Fall Wild Turkeys  

By: Paul Campbell

In this day and age of struggling turkey populations across many parts of the country, fall turkey hunting has become a target for concern among hunters. As hunters, we love the sound of hard gobbling turkeys during the spring. There’s nothing more exciting than an epic spring turkey hunt with gobblers on a mission of destruction, seemingly for every minute of the day. Let me make it clear—I absolutely love spring turkey hunting. But a good fall turkey hunt can get your blood pumping just as much as any spring hunt. I'll leave the debate on the population impacts of fall hunting to the professionals. For more on that subject, check out the *Turkey Season Podcast* episode *State of the State Tennessee*, where Dr. Bradley Cohen provides some insight into the science behind fall turkey hunting impacts.  

In many states with a fall season, hunters are permitted to harvest any wild turkey—hens, jennies, jakes, and gobblers are all fair game. However, states like Tennessee and Alabama have a gobbler-only season, leaving hens and jennies off the harvest list. For more details, check out the *Turkey Season Map* for fall hunting regulations in your state. Many states across the country also allow the use of dogs for hunting turkeys in the fall. The dogs use their keen sense of smell to locate large flocks of turkeys and then scatter the flocks. Hunters set up at the scatter site and call the turkeys to reassemble, providing an opportunity to harvest a fall turkey. This type of hunting involves a lot of calling and action, which can last for hours or even days as the flocks come back together. If you ever get the chance to hunt fall turkeys behind a turkey dog, I highly recommend it—it’s a wild experience you won’t forget. 

Fall hunting is a different experience from spring hunting. Some of the methods you use in the spring might not work as well in the fall. While some springtime strategies can still be effective, standing on a ridge top owl-hooting for gobblers might not work as well in the fall. The success rate is much lower because fall gobblers aren’t as aggressive or temperamental as they are in the spring. Gobbling activity is reduced, but the longbeards are still vocal, yelping and clucking along with other quieter sounds. 

Although gobblers may not be as chatty, the hens more than make up for it. Turkey talk in the fall woods is non-stop if you're near a large flock. Honing your skills as a fall turkey hunter will ultimately make you a better spring hunter.

Every spring turkey hunter knows what’s on the mind of springtime toms. But as the breeding season fades, a gobbler's focus shifts back to food and roosting, making him harder to hunt. His mind, no longer clouded by the drive for love, is sharp, and he’s focused solely on survival. As fall hunters, we can exploit two weak points in fall gobblers: their constant search for changing food sources and the curiosity that all turkeys are born with, which has cost many a turkey its life.  

In Ohio, over 40% of fall turkeys are taken with archery tackle. While there are likely some diehard turkey hunters pursuing them with a bow, I’m willing to bet most of those turkeys were taken by deer hunters in tree stands who happened to have a flock of turkeys walk by. That’s perfectly legal, and if that’s how you want to hunt a fall bird, go for it. But to me, that’s the most boring way to hunt a fall turkey. We won’t be "deer hunting" turkeys in this article! There are two primary methods to hunt fall turkeys, both offering different experiences for the hunter. 

Scattering Flocks

Turkeys naturally form larger flocks in the fall. Hens and the young of the year can form massive groups—I’ve seen flocks of over 100 birds. Jakes from the spring, still maturing, will remain in the hen/poult flocks, while gobblers tend to form smaller groups. As with any type of hunting, preparation and scouting are key. Turkeys make a mess in the woods, turning over leaves in search of acorns and bugs. Once you find an area where they’re feeding, listen carefully for the flock’s chatter, which can be constant. 

The main aspect of the scatter method is finding a flock, then running toward them (with your shotgun unloaded) to scatter the turkeys. A successful scatter sends birds in all different directions. If they all go one way, they’ll regroup quickly, and your shot opportunity may be lost. After scattering them, sit with adequate concealment and call the flock back together. As the birds reassemble, the action can be non-stop, providing plenty of excitement and a potential shot. 

Listen-Stalk-Call

I’m sure there’s an official term for this style of fall turkey hunting, but I just call it hunting fall turkeys—it’s my favorite way to hunt them. If you’ve spent enough time in the spring woods, you probably have a good idea of where turkeys like to be. Start your fall hunt in areas with white oaks or other favorite food sources. Walk ridge lines and look for disturbed leaf litter, a sure sign turkeys have been feeding. Old-timers claim hens feed on the main forest floor while gobblers pull leaves from the base of trees. Whether fact or legend, it’s a tip I trust.

Once you locate fresh feeding sign, you’re in the game. Take a high vantage point to listen, and call often to elicit a response. Gobbler yelps, slower and lower-pitched than hen yelps, are effective for calling gobblers, and gobbling can sometimes provoke a fight response, bringing the flock to you. As you move toward responding gobblers, keep calling to maintain their interest. Fall gobblers may either come in ready for a fight or move on, but both scenarios offer shot opportunities. The same strategy works for hen and poult flocks—using a kee-kee call with excited yelping will often draw hens looking for their lost turkey. 

Fall turkey hunting provides hunters with a unique challenge and a lot of fun. Going into it with the mindset that the experience is completely different from spring hunting is key. Understanding your role in the larger picture of population management is important, especially when deciding whether to harvest hens or young turkeys. Fall hunting is steeped in tradition—it’s where our turkey hunting heritage began in this country. If you can hone your woodsman skills and succeed in the fall woods, you’ll be a better hunter in the spring.