Tricks Turkeys Fall For: How to Bust that Fall Thunder Chicken

Tricks Turkeys Fall For: How to Bust that Fall Thunder Chicken

By Aaron Stonehocker

Iowa has three seasons: Spring Turkey, Summer Fishing, and Deer Season. Each season has its unique pull on our heart strings, however only one offers the chance at a mixed game bag. Deer season carries the added benefit of overlapping with a less popular fall turkey season in Iowa, allowing hunters to bag either male or female turkey.

In my younger years, I would go to the local Hardware Hank in Earlham, IA to load up on my deer tags, ammo, and the occasional trash talk about who would bag the bigger buck with the Arnburg boys. Often, I would walk out without dropping that extra few bucks for the fall turkey tag simply because I thought the odds weren’t in my favor. Now-a-days, I am always finding myself buying that extra chance to bring home a fall turkey, and as it turns out, fall birds can be just as fun to chase as spring birds. Here are a few tricks of the trade that I have picked up over the years that have led to more than a few food comas after a wild game Thanksgiving meal.

Have your tag in your pocket: A lot of hunters simply don’t have a tag in their pocket if they happen across a fall bird while hunting deer. Turkeys are a common site in the fall deer woods and open pastures while going to and from a stand location. Spend the extra $20 something bucks on the tag and give yourself another chance at harvesting something each time you are out. The worst that could happen is supporting your Iowa DNR’s efforts at keeping your hunting traditions alive.

Hunt the Roost: There is something to be said about how comfortable your mattress and pillow feel after a long day in the field. The roost is the same to a turkey. You can bank that they will be heading to their memory foam oak limb about an hour before the sun drops below the corn covered horizon. Roost locations can vary on each property, but typically they are the same trees all year long. While you are looking for that stand location this fall, keep your eyes peeled on the ground for turkey feathers and droppings. These are hints that the roost tree is nearby.
Hunt the Evenings: Turkeys are early risers, but in the fall, this doesn’t mean you have to be. My favorite hunting is in the evenings for deer and turkeys. The roost is the most predictable location for a turkey during any time of the year and they only head there in the evenings. Keep your eye on their food options during the fall and place your bet on the roost location closest to that food option. This will up your chances at ambushing weary birds heading to bed in the last couple hours of the day.

Find the Current Food Source: Turkeys just so happen to eat a lot of the same things our four-legged fall prey does. Food sources will change as the deer, birds, and other critters diminish them. Acorns are a common food source that just so happen to be produced by a turkey’s favorite roost tree earlier in the fall. Grain fields offer thousands of acres of great food options for turkeys including bugs, left over grain, weed seeds, worms, mice, and other sources. Once these are harvested, field edges offer much of the same and much-needed security of cover for the birds a few feet away. Keep your eyes out for what they like to eat and what is available now. The birds won’t be far away.

Hit on the Ladies: During the spring, hunters talk dirty to the toms in hopes that they will come strutting in. In the fall use the same calls to bring in the hens. The birds are typically flocked up, and they are guided by a lead hen. If you hear birds talking, mimic what they are saying with a mouth call. You will be surprised at how often a group of hens, toms, and jakes will come looking for you. If you happen to bust up a flock while walking into your stand, sit down, get ready, and hit some “kee-kee” calls after a few minutes. This works great for pulling the birds back together right in your lap.

Intentionally Bust a Flock: It sounds absolutely insane, but busting up a flock is the go to tactic when hunting fall turkeys. The good thing about it is there really isn’t that much skill required to bust up a flock. The most common methods include the following:
Roosted Birds: If you have birds roosted simply walk under the tree as false dawn approaches but before they fly down then do whatever you need to do to scatter them. Note where the birds fly and try and center your setup. If you are after a particular bird make sure you set up closer to him/her.

Charge The Flock: If have located a flock but can’t get them into range put your gun or bow down, use the terrain and then charge the group scattering them in all directions hopefully. Give them some time to calm down a bit and then center yourself in the midst of where the birds scattered and start calling them back to you.

Some hunters actually like to take a shot at birds when they scatter them if they can get close enough and a shot presents itself. This is up to the individual hunter. If you think you can make the shot then by all means go for it. Remember to have your safety on though as you charge the flock. Stop completely and then take the shot.

Use A Dog: In Iowa you are allowed to use dogs to locate, flush and retrieve wild turkeys during the fall season. The biggest thing to perform when using a dog is putting them in a situation where they can find turkeys and push them in all directions. You do not want the flock just running or flying off together. Using a dog is a fun way to hunt, but not all dogs are keen on hunting turkeys. It may take several attempts and training before they start to get the hang of it and know what to do.

One last thing to mention on scattering flocks is that you can’t scatter them enough. If you get another chance at scattering the same flock then go for it. The goal of the turkey will always be to regather with the flock. So be persistent and stick with it as long as the birds allow.

I think hunting fall birds is easier than hunting spring birds. They aren’t being pursued by human hunters as hard, are much more predictable, and you can take a mature hen or bearded bird, which doubles your chances at bringing home the turkey bacon. Plus, looking for fall turkey sign keeps you on your toes when you are working through the deer woods. I often find other sign, trails, and things I would otherwise overlook while complacently walking to and from my deer hunting areas. I am confident that having that extra tag in your pocket this fall will be worth your extra few bucks at the local hardware store. Get out there, keep your eyes peeled, and hopefully you will top your freezer off with some extra turkey meat this fall!