Fall Turkey??????
Contributors to this thread:Turkey
From: 1buckurout
30-Sep-24
I've shot several spring birds from my blind, but have never hunted them in fall. This season I'm wanting to give it a go.
So... suggestions desired. I'll not run and gun. I plan to set up on known travel routes. So... decoy's? Jake, hen, mixed or none?
From: Buckeye
30-Sep-24
I've been wondering the same thing Jim, I would imagine just a hen or two would work well in the fall. And thanks for reminding me I need to buy a turkey tag, I won't be purposely going for turkey this fall but if an opportunity we're to arise in the deer stand it would be nice to have a tag.
From: scentmouse
01-Oct-24
Years ago a friend of mine told me you find a flock and run and yell to scatter them everywhere... go off a bit and sit for an hour or so. The boss hen will come in and start calling the flock together, you'll here Kiki calls and other hens answering... you should have pick of any of them. Good luck. scentmouse
From: No Mercy
01-Oct-24
I have quite a few turkeys in my deer hunting area and get to observe them a lot. The hens and this years young are in a separate group from the gobblers right now. I have tried calling and it has zero affect on them. I normally spot and stalk or get lucky and kill one from the stand. They are definitely a completely different bird in the Fall than the Spring.
From: Dale06
01-Oct-24
I’ve tried to draw on a fall turkey, from a tree stand. They spot me in a heartbeat. Seems much harder to hunt in fall vs spring.
From: Lewis
01-Oct-24
If you bust up a flock sit down and do some yelps chances are good you’ll call them back.Most of the time it’s going to be the Jakes that come in.Good luck Lewis
From: Will tell
01-Oct-24
Try some loud Kee Kees in a row. Wait a couple of minutes and use a series of yelps, and with some angry cuts and puts like a old hen and then wait. If there are any birds in the area they will respond. If you get the old hen to answer call aggressive to her get her mad and then quit calling. She’ll bring the whole flock in looking for you. I’ve used this method and have called in 100’s of birds during fall season.
From: BUCKeye
01-Oct-24
I have successfully called in fall gobblers by yelping just like in the spring
From: scentmouse
01-Oct-24
Fall is a whole different animal when hunting the "woods chicken"... you call, they got you honed, grab a couple light branches or long twigs, rustle leaves around to simulate a bunch of turkeys feeding on the move. Unless the flock broke up if you call they call back wanting you to join them, very seldom a flock searches for a lone bird, the loner should join them. Spend some time in the turkey woods near you, but some good helpers on this thread for sure. scentmouse
From: jmiller
02-Oct-24
I've been surprised at how well they respond to calling in the fall. Simple yelps and cutts will often bring a flock in to investigate.
From: Buskill
03-Oct-24
What state you gonna hunt in ?
From: 1buckurout
04-Oct-24
West central West Virginia
From: JT
04-Oct-24
If legal, use a dog to bust up the flock. If not try to do it yourself. The idea is to scatter them. Once scattered, set up where you busted them up. They will always rally back to where they were busted. Give it 15 minutes and start yelping, if they haven't started regrouping themselves. I've taken many hens in this manner.
From: DanaC
04-Oct-24
Most flocks I'm seeing are 2-3 adult hens and their offspring of the year. Seen a few 'bachelor' groups of 3-4 longbeards.
From: M S -- Wapiti
20-Dec-24
You can use gobbler yelps in the fall or lose hen calls is you scatter them. Try more scratching of leaves if dry enough more than lots of calling like in the Spring time.
From: midwest
22-Dec-24
Looking forward to some late season turkey hunting as soon as the Iowa gun season is over after today.
From: t-roy
22-Dec-24
I called these two longbeards into my decoys in November. This was the first time I’ve ever tried using decoys on fall birds. I wouldn’t say these birds were actively seeking out the source of my calling, but they definitely made a beeline directly to the dekes as soon as they saw them. Unfortunately, I hit the front bird a tiny bit too high and forward. He ran off with the arrow still in him, and made it to the ravine. Looked for him for several hours with no luck :-(
