fall hunting strategies for a newbie

[eckum54]

This past weekend I had the chance to scout out the land in which I will be hunting. It happened to be the same land in which I did my spring hunt. Since this is my first year turkey hunting both last spring and this coming up fall. My strategy for this fall hunt will be similar to spring , find there roost and hunt near there. The only twist is that I will be working the fact that the turkeys will be searching for a larger food source...I have several spots that I am interested in all revolve around oak groves and some sort of clearing. One being next to a clear cut/controlled burn area, another next to a tall grass clearing, and the last being next to a corn crop. I plan on trying to find which source is closest to the roost than sitting and waiting with a decoy and some lite calling...is there a flaw to this plan...I would love the input and suggestions as to whether there is a flaw in my plan. I don't plan on busting up flocks since I'm not the best at calling yet..I'm more planing on strategically being at the right place at the right time. Constructive criticism welcome.

[DonBo]

Hunting near roost areas is a great idea early and late in the day. Hunt near the food sources mid-day. If you see birds working an area, make note of the time of day, as they will probably be there again tomorrow at about the same time.

My fall strategies rely almost only near the roost areas in the morning. Even if you don't know exactly where they are roosting, a big fall flock makes a lot of noise early in the morning. Get out there and listen for them, then move in as close as possible and try to set up where you think they will land. Usually that is downhill to the first open area. Sitting right under those same roost trees in the evening will often put birds right in your lap as they come back to roost.

Good luck!

[IlliniWalli]

my fall turkey hunting revolves almost entirely around the roost site, but i have shot a couple around mid-day at harvested crop fields.

find a roost site - i have some spots on hardwood ridges that always hold flocks of toms in the fall - and set up before sunrise or a couple hours before sunset.

i have shot more on evening hunts. i like to get set up at least 2 hours before sunset so as not to bump birds. i'll make a few gobbler clucks and yelps, but you really dont need to call on evening hunts. just be patient and wait for them to show up. sometimes they take their time moseying in and other times all of a sudden the whole flock will show up right at sunset.

i dont like sitting right at the roost trees in the morning like i do in the evening. 9 times out of 10 they will know you are there unless you can sit completely motionless for an hour.

i'll stay back 50 to 100 yards from the roost, wait for them to fly down and then try and call one in.

i use gobbler clucks and yelps on a friction call, usually glass or crystal with a hard hickory striker. use the center of the call to get the deeper tones of a gobbler. a lot of times a couple of soft one note clucks is all it takes to pull one close enough. to make gobbler yelps, use the center of the call and make your cadence with the striker slower and in bigger circles than if you were making hen helps.

it's a different ballgame, but i think fall turkey hunting is almost as much fun as spring season.

5 more weeks til the 9-day fall firearm season down here.

[jdime]

Good info guys. I have permission on a small farm and recently I have become more interested in arrowing a deer than gunning a turkey.

I have Rage 2-blades for deer, Question: would those work for a turkey? I could sit in a blind and take whichever (turkey or deer) that comes close!

[DonBo]

The two blade Rage is probably as good a head as there is for turkey. Fire away!

[goblueM]

heh, good to know about the rage - i'll be bowhunting deer a lot this fall and there is TONS of turkey sign in the woods around here

[Archerysniper]

I have killed my last 3 birds with the 3 blade rage great head for turkeys. None of my birds have moved more then 10 feet after the shot.

[eckum54]

Just wondering how these warm temperatures are going to affect hunting this weekend...any strategies I should be employing

[IlliniWalli]

moderate weather changes wont affect them at all in the fall. all they are thinking about this time of year is eating and avoiding predators, including 2-legged.

good luck. i plan on giving it a go with the bow saturday, too, if i can drag my but outta bed after working til 1 am.

[paceman]

Yesterday while hanging a few bow stands a flock of 7 turkeys worked a ridge 50 yards from me. It was 75 degrees and they were milling around just fine.