Fall Turkey Tips wanted

kansasbrittany

kansasbrittany

Banned
Guys,

I hunted turkeys in the fall a few times as a teenager. I've also hunted spring turkeys, but that is much different IME. My boys have really been bugging me about taking 'em turkey hunting and momma wants a couple in the freezer. Given that baseball consumes our spring(s), and we're taking a year off of wrestling, we're going fall turkey hunting.

What's the best way to bag one during the fall season? I've belly-crawled down dry creek beds in the past and had great success. However, I'm not real comfortable belly-crawling 150yards with an 8yo and an 11yo, who will be carrying guns; maybe when they're older and more experienced, but not right now.

Should I set up a blind and just do my best to be in range as they walk by, then ambush them? Or should I figure out how to break 'em up and call 'em back? Which of these 2 methods do you believe is most effective and why?

I think it would be fun to let the dogs break up a flock of turkeys and try to call 'em back, but I'm no pro with a turkey call and I'm not even sure what sound they make to call a flock back.

Thanks in advance to all who are willing to take the time to respond and share their knowledge!
 
winter birds

kansasbrittany said:
Guys,

I hunted turkeys in the fall a few times as a teenager. I've also hunted spring turkeys, but that is much different IME. My boys have really been bugging me about taking 'em turkey hunting and momma wants a couple in the freezer. Given that baseball consumes our spring(s), and we're taking a year off of wrestling, we're going fall turkey hunting.

What's the best way to bag one during the fall season? I've belly-crawled down dry creek beds in the past and had great success. However, I'm not real comfortable belly-crawling 150yards with an 8yo and an 11yo, who will be carrying guns; maybe when they're older and more experienced, but not right now.

Should I set up a blind and just do my best to be in range as they walk by, then ambush them? Or should I figure out how to break 'em up and call 'em back? Which of these 2 methods do you believe is most effective and why?

I think it would be fun to let the dogs break up a flock of turkeys and try to call 'em back, but I'm no pro with a turkey call and I'm not even sure what sound they make to call a flock back.

Thanks in advance to all who are willing to take the time to respond and share their knowledge!
Click to expand...

as a starter. i hunt them in the winter and have no problems in doing so. one risk that may exist if running them with the dogs is you get right back to the trap issue. dogs sure love to chase turkey however but then he would have to behave well enough to let a turkey come back to the area close enough to shoot it, good luck with that one. turkey calling is made difficult due to the call makers, it is good for business. most time none of them work and then other times anything works, learn what a putt is and make sure you never use it, it works all the time. all turkey sound different so therefore don't worry about making any mistake except for the one above. calling aggressively would be the norm. mostly don't expect them to fall in love with you. the best method is to find a field that they are feeding in and then watch where they go to roost. then you will be where they walk by you in the morning and again as they go back to roost. the turkey are very vocal in the fall, mostly it is the young but you will also hear gobbles. don't expect the birds to put much effort into looking for you. find their feeding and roosting areas. in the winter without the leaves they are easy to see as they are likely to be near the top of the trees and you can see them against the sky. they will roost just at dark and will hit the ground well before sunup in normal weather. turkey can in fact see the reflection from you glasses and they will then make a detour around you. turkey do want and need company, esp. the younger ones so if the flock is busted up they really want to get back together. the jakes are very active and aggressive and seem to hate everybody so therefore they tend to move around a lot, gobblers are likely to be in small ground mostly ignoring everything. i wouldn't hunt without my small three legged swivel camp stool and a book, and my blind, turkey many times do see the blind and it bother's them sometimes alot, you will stay in one place longer is you have something to do and sit on. i try and shoot hens as a smaller bird is easier to eat for the two of us, that is my preference but i still end up with far more males than females. another thing, keep it simple, a turkey is a pretty dumb bird

cheers
 
KB,

Bustin the flock and calling back works best in the fall. I wait 20 min after busting them then start with clucking and Kee Kee run calls. It seems to work good. I also have busted them and let the dogs go try to find them. Kinda awesome when they flush right in front of you:thumbsup: PM me if you need any other advise on locating them and such.

Kick'em Up!
 
1. Know their roost and loafing area, go into the trees while they're out feeding, and wait for them to return.

2. If they seek cover in grass or brush due to being alarmed by you or your vehicle, they often hunker down as soon as they are in the cover. You can quick march right to them and get them on the ground or in the air when they flush.

3. Walk slowly through a dark wood where you know they hang out. When you see them, freeze and see if they come toward you. They are curious.

Always wear camo.
 
I walk the dogs. If a flock of turkeys flush, I put the dogs up and sit where the flock broke up. It takes about an hour for them to come back. I like this method because I get to walk the dogs and I do not have to find their roost and get up early in the morning.

I do not use the call until I hear a turkey. I then try to imitate their sound and only call as much as they do. It is exciting.
 
I find that he key to fall turkey hunting is .... scouting.

If you know their pattern and where they go to roost, its pretty easy to bushwhack them on the way to and from the roost.
 
All posters,

I appreciate the advice! Finding the roost and setting up between the roost and food source is about what I expected.

Now to find a few flocks in areas we have access to. As many as I see driving around, it shouldn't be too awful hard.

Again, thanks for the tips:thumbsup:
 
kansasbrittany said:
All posters,

I appreciate the advice! Finding the roost and setting up between the roost and food source is about what I expected.

Now to find a few flocks in areas we have access to. As many as I see driving around, it shouldn't be too awful hard.

Again, thanks for the tips:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

one other thing. if you want your season to last, don't disturb the birds where they are feeding and especially don't scare them off the roost or you be back scouting again. great luck esp. for the kids

cheers
 
Thanks Musti!

By the way, we make wine at our house too, but we aren't seasoned pros by any stretch of the imagination. Still, it tastes pretty decent (I'd say good when we mix the dry with the sweet) and it gets ya where ya wanna go;)

I'm going to have quite a bit of idle time this bird season. If we happen to be in the same area at some point this season, I'd be interested in swapping a glass of wine with you and you can meet my boys. I have a GSP as well if you want to take me to a handful of your honey-holes (j/k).
 
Two ways have worked for me in the fall, these methods only work if you have narrow strips woods.
1. place a guy or guys on each side and walk towards each other, since turkeys like to run you need to push them so they can't go any further and have to fly. Use the dogs to help push. Safety:Wear your orange. Have a rule about only shooting at birds in the air.
2. Let the dogs point them and flush like a pheasant and hammer em. I've done it this way 4 years in a row. We've all seen dogs point turkeys, and it's fun to see a dog retrieve a turkey.

Number 1 works better if you have 4 or more people since new need to box them in. Number 2 doesn't work well if there is a big group. I have always done this late afternoon to just before close of shooting hours.
 
KB,

I've shot more turkey over my dogs just hunting like pheasants and quail. I find where they kind of like to hang out and just start walking them up. I almost never fail to shot at least one each fall this way. I never really have set out to hunt them it just kinda happens. I guess this wasn't much help at all.

Good luck and go get em. The only good turkey is a smoked one with fixings.
 
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