Are you seeing more fall hunters?

[zelmo1]

I have seen more fall turkey hunters and pics on a local social media site. I'm wondering if there were less birds taken in the spring or just more hunters now. We have a set limit 0f 2 per year, 2 in the spring or 1/1 spring/fall. Any observations? Z

[greentrout]

I have never noticed a big number of fall turkey hunters here in the western part of Tennessee. Most hunters are deer only this time of year thankfully.

[Greg Massey]

No.. Less

Most are deer hunting

[Lcmacd 58]

Agree with the mostly deer hunters however I do know several deer hunters that get a fall archery turkey tag
But I can honestly say that fall hunting for turkeys exclusively is really low around where I live

[captpete]

Same for around here...most are bowhunting deer. My buddy and I usually buy a tag just incase the opportunity arises while sitting in the stand.

[Old Swamper]

Very few "real" Turkey Hunters here in the South. Looking forward to having October Fall shotgun season all to myself.  Nothing more challenging and rewarding, than yelping up a Fall Longbeard

[Kylongspur88]

Very few "real" Turkey Hunters here in the South. Looking forward to having October Fall shotgun season all to myself.  Nothing more challenging and rewarding, than yelping up a Fall Longbeard

Agree. I love the fall season but most "turkey hunters" I know really aren't into chasing fall birds. Honestly I'm fine with that.

[zelmo1]

The numbers arent crazy high around here either. Same story as everyone else. I figured most of the hunters around here were deer hunting. But, a couple of turkey hunters I have seen coming out of the woods and social media have given me a new outlook. More than a few locals posting pics of harvested fall birds. I think our population is not in jeopardy. Just a noticeable change. Z

[Will]

I haven't seen a Fall turkey hunter the past few years where I hunt. Winter season is different due to other parts of the state being open to hunting. The guys I know that Spring hunt are not interested in any other turkey season.

[eggshell]

Less here and I like it that way. I typically hunt areas I would not even approach in the spring. I like fall equally to spring

[Tom007]

Amen. Can't wait till our Fall season starts. There will be no one where I'm going. I'm gonna put a good effort into a Fall Longbeard...

[YoungGobbler]

Not very popular around here either and let's keep it that way... Looking forward to this short season.

[eggshell]

Our season opens October 1st and I will be ready. Saw two groups of birds yesterday evening.

[GobbleNut]

For those that are serious fall/winter turkey hunters, I wish you well. For most western hunters, fall/winter turkey hunting in these parts takes a back seat to other hunting pursuits, I think. We just have too many other game species that are a distraction. 

I, personally, do not know a single person that hunts fall turkeys here other than a few that buy a license because they will be in the woods hunting something else. I would bet the great majority of turkeys killed in the fall here are shot due to casual encounters of hunters who run into them while hunting other species.  Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but I hate to see our turkeys killed as a "consolation prize" for somebody who only is pulling that trigger as an "afterthought" because they happened to run into a flock while pursuing something else.

As a "trained" wildlife biologist, I do have certain concerns about either-sex fall turkey hunting from a management standpoint...specifically in places where turkey populations are declining or depressed. Again, referring to the situation here, I (unfortunately) believe that too many of our casual fall turkey hunters have the tendency to try to pick out the "big bird" in a fall flock...which often can be that adult hen who has demonstrated an ability to successfully nest and raise poults to adulthood. In declining populations, I don't think that tendency bodes well for turkey populations anywhere that they may be struggling. 

Now, I also suspect my concern about the above has limited application in healthy turkey populations...but I am just as certain that, in some situations, the harvest of adult hens in fall seasons can be a very real problem. 

I suppose the moral of my story is this:  If you are a turkey hunter in the fall and run into a flock of hens and young of the year birds, shoot one of those young birds and leave those adult hens...who have demonstrated that ability to be successful mothers...alone. 

[King Cobra]

I would say it's about the same, no more, no less.