Spring tactics vs. Fall tactics?

[returnofsid]

As many of you know, this is my first year turkey hunting and I'm doing it all with a bow.  I've learned a lot over the past month or so and have made some of my own observations that I hope to learn from.

I didn't even start turkey hunting until about 3 weeks ago, killing my first Tom on my very first serious hunt, May 18th.  One observation I've noticed, since about May 20th, the Toms seem to not be answering calls near as much, or being as willing to come to a call.  I have to wonder if this is because the mating season is winding down?  I'm not all that familiar with the timing of all of that.

This has me wondering and thinking about how I'll hunt in the fall.

What is the mating 'schedule' of turkeys?  How does this schedule effect hunting strategies?  I would assume that, since mating isn't going on in the Fall, that strategies are significantly different.  What types of strategies work in the Fall?  Do you still use decoys?  Do you still use calls?

[bearpaw]

I've heard hunters talk about purposely breaking up flocks in the fall and then calling to bring a bird back to them. I've never tried that it may work just fine but I prefer to hunt using low impact methods.

In the fall we watch the areas where the flocks frequent, when season opens that is where we are at sitting still and quiet. We normally have 100% success on the first day of most fall hunts. Rarely ever are two days required.

Since the birds are not mating in the fall I have never tried to call in a tom in the fall, I doubt it could be very effective, but maybe someone has experience with that working. 

[turkeydancer]

One strategy is just to pattern the flock and set up an ambush.

Another is to bust the flock to the four winds (note that just moving them in one direction - a flush - is not sufficient and some times a second or third bust is necessary) ... better if you and a buddy or two  charge in from different directions like a bunch of screaming bushes. Then set up at or very near to the break-up point.  If trying for hens or that years hatch (beardless birs), wait 30 to 40 minutes and then start calling using hen assembly calls and/or kee-kee-runs.   If going for a gobbler, wait only 10 to 15 minutes and use gobbles and/or gobble yelps.

Since I'm now built for power and not so much for speed, I have used the calling above with out the flock breakup as well as ambushes with success.

Please note that the flocks will be at lower elevations in the late fall season.

[Dhoey07]

What's a gobble yelp?

[returnofsid]

WOW, I'm already learning!  I've never heard of, let alone considered, the tactics that have been discussed already.  When "patterning a flock," in the fall, what is a successful method of even finding a flock, before being able to pattern it?  Since they aren't in a breeding mode, I'd assume that they aren't near as vocal, making even locating a flock a bit more difficult. 

[bearpaw]

WOW, I'm already learning!  I've never heard of, let alone considered, the tactics that have been discussed already.  When "patterning a flock," in the fall, what is a successful method of even finding a flock, before being able to pattern it?  Since they aren't in a breeding mode, I'd assume that they aren't near as vocal, making even locating a flock a bit more difficult.

I would start by calling wdfw Region 1, number is in the pamphlet and ask if they have any landowners/areas that usually have fall/winter turkey problems!

Otherwise go to your usual turkey areas every few weeks and pay attention to where you see birds.

[turkeydancer]

returnofsid - Turkeys are very social creatures and will make turkey sounds all year ... besides they will come lower as the weather becomes more inclement ...  and in the fall they flock up in bigger groups making them easier to find ...

fckfords07 - Gobbler yelps are deeper pitched and slower than hen yelps ... the NWTF website has many of the turkey sounds you can listen to but unfortunately no gobbler yelps      ....  look in the middle of the page @   http://www.nwtf.org/for_hunters/hunting_tactics.html
However a quick goggle search using "gobbler yelps" will bring up several that you can listen to such as @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUn6uJvLd7U

[returnofsid]

Thanks everyone. I now remember when camping in the fall, seeing them in much larger groups. Since they're social animals, do calls and decoys still work in the fall?

[turkeydancer]

For beardless (hens) use immature (lost) bird sounds such as kee...kee...runs which are effective (hen assembly calls can be too especially if you break up the flock).

For the gobblers, as mentioned, use gobbles and gobble yelps.  Kee...kee.runs will work too, but not as well as for beardless birds.

No experience with use of dekes in the fall, but I would assume it wouldn't hurt.

[returnofsid]

All very good information!  It's time for me to learn more about the life cycle, breeding habits and how different seasons effect turkeys...and how those effects change our hunting tactics. 

Unfortunately, almost all of my turkey hunting will need to be out of a blind, at least until my daughter is a bit older and quieter in the woods...haha.  That probably limits my hunting strategies, especially in the fall, when it seems that non-blind hunting may be a better option.