One of the biggest myths of hunting is that male turkeys respond to calling only in the spring. The fact is, toms gobble all fall, too, and are sometimes more vocal in autumn than in spring. And they can be very responsive to a call.
Can you use a turkey call in the fall?
Obviously, in the fall kee-kees work well because they are the lost call of young-of-the-year turkeys. “Another commonly used turkey vocalization that I use both in fall and spring is the assembly calling of a hen turkey,” continued Proffitt.
What time of day is best for fall turkey hunting?
first thing in the morning
Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.
How often should you call a wild turkey?
Push button call
But don’t call too often – less is more. Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations.
Is fall turkey hunting good?
But for those few dedicated turkey hunters the fall season can be as exciting as the spring season. Slightly different tactics are used during the fall season. The turkeys don’t respond to a call the same as they do in the spring. Rarely will you hear a gobble and when you do, the tom really has little interest in you.
How do you hunt gobblers in the fall?
The preferred method used by most fall hunters targeting male birds is scouting and ambush. They’ll often cover more ground, but fall turkeys, if left undisturbed, tend to be more predictable in their daily routines. Pattern them, then get where they’re going before they do.
Do you use decoys for fall turkey hunting?
Do you use turkey decoys for fall hunts? Wild turkeys, spring or fall, will hunt down the sound of your calling. Decoys may not be necessary for either season. Then again, realistic fakes offer visual encouragement when that bird steps into view (and even before you see it).
Do turkeys roost in the same tree every night?
Overall, the answer to the big question is that turkeys do not always roost in the same place. Turkeys are much like deer in that they shift to different parts of their home range throughout the year. That said, they do seem to favor certain ones, and spend more time roosting in favored locations than anywhere else.
How do you scout a turkey in the fall?
Sandy and muddy areas near their water sources is a great way to gauge their presence and even the directional patterns they might be traveling. Molting feathers and droppings are the more obvious signs and are usually a great way to locate their roosting trees before they head back to them at nightfall.
When should you call turkeys not to call?
Instead of trying to excite a gobbler to answer, a better course of action would have been to stop calling after only a few very light tree yelps and listen closely. If there are still no gobbles, refrain from calling and keep listening for the birds to fly down before attempting another call or making a move.
What to do when turkeys stop gobbling?
When the gobbler quits gobbling, look at your watch, and force yourself to stay on your stand. Don’t move around for an hour after the bird has quit gobbling. If you’ll use this strategy, you’ll see more turkeys, and you’ll take more turkeys.
What time in the morning should you start calling for turkeys?
When To Call A Gobbler. OK, so let’s narrow it down to the time of day. In my view, the best times of the day are right off the roost, then again from about 8:30 to 9:30 when more hens start to leave the gobbler to go lay an egg, and again from about 11 until noon.
Where do turkeys hang out in the fall?
In the fall, they will still haunt fields, particularly those with dropped corn or grain. But in much of the turkey’s range, they shift to the acorns and nuts – called mast by land managers – of hardwood forests. Flocks may move several miles to find acorn-rich environments.
Where are turkeys in the fall?
In season, set up near those roosted turkeys before fly-down — between those trees and food sources — or right at the mast-bearing ridgetop, hollow, or pasture they will likely head toward. Yep, autumn food sources can shift, especially if your season is long, making ghostlike flocks tough to pattern.
Where do turkeys roost in fall?
trees
Turkeys are fond of roosting near the top of large, tall trees that protect them from predators and harsh elements. After sunrise, turkeys will leave their roost to begin foraging. In the fall, this could be along a forest edge or in more wooded areas.
Is fall turkey hunting different than spring?
Fall Turkey Season
While it’s generally much easier to find turkey flocks in the spring due to the thunderous sound of gobbles echoing throughout the woods, fall flocks can be a lot more challenging to spot. Spring turkeys will typically roost in the same general area, which could consist within only a few acres.
What do turkeys eat in the fall?
Preferred foods of wild turkeys
In the spring, they tend to eat leaves and grasses, and in the fall, they feed more on fruits, berries, seeds and insects. Acorns are a crucial source of nutrients for wild turkeys, especially in the wintertime.
Do turkeys mate in the fall?
Breeding season for wild turkeys typically occurs in the late spring and early summer, from around mid-March until June.
What is the best way to hunt turkeys?
13 Tips & Tactics for Better Spring Turkey Hunting by Jay Scott
- BETTER TO BE EARLY THAN LATE.
- CARRY MORE CALLS THAN YOU NEED.
- LOCATOR CALLS DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
- DON’T BLOW A COYOTE HOWLER AT ROOSTED BIRDS.
- PINPOINT WHERE THEY ROOST.
Is turkey hunting hard?
Turkeys are supposed to be tough. That’s why it’s the best hunting tradition for some of us – the difficulty adds to the pleasure. It’s all good – the scouting, locating, sitting on birds, calling to them and sometimes even tagging one.
Do turkeys strut in the winter?
“Those bachelor groups of gobblers, especially the big ones with 50-plus birds, will jockey for that alpha position when they fly down in the morning,” Keck says. “In winter, it really intensifies. It’s a situation where you’ll see a lot of strutting, flogging, spurring, challenge purring—and even gobbling mixed in.”