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10 Fall Hunting Myths Debunked
By: Steve Hickoff
You hear a lot of ideas about turkey
hunting, some with merit and others, well ...
Myth or Fact?
Following are just 5 topics that showcase
study before you load up and head out for
this fall.
1. Spring turkey hunting is a long
tradition.
The turkey hunting tradition actually has its
roots in autumn and winter hunting. Before
the notion of “spring is for beards, fall is for
antlers” came into the minds of modern
turkey hunters, flock-seeking sportsmen
sought out their game during the woodstove
months. Back then some hunters held a
prevalent notion that taking a breed-minded
gobbler in the spring was easy. Even unfair.
A Pennsylvania native, I first hunted wild
turkeys in 1971 at age 12. I can still
remember old-timers (guys my age now!)
talking about how turkey hunting in the
spring was just flat-out wrong. You see,
Pennsylvania had just legalized spring
turkey hunting in 1968 after being closed
since 1873. Yet, by 1984, a month-long
Keystone State spring turkey season was in
place for bearded birds, and has been since.
Traditions shift.
As reported by the Pennsylvania Game
Commission, “Since 2000, the number of
spring turkey hunters has exceeded that of
fall turkey hunters in Pennsylvania. This
switch is not only the result of fall hunters
switching to spring turkey hunting, but also
an influx of new turkey hunters who hunt
only in the spring.”
2. You can’t call fall long beards.
Not unless you try. Thinking like a turkey
will help. In spring, toms are inclined to
seek out hens to breed them. Our calling
tradition then focuses around making clucks
and hen yelps to lure gobblers in. In fall,
male turkeys roam in gobbler gangs.
Survival — primarily roosting and feeding
— and pecking order rule their movements.
To call a fall long beard to the gun or bow
you have to adapt your calling. Clucking,
gobbler yelping and gobbling can do that.
On a Vermont fall hunt, my English setter
Midge broke up a flock of gobblers my
buddy Lawrence Pyne had seen while bow-
hunting. Our hunting partner Marc Brown
would be the shooter. Our calling included
clucking, gobbler yelping and, most
importantly, aggressive purring.
I watched as one long beard skirted our
setup and moved on past. Not long after,
another approached silently and looked
toward the calling. Just then, Brownie
purred aggressively, and I watched as the
tom’s brick-red head turned red, white and
blue. The fired-up tom, his shoulders
hunched like Count Dracula, stalked into
range. That was the last thing that long
beard done.
3. Fall turkeys are too easy.
Some are. Some aren’t. Autumn turkeys can
be easy once you find them, but locating
flocks isn’t always a sealed deal. Food
sources can be widespread in October and
November, the heart of fall-turkey hunting
around the country.
As a result, groups of birds can roam widely.
This is especially true for ridge top turkeys
in mountainous regions. You may find sign
in the form of scratching, tracks, droppings,
and dusting areas, but never contact the live
birds. When you do though, yes, it can be
easier, but not always.
I’ve tagged fall turkeys on opening day not
long after fly down. I’ve hunted autumn
flocks on a Vermont ridge for days, with
fresh scratching all around me, without
filling a tag. Is this anything different than
spring hunting? Turkey hunting is turkey
hunting.
4. Scattered gobblers won’t regroup for
days.
Big gobblers flush far.
Sometimes they take their
time regrouping, but other
instances prove otherwise.
I’ve seen some flushed
fall male turkeys attempt
to regroup with clucks and
raspy three-note gobbler
yelps within the hour,
often sooner. And yes, I’ve called them in.
It’s not uncommon to hear these birds
gobble as they regroup. As mentioned
earlier, aggressive purring will also draw
their attention as it suggests a pecking order
dispute. Haven’t tried it? Why not?
I’ve scattered mid-September gobblers
during the New Hampshire archery-only
season, which begins Sept. 15 each year. On
one occasion, I managed to send a gang of
five into all directions. I set up at the flush
site and waited. Maybe 20 minutes later, I
gobbler yelped. A gobble ripped back from
the near woods.
Another bird answered in the other
direction. Soon all of them were regrouping.
If you haven’t enjoyed the sound of five fall
long beards gobbling to each other as they
locate flock members you’re missing
something. Did I kill one of those birds?
Well, I’ll just say that locating and flushing
autumn turkeys is one thing. Arrowing one
is yet another...
5. Autumn seasons hurt turkey
populations.
Wild turkey management is a modern
success story. Fall turkey hunting,
depending on where you do it, is regulated
in a variety of ways. Season length is one
method. Limiting tags is another. Opening
hunts to residents only is yet one more.
Biologists regulate seasons based on kill
numbers and harvest data — spring and fall.
Hunter participation in this effort helps.
We’re all in this together.
In their report, “Pennsylvania Turkey
Hunting,” PGC biologist Mary Joe Casalena
and NWTF biologist Bob Eriksen wrote:
“We are privileged to be able to enjoy both
spring and fall hunting in this state. To
continue to have the outstanding hunting we
have come to expect, fall harvests are
carefully monitored and trends in spring
harvests are watched. Modern research has
shown that spring gobbler hunting can
provide maximum recreational opportunity
to hunters with little impact on the turkey
population. Research has also shown that we
can maintain fall hunting, too. However, we
must acknowledge that as hunter numbers
and the popularity of the sport grow, fall
hunting opportunities might not expand as
rapidly.”
6. I’m not into shooting hens or young
turkeys.
Then don’t. Set your sights on taking a long
beard. The adult males are out there; you
just have to find them. And to some, taking
a tom is the ultimate experience, far
outranking tagging a spring long beard.
I’ve enjoyed hunts for either-sex turkeys,
young and adult, for many years. As
sportsmen, we decide what bird to pull the
trigger on as fall hunts go. Letting a young
hunter take a young fall hen can instill the
love of this tradition. If it’s legal, why not?
7. Fall gobblers don’t strut or gobble.
When I hear a deer hunter tell me with
astonishment that he heard turkeys gobbling,
I have to smile. Welcome to the club.
Those of us who spend a lot of time on
October and November ridges occasionally
rely on fall gobbling (and other roost
calling) to locate turkeys. No, it’s not nearly
as consistent as in spring, but it’s not
uncommon either.
As for strutting, I’ve seen it in the fall with
both sexes. You heard right. Fall gobblers
strut. Period. After breaking a turkey flock
during one autumn Vermont hunt, my
buddies and I called in a strutting adult hen.
Doubt it? That’s OK — we have it on film.
So-called “super jakes”— male fall turkeys
born two springs ago, but not yet two years
of age — seem particularly committed to
strutting in autumn. Each November I’ll
often find a group somewhere that includes
several strutting full-fan gobblers, and a
nearby group of adult hens and/or a family
flock.
Yes, I realize this is contrary to the typical
notion that autumn turkeys exist in perfect
flocks consisting of 1) a brood and her
charges, 2) gobbler gangs, and 3) broad less
flocks, but I’ve witnessed it.
8. Hunting autumn turkeys with dogs is
unfair.
Using turkey dogs in states where it’s legal
offers plenty. Mostly it allows you to find
and flush flocks more effectively. But then
you have another challenge: How do you
hide your canine hunting partner in the blind
so that you can call scattered turkeys back?
Training at an early age helps. Still, a dog
eager to get close to those turkeys again
might have a hard time staying still. In truth,
dogs are like hunters. Some are good, and
some are a work-in-progress. The ability to
use dogs effectively is usually done best by
a serious fall turkey hunter. Work on the
latter aspect first.
If I could count how many turkey flocks my
dogs have busted, which I can’t, then
compare it to the birds in those groups I’ve
tagged, you’d ask me why I don’t hunt deer
more enthusiastically than autumn gobblers
and hens. Again, having a canine along for
companionship, and then seeing that dog
find and flush turkeys, is my first measure of
success. Period. Yes, sealing the deal,
calling and killing a legal fall bird is what
it’s all about. But it’s not everything, and it’s
not always easy. Dogs are as fair as any
other tool we use.
9. Why flush turkeys when I can just
shoot one?
The idea of flushing fall turkey flocks to
gain a tactical advantage is based on the
notion you want to call the turkey to your
setup after the birds have been scattered. But
yeah, if you’ve patterned or happened into
fall turkeys — and a bird is in range and you
want it — sure, take the shot. You choose.
Often, though, you encounter a flock on the
edge of gun range. What do you do then?
That’s when you might need to flush them.
This strategy is based on the simple fact that
turkeys are gregarious and the hope that the
flock will want to regroup.
There’s a difference between a good and bad
flock flush, as all veteran fall hunters know.
In a lousy break, smaller groups of birds
stay together. This puts you at a tactical
disadvantage. In one done right, turkeys fly
off or run in all directions. They’ll want to
regroup.
You can set up at that site and try to call one
into range. Also, some might suggest this
approach is more sporting than simply
shooting one that is in range by luck and
circumstance.
10. Spring hunting is just better.
It’s tough to argue with a value judgment
like this when another turkey hunter makes
it. Some waterfowl or deer hunters might
say that our time with wild turkeys is
misspent no matter what the season.
To me, the spring gobbler hunt offers a
range of tactics and intangible pleasures
ranging from hearing turkeys on the roost to
stutters spitting and drumming as they work
toward you. Spring turkey season comes at
the end of winter, and calling Maine home
base as I do makes those opportunities rank
right up there.
But by the end of summer, and months of
fishing — a pleasure, not a passion — I’m
ready to find some fall turkey flocks. How
about you? I’m also a dog guy, so getting
out in October and November with my
flock-minded English setters adds to the
appeal.
As in spring, fall opportunities are many.
It’s up to you to choose how you measure
your accomplishments. Do you count kills
or the October sunrises you enjoy in the
turkey woods? Get out there and debunk
some of these fall turkey-hunting myths
yourself.
Tips & Tactics for Fall Turkey Hunting
Scouting for Wild Turkey
By: Travis Travillian (Pro Staff at Kentucky Outdoors Shop)
September, 21st 2015
Finding Land to Hunt Turkeys
For some reason farmers and land
owners are much more willing to let hunters
on their land to chase gobblers than
Whitetail Deer. In addition to knocking on
doors most states have a vast amount of
public land to hunt on. Your first stop when
searching for a good public land hunting
spot should be your local department of Fish
and Game.
These are your local government
organizations and usually able to give the
detailed information on state forests and
Wildlife Management Areas or WMA’s in
your area.
Scouting Your Area
for Turkeys.
So you found that hopeful and special place
to hunt; now we need to find those turkeys.
Turkeys are pretty much a creatures of
habitat. It is not too uncommon for them to
roost in the same areas each night. Start
scouting in the pre-season and keep track of
where you are seeing the turkeys. If you
were too see a group of turkey in a field
around the same time each day try and arrive
at that field early enough to get set up and
ready. If you find some roosting areas look
for locations close by so you can sneak in
before dawn. You will want to be within 95
to 100 yards of the roosting trees, but you
need to be sure that you can reach this area
without bumping the birds off the roost. Get
a few different locations picked out close to
your known roosting areas. That will allow
you to sneak in before dawn and use a
locator call (I like the Barn Owl call) to
check if the turkeys are still on the roost.
Just make sure you can find these areas in
the dark without having to search around the
woods. Finding roosting areas can be done
after the sun starts to go down a few weeks
before the hunting season.
Food Source
Find the food sources for the time of year;
Turkeys change locations depending on the
time of year and food source available. Just
because you see a large group of turkeys
every day during the spring in a certain area
doesn't mean that they will be there in the
fall. The best time to scout is a few weeks
before you actually are going to go hunting.
Find the Hens
Just because you can't see the gobblers in a
group of hens you shouldn't rule out the
spot. In the spring if you find the hens the
roosters are sure to be close by as well.
The Genesis System eliminates let-off on
light draw weight bows (where it’s
unnecessary) so there are no specific draw
length requirements. The result is a bow
that fits virtually everyone (15″ to 30″) and
that a young person can’t outgrow.
A Genesis bow, set at 20 pounds, stores and
releases energy comparable to that of a 35
pound recurves! Plus, with zero let-off, it
as the ‘holding weight’ necessary to ‘pull
the string from your finger,’ making it easy
to shoot.
The Pursuit
It’s usually done on the ground and in close
range. A very thin line of communication
between hunter and the hunted often leads to
the climax of the hunt. Turkey hunting is a
in your face sport. While most turkey
hunters choose to chase the birds in the
spring, fall turkey hunting is gaining more
and more popularity back. With more people
getting into turkey hunting and a booming
population, you can expect fall turkey
hunting to be a continuing growing sport.
The most common strategy for hunting
turkeys in the fall s is to walk a given area
until birds are spotted. At that point, set up
somewhere between where they went and
where they were and start waiting for them
to come back. It seems like a good plan but
sometimes the turkeys never return anytime
soon. Personally, I don’t see the purpose in
intentionally scaring game away from where
they want to be so I keep my distance and
observe from afar.
A better fall turkey hunting strategy is a
hybrid of a typical spring hunt and the above
approach. Try to set up within 95 to100
yards of roosted birds early in the morning.
They usually begin calling from the treetops
fifteen minutes before they flap down from
the trees depending on the conditions. If
you’re not close enough, start moving right
away but move quietly and cautiously and
stay invisible. Once the birds start calling,
mimic their sounds. In the fall the hens are
most vocal. If they are using three note
yelps, give them a three note yelp right back.
The goal is to sound as natural as the birds
you are pursuing. If there are multiple
groups of turkeys around you, get ready. It’s
going to be an exciting morning. These birds
typically flock up while feeding so they
should be responsive to calling.
Turkeys may be on the move but they often
use the same trails to get to where they are
going and moving closer to one of those
trails may be necessary. It’s important to
pack light and stay mobile. Continue to use
cuts and yelps as locator calls. Keep low and
walk quietly until your turkeys are spotted.
From there, it’s a stalk hunt. If the birds bust
you start over again by trying to spot and
stalk. If hunting multiple days, take note of
the trails turkeys used the first day and set
up on the same trail the following morning if
needed.
Even though the objective is the same, a
different strategy is much needed to bag a
bird in the fall. Those eager toms of spring
no longer come running out when hearing
the purr of a hen. They are now suspicious.
Most states allow harvesting either sex in
the fall so that enhancing a hunter’s
opportunity to come home with a
Thanksgiving bird.
The Right Gun
By: Travis Travillian (Pro Staff at Kentucky Outdoors Shop)
September 21st, 2015
I love getting the newest Issue of the
Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide.
With that being said I was reading through
mine and noticed that Kentucky hunters can
use a .410 shotgun. That’s great right? A
much lighter shotgun to take Turkey
hunting. I have owned a .410 for about 11
years now and the only thing I’ve used it for
is Squirrel hunting, but now I can really do
some damage control. I love my .410
shotgun. It truly is my prized possession. It’s
my childhood sentimental artifact. It was
given to me after my cousin passed away.
Someday it will be my little girl’s first gun
and I hope she has a much respect for it as I
do. But this is Turkey were talking about...
And I don’t think that it will have the kill
force I need for more than 30 yards. If ever
using a .410 I think of it as somewhat like
shooting a rifle, but a rifle without range, in
other words the shot has to be right on, no
counting on a big shot pattern. So it means
that you have to have a lot of discipline. You
can't be tempted to take but all the closest
shots. You could have bad luck and keep
calling in birds that won't quite get that
close. If you have the discipline I guess it is
OK. You can forget stalking the far-too-
wary turkey that is actually dangerous and
ineffective in some extreme ways. I
mentioned hunting in the fall. Generally, the
best technique in the fall is to use dogs, how
to do that takes writing a book. But I have
killed turkeys in the fall without dogs, the
same principal applies: the turkeys become
vulnerable when their flock breaks up, and
natural events and other hunters can break
up a flock and you can get lucky. These
birds will want to join back up with their
flock and if it is one or two they lose the
advantage of having 8 to 20 sets of eyes all
looking for you at the same time.
Only problem is, you have to do a lot of
hunting, be in the woods all the time. I
suggest hunting something else and when in
sort of a natural blind, do some calling once
in a while. The young ones can be
absolutely desperate to find their flock if
they are lost. I've had older pairs of toms
come up to me and all they heard was me
walking in the leaves. Just hearing that
doesn't spook them, and they might think
they hear another turkey even. But I was
pretty hidden, never in the open. I had one
hen start circling me, getting in ever tighter
circles, till finally she got close enough to
shoot. You can shoot the females in the fall
most if not all states that have a fall season.
So anytime you hear something walking
around BE on guard.
Note that I did not say I was *stalking*
these birds. They came up to me because
they thought I might be another turkey and I
was in a natural blind or at least pretty thick
cover at these times. I will at least try it.
Who knows, it may be the best gun for me
during turkey season. We will find out.
List Price: $34.99
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Turkey Call’s
By: Travis Travillian (Pro Staff Kentucky Outdoors Shop)
September 21, 2015
When selecting your Turkey Call(s)
keep in mind the quality. You can buy
any call in the world but you have to
make sure it’s smooth and you can
actually communicate with the birds.
PRIMO’S makes amazing and easy to
use calls for everyone. Get proficient
using them before you get out to the
woods and start. I suggest you go out to
your hunting spot and use it a week or
two before hunting season and see how
well it and you performs. If you hunt
with a partner, it will be easier to
accomplish and successful hunt
knowing your partner is proficient with
the call that way all you have to do is sit
and wait. Turkey have the world’s best
eye vision. They can see from long
distances. If you’re out in the open
without cover, it will be extremely hard
to get a gobbler or a hen to come in
range. Especially if your scratching on a
slate call. I always prefer hunting in
thick cover or a blind just so I don’t
have to worry about making the wrong
move and getting noticed. Be
disciplined with your calling and try not
to call too much at one time. You can
start making mistakes and that will turn
the bird the other way. Just remember
“Patience is a virtue”. If your stalking or
chasing turkey and you hear them
getting nervous just stop and use some
calling techniques to get them calmed
down. Turkey are always looking for
food, What works best for me when I
am stalking is using some pecking
sounds. That’s telling those other
turkey that its okay there’s just another
turkey in the woods scratching around
trying to find food. At that time it’s just
best to stop and rest and observe them
until they get back into the motions.
There is no reason to rush. If you’re just
getting in the woods and getting setup
before dark a good trick is to make a
few kee-kee sounds to get their
attention and take your hat and flap it
up and down in the leaves. Make it
sound as if another turkey is coming off
the roost. That’s just a little “Redneck
Ingenuity” being from Southern
Kentucky I should know. Other turkeys
respond and follow your lead by coming
off their roost. At the time you can see
clearly start calling them in to your
location and let the action begin.
*Note in the State of Kentucky Electronic
Call’s is Illegal. Make sure you know your
hunting laws and regulations.
Our goal at Kentucky Bucks and Beards is to provide hunters fair chase in bagging their
dream whitetail buck. We are located in Bracken, Mason, and Lewis County in Zones 1 and 2.
We have successfully been hunting deer here for years and hope to introduce other hunters
to the growing popularity of Kentucky whitetail hunting.
While Kentucky has always been a great state to hunt whitetail, is just recently receiving
the praise it deserves. Last year, Outdoor Life magazine rated it the number one state in
the country to hunt whitetails by examining the trophy production, hunter density, cost of
outfitted hunts, and hunter friendliness from 2010-2013.
We hope you’ll join us for a good time chasing great Kentucky whitetail bucks.
Archery
5 Day Hunt
$1,800.00
Deposit $900.00
Rifle
5 Day Hunt
$2,400.00
Deposit $1200.00
Please feel free to contact us at any time by calling (606)-584-1600.
The Greatest Grilled Turkey
Recipe by: Christine
"Although not very traditional, grilling turkey is the best way of cooking it -- it comes out tender and
juicy every time! The turkey drippings may be used to prepare a gravy by placing a metal pan under the
turkey inside the roasting pan, and mixing in about 1/2 cup water, adding more water as necessary to
prevent the drippings from scorching. Remove the pan about 30 minutes before the turkey is done
cooking."
Ingredients
3 h 45m 18 servings 460 cal’s
12 pounds whole turkey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to list
Directions
Prep 30 m
Cook 3 h
Ready In 3 h 45 m
1. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect medium-high heat. 2. Rinse turkey and pat dry. Turn wings back to hold neck skin in place. Return legs to tucked
position. Brush turkey with oil. Season inside and out with Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper. 3. Place turkey, breast side up, on a metal grate inside a large roasting pan. Arrange pan on the
prepared grill. Grill 2 to 3 hours, to an internal thigh temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Remove turkey from grill and let stand 15 minutes before carving.