Hunting: The fall turkey season is gearing up for success

The herd closed in, gray heads and brown bodies appearing and disappearing among the ferns and low shrubbery that obscured much of the forest understory as they scraped the ground for nuts, seeds and invertebrates suddenly exposed. My pulse quickened as the critical moment approached.

When the first birds were almost within range, I stiffened, and as they hesitated and then turned away, I leapt to my feet and charged the flock as fast as I could, scattering them here and there. My hunting partner was stunned but I gave him a knowing look and simply said, “Now watch and wait.”

Another fall turkey season is upon us and by all indications it should be good. Although not as popular as some other species, fall turkeys are gaining a small but devoted following among hunters looking for new and different challenges. If you’re considering joining the fraternity, there are a few things you need to know.

Nesting and brooding conditions were quite favorable for poultry. The post-hatch period is critical as young poults subjected to cold, wet conditions often experience high mortality rates. While temperatures were below average, rain was scarce, so productivity was high and there should be plenty of near-adult young around.

Wild turkeys are most gregarious in fall and winter, when mature hens and their offspring join other similar family groups to form larger aggregations. Males, on the other hand, also form loose assemblages, often of mature toms or jakes entering their second fall, but sometimes with some mixing of age groups.

The fall season allows hunters to capture up to five birds of each sex, depending on the wildlife management district in which they are hunting. As they represent the reproductive potential of the population, capturing hens can seem risky; but populations are at or near their peak in the fall, and removing a surplus actually increases the survival rates of those that remain. Additionally, Maine’s turkey population is strong and healthy, and biologists have determined that it can withstand this level of hunting.

This is partly because the fall hunt has not grown to the same extent as the spring hunt. In the spring, turkeys are the only game in town while there are many more options in the fall, which most hunters are much more familiar and accustomed to. Waterfowl, upland game and bow hunting for deer attract attention, leaving an abundance of birds for those who choose to seek them out.

As in spring, tracking is important. Fall turkeys are a little less predictable, traversing the landscape in search of food, but they will find a reliable food source. You also need to stick to it, because birds can be in one place today and disappear tomorrow. Fortunately, a little road scouting will usually reveal their last location.

Once located, there are several options for hunting them. Simply sit and call, the most common method in the spring, works, but not so well in the fall. Without the attraction of love, the birds are less likely to leave the group. This tactic will be more effective if you know or think you know where they are going and can get there before they do.

A more popular, effective, and fun method, as described above, is what turkey hunters call “destroying a flock.” More often than not, the birds are not within cannon or bow range, but you can get close enough to charge and disperse them. The more birds and the more they scatter in different directions, the better.

As noted, turkeys are gregarious in the fall. The younger ones especially do not like to be alone and will soon look for their recently deceased companions. Sometimes it takes a while. Other times, the muster calls of mother hens and kee-kees of lost poults begin shortly after the break. All a hunter has to do is imitate what he hears, sit back and wait.

Unlike the spring hunt, a missed opportunity does not necessarily mean the end of the hunt. If they don’t get close enough, you can try another break or go in search of another herd. there should be plenty around. Another good thing is that the action doesn’t end mid-morning. You can hunt all day with a reasonable chance of success. With fewer hunters, there is also less competition and the risk of interference. The fall turkey hunt also seems more laid back and relaxed. Give it a shot.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and registered guide from Maine who lives in Pownal. He can be reached at: [email protected]

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