“:There are lots of oak and madrone woods here, with a mix of pine. Hunters will want to focus their efforts below the 3,000-foot level,”: he added. Turkeys are seen here up to 5,000 feet, but the greater populations stay below that 3,000-foot level.

A BLM map shows all these public access areas within Jackson and Josephine counties. Still, hunters should note that in these areas, most of the birds are on private land. They must obtain permission before attempting to hunt birds on these properties.

There are also some landlocked BLM areas -- that is, public land surrounded by private acreage. To reach these public areas, you must get trespass permission from the proper landowners.

In the Willamette Valley, good bird numbers exist from Lorane up through Eugene, Brownsville, and into the Corvallis and the Salem area. Again, these are almost entirely private-land hunts, and when it comes to securing a place to hunt, knocking on doors well ahead of the season is your best bet. The good part is that due to extensive turkey overpopulation and the problems that follow, many owners are granting access to places hunters couldn’t get into before. Be the first one to ask, and you might hit the jackpot.

EASTERN OREGON
For hunters seeking a do-it-yourself public-land turkey adventure, head east. Biologist Denny said that lots of the top 10 areas are in the eastern part of the state, where hunters enjoy much more public-land access.

Hunters should note that in eastern Oregon, birds winter at lower elevations and in the spring, move to higher elevations where Forest Service land exists. This creates some great hunting opportunities.

Baker-based Assistant District Biologist Brian Ratliff said that thanks to the mild winters we’ve been having, turkey populations have increased in Baker County.

“:The subalpine habitat, mixed with pine and sage brush, is ideal for turkeys in the South Fork Burnt River area, where birds are doing well,”: he said. “:Along the south face of the Wallowa Mountains, namely the Eagle Creek and Pine Creek drainages, birds are doing really well.”:

Ratliff advises hunters to spend some serious time in the lands between Halfway all the way to Keating. “:There’s also getting to be more and more turkeys along the Elkhorn Mountains, both on the north and south sides,”: said Ratliff.

“:There are some private lands here, but overall, people are pretty good about granting permission to those who ask. We get lots of people from around the state here -- from Portland, Ontario and from all over the Oregon coast. People just seem to love hunting in this area.”: