November is flying by at a record pace. We will hopefully be sitting around a table with family or friends to express our gratitude in no time at all. Imagine strolling outside this autumn and placing a large tom turkey on the ground, right in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Consider going fall turkey hunting this year if you think it would be a fun twist on your tradition. If you served your family and friends some fresh, deep-fried wild turkey instead of the packaged variety, just think of how proud you would be.
Fall turkey hunting is just as exciting as spring turkey hunting, but it usually garners more attention and excitement. There are states with laxer regulations regarding fall turkey hunting, which could increase your chances of snagging a bird. For example, Minnesota has abundant fall turkey seasons during which you can get a fall tag for either sex. That means you could legally kill any turkey that strolls within range. That alone drastically changes the game if you’re hoping to guarantee a Thanksgiving bird. To make things even easier, this post will explain how to hunt turkeys from a tree stand. If you’ve already got turkeys in your hunting areas and have some deer stands up, you’re all set!.
A Deep Dive into the World of Elevated Turkey Hunting
Turkey hunting is a thrilling and challenging sport that requires stealth, patience, and a deep understanding of turkey behavior. While many hunters prefer to pursue these wary birds from the ground, some wonder if hunting turkey from a treestand is a viable option.
This article delves into the world of elevated turkey hunting, exploring its pros and cons, best practices, and the experiences of seasoned turkey hunters who have taken to the trees
The Debate: Ground Blind vs. Treestand
The age-old debate in turkey hunting circles revolves around the choice between ground blinds and treestands. While both methods have their merits, the decision ultimately boils down to personal preference, hunting style, and the specific terrain and conditions.
Ground Blinds: The Traditional Approach
Ground blinds offer several advantages for turkey hunters. They provide excellent concealment, allowing hunters to blend seamlessly into their surroundings and remain undetected by wary birds. Additionally, ground blinds offer a comfortable and stable shooting platform, crucial for making accurate shots at long distances.
Treestands: A Different Perspective
Treestands, on the other hand, offer a unique perspective on the turkey woods. Hunters in treestands have a wider field of vision because they are higher up, which makes it easier for them to see turkeys at a distance and track their movements. Additionally, treestands can be useful in places with poor visibility, like deep forests or thick undergrowth.
The Challenges of Elevated Turkey Hunting
However, hunting turkey from a treestand also presents some challenges. Turkeys have exceptional eyesight and are adept at spotting movement, especially from above. Additionally, the limited space and restricted movement in a treestand can make it difficult to maneuver and take a clear shot.
Tips for Success in Elevated Turkey Hunting
For those who choose to pursue turkeys from a treestand, there are several tips to increase their chances of success:
- Choose the right treestand: Opt for a comfortable and stable treestand that allows for easy movement and a clear shot.
- Conceal your treestand: Use natural vegetation or camouflage netting to blend your treestand into the surroundings.
- Minimize movement: Turkeys are highly sensitive to movement, so avoid unnecessary shifting or fidgeting in your treestand.
- Use decoys effectively: Decoys can be a valuable tool to attract turkeys within shooting range.
- Be patient: Turkey hunting requires patience, so be prepared to wait for the right opportunity to take a shot.
The Experiences of Turkey Hunters in Treestands
Many experienced turkey hunters have found success hunting from treestands. Some hunters report that turkeys are less likely to detect them from above, while others appreciate the improved visibility and shooting angles that treestands offer.
While not as common as ground blind hunting, hunting turkey from a treestand can be an effective and rewarding experience. By understanding the challenges and implementing the tips outlined above, hunters can increase their chances of success when pursuing these wary birds from an elevated position.
Additional Resources
- Mossy Oak: Tip #3 – Go High for Gobblers
- Archery Talk: Anyone Turkey hunt from a Treestand?
Why Tree Stands for Fall Turkey Hunting?
Most people associate hunting turkeys with ground blinds, and that is definitely the most common approach. In the fall, a lot of people also choose the run and scatter tactic, which capitalizes on the bird’s confusion to lure it back in for a shot. But turkeys are used to seeing tree stands because most people and places have them set up for fall deer hunting. Many turkeys are not used to aerial predator attacks, depending on where you hunt, but since they are usually well hidden and located along food plots or well-traveled paths—both of which are favorable locations for turkeys as we’ll cover below—why not take advantage of them? Sometimes you can get away with a little more movement because most hunters don’t approach them that way either, especially if your turkey hunting gear is well-camouflaged. Finally, it requires the least amount of work to do, assuming you already have some tree stands up. Your best option is to select mobile stands (i. e. , portable ladder stands) if you don’t already have any ladder stands or pre-hung lock on stands. e. , lock on stands). That way, you can adjust your location easily depending on where the turkeys are or are not. You might wish to hang a universal shooting rail with the fixed position tree stand to provide additional concealment. To take a shot, just make sure you don’t hang it too high where you can’t see the decoy below you.
Speaking of the best locations to find fall turkeys, food sources and travel corridors are the best. Turkeys can find cover and food in brassica fields, and they can eat greens in fields of hay and clover with lots of room to roam around. In the wooded areas between roost trees and feeding areas, ambush spots can also be found; these are particularly common if any fruit trees, such as crabapple or hawthorn, are close by. Many fall turkey crops have been full of small apples or fruits after shooting them. You might want to hunt deer in these areas if they have stands with the added goal of preparing a tasty turkey dinner.
Now that you know why using tree stands can be so successful when hunting fall turkey, let’s look at some specific tips you can use. For a few days, at first, you may want to use trail cameras to monitor your hunting property and conduct an area survey. A trail camera can give you a lot of information, including how many turkeys are on your property, how many toms, hens, jakes, and jennies there are, what time of day they use a certain area, and which direction they are going. Review the pictures to form a plan about where and when to hunt.
If you want a large tom for the table, place a male turkey decoy—probably a jake—in the food plot, field, or travel corridor. When it comes to fall turkey hunting, decoys are an excellent tool because they quickly draw in other toms who may be feeling threatened or may just be curious about this new bird in town. The more realistic the decoys, the better. Position the decoy about 20 yards away from your tree stand so that you can still shoot any gobbler that lingers there. Again, ensure that you can see the decoy, then aim your shotgun from the safety of your tree stand. This will save you from having to get up and move around in order to get ready.
Now as far as how to call fall turkeys, we already mentioned it briefly above. Males respond to male calls and females to female/poult calls. One of the best fall turkey calling tips if you’re looking for a gobbler is to give several tom yelps, which are lower and raspier than hen yelps, every twenty minutes or so. It should follow a slow three-note cadence, followed by a pause and another three-note yelp. When someone calls, listen carefully because the guys may call you back to alert you to their possible approach. Even if the decoy field is visible from a distance and is not on the main feeding field, turkeys will most likely find their way to it. When they hear audible cues that a jake is nearby, they often charge in on a string.
How Are Fall Turkeys Different?
It’s crucial to recognize the differences between spring and fall turkey habits before heading out on the hunt. Springtime is all about mating season and courtship displays, while fall is all about food and survival. Toms will run around chasing hens in the spring, but in the fall, when they are looking for food, they basically stay in bachelor groups. Because of these tendencies, in the spring you would typically use hen decoys and hen calls to get a tom to come investigate; however, in the fall, you would need to use tom or jake decoys and similar male calls to get a gobbler to come by. As you can see, hunting a spring turkey differs greatly from hunting a fall turkey in many ways.