OUTDOORS/SPORTS
East Oregonian
B2
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Turkey tactics
BRAD
TRUMBO
UPLAND PURSUITS
A
heavy fog hung in the pines,
cloaking the 40-some birds
high above my brushy
ground cover in their evergreen
roost. Turkeys had flocked up for
winter, and like clockwork entered
their routine of roosting in a small
pine strip along a creek bottom.
Soft yelps and clucks wafting
from the canopy were barely audi-
ble above the babbling water, but
evolved into a boisterous cacoph-
ony as the sun fought to tear through
the fallen ceiling. Having never
mastered the art of calling turkeys, I
sat quietly, awaiting the birds’ vaca-
tion from roost.
As visibility increased to about
30 yards, the unharmonious ruckus
from overhead fell silent. Had I
moved? Had they heard me? My
mind raced with the paranoid cogi-
tations of a turkey hunter familiar
with failure. Moments later, the
pines erupted. Turkeys spewed
from all angles in unison, hidden
entirely by fog; their heavy wing
beats showering the understory
with the mist deposited among the
pine needles. A short glide carried
them to a nearby wheat field where
tender green sprouts topped the
breakfast menu. Waiting and glass-
ing patiently allowed the birds time
to feed back into the timber. Time to
make a move.
Believe it or not, turkeys that
flock up in the fall are far easier to
hunt in brushy and timbered cover
than in the spring. You can get away
with movement that would never
fly when trying to call that lovesick
tom. I sprang from my seat beneath
the shelter of a pine and weaved into
the timber along the edge of an old
road.
Movement through a tangle of
downed pines, rose and service-
berry prompted me to dive behind
a large tree trunk while three Rio
Grande hens emerged onto the old
road clearing. My peering around
the trunk caught the birds’ atten-
tion but merely held their gaze,
allowing me to raise grandpa’s old
Ithaca model 37 pump to shoulder
and settle on the biggest old hen. A
single shell of 2¾-inch, four-shot
steel secured my prize, destined for
a baking dish with garlic, spices and
local bacon.
Sound like a “once in a blue
moon” opportunity? That was my
assumption, given my inability to
remain concealed from these birds
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Brad Trumbo with a colossal fall
Rio hen, taken with his grandpa’s
Ithaca Model 37 pump.
during spring. But year after year
I’ve filled turkey tags in the same
general area, waiting in the dark for
the birds to leave roost and making a
move on them just as I would a mule
deer buck, using terrain and vegeta-
tion to close the distance.
Wild turkeys are not native to
Oregon, and our local Rio Grandes
were introduced in 1975. They
thrive in the Blue Mountains foot-
hills because the narrow riparian
strips with a mix of trees and shrubs
flanked by dryland crops resemble
their native south-central U.S. and
Northern Mexico habitats. These
thick covers also provide ample
concealment for slipping in on a
flock of fall birds.
Although not expressly stated
in literature, turkeys often select
conifers for roosting, and having
a basic understanding of fall habi-
tat and forage preferences is more
than half the battle for fall hunting
success. Spotting a flock is rela-
tively easy, and in my experience,
they generally remain within close
proximity to their preferred winter
food sources.
Fall calling tactics include bust-
ing up flocks and calling them back
with hen yelps, but sitting and call-
ing are two activities that I have
failed to master. Spot-and-stalk is
far more productive for those of us
unable to remain still, and is highly
effective on flocks of 10 or more
birds as safety-in-numbers appears
to be a mindset for the Rio Grande
turkey. Hens have pegged me nearly
every time I move in on the flock,
but a quick stand-still allows unsus-
pecting turkeys to filter by. The
lack of alarm from the oblivious
bystanders typically puts those on
alert at ease, and I have even seen a
flock ignore the panicked “puts” of
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Brad Trumbo took this Rio Grande jake upon sneaking through junipers to intercept the feeding bird.
those who have me pegged.
The fall turkey season in
Oregon’s Northeast hunting units
is in full swing and runs through
Jan. 31, 2022, on private lands.
One turkey of either sex can be
harvested. If you are looking for
something new and exciting and
have never tried spot-and-stalk
turkey hunting, get out and give it
a shot. You are guaranteed to enjoy
the challenge, and fall quickly in
love with the Rio’s rich hues of
copper, emerald and auburn, the tail
fan tipped with an elegant caramel
band, and the exceptional table fare
of this beautiful wild turkey.
———
Brad Trumbo is a fish and wild-
life biologist and outdoor writer
in Waitsburg, Washington. For
tips and tales of outdoor pursuits
and conservation, visit www.
bradtrumbo.com.
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
The Rio Grande’s plumage reveals strikingly beautiful and varied hues.
Honors:
Defensive lineman
Chase Van Wyck
recovers a fumble
near the goal line
in Eastern Oregon
University’s
matchup Sept. 25,
2021, against the
College of Idaho
at Community
Stadium, La
Grande. Van
Wyck was
named Frontier
Conference co-
defensive player of
the year alongside
teammate Sage
DeLong.
Continued from Page B1
Van Wyck concluded his Eastern career third
on the program’s all-time list in tackles for loss
(48.5) and sacks (24.5).
“Each one of them brings something different
to the table,” Camp said. “For offensive coaches
to have to game plan around not just one, but two,
is kind of unthinkable at times.”
Both players earned a share of Frontier Confer-
ence Defensive Player of the Year after stellar
showings in 2021.
Having recruited both out of high school, Camp
emphasized the impact of DeLong and Van Wyck
beyond just their performances on the gridiron.
“It’s something to be able to watch them
grow on the field and as men,” he said. “For
(Van Wyck) to be able to graduate and for Sage
to almost be done with his master’s, it’s just a
really good story for both of them.”
Van Wyck and DeLong concluded their careers
as two of the best defensive linemen to play for
Eastern Oregon. Upon leaving the program, the
two players set the standard for what Camp hopes
Eastern can achieve in years to come.
“Those two guys are true pillars,” Camp said.
“I’m super proud of them.”
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File
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