Terrible Weather Turkey Hunting

Light to moderate rain can actually give hunters an advantage, as it’s a good bet that turkeys will congregate in open fields and pastures. Photo by Bruce MacQueen.

A crisp dawn slowly gives way to a sun-splashed high-pressure morning, and only a hint of breeze rustles the treetops. It might be the perfect day for turkey hunting.

Then the alarm sounds, startling you out of your dream. A look at your weather app reveals gusty winds, steady rain, falling temperatures, and a plunging barometer. And suddenly, going back to bed seems more attractive than hitting the woods.

Bad weather sours turkey hunting. Birds don’t gobble as much. They act differently. And even if you’re using a blind, hunting can be uncomfortable. But if you plan to turkey hunt more than a handful of days this spring, you’ll have to deal with less-than-ideal conditions. And that doesn’t have to be a handicap. Follow this plan to fill tags during crummy days.

Don’t Miss: What’s the Best Call to Make While Turkey Hunting?

PRECIPITATION

Days with light to moderate rain aren’t tough to decipher, as you know how turkeys will likely behave. They often congregate in open areas — fields, pastures, food plots, power line cuts and similar spots — during and after a rain. Identify good setups at likely spots before the season, slip in undetected, and then sit and call for a bit. (Pop-up blinds have really made this style of hunting more bearable.) Often, turkeys won’t be overly vocal, so you’ll have to be patient and observant.

If long sits aren’t your style, don a rainsuit, grab a mouth call, and slip quietly through the timber, calling at strategic spots. Again, focus on open areas where turkeys will likely gather, and be careful to avoid getting busted. Go slowly, and be ready for action. You can make turkeys gobble in the rain, but you often have to be closer than usual to them to prompt a response.

WIND

Wind might be the No. 1 bane of Eastern turkey hunters. Birds typically aren’t as vocal. Plus, you can’t hear them as well, and to some extent, they can’t hear your calling as well. (Interestingly, turkeys in open regions that often see high winds — think Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and the like — don’t seem to be as bothered by gusty days. Perhaps they’re accustomed to them.)

Don’t Miss: Strange but True Turkey Hunting Tales

If possible, find spots that are somewhat sheltered from the breeze, like the leeward slopes of ridges or timbered bottoms. Turkeys sometimes gravitate to these spots during windy days, and you can certainly hear them better there. Use louder, high-pitched calls — boxes, tubes and aluminum pots — when trying to cut through the noise of wind.

When you can’t avoid the breeze, consider a passive approach versus walking and calling. Moving around when turkeys aren’t gobbling or you can’t hear them is a good recipe for bumping birds.

HEAT

Hunters underestimate how high temps affect turkeys, but nothing seems to shut down morning gobbling quicker than unseasonably hot conditions. In the North and Midwest, even temps in the 70s can slow their roll.

Two solutions: First, focus intently on early mornings and evenings, when turkeys will likely be more active and vocal. Get as tight as possible to roosted birds in the dark so they’ll be in your lap at flydown. During evenings, focus on spots where hens might sneak a bite to eat before heading to roost.

During midmorning and midday, hunt loafing areas — cool, shady spots where turkeys can find some relief from the heat. Likely areas include creek bottoms, cedar groves or timbered hollows. Slip in quietly, set up and call softly now and then. Be on alert for movement or drumming, which might betray a gobbler or breeding flock cruising through the area.

Don’t Miss: Are TSS Turkey Loads Doomed?

NO LETUP

The No. 1 rule for hunting bad weather is to keep hunting. Provided conditions aren’t dangerous — thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and the like — it’s wise to brave the weather and see what happens. Many days, turkeys will surprise you. But even if the weather wins, you might still gain some insights or experience that can help in days to come.