It was a clear and unusually warm fall morning in the hills above Napa.

The sky was just beginning to lighten as we split up and took our positions in anticipation of the dawn. We hoped the flock of wild turkeys was roosting nearby, and their fly-down would occur near where we had set up.

I found a good vantage point atop the hill, and my hunting partner, Matt Schwanebeck, stationed himself near the bottom of the canyon a few hundred yards below. We had surrounded the roost trees in which we had found turkeys before in the spring, but were they here today?

Our answer came soon. First came a loud gobble echoing through the canyon from just below my hiding spot, followed by clamor of clucks, chirps and more gobbling. The turkeys were here!

We waited patiently to see which way they would fly down out of the trees.

Once the break of day had been properly announced and fully commented upon by the flock, the first few birds descended. They did not, however, fly uphill towards me, nor did they come down in Matt’s direction.

Instead they headed across a pond to the edge of a vineyard, where they proceeded to enjoy some late-harvest fruit for breakfast.

The strategy for turkey hunting in the fall is different than in the spring.

During fall, the birds are motivated by hunger as they prepare for the coming winter.

In springtime they are strongly driven by the mating and nesting urges.

Trying to attract the toms by imitating a hen’s call is not generally very effective this time of year. So if the fly-down happens elsewhere from your initial spot, it’s time to go on the move.

One strategy is to anticipate the direction of their feeding drive and set up for an ambush. I tried this by shifting to another area of the hillside near a well-worn path, complete with turkey feathers from the day before. I watched the flock move slowly through the vineyard, and wondered if they would ever make it up this direction.

As I waited, something startled two of the hens out of the vineyard, and they flew back across to the hillside right next to me! They were just out of my line of sight over the edge of the slope. I listened to their clucks as they worked their way up the hill.

It was time for stalk mode. Very slowly and silently I crept towards the top of the hill, on an angle towards the direction in which they were heading.

Just before the top I circled around the edge of the hill to get the best angle. I looked over just in time to see a turkey’s head moving through the tall grass. That was all I needed.

This bird’s next appearance will be on the Thanksgiving dinner table!

Turkey Tension

Back in the vineyard, the rest of the flock seemed unfazed by the events on the hillside.

They continued to feast on the unharvested grapes and whatever grubs and worms they could dig up in the soft dirt.

When I returned to the car — which happened to be parked right next to the vineyard — I heard a ruckus of clucking and flapping wings just out of sight but only a few vine rows away.

I assumed at first they were alarmed by my presence and were trying to escape, but the ruckus continued for several minutes so I walked over to check it out.

Looking down between two vine rows I saw three tom turkeys.

They weren’t more than 30 yards away, but didn’t pay me any attention. I soon realized they were only concerned about each other, and not in a friendly way.

Perhaps one had invaded the other’s personal feeding space.

Or maybe some of the cabernet grapes had already fermented on the vine and gotten them a little drunk and rowdy.

Or it could have just been the tension every turkey feels as “T-Day” approaches. But clearly these birds had a beef, and it could only be settled one way.

Two of them began pacing back and forth, sizing each other up.

Then one jumped up in the air, flapping its wings and lashing out at the other with the sharp spurs on its feet!

Next they lunged beak-first at each other, and got into some kind of mutual headlock. A wrestling match now ensued. They pushed back and forth, between vine rows, neither bird letting up for a good 10 minutes.

All the while the third tom just looked on, occasionally sneaking in a little peck just for fun.

Finally the headlock was released. One of the toms sulked off, the apparent loser, while the other returned to his breakfast.

To witness a wildlife scene like this in person is really incredible, and is just one reason why I try to take advantage of every chance I get to experience the outdoors.

Last Chance for 2008 Turkey

The fall season is a short one, ending this Sunday, Nov. 23.

You may take either a hen or a tom in the fall, but only one per season.

So get out there this weekend and find yourself a true free-range and completely organic turkey for your Thanksgiving feast!

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with BDCo Accountants and Advisors in St. Helena (www.bdco

cpa.com).

Contact Guy at GC.

outdoors@sbcglobal.net.