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Turkey Behavior

Adventure

Adventure

Member
This is my first season turkey hunting (with a bow) and I am looking for a little advise when it comes to their behavior.

I have planned to go out Saturday morning however the weather man is telling me we should expect possible rain and wind. My question is, do turkey act like deer in this kind of weather or will they be moving? My experience with deer is that they like to hunker down when the winds are blowing.

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.
 
They will be in the fields if its raining where they can see and not be as paranoid with the blowing branches, leaves etc.

This time of year, rain really won't slow them down unless its a monsoon.
I once had a gobbler come RUNNING into my set-up....IN A MONSOON gobbling his head off. I had ALL my windows closed in my blind it was so bad.

My point is, find an area you have seen them strutting, set your blind up, and Wait..wait...wait and wait some more. they often will come in silent in poor weather but they will come.

I will say they won't be as vocal with poor weather but I promise they can be killed.

Green fields are prime!
Good luck!
 
huntyak said:
They will be in the fields if its raining where they can see and not be as paranoid with the blowing branches, leaves etc.

This time of year, rain really won't slow them down unless its a monsoon.
I once had a gobbler come RUNNING into my set-up....IN A MONSOON gobbling his head off. I had ALL my windows closed in my blind it was so bad.

My point is, find an area you have seen them strutting, set your blind up, and Wait..wait...wait and wait some more. they often will come in silent in poor weather but they will come.

I will say they won't be as vocal with poor weather but I promise they can be killed.

Green fields are prime!
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you, that is just what I wanted to hear!
 
I've found on really windy days (30 MPH winds or higher) I like to stick to timbered bottom ground. Killed several birds on real windy days on the bottoms.
 
During this time of year the birds are pretty unpredictable in bad weather.
I have seen them cruising fields in light rains looking for food and safety.

In heavy rain I have also seen them all huddled up under a tree.
It will be tough but the birds will still be out there.

They will not be very vocal but there are sometimes clear days that they are not very vocal.

I personally hate the wind. Get out of the wind and you should do alright.

Good luck keep after them.
 
Wind and turkeys dont go together too well. i'm going to be afield tomorrow morning and i'm not the most excited about because I prefer to see and hear the full show the bird(s) put on. Regardless, I still have high expectations of early second season success.

From what I hear, the birds are hot right now. The cool down doesn't matter much, actually it will just put the hens on their nests quicker, leaving more lonely gobblers to us hunters. The rain isn't a problem either...turkey survive Iowa Winters so a spring rain during a cool isn't going to mean beans to them.

THE WIND however, will change up their patterns. My advice, and where I'm going to be located tomorrow morning, is to find a where a bunch of timbered draws come together (i call them hubs). If it's open enough or there is a field edge close enough, put out one or two hen decoys, but not a tom/jake. The birds will pitch out of the roost, into their morning strut zones, but will quickly move into the timbers with the hens due to the wind. BE AGGRESSIVE with your call and be LOUD...and be patient.

I've had birds at 70yds, clearly gobbling, but never heard a peep due to the wind.

ALSO, don't be afraid to get aggressive on a spot and stalk. The wind will not only conceal your movement better, but it will allow you to break-open with less alert too. They might just think it's another bush moving.

Regardless, get out there and get them.:way:
 
If your blind is flapping in the wind, it will spook the birds. I like to get out of the wind for this reason above all others. Even a double bull can make a turkey nervous if the wind is howling.
 
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