November is flying by at a record pace. Before you know it and if we’re lucky, we’ll be gathered around a table giving thanks with family or friends. Now imagine going out yet this fall and putting a big tom turkey on the ground, just in time for some Thanksgiving table fare. How proud would you be serving your family and friends some fresh, deep-fried wild turkey instead of the store-bought version? If that seems like it would be a fun twist for your tradition, you should consider going fall turkey hunting this year.
While spring turkey hunting typically gets most of the hype and attention, there’s a lot of exciting action to be had in the fall too. Some states have more relaxed regulations for fall turkey hunting, which can increase your chance at harvesting a bird. In Minnesota, for example, the fall turkey hunting seasons are liberal and you can possess an either-sex fall tag. 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 article is going to discuss how to successfully 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!
Turkey hunting during the spring season is a rite of passage for many hunters. The sights and sounds of gobblers in pursuit of hens is exhilarating. When that longbeard finally walks into range after being lured in by calls and decoys it’s a moment every turkey hunter dreams of. But should you hunt spring turkeys from an elevated tree stand or at ground level?
While most turkey hunters opt for ground blinds, hunting from a tree stand does offer some advantages. Here’s a complete guide to hunting turkeys from treestands so you can decide if it’s the right strategy for you.
Is it Legal to Hunt Turkeys from a Tree Stand?
Before deciding to hunt from above make sure it’s legal in your state. Some states prohibit elevated platforms for turkey hunting, so check your regulations. If treestand hunting is allowed, you’ll need to follow any rules regarding minimum height above ground and other safety precautions.
Pros of Tree Stand Turkey Hunting
There are a few key benefits to gaining an aerial view when turkey hunting:
Better Visibility and Shooting Lanes
Being up in a tree gives you a bird’s eye view of the surroundings, allowing you to spot approaching gobblers sooner. You’ll be able to see over brush and other obstacles that can block your line of sight at ground level. Elevation also opens up better shooting opportunities.
Stay Hidden and Steady
Since turkeys don’t typically look up for danger, you can stay hidden in a tree stand more easily than on the ground. You’ll also avoid fidgeting and shuffling around, which can spook wary birds. Your movements high up in a tree are less likely to get noticed.
Natural Camouflage
With trees all around you in a treestand, your outline blends into the branches and leaves much better than on open ground. Your elevated position uses the forest’s natural camo to your advantage.
Mobility and All Day Hunts
Multiple tree stands setup along a travel corridor allow you to stay mobile and follow gobblers throughout the day. Run and gun hunting is easier from tree stands than packing up ground blinds. All day hunts are more effective since you can slip out undetected.
Comfortable Setup
A tree stand seat allows you to comfortably sit and wait for extended periods without getting sore or stiff. At ground level, sitting up against a tree for hours can get pretty uncomfortable. A treestand makes sitting still much easier.
Cons of Hunting Turkeys from Elevated Stands
However, there are some downsides of hunting gobblers from on high to consider:
Drawing Without Detection Challenging
While hidden well in a tree, any movement to draw your bow or raise your gun has the potential to get noticed since you don’t have ground level cover. Subtle motions can look more obvious from above and alert turkeys below.
Less Mobility Calling and Shooting
Calling effectively with mouth, slate and box calls can be constrained in a treestand since you can’t turn and maneuver as well. Safely swinging and shooting your shotgun or bow can also be more difficult without the freedom to adjust your position.
Spooking Birds upon Entry and Exit
Climbing up and down a tree makes noise, along with setting gear and climbing in and out of the stand. Turkeys may spot these movements and sounds, whereas quieter ground blinds allow for undetected entry.
Equipment Logistics and Safety
Hauling gear up into an elevated stand takes more time and effort. All equipment must be safely secured and keeping your balance on small treestand platforms demands constant attention. Safety harnesses are a must to prevent falls.
Less Cover
With open air all around you, there’s no brush, grass or other cover to blend into from above. The silhouette of you in the tree can get picked out more easily by turkey’s sharp eyesight. Their heads are up scanning for danger above.
Tips for Hunting Turkeys from Tree Stands
If you decide to try calling in spring gobblers from on high, here are some treestand tactics that will boost your odds:
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Scout and find travel corridors between strutting, feeding and roosting areas to set up your tree stands along.
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Use multiple stands to stay mobile and pursue birds throughout the day as they move around.
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Set up stands well before season opens so turkeys get accustomed to them.
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Prune shooting lanes ahead of time, but don’t over thin around the stand. Natural camouflage is key.
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Go up the tree quietly, stay clipped in, and sit perfectly still once settled in.
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Film from your phone to get footage of how visible you are in the stand when moving.
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Practice drawing your bow or mounting your gun smoothly without excess motion.
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Consider using a stool to gain elevation and shoot over a blind below for better concealment.
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Opt for a crossbow or hang your gun on a sling hook for fast readiness without movement.
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Carry emergency signal devices and cell phone in case of falls. Don’t take risks.
Is Hunting Spring Gobblers from Tree Stands Right for You?
While most turkey hunters still prefer hunting from ground level, more folks are exploring the advantages of getting up off the ground and calling in birds from above. As long as it’s legal and done safely, tree stands offer some great benefits. But they aren’t without their challenges too. Consider your style of turkey hunting and the lay of the land to decide if gaining some altitude fits your approach. With smart preparation and tactics, a treestand can be deadly on spring gobblers.
So give hunting turkeys from a tree stand a try and see if it’s a strategy you’ll want to add to your spring game plan. Just use caution, exercise common sense, follow regulations and you may just find yourself tagging out from on high!
How Are Fall Turkeys Different?
Before you hunt, it’s important to know the different turkey habits in the fall; they are very different critters than they are in the spring. Springtime is all about mating season and courtship displays, while fall is all about food and survival. Toms will spend a great deal of energy chasing hens in the spring, but they pretty much stick to bachelor groups in the autumn looking for food sources. Because of these tendencies, you would typically use hen decoys and hen calls to convince a tom to come investigate in the spring, but you need to use tom or jake decoys and similar male calls to get a gobbler to come by in the fall. As you can see, there are a lot of big differences between hunting a spring turkey versus a fall turkey.
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, many people also choose a run and scatter tactic, which can use the bird’s confusion to bring them right back in for a shot. But in most cases and places, people already have tree stands in place for deer hunting throughout the fall, which means turkeys are used to seeing them. Why not use them? Generally, they are also already very concealed and located on food plots or good travel routes, which are good spots for turkeys as we’ll discuss below. Depending on where you hunt, many turkeys are not used to aerial predator attacks. Since most hunters don’t approach them that way either, you can sometimes get away with a little more movement, especially if you’re wearing a good camouflaged set of turkey hunting clothing,. Finally, it requires the least amount of work to do, assuming you already have some tree stands up. If you don’t have some existing ladder stands or pre-hung lock on stands, your best bet is to choose mobile stands (i.e., lock on stands). That way, you can adjust your location easily depending on where the turkeys are or are not. You may want to hang a universal shooting rail with the fixed position tree stand, so that you can drape a camo blind kit around it for additional concealment; just don’t hang it so high that you can’t see the decoy below you to make a shot.
Speaking of the best locations to find fall turkeys, food sources and travel corridors are the best. Clover and hay fields offer greens for turkeys to eat with room to run, while brassica fields offer food and cover. Wooded cover between roost trees and feeding areas are also good ambush sites, particularly if there are any hawthorn, crabapple, or similar fruit trees. Many fall turkey crops have been full of small apples or fruits after shooting them. If you have deer stands in any of these areas, consider hunting them with a new goal: a fine turkey dinner.
Now that you see why tree stands can work so well for fall turkey hunting, let’s look at some specific turkey hunting tips you can use. First, you may want to monitor your hunting property for a few days with trail cameras, just to survey the area and see what’s happening. You can get a lot of information out of a trail camera, including how many turkeys are on your property, the number of toms/hens/jakes/jennies, the time of day the turkeys are using an area, and which direction they are coming from/going to. Review the pictures to form a plan about where and when to hunt.
If you’d like a large tom for the table, set up a male turkey decoy (probably a jake) in the food plot, field, or travel corridor. Whether other toms feel threatened or just want to come check out the new bird in town, decoys are very useful for fall turkey hunting to provide a distraction point and draw them in quickly. The more realistic the decoys, the better. Set the decoy up about 20 yards from your tree stand, so that you can still take an ethical shot if a gobbler hangs up beyond it. Again, make sure you can see the decoy and position your shotgun from your tree stand; you don’t want to have to stand up and move around 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 a few tom yelps every twenty minutes or so, which are lower and raspier than a hen. It should follow a slow three-note cadence, followed by a pause and another three-note yelp. After calling, listen intently as toms may call back and give you a warning as to where they may approach from. If the decoy is on a main feeding field, is visible from a distance, and turkeys are in the area, they will likely make their way to the field anyway. As soon as they hear audible proof that a jake is standing there, they will often come running in on a string.
2017 Season | Treestand Turkey Hunt
FAQ
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