Turkey hunting opportunities have expanded significantly in the last 20 years. Hunters can now find good turkey hunting beyond just southwest Oregon and into the northwest and northeast parts of the state as well.
Last year's estimated spring harvest of 5,619 wild turkeys was the fourth highest on record, down 4 percent from the 2022 harvest of 5,881 birds. The decline was likely related to poor hunting access conditions due to deep and late-persisting snow in spring 2023. The winter and spring of 2023-24 brought abundant precipitation, but temperatures were moderate and likely did not contribute additional mortality to overwintering turkeys. The extra moisture will provide good habitat for broods and improve summer water availability.
Hunters can expect abundant wild turkey populations in 2024. Observers are reporting early breeding activity this spring, so hunters are encouraged to get out to accessible locations sooner than later.
Cody Smith with his first turkey, April 2022. Photo by Daphne McBride
Where are the turkeys?
Oregon's Top 5 Units
Southwest Oregon continues to be the leading place to find turkeys. The Melrose, Rogue and Applegate are among the top 5 units for turkey harvest in the state. The Rogue unit remains very popular with hunters thanks to abundant turkeys and public access, ranking second in hunter days only to the White River Unit. The majority of turkeys on the Melrose Unit are harvested on private land (89 percent).
Those who want to hunt southwest Oregon may have an easier time accessing land in the Rogue Unit, which is 57 percent public lands, or other leading units like Applegate or Evans Creek. The Dixon and Indigo units along the west slope of the Cascades are also good bets for finding public land turkeys in southwest Oregon.
The White River unit near The Dalles is only second to the Melrose unit for turkey harvest. This popular unit receives the most hunter visits in the state due to the convenient proximity to Portland and public access on the White River Wildlife Area and Mt. Hood National Forest. Biologists advise scouting in advance, hunting on a weekday or waiting until later in the season for the best experience in White River Unit. Adjacent to the White River Unit, both the Maupin and Biggs units have abundant wild turkey populations associated with river drainages and Oregon white oak habitats.
The Willamette Unit is also in the top 5 units for turkey harvest, despite a primarily private land base. ODFW's Hunt By Reservation program helps connect hunters to landowners experiencing turkey damage, primarily in the Willamette Valley. Reservations are a combination of lottery draws through ELS, and first-come, first-serve opportunities. Learn more here. Some private properties enrolled in Oregon's Access and Habitat Program allow spring turkey hunting.
Eastern Oregon offers turkeys on public land
Tanner’s first turkey taken on a fall mentored youth youth hunt in Eastern Oregon. Photo by Rod Bjorvik
Nearly half (47 percent) of the turkeys harvested during the spring 2023 season were harvested east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. After the White River Unit, the Heppner and Ochoco units provided the most eastside turkey harvest, followed by Sled Springs, Ukiah, and Mt. Emily. Wild turkeys can be found throughout the Blue Mountains which provide excellent public access through the U.S. Forest Service.
In most years, birds take advantage of open southern exposures at higher elevations. Hunters should expect to find high country turkeys around the snow line enjoying fresh spring green-up. It is important for hunters to check road conditions and access before heading out, especially early in the season. Snow may limit access to some areas.
2023 turkey harvest by unit
Harvest and effort data can help you identify promising places to hunt. This article on MyODFW.com includes maps showing harvest, hunter days, birds per hunter and percent of birds harvested on public land.
Tags and regulations
The statewide spring turkey season is from April 15 to May 31.
Spring turkey hunting is general season, and anyone can purchase a tag any time before going hunting. Turkey tags are $26.50 for residents and $10.50 for youth hunters (age 17 and under). Hunting licenses are $34.50 for residents.
The daily bag limit is one male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard (hens with beards may be lawfully taken). The season limit is three legal turkeys; hunters must purchase a tag for each turkey. See page 22 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for more information.
Hunters, please report banded turkeys ODFW is asking hunters and members of the public that encounter a banded turkey to report the band number to the nearest ODFW office or by using the online form.
Report your hunt
All hunters who purchase a 2023 spring turkey tag are required to report their hunt results online or with an ODFW license vendor no later than Jan. 31, 2024. Reporting is required even for those who did not hunt or were unsuccessful. ODFW uses this information to determine harvest and effort, and set future hunting regulations.
Let's put you in the 2025 forecast
Feel as if you're seeing the same photos in again and again in the Spring turkey hunting forecast? We'll be looking for some new faces for next year's forecast – how about yours? Submit your turkey hunting photo to ODFW and it might be used on the web, in signs and brochures and on social media. Never hear "Pictures or it didn't happen." again!
Hunting tips, equipment and safety
Fall Turkey hunt in Veneta, photo by Carl Lewallen
The sight and sound of a turkey’s mating display is enough to quicken the pulse of even the most experienced hunter—and makes calling in a spring tom as exciting as calling in a bull elk.
While turkeys are notoriously difficult to sneak up on due to their excellent eyesight, the urge to mate makes wary toms (males) a little less cautious when they hear the call of a hen in the spring.
In general, turkeys will be moving higher in elevation in the spring, following the snow line. They do not favor areas with a lot of underbrush for mating displays, so look for openings in the forest (meadows, old woodland/grasslands, old roads, power line clearings, etc.). Don’t forget to visit recent burns or clear-cuts when doing your pre-season scouting.
Wild turkeys will vocalize most in the morning and evening, so go early and stay late to figure out where the birds are spending their time.
Toms can become harder to hunt and less vocal later in the hunting season as the mating season falls off. A realistic jake or hen decoy will draw the bird’s attention away from you and put him right where you want him.
Recommended basic equipment
A box call is a versatile, easy-to-use turkey call. Photo by NWTF.A shotgun no larger than 10 gauge.
Shotgun shells with size 4, 5 or 6 shot.
Camouflage clothing (because turkeys have excellent eyesight).
A turkey call or two.
Or, substitute a bow and arrows for the shotgun and shells.
Hen or jake decoy (optional)
*The new .410 and 28 ga tungsten loads are more deadly than a lead 20 ga load. If you are small-framed or a youth, consider a smaller gauge with TSS loads.
Safety note: Never wear red, white, blue or black when turkey hunting. You could be mistaken for a turkey. Use caution when calling turkeys where other hunters may be present—and realize that the calling you hear may be other hunters. Also remember that other hunters may be using very realistic decoys that could be mistaken for a live bird.
How to hunt wild turkey in Oregon is a comprehensive turkey hunting course that covers everything you’ll need to know to hunt wild turkey, including seasons and regulations, weapons and gear, finding and calling birds, and butchering your harvest.
Turkeys are only found on the east side of the coast range in these units. The best place to find turkeys is on the private agricultural lands with rolling oak woodlands adjacent to the larger private timber holdings. However, less dense populations of turkeys can be found on publicly accessible timber company grounds, especially in areas of mixed oak woodlands. The east side of the Stott Mtn – N Alsea TMA is easily accessible area to scout for turkeys.
Additionally, some of the smaller timber companies in these units will allow access with a free permit and can hold decent numbers of turkeys. Potentially accessible lands outside the towns of Monroe, Alsea, Philomath, Blodgett, throughout Kings Valley, Falls City, and Dallas are good places to scout. Remember to get permission to hunt on private land.
WILLAMETTE UNITS
Trask and Willamette units
Josh’s first Turkey, Monmouth, photo by Gordon Cowan
Finding a place to hunt turkeys continues to be challenging in northwest Oregon. Turkeys are primarily found on private lands and are not readily available to the public. Those hunters without local contacts should be out talking to landowners to acquire access to the few and widely scattered flocks. Some hunters knock on landowners’ doors where they see turkeys and ask permission to hunt. Reports of turkey activity in the eastern foothills of the coast range highlight limited opportunity on predominantly private lands.
To find public land opportunities, consult Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or U.S. Forest Service maps and look for pockets of public land off the main roads, but adjacent to agricultural land and mixed hardwood forests -- turkeys key in on both acorns, and grubs and other insects in meadows. Other opportunities may exist on publicly accessible private timber lands at lower elevations near agriculture in the SE Trask unit. Be sure to check with each landowner, generally through their website, to ensure public access is allowed before entering private property to hunt.
Scappoose Unit
Turkey populations are extremely low and not widely distributed. Hunters will need to have scouted early to find turkey flocks and obtained permission to hunt on private property to be successful.
Santiam, N. Indigo, and McKenzie Units
Hunting success is dependent upon securing access to private lands with turkeys, and on early scouting. Hunters who are having issues gaining access to private lands are advised to participate in ODFW Hunt by Reservation Program. Turkeys are most often found on private lands in the foothills along the west side of these units, although there are scattered flocks in some of the checkerboard BLM land too. Locating areas with oak habitat can be helpful in finding turkeys. It is uncommon to find turkeys in the Douglas-fir forests at higher elevations.
For hunters that have done their homework and obtained access to private lands, hunting can be very good in the McKenzie, N. Indigo, and southern portions of the Santiam units. Decent numbers of turkeys exist outside the towns of Brownsville, Lebanon, Sweet Home, Lacomb, Scio, and Lyons. There have been recent reports of turkeys on private lands around the outskirts of Silverton and Oregon City, so limited private land opportunities do exist, but turkeys are not abundant in the northern portions (north of Silverton) of the Santiam Unit and hunters will have difficulty finding the few scattered flocks.
SOUTHWEST AREA
COOS COUNTY
While the winter weather seems to be holding on late into the spring this year, it is not likely the conditions will be a significant problem for turkey survival in Coos County. For turkeys in this area, nesting will begin late enough that cold and snowy weather is not expected to negatively impact it. What remains to be seen is whether significant rain will occur after hatching takes place. Rain in May and June has a higher likelihood of creating problems for turkey poult survival.
That being said, the wintery weather this spring may affect the distribution of turkeys. Prior to green up turkeys get much of that they eat from agriculture lands. Cold, cloudy, rainy weather this spring has resulted in delayed green-up. As a result, turkeys may be close to agriculture lands at the opening of the 2023 season. Some of these birds will likely move out to clearcuts and other forest openings as the weather improves.
Gaining permission to hunt on private land is clearly the most effective way to hunt turkeys in Coos County. However, looking for pockets of public land that are in close proximity to private land birds can be a productive tactic for hunting these birds too. In Coos County much of the BLM lands are scattered small tracts of land surrounded by private lands.
Turkey abundance is highest in the vicinity of Coquille, Myrtle Point, Powers, and Fairview but there are a few turkeys in other parts of the county, as well. Scouting for turkeys before the hunt is key to finding them especially if hunting public land or private timberlands.
CURRY COUNTY
The turkey population has been low for several years. Reproduction along the coast is often slower than inland areas; survival is harder with the rains that occur here and this year we have seen increased snow levels. Hunters will need to have scouted early to find turkey flocks and obtained permission to hunt on private property. Look in areas where oaks and grassy prairies and taller timber for roost sights are found.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
We experienced cold wet conditions this winter in most of the county. This weather pattern seemed to slow breeding activity in the area compared to recent years. The past few weeks toms have started to become more active with the longer days.
Douglas County has a strong turkey population due to an abundance of oak-savannah and oak woodland habitat in the Umpqua Valley. The highest concentrations of birds are found around private property at lower elevations, so access will be an issue. There is public hunting opportunity on National Forest and BLM lands, especially in the South Umpqua drainage. Other areas to concentrate are BLM lands adjacent to private lands, like North Bank Habitat Management Area, providing opportunities for hunting in low elevation oak savannah habitat. ODFW has also supplemented prime habitat within the Umpqua National Forest with turkeys over the last several years.
If you are looking for a private lands hunt, asking for permission later in the season, after landowner's friends, family and guides have hunted, sometimes gets results. It can be hard for a regular hunter to gain access on some private property on the valley floor because some landowners work with guides that have clients that hunt exclusively on their property.
JACKSON COUNTY
This year's turkey numbers remain very strong, and hunting is expected to be above average. We have seen a higher snowpack this winter than in recent years, which may concentrate birds at lower elevations. Breeding usually peaks around the first part of April, because of this we recommend getting out as soon as the season opens to maximize your success. Turkeys can be found feeding on green grasses and insects in and around open forest floors, under oak canopies.
A great strategy to locate turkeys in an area is to use locator calls (crow calls or turkey calls) before light or after dark to identify roosting trees. Come back to that area in the early morning, before daylight, and set up in an area of their travel to begin calling as light approaches.
Turkey flocks continue to be found in a wide variety of places in Jackson County. While most turkeys will be found on private lands, plenty of public lands have turkey, including grassy/oak savannas on BLM lands and lower elevation timber/meadow lands of the Rogue National Forest
The Obenchain fire (2020) burnt through a large portion of both public and private land between Hwy 140 and Butte Falls Hwy. This area is continuing to see lots of regrowth that has proven very productive for turkey hunters in the spring. The best areas in the Rogue Unit to hunt would be all the roads along the Butte Fall-Prospect Hwy between Butte Falls and Prospect. Once the snow begins to recede, Dead Indian Memorial Rd and the Green Springs Hwy can also be very productive. Other spots are found in areas within the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area map (valid through April 31).
However, don't limit yourself to these areas as turkeys are widespread throughout Jackson County. Other public places to focus your efforts would include the Howard/Hyatt area in eastern Jackson County, BLM sections along Evans Creek, and BLM areas near the towns of Jacksonville and Ruch.
JOSEPHINE COUNTY
Turkey numbers in Josephine County remain very strong. Hunting is expected to be good to above average. We have seen a higher snowpack this winter than in recent years, which may concentrate birds at lower elevations. Breeding in our area usually peaks around the first part of April, because of this we recommend getting out as soon as the season opens to maximize your success.
Turkeys can be tough to hunt in the county as most are found on private property. Don't be afraid to ask landowners to hunt on their property; turkeys can be a problem for many landowners that grow crops and they may be willing to allow hunters to come and hunt turkeys to reduce damage.
Most turkeys are found along the Applegate River drainage, but turkeys can also be found on most BLM lands. Galice Rd can also be a productive area for turkey hunters and in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of turkeys around the town of Cave Junction.
The Slater fire (2020) burnt between Cave Junction and the California border. This was a high intensity fire that burnt just about everything in its path. Local ODFW staff have noticed some regrowth starting as well as many wildlife species starting to inhabit the area once again. This burn scare has proven to be very productive for turkey hunters in recent years.
COLUMBIA AREA
White River and Hood Units
Access in the White River and Hood units should not be a problem this year. Recent warm temperatures have reduced the snowpack and opened roadways. Main roads are clear and accessible up to 4,000 feet in elevation. Side roads at higher elevations still have snow drifts and may be blocked by downed trees. Consider bringing a chainsaw in your vehicle while hunting.
Summer 2023 brood route surveys indicate the population has decreased slightly from the previous year and is below the 10-year average. Although there was a decrease in abundance, chick production remained high. This should translate to many young birds being available for harvest this spring.
The White River Wildlife Area (WRWA) is a very popular area to hunt with decent turkey numbers. The Mt. Hood National Forest throughout the White River Unit is also very popular with good turkey numbers. Harvest in the unit has continued to increase but hunter success is low, likely due to heavy hunting pressure. Try hunting weekdays or evenings when it's less crowded. There are turkeys spread out over most of the wildlife area and the Mt. Hood National Forest. Please obey all wildlife area signs and be cautious of other hunters. A parking permit is required for all users of the wildlife area (permit comes with your hunting license but don't forget to put it on your car dash).
Hunting the eastern edge of the White River Unit that contains a diverse mix of oak/pine overstory, hunting areas that have recently burned or contain openings with abundant forbs are all good places to find turkeys. Hunting drainages with large roost trees along a ridgetop can be a good place to locate a bird at first light. Using an owl hoot, coyote call, or crow call to elicit a shock gobble is a great tactic to locate a bird on the roost before daylight. Doing some preseason scouting to identify roost trees, travel routes, and feeding grounds will increase your likelihood of harvesting a bird.
Private timberlands in the northwest portion of the White River unit have recently changed hands. SDS lumber company sold most of their ownership to Green Diamond and the Conservation Trust. Access will remain the same as in previous years (there are no restrictions on access), but please obey all posted signs and drive only on designated roads in this area. These lands are excellent turkey habitat and provide good hunting opportunities. Hood River county also owns property in this area and provides open access.
Maupin and West Biggs
Turkey populations have been expanding to many new areas within these units. Most of them are on private lands, so make sure you get permission to access these areas. Riparian zones and areas with trees available for roosting are where to focus your search. Turkey also can be found in the Deschutes and John Day River canyons as well as many other side-drainages of these river canyons, some on BLM and state-managed lands. These areas could be a great place to get away from other hunters.
CENTRAL AREA
CROOK COUNTY
Nice Spring 8 1/2 bearded Tom, Ochocos, Photo by Jami Umhauer
Turkeys can be found on forestland in the Ochoco, Grizzly and Maury WMU’s. Turkey numbers and distribution in the district are gradually increasing, with groups scattered throughout the national forest. Turkeys were relocated to the southern portion of the Ochoco WMU and the Eastern portion of the Maury WMU this winter. There is still snow at higher elevations and north-facing areas of the forest, and spring so far has been pretty wet, so travel may be limited. Green up is occurring below the snow line and turkeys can often be found in these areas.
Hunters should contact both the Ochoco National Forest and Prineville BLM offices for road conditions and motorized access restrictions. Motorized restrictions remain in effect year-around in the South Boundary Cooperative Travel Management Area (TMA) along the southern boundary of the Ochoco National Forest. Maps of the area are available at entry portal signs, and at ODFW and Ochoco National Forest offices in Prineville.
DESCHUTES COUNTY
Turkey populations remain low and not widely distributed throughout Deschutes County. Numbers are increasing slightly in the northern portion of the Upper Deschutes Unit and select areas of the Metolius Unit. Mild winter conditions may result in better overwinter survival. Look for turkeys on USFS and private timber company lands. Make sure to ask for permission before hunting on private lands.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
The best locations to hunt turkey in Jefferson County are in the Metolius Unit on Green Ridge from Black Butte north to the Warm Springs Reservation, and east into the juniper zone. Hunting pressure usually drops off significantly after opening week. Higher elevation road access may be restricted because of snow, lower elevation roads without snow may be soft and muddy.
Overwinter survival and mild spring conditions may lead to greater turkey numbers in the Metolius Unit. Contact the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest for road conditions and motorized access restrictions.
SOUTH CENTRAL AREA
LAKE COUNTY
Pioneer Hunter, Ken Gibson with a beautiful mature Spring Rio Grande Turkey, photo by Dan Ward
In Lake County, turkey numbers are extremely low. Previous translocations have made for some opportunity on public land, but due to natural dispersal many have moved away from their original release site. Due to the elevated risk of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), no translocations occurred over the 2023-24 winter season.
Winter conditions will continue to affect access in many parts of Lake County. Expect many roads to be only accessible with a 4-wheel drive vehicle due to snow or muddy conditions. Turkeys are restricted to the southern portion of the county on or near national forestland along the west and north sides of the Goose Lake Valley in the Interstate Unit.
KLAMATH COUNTY
In Klamath County, turkeys are mostly restricted to the Keno Unit. Winter conditions have caused limited access throughout much of the high elevation areas within the county. Many 2-track roads and trails will be too muddy to travel without causing extensive damage to the road. As a result, cooperators involved in the Pokegema Winter Range Road Closure have elected to delay opening those gates until April 11. Hunters are reminded that travel is restricted to surfaced roads within Green Diamond property.
This area is predominantly either open-to-hunt private timberland (Green Diamond Resource Company), or BLM land. Areas to check for turkey activity are south of Hwy 66 and west of the Klamath River Canyon to Copco Road. Turkeys can also be found north of Hwy 66 around Johnson Prairie. Hunters who take a banded turkey are asked to please contact the local ODFW district office in Klamath Falls (541-883-5732).
SOUTHEAST AREA
HARNEY COUNTY
In Harney County, turkeys are restricted mainly to the northern portion of the county on or near forestland. We expect that the turkey population remains stable with limited snowpack in the lower elevations through winter not having a significant impact on their populations. With these mild winter conditions, the forest should be more accessible this year.
MALHEUR COUNTY
Turkeys continue to increase in both number and range in the northern portions of Malheur County. With a majority of bird found in and associated with agricultural ground around the Treasure Valley. With limited public access hunters will need to secure permission on private lands. The National Forest roads 14 and 16 should give hunters access turkeys, but snow and high water may limit that access.
NORTHEAST AREA
BAKER COUNTY
First spring turkey at 8 years old, Sumpter Unit, Baker County, 2021
Turkey numbers going into the winter were good in Baker County. A mild winter with favorable conditions in the late fall should have led to good over winter survival. Turkeys are widely distributed throughout the county.
Things are just starting to green-up at lower elevations and hunters should concentrate their efforts near these areas. Hunters can improve their early season success by walking into areas that are not accessible by vehicles due to snow. Access to forestlands in the mid to upper elevations will still be limited due to snow in April. As the season progresses and snow lines retreat, turkeys will follow. There are public land hunting opportunities on the BLM and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest as well as the ODFW-managed Elkhorn Wildlife Area. The Pine Creek, Sumpter and Keating units all hold good numbers of birds on public land. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.
GRANT COUNTY
Turkeys are widely distributed, and numbers continue to increase throughout the county. Last year's chick production and survival appear to be very good. Due to unseasonably warm weather at the end of March, the forest will be more accessible than usually during the early part of the season. However, substantial snow drifts may still be present on north facing corners so hunters should use caution.
During early season, some turkeys may persist on private property and hunters will need permission to hunt. However, most birds start to move up slope to forest land about the middle of April. Hunter may focus on the forest edge as birds move up. Hunters have been successful in finding birds in the Middle Fork John Day River, Murderers Creek, and North Fork John Day River drainages.
Other drainages recommended for hunters who are unfamiliar with the area are Ingle Creek, Fields Creek and Deer Creek in the Murderers Creek Unit. In the Northside Unit, hunters may try Camp Creek, Pass Creek, Fox Creek, and Cottonwood (but much of Cottonwood is private), Dixie Creek or the large tracts of National Forest. In the Desolation Unit, hunters may focus in the areas of Big Creek, Mosquito Creek, Vinegar Creek or Desolation Creek.
MORROW, GILLIAM, WHEELER COUNTIES
Turkey numbers continue to improve due to increased nesting success over the last couple of years. Forest Service land and the surrounding forested habitat hold good numbers of turkeys and provide opportunity for hunters. Over-winter survival appears good again this year.
Hunters will want to target the lower elevation (mainly western) portions of the Umatilla National Forest at least until the snowpack recedes. Also target the north slopes of the Blue Mountains as well as the North Fork John Day drainage. As the snow recedes, the turkeys will continue to move upslope following the receding snow line.
UMATILLA COUNTY
Below average snowfall at lower elevations should provide improved access for the April 15 opener. There are good numbers of turkeys all along the front face of the Blue Mountains and they are expanding into new areas.
These areas are dominated by private land and access is sometimes
difficult. However, turkeys do inhabit public land in these areas
Central and south Ukiah Unit throughout Umatilla National Forest lands.
Northern Ukiah Unit on the Meacham Travel Management Area.
Umatilla National Forest lands in the eastern portion of the Heppner Unit.
Mt Emily Unit on Umatilla National Forest lands on ridges below Black Mountain.
The Walla Walla Unit also has turkeys on lands enrolled in ODFW's Access and Habitat program. Turkeys in the Ukiah unit generally are found in relatively flat terrain in open ponderosa pine habitat. Turkeys in Mt. Emily tend to avoid steeper areas and inhabit flatter ridgetop areas. These can be challenging to access until later in the season and in some years, they are inaccessible due to snow.
Turkeys will inhabit the low and mid-elevation areas while the snow is still present in high elevation habitats. As spring weather melts off snow in the district, turkeys will move up-slope to newly accessible areas.
UNION COUNTY
Justin Falk with his gobbler
Turkeys are widely distributed throughout the county. We had a fairly mild winter and turkey populations going into winter were strong, so with expected high over-winter survival turkey numbers should be high for this spring season. Lower elevations should have good access, and higher elevations will be accessible earlier than in years past. Focus on these lower elevations early on in the spring and follow the snowline. Birds may use areas with residual snow cover, so don't overlook these spots when scouting for new hunting locations.
Look for birds at the north end of the Grande Ronde Valley, Palmer Valley and the south end of the Catherine Creek Unit. The highest concentrations of birds will be in the west Sled Springs, Wenaha and east slopes of the Mount Emily units within Union County. The Wallowa Whitman National Forest and Manulife Timber lands both hold great turkey habitat around the edges of the Grande Ronde Valley, such as Spring Creek, and the national forest area surrounding Vey Meadows. Manulife lands are open to the public and provide several walk-in hunting opportunities within Union County.
The Little Catherine Creek Travel Management Area provides access into road systems on the east side of the Grande Ronde valley; maps are available at the La Grande ODFW office and online. At Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, turkeys can be found on Glass Hill. These birds spend their time in the transition between the open fields and the dense forest feeding and traveling amongst the brush.
WALLOWA COUNTY
Turkey hunters can expect good numbers of birds in most areas of the county. Road access to high elevations is expected to be difficult, due to snowdrifts, through April. Snow is mostly gone from low elevation areas and south-facing slopes, providing green forage for birds. Access may also be affected by 2022 fires, especially in the Snake River Unit. Plan ahead and check with the local Forest Service office for any closures.
Turkeys in the valley are already displaying but birds are beginning to scatter throughout forested areas so hunters should put in some time hiking, listening and looking for signs of turkey activity. Call for them or just listen for their calls early in the morning and late in the evening. Hunters are reminded that cooperative travel management areas are in effect in the Wenaha and Sled Springs Units.
