Late season turkey hunting is here, and hopefully you’ve already got a tag on a nice tom. But for many hunters, it doesn’t always work this way. Calendars fill up, weather doesn’t cooperate, birds become less accommodating, and the commitments that preoccupied our minds through the entire season become reality! Turkey hunting, like most types of hunting, can be either a rewarding experience or the most frustrating and confusing thing in the world. And when you talk about late season turkey hunting, it can somehow become an extreme case of both. By now the birds are seasoned survivors, so they know most of your tricks and will continue to avoid you despite your best efforts. And yet, when you do manage to harvest a late season gobbler, you feel a sense of accomplishment, like you’ve truly earned it! Spring turkey hunting is funny that way.
Late season turkey hunting is usually defined as the final week of the spring season in the state you’re hunting. Each state has slightly different season lengths. Exact dates can vary depending on where you hunt. For example, Massachusetts is down to its last seven days, but Connecticut goes until May 30 and New York all the way to May 31! Harvesting a late season turkey is difficult no matter where your hunting, but not impossible! Gobblers are now guarded, well-educated birds that have probably survived more than one season. This combination makes them exceedingly difficult to fool, so you need to make your time in the field count. Other factors including heavy foliage growth, temperature, and behavioral changes which can bring additional challenges that can complicate your life even more. And if you’re noticing these late season patterns in areas where you’re now hunting don’t fret, because there’s still hope!
First, let’s take a moment to compare things between early season and late season turkey hunting. In the early spring hens are getting ready to breed, and I believe that this year was a very early start. A peak in breeding activity soon follows which usually is a great time to hunt since toms and hens are actively communicating and looking for each other. However, after a few weeks, bred hens slowly start going to nest, and the gobblers just can’t seem to find enough receptive hens anymore. In the weeks prior to this, gobblers are fighting each other for breeding rights and may become hesitant to approach late season toms with hens (meaning decoys). But just as whitetails have a second rut as more does come into estrous, turkeys enter another peak breeding period shortly after the initial breeding phase ends. Toms will now be on the lookout for the last few receptive hens. And now, we’re starting to dive into the nuts and bolts of it!
What it really comes down to now is maximum concealment in the best places you can get into. Soft calling, and using smart decoy tactics, also play heavily into the game. One of the best tips for late season turkey hunting is getting into the right locations and just completely disappearing by wearing the right camo. Setting up along travel routes and known food sources is another great tactic. After flying down from roost trees, toms will make their way to feeding areas. Green clover fields are magnets to turkeys in late spring. But remember, by now most gobblers have experienced serious hunting pressure and are cautious. They generally will not come running into fields after seeing a decoy as confidently as they did early in the season. They will hang back and make sure things are safe before proceeding. This is a great time to use a hunting blind, as turkeys will use their vision to the max, searching for even the slightest movement, which is why you must disappear. Patience also plays a large role as gobblers will often go tight-lipped the minute they hit the ground. That’s when you limit your calling to just a few soft hen yelps and clucks, followed by long pauses in your calling (unless you hear a turkey responding). If you hear a hen call, mimic her tone and cadence in response. If you hear a gobbler, try to read his excitement level. He may be hot enough to come running over. But he’s more likely to shut up and silently sneak in with caution. It’s on a case-by-case basis now, and you must be patient, letting the game come to you! And “should we use decoys, or shouldn’t we in late season?” That’s a tricky question and becomes especially important if you know you’re dealing with cautious birds. But there are times when using a lone feeding hen decoy can be amazingly effective at times, but with a minimal amount of calling.
Most importantly, don’t give up. Stay with it till the end, because I can attest to you that, when it comes to turkey hunting, even in that last hour, great things can still happen!
Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the New England Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also a member of the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro/Cabela’s Pro Staff.