Hunting turkeys in the rain requires some extra patience but is well worth the effort. Turkey hunters can watch the weather forecasts a few days ahead of a hunt and prepare for a rainy day. The pop-up blinds can be set up ahead of time before the rain arrives.
What weather is best for turkey hunting?
Because turkeys are most active during times of mild weather, it’s been estimated that they are the most vocal in temperatures of 60-69 degrees Fahrenheit. Much like humans, too hot or too cold and their activity slows down. Barometric Pressure: The average barometric pressure also affects gobbling activity.
What do turkeys do in the pouring rain?
Although feathers guard against rain, turkeys still tend to seek shelter during heavy downpours. Once the weather calms and the sun peeks out, however, toms will resume gobbling, strutting, and seeking hens in open fields with short grasses. They’d prefer not to drag their feathers along the wet, muddy ground.
Will turkeys come out in the rain?
Even turkeys are prone to slapping that snooze button when conditions are dreary. Let him make the first move. Turkeys flock to open areas in wet weather, presumably to avoid brush-busting through water-laden vegetation.
How early should I be in the woods for turkey hunting?
Most turkey hunters know their best chance to bag a bird is in the early morning (right off the roost) or at dusk as they prepare to roost again for the night.
Will turkeys still gobble in the rain?
Understanding Turkeys: Do Turkeys Move in The Rain
“Turkeys may not gobble when there is a heavy rain falling,” mentions Bob Phillips, of Lincoln, Ala. “But they will sometimes answer a call if close by.” Phillips recommends looking for rainy day turkeys in open fields, food plots or along old logging roads.
Will turkeys gobble after a rain?
On rainy days, especially cold rainy days, gobblers go quiet. Turkeys will opt to stay in the roost longer.
Is turkey hunting good before a storm?
Hunters that know the roosting areas will be at an advantage when the storm breaks. Scouting out and knowing your hunting area will pay off on foul weather days. Gobblers want to be seen by the hen. That is why they puff up and strut around.
How do you hunt turkeys in the fall in the rain?
Field edges are your best bet when hunting fall turkeys in a light to moderate rain. If you see a group of birds using a specific field edge when it’s raining, you can bet they will frequent it the next time it rains, and it’s a great place to plan an ambush in the comfort of a nice, dry ground blind.
What to do when turkeys stop gobbling?
When the gobbler quits gobbling, look at your watch, and force yourself to stay on your stand. Don’t move around for an hour after the bird has quit gobbling. If you’ll use this strategy, you’ll see more turkeys, and you’ll take more turkeys.
How do you hunt turkeys when they are not gobbling?
Another tactic after you hear a gobbler gobble once, or spot one, is to call only once. Then grab a seat and drop that call onto the ground or into a turkey vest pocket. The silent treatment on gobblers seems to get the best of them. You simply sound off and go silent after you’ve moved in as close as possible.
How long should you sit in one spot turkey hunting?
If I’m in a good spot, I discipline myself to sit for at least 30 minutes, more if I feel confident. That’s not to say that if you’d given it one more minute, you’d have killed the bird that sneaked in on you, but staying longer is better than leaving too soon.
Do turkeys prefer woods or fields?
Cover – Although turkeys use forests for cover and roosting in the tall hardwood trees at night, they also like open and brushy areas for feeding, mating, nesting and rearing their young. Turkeys actually depend on a mix of open fields, pasture and forested for their survival.
What colors should you not wear while turkey hunting?
Never wear red, white, blue or black clothing while turkey hunting. Red is the color most hunters look for when distinguishing a gobbler’s head from a hen’s blue-colored head, but at times it may appear white or blue. Male turkey feathers covering most of the body are black in appearance.
When should I stop calling turkey?
If you hear gobbling and the gobble is getting louder, that means he is getting closer to you – so stop calling.
What kind of weather do turkeys like?
Because turkeys are most active during times of mild weather, too hot or too cold weather slows their activity. It has been estimated that turkeys are most vocal in temperatures between 60 and 69 degrees fahrenheit. On a hot day, the birds are still out there, but might be biding their time in shaded cover.
Where do turkeys go during a storm?
If rainfall is heavy at daylight, turkeys will often delay flying down. It’s not uncommon for them to sit on the limb for an hour or more after sunrise in a deluge. But, if rain hits after flocks are on the ground, the game changes. Turkeys will usually move to open fields or edge cover.
Will spooked turkeys come back?
The gobbler wanted to be where you were when you spooked him. So, after he thinks you’re gone, and he hears a hen softly calling, there’s a very good chance he may come back in that direction. Remember — the gobbler has a limited number of days to breed.
Is turkey hunting good after a storm?
They’ll shut up when the storm gets close. If the storm rages early evening and stops well before dawn they seem to gobble well especially if they have consistently that season. If it lasts well into the early hours, they seem to stay on the roost late.
Does cold affect turkey hunting?
Temperature also plays a role in turkey activity, and particularly in how much noise turkeys will make over the course of a day. They tend to be the most vocal in mild temperatures—around 60-69°F—and weather that’s too cold or too balmy will slow them down.
Does a full moon affect turkey hunting?
That said, you should take a full moon into account. It will light up the woods before dawn and make it easier for roosted turkeys to spot you on the ground.