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Fall Turkey Hunting

DonBo

By DonBo
in Turkey Hunting

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

Posted
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I know it's not as glamorous as spring season, but the birds are the same and who doesn't want more opportunities for game in the fall?

The season is already open in WI, and the MN opener is not that far off, Oct. 3rd.  Who's going after them?  I know I will be here in MN. 

If you bowhunt an area that has birds, it's foolish not to have a tag in your pocket, just in case.

Oh sure, it's a different sport than spring hunting. Gobbling birds are seldom heard and not many are willing to come to your calls, but there's all kinds of different approaches to fill your tag.  Never tried it?  Get off the couch and give it a shot. You just might find a new favorite critter to chase in the fall.

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Xplorer Proficient

Xplorer

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DonBo,

I'll be down in area 501 for the youth deer hunt 10/17-20 with my 13 year old son.  

We will be tent camping in either the Kruger or Snake Creek state forest campgrounds.  If he is lucky enough to fill his deer tag (and temps allow) is that a decent area for turkeys also?  He has his fall tag (we have tried the last 2 years south of Cloquet, in a couple WMA's between moose lake and Mora) and would love to give it a "shot".  We'll have a ground blind to hunt out of.

What should we be looking at for locations?  No decoys and I cant call at all, so it'd be just trying to intercept them on a travel route I'm thinking.  Any basic tips would be appreciated.  If this trip goes decent we will be making it an annual the next couple years for sure. 

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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DonBo,

I'll be down in area 501 for the youth deer hunt 10/17-20 with my 13 year old son.  

We will be tent camping in either the Kruger or Snake Creek state forest campgrounds.  If he is lucky enough to fill his deer tag (and temps allow) is that a decent area for turkeys also?  He has his fall tag (we have tried the last 2 years south of Cloquet, in a couple WMA's between moose lake and Mora) and would love to give it a "shot".  We'll have a ground blind to hunt out of.

What should we be looking at for locations?  No decoys and I cant call at all, so it'd be just trying to intercept them on a travel route I'm thinking.  Any basic tips would be appreciated.  If this trip goes decent we will be making it an annual the next couple years for sure. 

Plenty of turkeys down in 501. Will he be bowhunting, or can you break out the shotgun?  MUCH better odds with the gun.  

My best success in the fall have come in two ways.  1st, set up near a known roost area and hope they fly right into your lap in the morning, or come right in under those trees in the late afternoon before fly-up. Fall birds make lots of noise, especially early and late in the day when they are near the roost. You can hear them fly up in the evenings from a long way off. Get in there EARLY the next morning and set up as close as possible without spooking them in a relatively large open area, or field edge. These are the places they usually fly down to.

If gun hunting, you can slowly still hunt oak ridges or field edges and maybe hear them, or see them, then stalk close for a shot. Obviously this is extremely difficult with a bow.

Give it a shot, good luck! 

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Xplorer Proficient

Xplorer

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Thanks!  He will be shooting a Rem 870, handed down from my dad to me to him :)  We were out this weekend shooting and he knocked out a 2.5" grouping of 3 slugs from 60 yards.

We'll be concentrating on a deer first, but thought that if he lucks out, we could give the birds a try if the weather isn't too warm and we have to scoot for home to get the deer cut up.

 

Thanks again, and good luck this weekend!!

 

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Opening morning yesterday. Sitting my deer stand and had 4 big toms roosting right near me. Called one in, but he busted me while trying to get in position to draw. A promising start to the season.

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bigbucks Grand Master

bigbucks

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I have a fall tag as always.  I haven't pursued them yet.  The places I've bow hunted so far have very few & I've not see any.  Good chance to see one where I'm going tonight, although probably not in bow range.  Not willing to disturb that are with a shotgun just yet until I get a couple of bow hunts with NW wind.

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Heard a few last night, but I'm also not quite ready to go in with my shotgun. Keep hoping one will wonder inside bow range, but they sure are hard to draw on if not inside a blind.

Good luck!

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Xplorer Proficient

Xplorer

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Well I was out scoping out some new grouse spots west of Barnum and almost got my turkey ..... Had 5 run out right in front of my truck from some tall grass and the last two just barely made it back.  I swear the tail feathers hit my bumper.

My son is really getting excited to hit the woods next week , and the weather looks pretty good for spending a few nights in the tent. Mid/upper 50's daytime and 40 at night.     

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Three longbeards came into my bowhunting set up this morning. Actually got drawn on them and proceeded to miss the biggest one at 20 yes. Dang that was close. I couldn't have been more excited if it were a big buck. How can a stupid bird do that to a grown man?

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NWKR Enthusiast

NWKR

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Got a hen on sunday doing a spot and stalk, fun hunt and shot it at just over 30 yards with shotgun. First turkey for me :D. Had two other hunters and we were hoping that they would get a shot as well, but did not work out. There are 3 or 4 flocks of 50+ total birds roaming the a sq miles around us. But the friends did not have time for another hunt before season ends :(. Have to get them out in the spring.

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IlliniWalli Community Regular

IlliniWalli

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congrats, nwkr, you're officially hooked :D

sounds like you are fortunate to have a bunch of birds in your area, too

i was bowhunting deer last week and had a hen come out into the picked bean field. made a few yelps at her since i had a bow turkey tag and a tom gobbles behind me. made a gobbler yelp and he came out of the woods and walked right to me, less than 10 yards away. the nap gobbler getter really smoked him

gun turkey season this week has been tough, though, with rain and high winds, but it looks a little better toward the weekend

 

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Rippinlip Veteran

Rippinlip

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Shot a hen with the Mathews the Thursday before Halloween and out of the same treestand on Halloween at noon, I was able to harvest my "blade" buck.

It was a great year for me with 2 turkeys (1spring/1fall) and a buck. All 3 fell to the Mathews Helim and Rage Broadheads.

 

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