how do you catch tom the turkey for the harvest festival?

You don't exactly "catch" Franklin the turkey during the Harvest Festival. First you have to talk to Tortimer in front of the town hall. After a short history lesson, Tortimer will give you a knife and fork. Then you need to go find Franklin and give him the knife and fork. He will reward you with a piece of Harvest Festival furniture. Keep doing this, and you will have lots of furniture in no time! Hope this helps!

You can really only give Franklin knives and forks from 3-9 pm, I don't think there is a way to catch him, but he gives you some pretty nice furniture.

Tom the Turkey is found during the Harvest Festival, [Thanksgiving after 3:00 PM] hiding and peeking out from behind trees, signs, and buildings. Tortimer the Turtle, [mayor] will give you unlimited forks and knives, which you will give to TTT every time you find him. Yes,--- people do lie when they say you have to go into a building and exit before finding Tom again. After walking a certain distance, [about 12 footsteps] there will be a short paused time, when TOm relocates. Re-do this as many times to get the full "Harvest" furniture collection from Tom, when giving him the set. [FOrk and knife] Hope this helped![:

Franklin the Turkey will hide almost anywhere in your town.
Like behild buildings, trees and
Signs. When I say signs I mean
The ones that look like a house.
He is quite easy to find. He wears
A straw hat. When you talk to him
He will tell you that he thinks the
Mayor wants to eat him. Witch he
Does. First talk to the mayor and
He will give you a knife and fork.
Run around to find franklin. Give
Him the knife and fork and he will give you furniture. The forks and knifes do not have a limits
P.S. DO NOT DELIVER THE FORKS AND KNIFES TO OTHER TOWNS FOLK IF YOU WANNA SEE HIM OKAY?

Franklin will actul think you and the rest of the town wants to eat him tortimer will give you forks and knifes find franklin who will be hiding around town most times it will be hard deliver knives and forks to naghbors they will give you hintson where to find him some times he will be hiding be hind houses like yours or one of your nagbors