Fall turkeys are a different animal.
Whether you locate an old hen with her brood of the year, a mixed flock that contains several longbeards or the ultimate prize, a bachelor group of mature gobblers, don’t let the numbers fool you. Certainly a dozen or two birds feeding make much more noise than a long bird pecking seeds in the leaves, yet that pile of fall feathers can disappear in a heartbeat.
I once heard a flock fly into a tall hickory tree just before dark. Knowing the location, I arrived early, sat under the tree, and was practically warming the oven when the first bird flew from the tree. It pitched 100 yards to a parallel ridge and the rest followed in succession as I sat aghast at what had happened. A roost tree directly above me and I never got a shot.
Dr. Earl Kennamer is a turkey guru for the NWTF and gives these suggestions for success. If you have never tried fall turkey hunting, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Check out his tips for locating fall birds.
Finding Fall Birds
A plump, juicy turkey is a popular center piece during Thanksgiving dinner. While most people purchase their birds down at the local supermarket, others prefer putting a bird on the table by testing their woodland skills against one of fall’s most cunning creatures — the wild turkey.
Wild turkey flocks are much more silent during the months when trees make the woods ablaze with yellows, oranges and reds. Unlike spring, turkeys are driven by food in the fall rather than the need to reproduce. Therefore, one of the most challenging parts of fall turkey hunting is finding birds.
According to James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., scouting food sources is one of the best ways to find turkeys in the fall.
“Like all wildlife during autumn, turkeys are preparing for the coming winter,” Kennamer said. “So the best way to find them is by learning their food sources and why they are feeding on them. All turkey hunters should be able to identify at least three preferred foods.
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