The bugging season for the turkeys in WI abruptly ended this morning. With temps is the 20s and snow on the ground bugs have a hard time with lift off.
With all the ice around the turkeys didn't come off roost, they kee-kee'd their way from tree top to tree top in response to my calls. They ended up above me..........
What do you do then?
I waited for a long time......
They wouldn't fly down, I was taught not to roost shoot. Would this have been an exception? I did call them over to me. In the end I chose not to shoot and went searching for a more cooperative flock.

My first and only fall bird was on the way up to his roost, he never knew I was there, I shot him before even thinking about it, so I guess I wouldn't have a problem with it. It's not like it was dark out and you snuck in underneath them. Hopefully I can change the beginning of that story to remove the "and only" before this October is over. I've seen and heard some, but haven't got close since the first night. Good luck to you guys.

That's awesome Levi, perfectly legal, and the upside of good woodsmanship. Bet you were stoked as the bird worked its way in . . . way to go. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted. -S.

Levi,
Congrats on your fall bird. The fall success rate in WI is 14%. Fall birds can be challenging hunted awhile before I got my first fall bird and a Snoopy dancing I did. Keep at it you will not be disappointed.
Later,
charlie

bow huntin every day, with my new recurve;)

Absolutely nothing wrong with poults in the fall. As a matter of fact they are excellent eating. Definitely the best tasting things to ever come out of the woods.
Their wing bones make the best calls to kee-kee with. Makes the fall birds sing right back.

Got fooled by a group of longbeards yesterday morning in Maine. Was crossing a maple swamp on the way to a ridge I "knew" they would be working. Jumped them there a few days before and plenty of sign. Anyways, heard a few gobbles on the south end of the swamp so I got set up on the ridge and did a little bit of calling.....and waiting......and waiting. Never saw a bird. On the way out back across the swamp I stumbled on fresh scrathings through the center of the swamp right through my boot tracks! They worked around below me. That is the first turkey sign I have seen in the swamp. Hopefully this afternoon will be different!

Yep Steve, the next few days aren't looking good weather wise. Good waterfowling weather though?

Good luck all!

Might have been the exception to the rule, but years ago during the height of the New Hampshire firearms deer season, I broke a flock of five longbeards one late afternoon. The next morning I was back in there with my bow (archery only for turkeys), wearing a blaze orange hooded sweatshirt and camo pants. The gobblers reassembled at the flush site where I expected them too, answering my calling as they did. Once all five were together (I guess they can't count!), they drifted down my way, maybe looking for the other gobbler that was yelping? Man it was perfect. As they moved into range, I drew my compound, alerting them . . . then whiffed, shooting an arrow under the nearest longbeard. Putt-putt--gone! Blame the shooter in this case, and not my apparel I guess. Good luck!