Fall Turkey
Hunting
By T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors
Fall turkey
hunting is not the same as spring turkey hunting, because the
birds are motivated by different needs. To be successful you
have to use techniques suited to the needs and habits of the
birds at this time of the year. Fall turkeys are not interested
in breeding, the toms are not gobbling, and they are beginning
to regroup. The hens are interested in security and survival for
the young, and finding abundant food sources because of the
greater number of birds. If food is scarce the hen flocks may
travel more than normal to find food. They flocks are also able
to detect danger more easily because there are more eyes and
ears. The young are also older and smarter, and their calls have
changed, primarily because the birds are older.
Fall turkeys
are interested in cover, roosting sites, water and new food
sources to fatten them up and get them through the winter. In
the fall turkeys search for natural food sources, grapes,
cherries, grass seeds, acorns, beechnuts, pine nuts, and other
mast. They also look for snails and insects; and grasses that
have remained green or recently greened up. In the fall green
forage can be found on east facing slopes and in drainage
bottoms. Turkeys will also feed on agricultural crops of clover
and small grains.
Fall Scouting, Observing,
Recording and Patterning
Prior to the
fall season you should spend some time and effort locating the
food sources. Weather dictates the availability and abundance of
natural crops, while weather and the farmer dictate the location
of, and the productiveness of the crops. The only way to find
the food is to get into the fields and woods. Check out food
sources from the spring and previous years, and look for signs
of recent use. You may actually see birds while scouting. When
you see turkeys take note of the time, place and sex of the
birds, and mark the place on a topographical map or aerial
photo. Turkeys often use preferred routes and travel at about
the same time daily. Try to pattern the birds if you can.
If I discover
a pattern I put a blind in the feeding site or travel route to
ambush the birds as they come by. Because I hunt private land I
often construct blinds of natural materials, or leave a portable
blinds in good locations. The birds soon get used to the blinds,
and when I use a flock of decoys they often come right in to my
calling. This technique takes patience, and many hunters prefer
to take a more active role rather than a passive one.
Fall Hunting Techniques
The classic
way to hunt turkeys in the fall is to find a flock of birds,
often hens and young, get close enough to flush the birds, and
scatter them by running into the flock, waving your arms and
yelling as you go. Then you set up in the area, wait until the
birds begin calling to each other to regroup, then call to get
them to come to you. Your calling often gets the lost young to
sound off in an effort to find the hen or others of the flock.
Once the birds begin calling, others begin calling in return,
and the flock eventually gets back together. Sometimes this
works, but the birds may regroup somewhere else. If you set up
close to where the birds landed you may end up between two birds
calling to each other, and they come right to you. Scattering
birds in the fall works but is often unnecessary. If you are
close enough to scatter a flock you are usually close enough for
a shot, or can get close enough. Wait for a single bird to
separate from the flock before shooting, it's very easy to kill
more than one turkey when the birds are close together. When you
are hunting toms in the fall, try to locate the birds the night
before, by watching or hearing them fly-up to roost at night.
Then you go in the next morning, setup as close as you can to
the roost trees (50-60 yards), and possibly get between the
birds and their morning feeding area. Then you call the birds
in, or ambush them when they walk by.
I use more
decoys in the fall than I do in the spring because of the larger
flocks I encounter. I use up to six decoys and generally use
only hen decoys when I am hunting hens, because I am not
simulating breeding or dominance behavior. If I'm after toms I
use one jake decoy, more than that may scare off a single tom.
For hunting sites I choose semi-open areas like I would for
spring hunting, with a tree at my back to break up my outline,
and for protection. Then I string some camouflage material up in
front of me. When I hunt private land and know I won't be
stalked by other hunters I prefer to have cover in front of me.
I choose a low bush or fallen tree to sit behind and sit on a
portable folding stool/backpack. This method of portable
hunting, not needing a tree as a backrest, gives me the
opportunity to pick up and move if the area is unproductive. I
can set up in more open areas by using a piece of camouflage
material stowed in the backpack. There is also room for a half
dozen Feather Flex turkey decoys. When I get my bird I put it in
the pack along with my decoys and head for the truck.
If you are
interested in more turkey hunting tips, or more turkey biology
and behavior, click on Trinity Mountain Outdoor News and
T.R.'s Hunting Tips at www.TRMichels.com. If you have
questions about turkeys log on to the T.R.'s Tips message
board.
This article
is an excerpt from the Whitetail Addict's Manual ($19.95 + $5.00
S&H), by T.R. Michels, available in the Trinity Mountain
Outdoor Products catalog.
T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized game
researcher/wildlife behaviorist, outdoor writer and speaker. He
is the author of the Whitetail, Elk, Duck & Goose, and
Turkey Addict's Manuals. His latest products are the 2003
Revised Edition of the Whitetail Addict's Manual, the
2003 Revised Edition of the Elk Addict's Manual; and the
2003 Revised Edition of the Duck & Goose Addict's Manual.
For a catalog of books and other hunting products contact: T.R.
Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors, PO Box 284, Wanamingo, MN
55983, USA. Phone: 507-824-3296, E-mail: TRMichels@yahoo.com,
Web Site: www.TRMichels.com
