Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

FALL TURKEY HUNTING?

F

flatlander

Guest
I'm new to turkey hunting last spring.How is fall hunting different from spring hunting? Do you use decoys?
Do they respond to calling---how?
I went spring hunting for first time this spring and had a blast. No turkeys but a lot of fun and got a education!! I had been saying i've got to try turkey hunting for last 6-7 years and had'nt till Muddy had his contest and i signed up to fill his quota!! After that i had to try just for my partners sake
Man did i have fun chasing birds around!
Hunted the same flock the whole last season. Had birds around me every day just not close enough to shoot!? Did have jake at 5 yds but the tom held up out of range. Did take shot at a another jake at 15 yds slamed him down
done a death dance DEAD. Sat there for a minute feeling puffy, got out to look him over toke 3 steps and he gets up and runs off with wing hanging. Another lesson learned don't leave gun in blind!! Would'nt think of doing that deer hunting.
Other lessons learned they have good eyes and no nerves if they see something they don't like they stay away! Roosted them and saw a few fly downs. Kool! Walk mile back to truck only to see one 20 yds from truck,just {like deer hunting}.TWICE!!! Don't call to much. It's hard to sneak up them. MY body is still recovering from that?
Equipment i have calls???decoys 2 hen 2 jake 3 Double bulls {had for deer hunting} Rem 870 28 in. full choke 2 3/4
picked up 30 in. full choke for it. Pretty boy and girl {Stanta Claus}
My wife say's i've created another monster!!
Muddy i think my wife hates you,i blamed it all on your silly game!!! Hope your feeling better everyday.
 
much different ball game in the fall, I have found one of the best ways to hunt them is to break up the flock and then simply move 75 yds and call them back in. If you know the area they hang out (roost, feed, etc.) then setup in these areas or between roosting and feeding areas, they become much more patternable in the fall as they like to hang in the same areas. I have never used decoys in the fall so I can't answer that question, I would think that most guys don't.

KRatz
 
I agree with Kratz. I don't really enjoy fall turkey, to easy, sorta. Like posted bust them up and you can keep busting them up and calling them back with a little move in between. Basically just make yourself sound like a lost bird looking for the flock.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have found one of the best ways to hunt them is to break up the flock and then simply move 75 yds and call them back in. If you know the area they hang out (roost, feed, etc.) then setup in these areas or between roosting and feeding areas, they become much more patternable in the fall as they like to hang in the same areas. I have never used decoys in the fall so I can't answer that question, I would think that most guys don't.
KRatz

[/ QUOTE ]

The above works well for hens and poults, however, if you do happen to find a flock of fall gobblers here is some information that I have learned over the years.

Gobblers are not real social in the fall and when scattered it may take them a few hours to get back together. To call in a gobbler in the fall, you must learn gobbler talk.

Gobblers have very little interest in hens in the fall so they don’t readily respond to hen yelps or clucks. A tom will respond to gobbler yelps and clucks. These vocalizations are harsher, deeper sounding, and slower cadence than hen calls.

Good luck!
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
just curious what your shooting for shells.

[/ QUOTE ]

#5 shot, 120 grains of Triple 7, and a 209 primer out of a Knight TK2000.
smile.gif
 
I was using 5 shot last spring. Is this a good size? I've had some say 71/2 so you have more shot in pattern? I think more knock down power would be better!
Do you think a 30 in barrel will give me more range with a tight pattern?
I was thinking about having a turkey choke put on to keep a tight pattern.Good idea or waste of money?
 
Forget about the 7-1/2 shot. 6's is as small as I would go.

You will find that there will be flocks broken up into age classes in the Fall.

Large flocks will generally be hens and younger birds.

Big gobblers will usually hang around in small groups of 5 or so birds.

As Blake indicated in his post, deep, raspy, loud yelps in slow cadence will be what you need if you are after a mature tom.

I don't like Fall turkey hunting because I'm so dialed in on the deer hunting. But it can be a fun time.

I get a landowners Fall tag each year for $1 in case a big Tom gets to close to my tree stand.

Good luck!
waytogo.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't like Fall turkey hunting because I'm so dialed in on the deer hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that is probably where i'm at.

But they better watch out next spring cause i'm going be all over them there birds!!!!
 
If you get into a flock of them and they're not longbeards...they're probably Jakes and Jennies. You'll want to try to be the dominant hen. Try a few assembly cackles and cuts.

In the fall, they move a ton so be patient because they'll run off 40-50 yards and come right back in ten seconds later.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom