AdministratorAre turkeys active in the rain?
Heavy rains or storms can shut down turkey activity, so I typically wait for such conditions to pass. Thunder often makes toms gobble, revealing their location, but be safe. It’s not wise to be outside during an electrical storm.
Should I turkey hunt in the rain?
Turkey Hunting in the Rain. Not all wet days affect turkey behavior the same way. Some rainy conditions actually make turkeys gobble more, whereas others shut them up. Thunder shocks toms into sounding off; steady drizzle and overcast skies seem to prolong gobbling activity well into the day.
Can you still turkey hunt in the rain?
There are no rain delays in the sport of turkey hunting. If you want to squeeze the most opportunity out of a short spring season, you’ll need to develop a few strategies to outsmart a gobbler in the rain.
What do turkeys do after a rainy night?
Turkeys are like us and generally don’t like to get wet so after a rain they will move out into open areas so that their feathers aren’t rubbing against wet leaves and grass and they can stay dry.
What time of day is best to hunt turkey?
first thing in the morning
Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.
Why do turkeys stop gobbling?
As a conservation measure the state purposely and prudently sets the start of the season to begin after the peak of gobbling, for the roughly two weeks before most hens start sitting on their nests. Toms naturally taper off in gobbling in this time, after the hide-and-seek of mating game has peaked, Duren said.
What do turkeys do on rainy days?
On rainy days, especially cold rainy days, gobblers go quiet. Turkeys will opt to stay in the roost longer. Once they do fly down, they will alter their daily routine. Rainy evenings and mornings can also produce fog.
Do turkeys move in bad weather?
As the weather improves, turkeys will be on the move. Even though the rain has stopped, water droplets are still falling from wet trees and tom turkeys will move to open areas. Gobblers can still be hunted even in the rain. Light to moderate rain will usually not deter turkey movement.
Why do turkeys sometimes not gobble?
The average barometric pressure affected gobbling activity, as well. Lower pressure, often associated with rain, meant less gobbling. Birds were most active at 29.9 to 30.2 inches, and when the pressure fell below 29.7 inches, gobbling activity decreased dramatically.
Why do turkeys go silent?
In short, the theory goes, we have killed the noisier, more eager toms, leaving the craftier, quieter ones to pass on their genes. That theory sounds good around the campfire, but there is no real evidence or studies to support it, says Ken Duren, wild turkey biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
What do turkeys do when it rains?
When it’s coming a steady rain (not a downpour), turkey tend to flock to open fields as normal. They will be scratching around, eating bugs, leftover corn and soybeans or any other vegetation they can get their beaks on. The sound of raindrops hitting leaves in the woods tend to spook the turkey a little bit.
Is turkey hunting in the rain difficult?
Turkey hunting in the rain shouldn’t be a difficult task if you know what you are doing and plan ahead. They have a very good eye and can spot any movement from hundreds of yards away. While turkey hunting, you have to be very patient and use your stealthiness.
Where can I find wild turkeys in the rain?
Phillips recommends looking for rainy day turkeys in open fields, food plots or along old logging roads. When on the ground turkeys will hang out in more open areas to rely on their keen eyesight to spot any danger from predators.
Why do turkeys look at the sky for 30 seconds?
In the early 1990s, he discovered an inherited condition in turkeys, called tetanic torticollar spasms. This condition can cause turkeys to exhibit abnormal behaviors, such as looking at the sky for 30 seconds or more at a time. Turkeys actually aren’t as dumb as they may look.