While fall turkey hunting isn’t as popular as chasing spring longbeards, hunters in many states find pursuing these birds in the late season a fun and challenging hunt.

By Michael Pendley Mention turkey hunting to most folks and they immediately think of the gobbling longbeards of spring. But, for hunters in 42 states and a few Canadian provinces, there’s another season for chasing turkeys. Fall turkey hunting doesn’t get the hype the spring season does, but turkey hunting actually started out as a fall pursuit. Steve Hickoff, author of Fall & Winter Turkey Hunter's Handbook and Realtree.com’s turkey hunting editor, started his turkey-hunting career on fall birds. “The turkey-hunting tradition has its roots in autumn and winter hunting,” he explained. “Before the notion of ‘spring is for beards, fall is for antlers’ came about, flock-seeking sportsmen sought out their game during the woodstove months. Back then, there was a prevailing notion that taking a breeding-minded gobbler in the spring was easy, even unfair. “A Pennsylvania native, I first hunted wild turkeys in 1971. As a kid, I remember old-timers (guys my age now!) talking about how turkey hunting in the spring was just flat-out wrong. They were all avid fall turkey hunters. Back then, Pennsylvania had legalized spring turkey hunting only in 1968.”

How It’s Different Than Spring Hunts

While fall turkey hunting requires much of the same gear as the spring season, the later season’s hunting strategies might seem a bit odd to hunters used to calling to gobblers during the breeding season. Unlike the small flocks and individual longbeards of spring, fall turkeys tend to travel in large groups, often a mix of mature hens, nearly grown poults of the year and sometimes young or even mature gobblers. These flocks have one thing on their mind: filling their stomachs and putting on as much weight as possible before the coming winter. Keying on food sources like harvested or standing crop fields, mast-producing hardwoods and seed- and insect-rich grasslands can be good bets for locating fall birds. Many hunters take advantage of the flock’s natural desire to stay together this time of year by locating and scattering the flocks, then sitting quietly and calling to draw the birds back together. “As strategies go, there are two primary fall turkey hunting approaches,” said Hickoff. “You can passively wait for patterned wild turkeys to show up in range or actively find a flock and attempt to scatter them. This traditional find-and-flush approach is full of action. Flocked-up turkeys want to be together, so you can scatter birds, then set up to try and call them to your position. I love it as much as spring turkey hunting!” While hen yelps, clucks and purrs dominate the spring turkey hunter’s vocabulary, fall calling can be more complex. “In short, fall call like the turkey you want to kill,” said Hickoff. “If you’re hunting a family flock of scattered birds, a kee-kee or kee-kee-run can work to pull one in. The brood hen, on the other hand, is less likely to come to your plain hen clucks and yelps, as her focus is on keeping her juvenile charges assembled—and you probably want to leave her be anyway. However, if it’s a group of brood-less hens you're chasing and either-sex fall birds are legal where you hunt, then hen yelps and clucks you used in spring to lure gobblers will work now for these birds. “As autumn male-only flocks go, use gobbler calls: low-pitched clucks, deep, raspy yelps, gobbles and even fighting purrs can stir things up. You can also call up an entire intact flock using vocalizations of the birds in that group.”

Did You See That Part About Hens?

Hickoff is right. In many states, hens are perfectly legal quarry for the fall season. National Wild Turkey Federation Biologist Mark Hatfield explains it this way. “As you would expect, fall turkey hunting and the subsequent fall harvest is managed through bag limits, season length, limiting hunting implements and, in some cases, limiting permit or license availability. Biologists carefully monitor population trends and develop seasons that will provide recreational opportunities and assure that over-harvest will not occur in years of poor recruitment or when food is scarce. Knowledge of harvest numbers is essential for biologists to allow hunting without jeopardizing turkey flocks. “Wild-turkey population research has shown repeatedly that the factors having the greatest effect on long-term population growth are nest success, along with hen and poult survival rate. Hens that survive the fall hunting season and winter are essential to future generations of wild turkeys. They are the source of productive nests and successful broods, which is why wildlife agencies do not allow hunters to take hens in spring,” said Hatfield. It boils down to this. If your state allows the harvest of fall hens, you can be certain that wildlife biologists have set the season limits with the health of the turkey flock in mind. If you decide to take a legal hen, you won’t be damaging your turkey population. Rather hold out for a male bird? That’s fine, too. Groups of fall longbeards can be scattered and called back together just like their female counterparts.

Gear Up

As mentioned, gear for fall turkey hunting is similar to spring hunting. Depending on state regulations, shotguns can range from smallbores like .410-bore and 28-gauge all the way up to 10-gauge. Just like spring hunting, too, lethal shots on turkeys are those that land a significant number of pellets in the turkey’s exposed head and neck area. If your state allows, smaller-gauge guns benefit greatly from modern turkey loads made from tungsten or other heavy alloys. The heavier shot densities allow the hunter to shoot smaller pellets, and more of them, in the reduced case capacity of sub-bore shotguns. While the most popular lead shot sizes for turkey hunting range from No. 4 to 6, the denser shot alternatives can be as small as No. 9 and still retain adequate energy to penetrate a turkey’s head and neck. Tight patterns are the name of the game no matter the season, and choke tubes of Full or Extra Full work best to get the job done. On the range, pattern your gun at various distances to see what the maximum effective range is for your gun, choke and load. Look for even shot distribution across the patterning target; there should be no significant areas (say palm-sized) where pellets haven’t struck. Good camo is as crucial for fall turkey hunting as it is for spring, though with the changing season and foliage, your pattern will probably be different. Keep in mind that as a fall hunter, you may find yourself in the middle of a large flock—something that would be uncommon in the spring—and all of them will be looking for the source of the turkey calls they hear. Blinds and decoys can be effective if legal where you hunt. If you have a flock patterned on a feeding area, setting up a blind on the edge is a great way to get into shooting range as the birds feed by. Many hunters also employ hen or gobbler decoys after busting apart a flock, because giving the returning birds something to look at keeps their attention and often makes them feel more secure in returning to a spot from which they were startled. Check your state’s hunting regulations. If fall turkeys are an option, give them a try. You might just find you enjoy chasing late-season birds as much as spring turkeys—and if you’re successful, then you and your family can enjoy a fresh wild turkey at your Thanksgiving dinner table.

By Scott Linden New hunters are the future of conservation, and many of you are embracing the concept of finding and helping them. Keep up the good work! But you also love watching your dog. It’s why you go hunting. Bird dogs work hard, are beautiful to watch, and boy, the adrenaline rush when the bird gets up!

https://youtu.be/bwl3XNJZ-tc

If you’re a bird hunter, you probably will never forget that first point or flush. Odds are, it’s what made you into a hunter. But did you ever think of your dog as a way to recruit new hunters? Inviting a friend to help you train your dog is a fun, convenient, safe way to introduce the magic of dogs — and hunting — to a newcomer. Watch the video to find out how and why — and while you’re at it, take the +ONE Pledge today and introduce someone new to hunting. You May also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/articles/5-things-to-look-for-in-a-hunting-dog/

By Josh Honeycutt It’s no secret, our hunting heritage is in trouble. According to the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, for most of the past decade, hunter numbers have declined significantly. Fortunately, there are many organizations working to help reverse this detrimental trend—and who have taken the message of NSSF’s +ONE^SM Movement mentoring initiative to heart. The NSSF^®, the trade association for the firearm industry, launched the +ONE Movement in 2019. Designed to encourage seasoned, experienced target shooters and hunters to extend an invitation to someone new—especially those people who have never handled a firearm, gone hunting and, most importantly, don’t come from families or communities where these pastimes are handed down from one generation to another. NSSF research has shown that there are millions—really, millions—of people who want to learn about firearms, target shooting and hunting but don’t know where to turn to start that journey. The +ONE Movement works to make that connection. The +ONE message resonated with those in conservation and anxious to invigorate their R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) efforts. Here are the stories of just a few of those organizations and how they’re finding new R3 success.

National Wild Turkey Federation

Located in Edgefield, South Carolina, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Hunting Heritage Center is over 700 acres of R3 activity, with its Outdoor Education Center’s premier forestry and wildlife habitat used for deer, turkey and small game mentored hunts, as well as learn-to-hunt programs. The Palmetto Shooting Complex is also used to help create hunters via its sporting clays, trap, skeet and 3D archery courses. “The Palmetto Shooting Complex is an outlet to reach those who are shooting enthusiasts but who may not hunt,” said Travis Sumner, NWTF’s Hunting Heritage Center and habitat manager. “Our Winchester Museum is also used as an outlet. Through our tours there, we are able to reach those who are interested in hunting.” [caption id="attachment_3531" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Travis Sumner helps a new hunter during an NWTF dove hunt.[/caption] NWTF also partners with the U.S. Forest Service, South Carolina Forestry Commission, American Forest Management and other groups to conduct hunts. Last year, NWTF helped conduct 17 hunts reaching hundreds of participants, while the Winchester museum hosted thousands of guests and the Palmetto Shooting Complex entertained tens of thousands of shooters. NWTF also touts an established landowner program with 18 private properties used to conduct R3 hunts and events. “For those of us who are seasoned hunters, we need to be aware that what we have enjoyed for years is in danger,” said Sumner. “We all need to get involved, and we offer opportunities for hunters to become mentors, including a yearly mentor workshop for those individuals who would like to help with these hunt programs.”

Mule Deer Foundation

Like other non-profits, the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) runs a series of R3 programs, but it really shines with the M.U.L.E.Y. (Mindful, Understanding, Legal, Ethical, Youth) Program. “The program was created to help reverse declining hunter trends by actively engaging youth in a variety of hunting and shooting sports activities, while also teaching conservation principles, safety and ethics through mentored, hands-on experiences,” says Jared Hinton, MDF’s Outreach Coordinator and Conservation Partner Liaison. [caption id="attachment_3533" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Volunteers help run one of the M.U.L.E.Y. trailers.[/caption] According to Hinton, the M.U.L.E.Y. program trailers serve an average of 20,000 youth per year. With these, coordinators and volunteers emphasize safe handling of bows and guns. Youth received reinforced lessons by practicing on an actual range. They also learn the basics of ethical, responsible hunting, with a focus on conservation. MDF encourages potential mentors to work with local chapters.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Located in Missoula, Montana, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) uses its Visitor Center and museum next to the administrative office building as an opportunity to educate both existing and new hunters. “Our Elk Country Visitor Center receives over 44,000 visitors per year,” says RMEF Hunting Heritage Program Manager Bruce Rich. “Nearly 5,000 of those are in hosted monthly Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach programs or in formal tours for schools, daycares, summer camps and other groups.” These programs are focused on not only creating new hunters but also communities of hunters who can help serve one another once recruited. [caption id="attachment_3532" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A look at the RMEF facility helping to create new hunters.[/caption] RMEF also partners with other organizations and facilities and contributes about $1.3 million per year to promote the shooting sports, hunter education, hunter advocacy and outreach, mentored hunts, outdoor skills instruction and natural resource education in sponsoring approximately 400 Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach programs per year. This program reaches more than 220,000 people annually at facilities across the country. “Connect with a local RMEF chapter to learn more about what they have going on and opportunities to help out with a volunteer project,” Rich says. “Ensuring the future of our hunting heritage is a crucial part of RMEF’s work.”

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is well-known for hosting youth hunts, Green Wing Days and other programs to introduce kids to the outdoors. Interestingly, it’s now focusing significant efforts at the high school and collegiate levels. It has 54 collegiate DU Varsity chapters across the country. Those members are helping to spread the hunting heritage message to their peers — all in the name of recruitment, retention and reactivation. [caption id="attachment_3534" align="aligncenter" width="650"] More than 200 students from 54 chapters attended the 2019 Third Term summit.[/caption] Part of this program includes Third Term, a college leadership summit that focuses on collegiate DU chapters. Gathering students from across the country, Third Term was started in 1984. “We use our headquarters to bring in hundreds of students from across the country,” says Mark Horobetz, DU Manager of Youth and Education Programs. “This symposium includes an R3 breakout. It’s a social event, but they bring in all walks of life — people who’ve hunted and people who haven’t.” These breakouts share insight on ways attendees can reach potential hunters, how to approach them, and methods for retaining them one recruited. “These students collaborate together to introduce new hunters to the outdoors,” Horobetz says. “ We have volunteers who come and help.” Once back at their respective colleges, these young adults work to share hunting with other students on campus.

Powderhook

While the above use their physical facilities to critical effect in their R3 efforts, Powderhook went online. Co-Founder and CEO Eric Dinger says it’s a purpose-built app that helps new hunters get started by making local experts available to answer their questions. “Powderhook makes available thousands of local groups and events,” Dinger says. “Our local experts program capitalizes on local, current information only someone in an individual's region might know. It's easy to read about ‘where to place the shot’ on the internet, but much more difficult to figure out when to take that day off of work to time the rut or which person at the local [hunting store] knows their stuff.” Thousands of people use the app to jumpstart their journey as hunters. It’s free, and there are experts in every state ready to help those in need. According to Dinger, it’s one of the only apps on the market that’s solely dedicated to helping create more outdoor participants. “Existing hunters can become local experts on Powderhook and offer their wisdom and experience to the people seeking it in the app,” Dinger says. For existing hunters, serving as mentors goes a long way towards reversing the decline in hunter numbers. Teach new hunters until they are ready to embark on this journey alone. Then, they’ll be prepared to serve as a mentor, too, and pass hunting on down the line.