Fall Turkey

[Snipermike]

This past year I was trying to make it out for the spring but never did. I had a opportunity this past Friday to go out for the fall with a few of my buddies. I am up at Penn State so I only have the state game lands up here. My friend was saying that fall turkey is much harder then spring. What tactics do you guys use in the fall and what tactics work best on state game lands? We did would walk and just use some calls to see if we had anything come back to us. Then we would sit for a little to see if we can call some in. No luck though. I think I am heading back out Friday so I am just curious. Thanks
-Mike

[ACEarcher]

Try busting them up. Either a lil before morning or later in the day. Either will work. Once you bust them all up sit and wait for about 10-15mins. Then start calling. All the birds will try and flock back up together again. You'll probably hear them calling to each other too. Them thinking your a lost turkey will start to come back to you. I've also had success just walking around till you find the flock and jump them.

[Snipermike]

Hey thanks for the tips. Seems like were doing something a little right. Now only if we can locate some. Things are different on game lands too. What part of bucks are you from?

[ACEarcher]

Upper Bucks. Near Nockamixen.

[Snipermike]

Oh ok nice. I am from Doylestown.

[ACEarcher]

Which campus ya on? State College? Their is some good hunting around there. I know of some really awsome trout fishing around there too.

[Snipermike]

Yes I am at State College. Did 2 years at Penn state hazleton and now I am up here. Have you been hunting up here? I am trying to find some spots for deer season too. I know I have the state game lands. Just not use to hunting them.

[ACEarcher]

Believe it or not PSU owns land and would allow you to hunt. I know their is some open land near the new buildings being built. Check that out. I had a few buddies that went to state and even harvested their buck on PSU ground (NOT THE DEER PEN!). I forget whom they asked, but they said yeah sure NP. Otherwise yeah their is a lot of SGL around you and a couple parks. I haven't been hunting around state yet this year, but when I come up for deer I'll be hunting with my brother whos is at PCT Williamsport.

[Snipermike]

Thanks for the info. Yea I heard about their deer pens! I want to just get out to them and see some. My buddy was telling me you can just feed them and the bucks are massive. I will look into this penn state hunting land. Its so big you just dont know who to ask. And I am kinda late on the whole thing now because I am going home for a week over thanksgiving and then taking monday off to hunt at home. So that leaves me with a few weeks. I have no doe tags, but throw classes and exams in those two weeks they go quick. I might just go out to the SGL where I was turkey hunting. I am up here for one more year too, so I can always be ready for next year!

[ACEarcher]

It not just land that PSU owns for hunting. PSU owns a lot of land all around State College. Some are just bare wood lots. You just have to find out where they are and ask permission. Best thing I can tell you is make friends with everybody.

[Snipermike]

Thats not to hard for me to do. Thanks for these tips. I appreciate it.
-Mike

[ACEarcher]

anytime bro:thup:

[Barrell]

Fall is much easier hunting than spring for a couple reasons.
1- you can use a rifle or handgun
2- Its either sex
3- You can remove your orange
4- You can stalk them
5- Busting the flock, Works like a charm. Start in the dark and just at sunrise stop and listen. Turkeys get very vocal just as they come down off the roost. They prefer to come down at first light but I have seen them wait up to an hour in high winds and hard rain. If you hear them come off the roost you can try to stalk into range for the weopon you are using but if you here the warning putt, You have been spotted. So run as fast as you can at the flock screaming and yelling. You need to bust them in different directions so they will return to the spot you busted them at. If they all flush the same direction they will reform the flock away from your location. Dont waiste time finding a place to sit. I have had flocks start to reform within minutes, but it can take an hour so sit tight. DONT call. Let the turkeys do all the calling as the flock reforms. If the calls are coming your way then be silent and wait for your shot. If the reforming flock seems to be forming out of range do some calling. What you want to do is repeat the call the turkeys are making imediatly after they call. No more , no less. Just repeat what you are hearing. If using a rifle aim for the gut or the base of the neck. Both shots will kill instantly without damaging any meat. A decoy can realy help to bring them in close if you are using a shotgun, bow, or handgun.
If you are out at sunset and hear the turkeys go to roost you have a guaranteed shot in the morning. Just sneek back into the area at least 45 minutes before first light and get within 100 yeards of the tree they are roosted in. Get camoflouged. I always wear a facemask when waking the flock. At first light they will start to call each other on the roost. Then the first one will soar down out of the tree. They will land 50 to 75 yards from the roost tree as they glide down. Soon turkeys will be dropping down like rain from trees all around . They will call and yap to each other like crazy. Its very exciting. Sometimes they wiill even Gobble. Strat purring on your call and one or two should come your way. If the flock soar down away from you and starts to move off in the wrong direction then run after them and bust the flock.