Photo by D. Toby Thompson.

If numbers reveal anything, fall turkey hunters are a hard-nosed group who take their sport seriously. And as each year passes, they are getting better at busting a bird.

In 1997, for instance, when New Jersey's 11-member Fish and Game Council initiated the Garden State's first fall turkey season, that year's harvest accounted for a total of 167 birds -- from both public and private lands. (Keep in mind that during the fall season, a hunter is limited to one bird of either sex.) Furthermore, the following year that harvest figure declined to a mere 152 birds.

But never underestimate the cunning of turkey hunters, as can be shown by harvest rates for the 2000 season, when hunters registered 239 birds. The following year, they upped the ante to 258. Now we're starting to show some progress -- and progress it is, considering that fall is the most difficult time to hunt turkeys.

While harvest figures didn't necessarily decline dramatically, they did level out. For example, during the fall season of 2002, the number dropped from the previous high of 258, mentioned above, down to 208.

Not shabby at all, despite the slight decline!

But the numbers continued to decline, however slightly: In fall 2003, turkey gunners harvested 179 birds, followed by a take of 177 in 2004, and 120 birds in 2005. Finally, during the 2006 fall season, harvest numbers kind of "hung in there," with 124 birds being taken.

Despite that drop to 124, you must also take into consideration the ratio of poults hatched during the springs of those years. If the previous spring was wet and miserable, the hatch rate would be poor -- and the following fall season would be correspondingly bad.

Regardless of numbers, New Jersey's fall turkey season continues to be popular, especially with that die-hard group of gobbler gunners who would rather give up breathing than miss a turkey season.

Garden State turkey gunners have the run of 13 Turkey Hunting Areas (THAs). New Jersey's hunters must also obtain a permit for the fall season, which is site-, or THA-specific.

Translated, that means a turkey hunter who applied for a permit in THA 4, for example, is required to hunt within the confines of that THA only. No exceptions!

In addition, Maryland and Garden State hunters are restricted to a bag limit of one bird of either sex during fall, as opposed to the spring season when hunters can obtain additional permits to hunt additional birds.

There are, however, some not-so-subtle differences in the manner in which you may hunt birds during the fall season compared to the spring. In fall, for instance, New Jersey hunters are allowed to use a dog to "bust up" a flock of birds, after which the hunter will attempt to call the turkeys back. Of course, that dog must also be trained to remain statue-still during the recall process.

Despite my own ignorance concerning "turkey dogs," the National Wild Turkey Federation mentions using a dog for the fall season.

Another regulation in New Jersey allows hunters to break up a flock of turkeys by "rushing" them (or using a dog), but also clearly prohibits "driving" turkeys. Quite succinctly, the rules governing the fall season vary greatly from those turkey gunners usually follow during spring, but read New Jersey's Division of Fish and Wildlife's 2007 Wild Turkey Season Information booklet closely, if for no other reason than to be sure you are hunting within the law.

One final note concerning the law -- or regulations, if you will. In the Garden State, turkey hunters are not required to wear blaze orange. But it's a good idea to wear some orange when entering and leaving the woods. It's just common sense.

All well and good. But where are the Garden State's the top-rated turkey hunting zones, or areas? Before delving into the so-called hotspots, hunters new to fall turkey season should understand that unlike the spring gobbler season when all THAs are in play, the fall season restricts turkey hunting to only THAs 1 through 11 and 20 through 21.

THAs 1 through 11 lie in the northern quadrant of the state, while 20 and 21 are in the southern portion.