fall Turkey season

[Kype]

with my last 2 atemps at getting a turkey with no luck I bought my fall turkey permit. every fall I see turkeys while in my stand. anyone every get a fall turkey? any tips? should I try rushing a flock?(legal during fall season) or is that not ethical in the Turkey hunting world?

[Haskell_Hunter]

I see turkey every day at my spot, except for fall turkey season.  I am hoping that changes this year.

 

If you have cams out it's pretty easy to pattern turkey this time of year.  They are like clockwork and are creatures of habit.  Figure out where they're going to be and at what time, set up a shooting lane, and then hunt them like sprint turkey with the exception of needing to call them in.

 

I believe it is legal to scatter flocks and is mentioned on pg. 58 in the Digest.  You can't scare them toward a hunter, but a hunter can scatter them for their own advantage.

[mazzgolf]

You can scatter flocks in the fall. From what I understand, that's a common tactic in the fall, though I've never done it. You are even allowed to do so with dogs in the fall (see digest page 58). You rush the flock, hopefully you scatter them in all directions, then sit right there and do the kee-kee call to bring them back in. If you push them all in the same direction, that's bad because they are still together only now going away from you. You want to split them up so they attempt to find each other again.

 

Me, personally, I just do what I normally do in the spring. Sit down in a blind or next to a tree and see if I can't get lucky. I've harvested birds in a couple past fall seasons - one time in the pouring rain on the edge of a field!! That morning went from a crappy day to an awesome one I've used decoys most times. I think turkeys like to be with other turkeys - so I figure, put some decoys out to attract them. In the fall I don't care if its a Tom or hen, the fattest bird that comes in range gets it 

 

I have no idea if calling works or doesn't - all I know is, I've done my normal clucking and yelping every 20 to 30 minutes and I've had birds come in. I know turkeys don't gobble in the fall (though I will say one fall day when I let out a yelp, I had a gobbler gobble back at me - only did it the one time though) but that fall day in the rain, I didn't see a single bird for 4 hours, I let out a single gobble and within 30 minutes I had a flock of hens come into my decoys. Again, no idea if it was coincidence or what, but within 30 mins of letting out that one gobble, I harvested a bird.

 

What I do in the fall is pray for rain   

- 1) keeps other fair-weather hunters home

- 2) birds seem to be more predictable - they seem to go into or on edges of fields in the rain - so I know to set up there.

Edited October 6, 2016 by mazzgolf

[Kype]

thanks for the information.

[Bone collector 85]

My zone dont have fall turkey i see 40 every sit sucks

[mazzgolf]

My zone dont have fall turkey i see 40 every sit sucks

 

I thought all zones opened up this fall season? New this year, no?

 

UPDATE: yeah, permits still available for all zones in the state. This is new this year, IIRC. See: https://www.nj.wildlifelicense.com/ALS/unit_report.php

Edited October 6, 2016 by mazzgolf

[outdoorslife]

Just saw this...

[LPJR]

I was always hesitant to get a fall turkey permit (being that it is bow season).

 

My son said he would like to go this fall for one so it looks like something new for me as well!  

[Haskell_Hunter]

I was always hesitant to get a fall turkey permit (being that it is bow season).

 

My son said he would like to go this fall for one so it looks like something new for me as well!

 

There is not shortage of turkey in our forests, so go for it!  If you like chomp on turkey, wild turkey will blow your socks off.  Always a great hunt when you're out for turkey.

[LPJR]

There is not shortage of turkey in our forests, so go for it!  If you like chomp on turkey, wild turkey will blow your socks off.  Always a great hunt when you're out for turkey.

 

Love it. We both shot toms this spring but now looking forward to some "fall cutlets" for the first time!

[Rusty]

I had my class out in the woods today and we had a flock of over 25 birds walk by at 10 yards.  I could have taken a few out with a stick.  

[Kype]

yeah this year its open state wide. watch this year i wont see a single turkey in the fall where as previous years i see fall turkeys everywhere. for some reason turkeys are hard to come by for me when i have a tag on me. this fall will be my "3rd" turkey season and still have yet to see a turkey while hunting lol. maybe im doing something wrong it will be a glorious day when i finally get some wild turkey on my plate and the fan hung on the wall, hell i may throw a party.