The first modern-day wild turkey seasons in the United States were in the fall. However, in the 1950s, the Alabama Department of Conservation experimented with a spring gobbler season.

Although some hunters believed a spring season would disrupt the wild turkey’s breeding season and eventually eliminate all males, research showed otherwise, and the spring season quickly gained popularity.

Today, 49 of the 50 states (Alaska doesn’t have a turkey population) and four Canadian provinces conduct a spring gobbler season.

Statistics show spring gobbler hunting has surpassed the fall season in popularity with more than two million participants a year.

In Kansas, the first turkey season was conducted in the spring of 1974.

In 1979, the Sunflower State opened an archery-only fall season, and in 1981, the state opened a shotgun season in the fall.

Currently, 41 states offer some sort of fall turkey season and Oregon is considering a fall season.

Fall turkey hunting is gaining in popularity as turkey populations rise, and states have reaped economic benefits and new hunting opportunities for hunters.

However, many hunters overlook this opportunity, which can be a great way to introduce youth to hunting.

During fall turkey season, hunters don’t sit for long periods of time, and both sexes are legal, which improves the chance of success.

The most popular tactic for hunting turkeys in the fall is the flock bust.

Unlike the spring hunt, it is legal to use dogs to hunt turkeys in the fall, and hunters use dogs to scatter the birds.

Once scattered, the birds begin calling to reform the flock, and they can be hunted much like quail.