By Brian Grossman

When the subject of turkey hunting comes up in conversations among hunters, chances are the discussion will include talk of gobbling longbeards, strut zones, toms, as well as the sights and sounds of springtime. The allure of heart-pounding, run-and-gun action that spring turkey hunting can provide is strong, but for Kentucky's turkey hunters, it is not the only game in town.

Thanks to a booming population of birds in the Bluegrass State, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) has been generously providing sportsmen with the opportunity to harvest fall turkeys for the last four years. Up until the 2003 season, fall shotgun hunters were limited to five days in early December. Last season, however, the KDFWR tacked on an additional five days in late October, doubling the length of the season and giving Commonwealth hunters their first chance to harvest their very own meal for the Thanksgiving table.

Despite the additional days, the growing numbers of turkeys, and the ever-increasing ranks of spring turkey hunters, the fall season remains largely underutilized. In all three years of statewide fall shotgun turkey hunting (the first year was limited to 40 counties), the harvest has hovered around the 2,000 mark. It did increase by 473 birds in 2003 from 1,804 to a season total of 2,277 with the extra five days of hunting. Tack on an additional 528 turkeys taken with archery equipment, and the total 2003 fall turkey harvest comes to just 2,805 birds. Despite these meager harvest numbers, a shortage of birds is definitely not the problem.

"We are harvesting about 1 percent (of the fall turkey population) now," said Jim Lane, turkey program coordinator for the KDFWR. "We can still increase hunting opportunity with a target harvest being 6 to 8 percent of the fall population."

In an effort to do just that, the KDFWR has added an additional four days of shotgun hunting this fall, increased the bag limit to two birds, and will allow fall turkey hunters to use dogs for the first time in Kentucky. Even with all the additional opportunities, though, the key to increasing the harvest will most likely hinge on the ability to increase the low number of turkey hunters who are presently taking advantage of the fall season.

Most likely one of the real culprits behind lower hunter numbers has to do with the multitude of hunting opportunities available at this time of the year. Many would-be fall turkey hunters are busy bowhunting whitetails or chasing small game instead. Add to that the unfamiliar techniques required to successfully hunt fall turkeys and the lack of gobbling activity, and it becomes easy to see why some are hesitant to give this relatively new season a try.

This is not to say, however, that the ranks of fall turkey hunters are not growing. "The number of fall gun permits sold for 2001 was 8,941," advises Lane. "In 2003, about 11,000 people bought a fall turkey firearm tag or a sportsman's license." That is a 23 percent increase over the last three years and correlates closely with the harvest increase during that time frame. As turkey numbers continue to increase across the state and more hunters give fall turkey hunting a try, it is a sure bet that the popularity of the fall turkey season will grow by leaps and bounds.

If you love to turkey hunt and have not given the fall shotgun turkey season a try, then you are overlooking a great and enjoyable hunting opportunity on some low-pressured birds.

Don't have a place to go? No problem! With a healthy population of birds statewide, you can be assured that there are some public hunting opportunities for fall turkeys near you. Here is a region-by-region breakdown of Kentucky's top destinations to fill your fall shotgun turkey tags this season.

The state has expanded the fall turkey season to more days and new areas, plus allows the use of dogs while hunting fall birds. This is an attempt to get more sportsmen interested in this exciting season. Photo by Ralph Hensley

Anderson County contains a portion of Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which also extends into neighboring Spencer and Nelson counties. The area consists of 11,672 acres of prime turkey habitat, with a good mix of open ridgetops, thick secondary growth and mature oak-hickory hardwoods. There are also small patches of clover and the occasional wheat fields that dot the open areas around the WMA.

While Taylorsville Lake WMA receives a good deal of hunting pressure, fall shotgun turkey hunters are more likely to encounter archers or small-game hunters than they are other turkey hunters. Keep in mind that the first two days of the December fall turkey season has traditionally coincided with Taylorsville's deer quota hunt weekend, which closes the area to all other use.

Also, a portion of the WMA is closed as a waterfowl refuge from Nov. 1, through the last day of February. Be sure to check your hunting guide for specific season dates and regulations for the WMA before heading out to the field. Further questions regarding hunting Taylorsville Lake WMA can be directed to the area office at (502) 477-9024.

The Kleber WMA in Franklin and Owen counties and its neighbor, Rich WMA, also in Owen County, combine for a total of 4,142 acres of excellent fall turkey hunting opportunity. Both areas consist of steep hillsides, narrow ridgetops, and floodplains with a good combination of forest, brush and open grasslands. Like Taylorsville Lake WMA, both Kleber and Rich WMAs can receive heavy hunting pressure at times, and both have their deer quota hunts the same weekend in December as Taylorsville. Again, be sure to check your hunting guide for specific dates and regulations, or contact the local office at (502) 535-6335 for additional information.

Peabody WMA is a unique area in terms of its terrain. Much of the acreage is reclaimed coal land with numerous excavated ridges and water-filled strip mine pits. The terrain can be rough and varies from swampland to high ridges and deep pits, with a mixture of open grasslands and timbered wood lots.

Hunting Peabody WMA requires a $12.50 user permit that can be purchased wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, and it is one of the few WMAs where primitive camping is permitted. Be aware that portions of the area are closed as waterfowl refuges from Oct. 15 through March 15, so be sure to obtain a map and check your hunting guide for additional regulations. Questions regarding the WMA can be directed to the local KDFWR office at (270) 273-3568.

The Daniel Boone NF is made up of heavily forested, mountainous terrain with many sections that are steep and rugged. There are many U.S., state, county and forest roads that lead into the area, and several recreational areas maintained by the Forest Service offer camping. The area is dotted with sections of private land within the forest's boundaries, so getting a map from the Forest Service is a must before heading out after turkeys.

Hunters unfamiliar with the vast expanses of the Daniel Boone NF may want to narrow their search for a starting point by giving Mill Creek WMA a look. Mill Creek consists of 13,558 acres that are located within the forest boundaries in Jackson County.

The terrain is similar to that of the surrounding forest with steep slopes and long, narrow ridgetops. Timber covers a majority of the area with approximately 30 acres of openings. The fall turkey season is open on both Daniel Boone NF as well as Mill Creek WMA under statewide regulations and season dates. No special user permit is required. For further information on hunting Mill Creek WMA, contact the local KDFWR office at (606) 287-7836.

This region also has a good deal of public hunting land, with the majority consisting of the remaining portion of Daniel Boone NF. Portions of the forest fall within two of this region's top three counties - Rowan and Morgan.

Despite the fact that Nicholas County did not rank high on the fall turkey harvest list, biologist Lane suggests that hunters not overlook Clay WMA, which falls inside the county's boundary. Clay WMA consists of 4,901 acres of primarily woodlands with approximately 1,700 acres of cleared fields. The terrain is steep to rolling and there are old roads, trails and miles of maintained roads intersecting the area.

In previous years, the first three days of the December portion of fall gun turkey season have been closed on Clay for their annual pheasant quota hunts. Be sure and check your new 2004-2005 Hunting Guide for specific season dates and regulations on the WMA. For further information on the area, contact the local KDFWR office at (606) 289-2564.

Hunters on this far end of the state may want to look to the Pennyrile State Forest to try and fill their fall turkey tags. Pennyrile consists of 14,654 acres in Christian, Hopkins and Caldwell counties and is managed for sustainable timber production by the Kentucky Division of Forestry. The terrain consists primarily of steep, hilly, forested land with rocky bluffs and outcroppings. The habitat includes a mix of oak-hickory and pine woodlands with old fields and native grasslands scattered throughout the forest.

Hunters choosing to hunt Pennyrile have the benefit of nearby camping and lodging accommodations in the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. For more information on hunting Pennyrile State Forest, contact the regional office at (270) 753-6913.

Regardless of which area you choose to hunt this fall, remember that your success will rely heavily on scouting and knowing the area that you intend to hunt. If you can learn where the birds prefer to roost and where they're likely to feed, then you have greatly increased your odds of putting a turkey on the table. It is about as much of a sure thing as you can get when it comes to the unpredictable nature of hunting.

A fall firearm turkey permit or sportsman's license is required, and the bag limit is two either-sex birds, only one of which may be taken per day. Remember that season dates and regulations can differ on wildlife management areas, so be sure and check your 2004-2005 Hunting Guide before going afield.