Hunting Forum

I've never hunted Turkey and I'm simply curious here but are the calls used in the fall different from that which would be used on a spring hunt?

Are there different behaviors the hunter is attempting to exploit, mimic or elicit?

Thanks!

I don't hunt Fall turkey season but from what I have read about it the calls are the same but used in a different fashion. In the Spring the motivating factor is the sex drive of the male,so you use a hen call to bring the Tom into range, whereas, in the Fall the motivating factor is to be with the flock. As I understand Fall hunting the object is to find a flock and "bust it" so the birds scatter, then set up and attempt to call the flock back together. Maybe someone who has first hand knowledge can expand on this thought. Hope this helps.

Spot on. First you have to find the flock and break it up. Running at them screaming like a madman works. Then go sit where they were in about fifteen minutes give a few yelps if you get a return keep yelping back and watch like a hawk.

I have never fall hunted turkey either, this will be my first year, so this may be a really stupid question but here goes anyhow....if you have a flock of birds in front of you why would you bust them up with the hopes of calling them back?

Turkeys are a "Social Critter". They NEED to flock up for safety and comfort. By breaking up or scattering the flock, the urge for them to regroup is overwhelming. IF you break a flock up right at dark and they can not get together again before they roost, they will be VERY lonesome and come almost at run in the first light. Otherwise, break up the flock, then set up right there where they were and start with a kee kee run call, clucks and purrs. Keep still andf move as little as possible, they'll come looking. Decoys may or may not be helpful. Personally, I don't use tyhem in the fall. Hope this helps,
Brian

Usually when you have a flock in front of you they are out of range so busting them up is the way to go to call one into gun range. But if you get lucky and you have a flock fall into your lap by all means forget about busting em up and shoot one. I got into the woods one time in the dark and was sitting waiting for sunrise only to discover I was sitting in the middle of a roosted flock. But that was once in thirty years turkey hunting. After the close of turkey and the opening of gun season for deer I'm tripping over the dern things.

Batman,

I believe Fall hunting is some what situational, you are probably correct if you have a flock in front of you in range then you may have a shot. From what I understand usually when you spot a flock in the Fall the range is such that you will not have a clear shot at a bird so the scatter technique is used. There is also the element of tradition involved in that Fall turkey are hunted using the scatter method. Also from what I have read Fall turkey hunting requires covering ground to find the flock and in my experience if you are moving those sharp eyed turkey would make it very difficult to get into shotgun range.

As with deer and other game, scouting is key. Turkeys will usually roost in the same basic area unless they are run off for some reason. SOMETIMES even the same tree. They are creatures of habit. Scouting before and during the season is key to getting in the right place at the right time. By carefully scouting and following them throughout the day ou will be able to set up up for an ambush.

I started by running at them in my red flannel shirt and blue jeans and yelling loud as I cud. Sat down where they left from. When I heard a call, usually within ten minutes, I mimicked it with my piece of creek slate rock and a sharpened hickory stick....first one that showed up got whacked in head with my Page & Lewis single shot rolling block .22...

Yeah, but we gots ELECTRICITY now Uncle Tom.....LOL

I just got my first fall turkey Wedsday.  The turkies here were all in thick woods, not too many cleared areas. I sat at the edge of a waterline clearing about 30 yards wide. About 30 minutes later 2 of them walked up, only 1 walked away. I didn't have to bust them or call at all. Maybe it was just luck but it worked and I have 1 for Thanksgiving dinner.

Congrats on your Thanksgiving turkey Batman. One of the main reasons to bust up a flock during the fall season is so that when you do have a flock in front of you, you don't accidently  shoot more than the intended target bird! Here in Kentucky, we're allowed four fall turkeys. Two with shotgun and two with archery. Think shotgunning turkey is hard! Try to arrow a turkey once  A lot of fun though 

Batman be the Main Man!

Hey Tom!!!!! R U in Soddy Daisey? I'm in Crossville....right up the road...when you call fall birds do you use a gobble or a hen call?  also have you seen many birds down there? I saw  several bunches up here but most were too far away, we did get 2 birds though. In the spring will they usually be in the same area as in the fall?

I was just in Soddy Daisy not long ago picking up a four wheeler. Small world. Anyways I was wanting to get some decoys for the fall but never did because I hunt a heavily wooded area. Would decoys be effective in the spring even if the woods are somewhat thick? I could have taken a huge hen last week. She sprinted up the hill to me after I scattered a flock and started doing some excited clucks. She was ten yards away. I was hoping to see a Tom running up behind her but no luck. Oh well I will see them in the spring.

Hunting in the fall is a bit different than in the spring. Gobblers are not interested in the hens like the spring and are possibly in a seperate flock. Breaking up a gobbler flock will not always bring one in by calling as they are not as apt to get back together as the hens and young of the year.

Congrats, Batman!

Ain't nothing wrong with a little luck and being in the right place at the right time. The main thing is that you were able to make it count.

PA ridgerunner, spot on with the separation of hens and toms. They stay away from each other but every now and then you'll see jakes with the hens in fall. One good call to use, my personal favorite, after I bust the flock, is the kee-kee run-run. Two high notes on the mouth call, box, slate, etc., then two low notes. That's the lost call of a turkey in the fall. The faster kee-kee run call is usually the hens and the slower kee-kee run is a tom. Although, you probably won't notice a difference in cadence. It comes with experience.

We have seen several mall to large flocks recently. will they generally be in the same spot in the spring as they are now?

Possible but not likely. They tend to change their routine based on the food and security of an area