11/16/2004
The Thanksgiving Turkey Hunt: An American Tradition
The American Thanksgiving tradition celebrates the harvest, the land's bounty and the coming of winter. For some families, that celebration begins with another tradition, a wild turkey hunt surrounded by autumn's colorful glow.
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Today, more people than ever are enjoying fall turkey hunting, the traditional form of the sport. Even with many other hunting opportunities to choose from, fall turkey hunters dedicate their time to pursuing America's largest game bird.
"Fall wild turkey hunting does compete with seasons for other wild game like white-tailed deer, waterfowl and elk," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, NWTF senior vice president for conservation programs. "But overall, fall turkey hunting gives the sportsman another opportunity to head afield with family and participate in a grand tradition."
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Fall turkey hunting also provides a great opportunity to turn a typical Thanksgiving meal into something special. Wild turkey was a staple for the pioneers; today it has become a holiday delicacy, and a way to capture the spirit of our country's early settlers. Wild turkeys are also a healthy alternative to the typical domestic variety.
"Americans today are really keen on eating healthy food, and a wild turkey makes a healthier meal than a store bought bird," said James Powell, NWTF public relations manager. "Eating wild turkey at Thanksgiving is becoming more popular, and more people are asking us how to hunt them during this time of year. Many turkey hunters who have only hunted them during the spring are beginning to realize that the hunt is just as thrilling in the fall."
Get Hunting
Obviously, the first step for a traditional Thanksgiving meal is bagging a wild bird.
41 states offer fall turkey hunting seasons. Some start theirs in the early fall, some hold their seasons late in the winter. Don't sweat it if you can't buy a license over the counter and you've missed your state's drawing for a fall tag this year. Take the opportunity to scout for turkeys as you hunt for the other fall species. Prepare and you'll be ready for a spring or a fall hunt next year.
Turkeys are flocked up during the fall, looking for food sources that will get them through the winter. These flocks will leave some obvious signs of their passage, scratchings in leaves or snow, droppings and feathers. If you can, mark any areas that look productive on your map or GPS and carry that with you into the fall or spring season. If the area holds lots of food, there is a good chance a gobbler will return to the area in the spring, searching for a hen.
One tactic that holds tradition much like the fall hunt itself, is busting turkey flocks with a dog. While a hunter or hunters walk the woods, a turkey dog will cast out like a bird dog working the surrounding area away from the hunter checking for scent or sight of turkeys. Besides company, a good turkey dog helps in spot turkeys scooting over the next ridge, and they offer the safest, most effective way to bust a flock. Any breed that can cover a lot of ground, bark on the flush, then sit still while a hunter works birds back in range can be a turkey dog.
A clean break up of any fall turkey flock does not mean the work is done for the day. Most hunters will then pick an area where they believe the birds may return. Two popular calls can be found in the playbook of autumn turkey hunting; single-note gobbler clucks (deep raspy sounding) mixed with the occasional keouck-keouck raspy yelp of an old tom.
Once you get a turkey or turkeys to respond to your calls, match them call-for-call, note-for-note. Doing this will often work young birds into a fevered pitch of calling, which not only makes the hunting more intense, but will often bring the birds right into your setup.
While the fall hunt does differ somewhat from a spring chase for gobblers, keep in mind that the same tips hold true when taking the shot. When shooting a shotgun, a long, but safe and effective distance is 40 yards. If you can get the bird closer, however, explore that option. Also, be sure that your setup is a safe one. Choose a tree that is wider than shoulders and higher than your head to sit against. If you see or hear another hunter, do not wave. Instead yell in a loud, clear voice to identify yourself.
