The Hunt
Fall turkeys generally break up into two flock types: family groups of hens and poults, and bachelor gobbler flocks. They're all in full survival mode. Outsmarting them is as much knowing the woods, reading sign, and following the food as it is calling.

Find a critical food supply and you will find the birds. In farm country, that means corn and soybeans. Mast-"both hard (acorns and beechnuts) and soft (wild black cherries and autumn olive)-"is a favorite among hill dwellers. Bugs, too, are a mainstay for flocks. I usually hit the woods by 8 or 9 A.M., heading directly for the best food sources. The key to turkey-dogging is to exploit the dogs' sensitive noses, so allowing the birds to spend a couple of hours off the roost-"spreading ground scent while they forage-"is a big advantage.