Fly down Question

[KS-Hoyt-Hunter]

Hey guys. I have a question that has stumped several turkey hunters I know. It's a random thing I had never thought of until maybe a month ago. My dad asked me and I have no clue.

He lives in SW MO. He has roughly a 7 acre field bottom right on a river. There's a large ridge on one side. We have seen as many as 75-100 birds roost on it. We have 2 ground blinds and 1 redneck tower blind on this field. During the spring we have tons of birds that fly straight down into the field. Sometimes they'll fly over the river into the neighboring field.

My question is this: We never see birds fly down in the field during the fall season. They still roost on the ridge but they never fly down into the field. Do turkeys not fly down the same way in the fall as they do in the spring? The best answer I can come up with is that either:
A) they fly straight down from the tree and then walk down. But even then we can't hear them fly off the roost. We see them flying up in the evenings but nothing in the mornings.
B) they fly to the east into the heavier timber and we just can't hear them. They're only roosted a 100 yards or so from where we hunt.

Sorry if dumb question but I've been turkey hunting for years and never noticed it until he said something to me.

Thanks!


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[fallhnt]

It's more a matter of fall food. It's all about survival in the fall.

[wvmntnhick]

It's more a matter of fall food. It's all about survival in the fall.

Spring of the year is all about visibility. The bird that's more visible and puts on the biggest show first will likely get to do some quick breeding before the big guy gets off the roost. They want the ladies to see them. The dominant bird may hang back for a bit but once the hens start pitching down, he's likely to come take control of the situation. In the fall, the food and cover isn't in the field. Doesn't mean they won't fly down there but the odds are less likely. I'm sure that the god(s) of turkey hunting will chime in shortly with countless occasions in which I'm wrong but this is how it tends to play out in this region. I've seen them pitch down in fields in the fall but more often than not, if I'm hunting fall birds and know where they are roosted, I'll be on the hillside about 75-100 yards away from the field to intercept them when they leave. From there, I can make a play and follow the ridge tops around to get ahead of them if required.

[Happy]

Visibility is a big factor for toms in the spring. However fields are also some of the first places to green up in the spring which draws hens and of course the boys are going to go where the girls go.

[trkehunr93]

It's more a matter of fall food. It's all about survival in the fall.

Agreed!  I'd be curious to know what kinda mast is on that ridge or further in the woods.  Turkey ain't gonna pass up an acorn for some grass or bugs.

[quavers59]

Gobblers in the Fall tend to head for the--high ground. Each Fall- I hunt up high first looking for gobblers and move down later for the family flocks if I fail higher up. Gobblers love to roost in CONIFERS up high.-luck--Quavers.

[Hooksfan]

Southwest MO, huh.  Tell ya what, I will be glad to swing by and do some theorizing of my own.  I just happen to live in Southwest MO.  Let me know where this place is--figure it has to be along either the James, Finley, Spring, or Niangua Rivers or Flat or Shoal Creeks...

Seriously, though---what these other folks have told you is dead on about changing habits dependent upon the year.  Sounds like you have a solid roost area---those Missouri birds sure love a ridge along a creek and they love to pitch down into the fields first things in the morning during the Spring.