Don’t forget your fall turkey tag

Mn License

I am picking mine up tonight. Just got back from Canada and checked the cams at the farm yesterday. Walked up on 17 birds in a flock and have many pics of long beards at my waterhole.

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I am picking mine up tonight. Just got back from Canada and checked the cams at the farm yesterday. Walked up on 17 birds in a flock and have many pics of long beards at my waterhole.

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A long beard would be a nice addition to a fall bow hunt

Any one on here really get after the fall turkeys?

I keep a tag in my pocket when I am bow hunting, but if it gets down to the last week and I still have an open tag I will put down the bow and pick up the bang stick and give it a good go.

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I keep a tag in my pocket when I am bow hunting, but if it gets down to the last week and I still have an open tag I will put down the bow and pick up the bang stick and give it a good go.

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I bought a fall tag for 2 years thinking I may as well with the amount of time I spend bow hunting, however I never saw a bird in those two years sitting in stand. I ask as I spent almost 2 years working up along the MN river basin after that where there are many many more birds, and the guys there that were big turkey hunters gave me the impression that not many people fall hunt turkeys. Just curious to learn more. I learned alot of land and met many land owners in that time and if it is moderately uncommon, it may be as good of hunting opportunity as I get down here in the spring.

It’s very true that a lot less people hunt them in the fall. I think that is why they sell tags over the counter.

Hunting is definitely tougher, they don’t really come to calls as much. There is no breeding so that draw is out. They are bunched up more in the fall and they have pretty regular patterns. If you can learn their routine you can cut them off. The other way to hunt them in the fall is to find a flock and run in and bust them up then sit down and do a kee kee call. The dominant bird in a flock will do this to bring the flock back together when they get broken up. I haven’t done this, but have heard from several it works.

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The other way to hunt them in the fall is to find a flock and run in and bust them up then sit down and do a kee kee call. The dominant bird in a flock will do this to bring the flock back together when they get broken up. I haven’t done this, but have heard from several it works.

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These guys were telling me the same thing about the few years they fall hunted. They said to find a roost tree and sneak in very early and quiet near there, when daylight starts and the first few pitch down you hit a coyote call and send them in all directions; then do a kee kee call and pull them back in.

Like I said, just curious. I live along the MN basin now and could access some of those properties during the week. Just not sure if I want to get into it or not.

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The other way to hunt them in the fall is to find a flock and run in and bust them up then sit down and do a kee kee call. The dominant bird in a flock will do this to bring the flock back together when they get broken up. I haven’t done this, but have heard from several it works.

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These guys were telling me the same thing about the few years they fall hunted. They said to find a roost tree and sneak in very early and quiet near there, when daylight starts and the first few pitch down you hit a coyote call and send them in all directions; then do a kee kee call and pull them back in.

Like I said, just curious. I live along the MN basin now and could access some of those properties during the week. Just not sure if I want to get into it or not.

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I’ve scattered the flock and called them back before, and this works, but it’s something that doesn’t work as well everytime or as often as you might think. Getting under and amongst a flock of birds is the hardest part, and at that point, you usually have shots at them, at least with a shotgun. When spooking and not close enough, they all tend to go in the same direction, somewhat ruining the effect.

I prefer to cut them off as their feeding patterns can be pretty routine in the right areas. With this year’s acorn crop, it’s a bit more unpredictable in terms of travel route, but they’re glued to the things right now. Once corn starts coming out, you’ll see birds getting into the stubble and picking up kernels. This seems far preferred over standing corn, and really becomes their crop of choice when available, at least in my area.

Keep in mind, that sneaking up on turkeys becomes very difficult in the fall. Lots of eyes and a constant paranoia seems to lead to birds that are very difficult to sneak. An exception to that is in or near standing corn. I’ve been able to get well within shotgun range, even bow range when they have the false sense of security near the edge of a corn field. They see you, but don’t seem to react in enough time to save themselves from what I’ve seen.

Either way, it’s a great way to put a bird on the Thanksgiving table, and there’s a certain sense of accomplishment you get from taking one in the fall. In the spring, a good caller can overcome some pretty poor woodsmanship. In the fall, woodsmanship becomes 75% of the game or better.

Good luck!

Joel