It seems there is little interest by many for fall turkey. Just curious of your thoughts
Not this guy... I love hunting fall birds. Can't wait to bust up a flock!
I agree though...I think a lot of guys are probably archery hunting. I usually don't run into too may fall turkey hunters like I do in the spring.
We don't have a fall season in my area. I would love to try it.
I hunt in the spring because I can. I hunt in the fall because I've done it for 65+ years and I love it! If you can scatter a group of old gobblers it is truly a challenge to get one of these old birds that is not 'looking for love' to come to your call. They will come one step at a time and look at every tree, stump, branch, limb, etc, etc. Then they will stop at 65 yards and just stare at you. Takes real patience and a lot of work. It's not like listening for a gobble and going to it. These old guys don't grow long beards by running thru the wood in the fall gobbling! I still like the spring, but having a group of younger birds getting together, yelping and talking to 'momma' is something that everyone should hear. Good thing is that here in Virginia most of the fall hunters are after deer. Not many after turkey.
Sounds like we all agree cowhorn. Fall is my favorite time to get after em'. Outside of states that have no Fall season I don't know why you wouldn't hunt. There is so much more to Fall that applies in Spring hunting. Calling,tactics,flock habits,all day hunting and long seasons make Fall hunting worth it.
I'll take fall hunting over spring any day..
I do, Deer. No fall season here. With deer season running almost 4 months, I can't see spending time and money to travel to hunt turkeys in the fall when we have such a long deer season. I do enjoy traveling for those spring gobblers though.
I used to years ago in Florida. Now I live Al and we don't have a fall season. I would fall hunt if allowed, but would target longbeards. I have no desire to call in and kill 5 & 6 month old turkeys looking for momma. But would really enjoy the challenge of a mature gobbler in the fall.
I hunt fall turkeys. It is ALOT different than hunting spring birds. A mature fall gobbler is not an easily won trophy and are quite the challenge. At times it seems too much of a challenge! :)
I have nothing against Fall hunting or anybody that does it. I just personally would rather hunt spring time when the birds are strutting and gobbling.
I grew up fall hunting and even killed my first turkey in the fall. I haven't fall hunted in close to 20 years though and don't really miss it.
Its not the same hunt to me. I want that bird gobbling, spitting, drumming, drooling all over himself coming in looking for love. That's what gets my motor running for turkeys. I never got the same enjoyment out of fall hunting. Yes, a busted flock calling all over the place can be great fun, but its not the same thing.
Yes, you can target longbeards in the fall, but its like hunting silent toms in the spring. Just not as much of a thrill. So as long as there are other things to hunt in the fall, that's where I'll be.
I do and love it as much as in the spring. Our season in WV actually opens up tomorrow and can't wait to hit the woods. It seems for me as I get older, I find my desire to turkey hunt grows more everyday, and my desire to deer hunt diminishes more everyday.
I would like to get into traditional archery though one day... I just like things that challenge me and things that not many people do...
There's bow deer, muzzle loader deer, ducks, geese, pheasants and a guy can only do so much. I tried fall turkey hunting last year. Guess I need more hunting time so I can chase fall turkeys again.
No season here. Otherwise, I'm all in. Just like spring.
I'll hunt turkeys no matter what season!!
Brian
My brother and I still hunt them in the fall here in WV. I think most folks don't bother because they prefer bowhunting deer. Also, hunting fall birds involves a lot of walking up until you get tired and then set back against a big tree for a nap. Had to come out early today...there is not much feed here, no acorns, grapes, dogwoods, or gums.
No season here, besides I'm too busy with elk, deer, bear, upland birds, and if I'm real lucky a moose.
Quote from: chcltlabz on October 09, 2015, 08:03:58 AM
Its not the same hunt to me. I want that bird gobbling, spitting, drumming, drooling all over himself coming in looking for love. That's what gets my motor running for turkeys. I never got the same enjoyment out of fall hunting. Yes, a busted flock calling all over the place can be great fun, but its not the same thing.
Yes, you can target longbeards in the fall, but its like hunting silent toms in the spring. Just not as much of a thrill. So as long as there are other things to hunt in the fall, that's where I'll be.
^^this
I can't come to peace with shooting a hen turkey. And I don't have the desire the shoot a gobbler that's not participating in his mating ritual. So I waste the fall hunting deer and waterfowl. I do play with turkeys in the fall, just don't have the desire to kill them.
I believe I would enjoy fall hunting,however with a wife and three kids my time is very limited and we eat a lot of deer meat. We make bologna and sausage as well so it takes a few deer to get us thru the year. Hunting two states I don't have a problem getting them but I am lucky to get to hunt one day a week. I have called them in in terms fall but never killed one. Hopefully when the kids are out of the house I can get the chance.
Zero interest....
I just don't feel the need to chase down and kill everything in the game book...
Of course it helps that here in California, we turkey hunt late-March through most of May....deer hunt July -Oct, waterfowl hunt Sept - February!!!
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Love to hunt fall gobbler. Find them alone on the roost and they may let you call them in like springtime. They may even gobble for you. Finding more than one on the roost has been the key for me.
I like hunting fall turkeys, calling and hearing turkeys is fun no matter when. it's also a chance to get hen wingbones.
I also like archery hunting the rut, it's a fun time to call bucks in
I did have a particular tom kick my butt in the spring for a couple years in a row on public ground in western Md.
because he beat me in the spring (more than once), out of respect for that bird I didn't want to kill him in the fall, and I didn't hunt his area for a few years after that in the fall, hoping he would make it till spring.
Dead hens don't breed and turkey numbers are on the decline in the majority of places.
Here in WV I only get a week to fall hunt. Unless I take vacation days that would only give me one day (Saturday). Just doesn't seem worth it. Guess I'd rather be in a tree stand looking for deer.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on October 25, 2015, 09:09:12 AM
Dead hens don't breed and turkey numbers are on the decline in the majority of places.
some places like central Maine have a high winter mortality rate to start with so only so many are going to make it thru to spring.
also that area has enough turkeys that it keeps some of the farmers po'd , they want hunters keeping the numbers managed
western Md. where I also hunt is a different story on hen population
Quote from: cowhornyelper on October 08, 2015, 08:27:42 PM
I hunt in the spring because I can. I hunt in the fall because I've done it for 65+ years and I love it! If you can scatter a group of old gobblers it is truly a challenge to get one of these old birds that is not 'looking for love' to come to your call. They will come one step at a time and look at every tree, stump, branch, limb, etc, etc. Then they will stop at 65 yards and just stare at you. Takes real patience and a lot of work. It's not like listening for a gobble and going to it. These old guys don't grow long beards by running thru the wood in the fall gobbling! I still like the spring, but having a group of younger birds getting together, yelping and talking to 'momma' is something that everyone should hear. Good thing is that here in Virginia most of the fall hunters are after deer. Not many after turkey.
Don't forget to mention how an old gobbler in the fall can step behind a tree at 75 yards and never come out the other side.
They just flat disappear sometimes! :z-dizzy:
man I like getting out chase some fall birds been doing it since was a kid ,,granted nothing like havin that old long beard strutting and gobbling in the spring ,,, but just as exciting breaking up a flock and having all them birds just yelpin and callin ,,, or caliing that old hen in with a flock of 25 0r 30 birds in tow and being surrounded by birds 15 yrds out just waiting put one down ,,, plus if your lucky here in pa later in season my be little snow on ground by thanksgiving
Love hunting fall birds but here in my area in NY & PA the bird population has taken a huge hit due to last winter so I have decided to let them be this year as to let their numbers hopefully regenerate. Maybe next year things will change and I can chase them again in the fall.
I used to hunt them a lot. When our turkey numbers plummeted I backed off the fall hunting. Starting to see them rebound so I may buy a tag and got after them. They are hitting one of my food plots daily. I am a waterfowling freak in the fall though, so they wouldn't get my full attention even if I pick it up again.
I enjoy fall hunting, although I dont always get out every year. I have a tag this year and havent had a chance to get out. But I have 14 of the next 16 days off, so that is about to change.
The tom in my avatar was taken in the fall of 14'... Going out this weekend to try to find his bigger brother. ;)
Would be fall hunting turkey and ML deer in VA this weekend but got a kidney stone that now has me laid up for weekend. Other than that would fall hunt birds lot if still lived in state with fall season but have to travel 3 1/2 hours to VA sicne NC doesn't have season
Quote from: turkeyfoot on October 31, 2015, 05:49:47 PM
Would be fall hunting turkey and ML deer in VA this weekend but got a kidney stone that now has me laid up for weekend. Other than that would fall hunt birds lot if still lived in state with fall season but have to travel 3 1/2 hours to VA sicne NC doesn't have season
get some of Col. Tom kelly's books on audio to pass the time, 3 1/2hr. drive for fall birds is a piece of cake
I'll hunt spring or fall but here in tn the fall is hard to get a turkey.
It just doesn't "float my boat". The last fall turkey I killed, probably close to 10 years ago now, I kept thinking how much more fun it would have been in the spring. Haven't bought a fall tag since.
No fall season in Louisiana.
Killed a fall bird in Washington a couple years ago, it was a lot of fun
I enjoy fall hunting, but unfortunately Arkansas no longer has a fall season. I have traveled out of state for a few fall hunts. Had one planned this fall, but had to cancel due to work obligations. Find a group of fall gobblers thinking of dominance and you can sometimes experience some spring like action.
Bama has 6 counties with a fall season. I just don't have the time and money to scout property the distance I' d have to go to pursue it. The one time I've been I pulled the classic bust a flock headed to roost hunt em in the morning. Called in abunch of hens, no longbeards. It was indeed a blast even though the toms didn't show.
There's no Fall turkey season in N.C.. I don't have a driving desire to hunt turkeys in the Fall anyway. We had an experimental Fall season in 5 or 6 counties along the Virginia border 10+ years ago, which I hunted. I had hens and jakes in easy range, but couldn't make myself pull the trigger on any of them. First thing is we only get two turkey tags here. I'd hate to spend a tag on a bird that weighs half as much and has half the sense of what a mature gobbler does. I really enjoy calling to and calling in Spring gobblers.
Back in the 1960s, my Grandad also taught me that it was counter-productive to kill the egg layers and the immature gobblers because you'd be robbing yourself of future hunts. That lesson makes sense and stuck with me all my life.
Jim