Turkeys in the rain

[ReinertsonTaxidermy]

Looks like rain all weekend. Anyone have any luck in the rain? Do you get inside the timber or stay out on the edges. It's my last weekend to go so I'll be out there. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[River1]

My experience, tough to get'm fired up in the rain, but once it stops they head to the clean fields ASAP.

I remember a few times watching turks while deer hunting in the rain, they seem to just mope around together in a small area until it lets up.

 

[Blaster]

I know they come out into the fields right after the rain stops, but i have no idea what they do while it's raining.

 

[Daver]

Think about when you are most likely to see turkeys out and about when you take a drive through the countryside... in my experience that is while it is raining.

Turkeys are more likely to be in a field during a rain than anywhere else. I once snuck up on a strutter, who was out in the field about 20 yards from the timber edge, and he was so wet his fan looked like pickup sticks and not feathers. It was a peculiar sight to be sure, I then whistled an arrow just underneath him, leaving a few wet feathers behind as a memento. Oh well, the stalk was awesome, the shot was very bad!

They will tend to be silent and will flock up a bit more in the rain, but if you know of an out of the way open field they are comfortable using, I would camp there. This is also a nice time to stay inside a dry blind too.

I have also noticed that if it is raining at fly down time, they will tend to stay on roost longer, perhaps an hour or longer than normal. I have shot them in the rain several times before, but be prepared for a patience game, wait them out. I have also had them start gobbling nicely at the sight of the sun coming out after a rain too.

One other factor... if rain/thunderstorms are imminent I have had them come in faster than normal to calling. It is almost like they want to get "hooked up" before the weather sets in. I would not recommend staying while it is lightning of course, but over the years right before the storm hits we have called in some very nice birds and quick.

 

[jkratz5]

I have seen them just stay put during hard rains, regardless of where they are, not move, just stand there and look like a decoy. Afterwards however, get to the nearest field, they like to shake there feathers and get the worms out of the ground.

Kratz

 

[jjohnson]

Went out tuesday morning in the rain, wind, and cold. I was surprised because i saw about the same movement as any other day. I think a hard rain would limit their movement but not a light rain.