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How to Hunt Turkeys During Fall

Turkey hunting isn't just for spring. Chasing birds when the leaves begin to drop brings its own set of rewards.

How to Hunt Turkeys During Fall
Toms don’t gobble nearly as much in the fall as they do in the spring, but that doesn’t mean turkeys aren’t vocal at this time of year. (Photo courtesy of © DAN STROIK/DREAMSTIME)

Truth be told, until recently I’d rarely gone out to specifically hunt turkeys during fall. Sure, I went a few times during my 25-year love affair with the bird, but typically I’d buy fall tags hoping to fill one while in the middle of whitetail pursuits if a hapless turkey happened to amble by. I managed to kill a couple that way and enjoyed the bounty, nonetheless. However, there’s a master’s level of outdoor chess to be enjoyed once you engage in the fall turkey game. It’s challenging and rewarding—and possibly as good as turkey hunting gets.

I’m super thankful I don’t have to choose between whitetails and turkeys. Over the past few years, the choice has been made for me because of my circumstances. Where I live in the Upper Midwest, gaining access to quality deer-hunting ground is extremely difficult. In fact, it’s held at a near-sacred level—don’t even bother asking.

Interestingly, many of the same landowners who quickly and bluntly say no to queries about deer hunting permission will often say yes—in the next breath—to hunters who ask to chase fall turkeys on their property. Since deer hunting options are limited for us, my two turkey-killing kids and I have taken advantage of the fall turkey season, and it’s become an outstanding pursuit together. I see no future where we don’t take to the fall turkey woods.

Golden Days

Two years ago, during our regular scouting runs, we found a sizable flock of birds in late September. I hung two Tactacam Reveal cell cameras, and the images began to roll in. While I wouldn’t say these turkeys were on a very predictable pattern, there were 50 of them in the same field each day. It was a matter of where they came out and which direction they would go from there.

gaf-tureky-flock
Fall turkey setups are all about location. Find an area that birds frequent, learn when they’ll be there, and get in position before they arrive. (Photo courtesy of © MICHAEL TATMAN/DREAMSTIME)

After a few days of putting the pieces of the puzzle together, we had a plan. Two hours into the first morning, my son, my daughter and I all filled our tags—a true triple! It was an awesome frosty fall morning that warmed up quickly with three flopping birds, complemented by a hint of gunpowder in the crisp autumn air.

Last fall, the same property boasted a growing flock of more than 65 birds. I felt our chances were pretty good. Again, with the Tactacams in play, we began to figure out the flock’s routine. The birds were mostly hens and young-of-the-year poults, but there were also a handful of jakes and six toms. The toms usually kept to themselves but would often end up with the big group at some point during the morning.

We knew where the birds roosted, but during our first hunt they decided to enter the field opposite of where we were set up. They hit the ground and performed the morning ritual of pecking-order reestablishment before heading out to feed. That morning interaction often took an hour based on how aggressive the birds were, and sometimes it pushed them several hundred yards one way or the other. But at the very least, we had one-in-three odds to get it right.

My son and I watched the flock feed through the beanfield, seemingly headed our way at one point, before the birds turned back and went a different direction. We were pinned down until they got close enough for a shot or left the field entirely.

gaf-turkey-tracks
Turkeys on a roost-to-feed routine in fall aren’t difficult to pattern and will often visit the same area at about the same time every day. (Photo by author)

A manure spreader, or “honey wagon” as we call it, showed up and saved the day (I never imagined that would be my thought). It pushed the flock back into the woods where they had roosted the previous night. I knew we had an opportunity.

The turkeys weren’t going to head north, as a busy highway on one edge of the property created a boundary they wouldn’t want to cross; a large swamp to the east created another boundary; and the field from which they came was currently receiving a generous dressing of dung. There was only one way to go, the ridge ... and we were headed to it.

We dropped back into the woods, made an extra-wide circle to the backside of the ridge and evaluated our final approach. We could hear yelping some 200 yards out, and we crept forward keeping as many trees in front of us as possible.

The fall colors were at their peak; brilliant reds, oranges and yellows popped against a pure blue sky dotted with white fluffy clouds. The views were nothing short of spectacular and almost made my eyes hurt. The woods were glowing yellow thanks to brilliant sunshine illuminating the golden birch leaves. I can’t think of a single time during my life where fall colors were so beautiful. We stopped several times during our advance to drink it in. Words simply cannot explain the fire that came from God’s paintbrush that morning.

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The turkeys continued to yelp, and we even heard a few weak gobbles. It seemed they wanted to go back into the field, but perhaps they would scramble along the ridgetop first or maybe err to the side of the ridge facing the field. We decided to set up on the side hill. The vocalizations continued, the honey wagon carried on, and we tucked into a treetop deadfall.

gaf-hunter-leaning-tree
Assembly yelps and kee-kees are common sounds among turkeys in the fall. Imitate them to steer birds into range. (Photo by author)

I kept a stained and ragged mouth-call working without a single response, but I knew it created a facade that indicated to the birds that more turkeys were just down the ridge. As we began to see them, we could tell they were moving toward us. Was my calling drawing them closer, or were they just traveling in their intended direction? Regardless, they were coming. Gun butts tight to our shoulders, we waited.

I think it’s fair to say Tommy and I would have shot a pair of hens had the right opportunity presented itself to fulfill the fall turkey experience. Hens are legal in the fall here. The birds that got too close first, though, were toms and jakes. On the count of three, we both shot and dumped a fine pair of fall gobblers at 30 yards. It was an amazing morning that certainly compared to some spring hunts we’ve enjoyed in the past.

Of course, we took a ridiculous number of photos because the day demanded it. Fall turkey hunting is an overlooked opportunity that, once experienced, you’ll remember well into the future and want to experience again. There is no need to wait till spring to enjoy a good turkey hunt if you heed the call of the fall.

gaf-trail-cam
Deploy trail cameras like the Tactacam Reveal X to keep tabs on when and where flocks of turkeys travel. (Photo by author)

Find the Flock

When it comes to finding fall birds, there is no substitute for tires on the gravel or boots in the dirt. Where we live, some turkeys reside in the same spot all year long, while others tend to have winter locations that differ from their traditional spring areas. The key is identifying the shift when it occurs.

This is when trail cameras become the turkey hunter’s best friend. Regardless of where you hunt, there are places you simply cannot see from the road, and a set of eyes constantly watching a small area or two is hard to put a price on. A good camera offers reliability, a fast trigger speed, quality images, impressive battery life and a user-friendly app to collect and manage data. I rely on the Tactacam Reveal, but there are several trustworthy options out there. Do your research and get the camera that best fits your objectives and budget.

A quality binocular is critical as well. Again, there are plenty of great options on the market. I prefer the 10x50 mm Leupold Santiam, which has proven to be helpful both in the woods during the hunt and when glassing from the seat of a pickup while patterning birds. Good glass is essential when you spend a lot of time watching game. Spend as much as you can afford because you’ll never regret it.

gaf-hunter-on-ground
The importance of thorough scouting and observation makes a binocular an invaluable turkey tool during fall hunts. (Photo by author)

Identify a daily, if not hourly, pattern when possible. During this time of the year turkeys are generally on a roost-to-feed pattern as they bolster caloric intake leading up to winter. They aren’t distracted by breeding, which keeps them fairly predictable.

It’s important to determine if a certain flock can sustain harvest. While I’m often impressed at how robust these birds are, a few extreme winters in certain areas of the country such as the Upper Midwest may keep the population at a level that warrants spring hunting only. This is when personal responsibility comes into play. Make a choice that meshes with your turkey hunting objectives.

gaf-thomas-turkey-shoulder
Turkeys are every bit as wary in the fall as they are in the spring, making camouflage and the ability to sit still critical factors of success. (Photo by author)

My family and I have access to a couple of farms with tremendous turkey numbers. If that wasn’t the case, we’d choose to not hunt them. We may prefer to shoot them in the spring, but if there are plenty of birds, a light amount of fall harvest won’t hurt a thing. Your scouting efforts should allow you to make an easy determination.

Get There First

When you choose to pursue fall birds, keep your options open. I’ve tried the classic “bustin’ the flock” tactic before, albeit unsuccessfully. The short of it: Locate a group of birds, sneak to within 100 yards or less, run like a maniac into the flock and scatter them in every direction. Sit down and begin calling. Aside from a pulled hammy, dropped calls, unmated gloves lying in the leaves and other spillage on the trail to delivering the flock-bustin’ hollers, I’ve not been able to make this work. Reliable sources assure me that it is indeed productive, but I’ve found it more effort and patience than it might be worth. Plus, I don’t like spooking birds ... twice.

I prefer getting to where the turkeys want to be before they get there and waiting for them to arrive. Turkeys are still very vocal in the fall, but not nearly as responsive as during the spring. Some subtle calling may help direct them one way or the other. I often choose to sit in a blind, especially when I have both of my kids in tow. This has worked for quite a few years.

gaf-tom-behind-tree
A tom that responds to calling in the fall is just as rewarding as a bird that struts in during the spring season.(Photo courtesy of © JUSTINGHOFFMANOUTDOORS/DREAMSTIME)

The traditional method of running and gunning can offer a better experience if you’re able to determine daily travel habits during scouting efforts. You’ll begin to understand where the turkeys want to be—usually a food source of some sort—and can plan your ambush to occur between the roost trees and that destination. Sometimes you can slightly redirect their heading with some calling, but don’t overdo it. You may have to carefully reposition a few times before the setup results in turkeys strolling by in range.

Simple Calling

Calls and decoys have a valuable place in the fall turkey hunter’s arsenal, and their deployment is relatively simple compared to spring. I’ve not experienced a lot of results with excited yelping and cutting—although turkeys seem to cackle during fly-down much more in the fall than what I’ve heard in the spring. I hear mostly steady yelping and kee-keeing in the fall, and I’ve gotten the best response from the birds when making these calls.

gaf-son-trophy
The author’s son, Tommy, took half of a father-son double after careful repositioning put the pair in the path of a fl ock. (Photo by author)

Once they hit the ground, often the most effective calling is extended assembly yelps. Perhaps break up the cadence and intensity from time to time, but 12 to 18 yelps per series sounds right. The assembly yelp is often performed by a mother hen when trying to collect her brood. Practice the kee-kee run, too. Take your favorite calls along, just as you would in the spring.

In my experience, one of the most effective decoys in both spring and fall is a feeding hen. It generally doesn’t elicit violence from territorial hens, although sometimes it might. There’s a lot of fighting in the fall, but a decoy mainly provides confidence to an approaching group of birds. Anytime you’re sitting on a field edge, I suggest a feeding hen.

gaf-thomas-trophy
A hefty fall tom fell to the author while he hunted with his son among the brilliant yellow birch trees. (Photo by author)

Say what you want about the reaping method during spring, but in my book it’s a pile of fun. Based on my experience during the fall hunt, and the amount of bickering turkeys do at this time, I wonder if reaping would work during the fall. I’ve yet to test that theory, but I plan to this season.

Of course, the old-fashioned ambush is a great tactic, too. It may take a long walk, but use the terrain and existing cover to get within shotgun range of a group of turkeys or in a spot that they are working toward. It’s not easy to sneak on a wild turkey, and if you end up being successful, you’ve done something cool.

Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of the year. I will hunt whitetails as time and access allow, but making room for something different adds even more enjoyment to the fall season. Many turkey hunters, including me, love the spring game as much as anything in the outdoors. The fall, however, gives us a similar version of the hunt beneath unbelievable colors complemented by that familiar crispness in the air we all long for. It will make you come back year after year.

Cart It In
gaf-game-cart
(Photo courtesy of Rugged Gear)

A mobile solution for hauling lots of turkey gear.

Hauling gear for your youngster—or an elderly father or grandfather—to a hunting location requires a strong back. Or an innovative mind.

I’ve been taking my kids turkey hunting since they were both 6 years old. During those early days, dragging amenities like a blind, chairs, decoys, extra clothes and, of course, a truckload of snacks demanded that I either hire a Sherpa or get creative. That’s when I found Rugged Gear’s Shooting Cart ($499.99; ruggedgear.com). It’s built on a heavy-duty stroller chassis that the company rigged to accommodate shotguns, ammo and an assortment of gear that trap, skeet and sporting clay shooters take to the shooting line. I instantly thought of turkey hunting.

A Shooting Cart is not cheap, but it’s built to provide years of use on terrain such as logging and farm roads or harvested hay and wheat fields. I modified mine with hangers for decoys, clothes and other items that get secured with bungee straps.

Hauling all the necessary gear with only your vest on your back makes getting in and out quickly and quietly a snap—with fewer under-your-breath cusswords. The Rugged Gear Shooting Cart has been a hunt-saver for me.

Fall Loads
gaf-boxed-ammo
(Photos courtesy of Boss Shotshells and Apex Ammunition)

TSS gets the nod for this season, too.

Turkey loads containing Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) rank high among spring hunters across the nation, and they are just as impressive during the fall season. Small but super dense TSS increases pellet count, pattern density, on-target energy and penetration. All this adds distance to your effective range to make hung-up birds flop. TSS has also made sub-gauges, such as the 28 gauge and .410 bore, relevant for turkeys.

Over the past couple years, I’ve tested and used 20-gauge turkey loads from both Apex Ammunition (apexammunition.com) and Boss Shotshells (bossshotshells.com), and the results have been incredible. Fall birds often don’t respond to calling as they do during spring, and being lethal at 50 yards is now an option when they hang up. (Pattern your gun at extended ranges so you’re confident in making shots like that.) TSS loads from Apex and Boss cost anywhere from $50 to $85 for five rounds depending on gauge, but they’re a worthy investment.


  • This article was featured in the September 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.



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