout the West o er great hunting opportunities, there’s nothing that quite compares to all Oregon has to o er.  Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, which includes recipes, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.