Raining turkeys?

[clacksteel]

I'm just curious how the rain tends to effect that turkey hunting. I have been lucky this season...the couple of time I have been out so has the sun (and a few turkeys, but none down yet). I was thinking about going out tomorrow but it kinda looks kinda miserable (rain/showers all day). Would it be worth it to work a clear cut or just get a chance to sleep in (work and school tends to drain you). Thanks for the help!

[sharpshott]

From my experience it can really vary depending on the turkey and location, sometimes Ive seen them out in the open struting around still, most of the time I think they stay back in the cover and trees and dont do to much strutting but I think it all just depends....on the other hand will you ever know if you dont give it a try? Just my two cents. Go get one! As far as school being draining I understand that...I sent my gun home this week so I wouldnt be tempted to go out (I know I would of) because I have SOOO much school work backed up...

[Limbhanger]

Originally Posted by clacksteel

I'm just curious how the rain tends to effect that turkey hunting. I have been lucky this season...the couple of time I have been out so has the sun (and a few turkeys, but none down yet). I was thinking about going out tomorrow but it kinda looks kinda miserable (rain/showers all day). Would it be worth it to work a clear cut or just get a chance to sleep in (work and school tends to drain you). Thanks for the help!

If it just rains off and on it can be good, but downpour conditions seem to shut them down a bit........at least that is what I have noticed.

[QH's Paw]

I haven't been huntiung turkeys forever, like some guys here, but I've noticed that birds really come out in breaks in the weather. What I mean is, if it rains for awhile and, then the rain stops and the sky clears somewhat, it gets real good real fast. It's like the birds sit there waiting for a break and then they all file out into open areas at first. The other thing I noticed is the birds tend to hold up in firs or other thick stuff during high wind and/or rains.
One thing for sure, if you ain't there you ain't a gonna get one.
As a side note, I have killed birds on rainy days, windy days and days when it snowed. I even killed a bird on an Easter Sunday when it did all three.

[beardbuster]

I've noticed the same as QH's Paw. When it starts to rain, birds will really shut down and almost tighten their feather together to create a shield to stay warm. They will walk and feed as usual, but the majority will not strut and gobble in order to keep the down feathers dry.

If it's calling for nasty weather all day - I wont go. If there is occasional sun breaks, I'm there. Like mentioned earlier, once that sun appears it's on!

I too have hunted them in the rain, snow, hail, scorching sun etc. We've got them in any type of weather condition and I would actually prefer a little rain other than heat. Put on a black down filled jacket and sit in the sun, you wouldn't move around much either.

[sliverpicker]

If I have the choice between hunting turkeys in rain or dry weather, I'll pick dry every time.

My favorite weather for turkey hunting is right after a storm front has passed through and the barometer is rising. Also a clear, cold morning is good. The birds are in a hurry to hop down and get moving around to warm up. Both conditions seem to get the Tom's to gobbling.

[007SPRIG]

You can only find out by going. The area we hunt it doesn't seem to matter. Sure they're not all fired up gobbling and strutting but they are still active. I've watched them feed out in the open while it continued to pour buckets. They shake themselves off like a dog. Its pretty fun to watch. Go hunting!

[duck_crazy101]

when my buddie and i shot ares we shot them in the snow but it was harder to get them in

[Turk_E_Killer]

I myself have tried to do some research on this subject. QH and Beardbuster both have the same results I have found in my research.

The Sunday after opening day when it snowed, I had set up my blind and called in some toms and jakes at first light. Even though it had dumped and was still dumping snow, the boys still walked right in and I missed one fat lazy tom. (<--Bowhunter) I remember thinking to myself when I saw the snow outside, "these turkeys are not comin out today", but man was I wrong.

I have run into groups of private land turkeys that are like clockwork as long as the weather is fair to good. If it rains or snows they would be an hour late, but still in the same spot. Wind I also noticed, without the rain, will bring groups out into the open fields. Some people will argue about this but I seem to see a lot of turkeys in the open when windy.

[STRUTTIN-1]

Originally Posted by beardbuster

I've noticed the same as QH's Paw. When it starts to rain, birds will really shut down and almost tighten their feather together to create a shield to stay warm. They will walk and feed as usual, but the majority will not strut and gobble in order to keep the down feathers dry.

If it's calling for nasty weather all day - I wont go. If there is occasional sun breaks, I'm there. Like mentioned earlier, once that sun appears it's on!

I too have hunted them in the rain, snow, hail, scorching sun etc. We've got them in any type of weather condition and I would actually prefer a little rain other than heat. Put on a black down filled jacket and sit in the sun, you wouldn't move around much either.

I have killed birds in the rain but it seems the breaks in the weather is better.I did kill one bird in a down right wind rain storm.I was soaked.Sat under a tree a called from time to time.He walked in without making a sound.Caught me off guard somewhat.At least my gun was up.

But cannot kill a bird sitting on the couch.Unless you live in Jackson co. where couches out in the woods are very common.

The preference to hunt in nice weather is a no brainer.But with the weather this year My advise is just get out.For the most part raining weather I notice birds do stay on the roost way longer.SOMETIMES