Turkey hunting when windy

[kevinp16]

Looking for some advice on what to do or look for when the wind is blowing hard. Seems like this happens all too often to me and don't see or hear anything from the birds. Do they bed down under a tree or still move around? Any tips or advice would be appreciated.

[SB]

I haven't had a lot of experience hunting birds under really windy conditions, but I do tend to see them hanging out more on the down wind side of natural wind breaks. I don't think they like the wind blowing and ruffing up their feathers. As far as being able to hear birds, try to have the wind in your face so their calls will travel better towards you. Wind will help tremendously covering your sounds and even movement if brush and grass is being blown around.

[baldopepper]

Personally, I've never had much luck chasing them when it's very windy.  Aside from the obvious calling problems, they just don't seem to be very active when it's windy.  My own theory is that they are just sight oriented birds that all the movement makes them very nervous to move around much.  Additionally, all the brush movement makes it difficult to see them. If I have to hunt on windy days, I usually try to find a canyon or other area where I can get out of the wind. Seems that even when they move out to feed on those windy days they are very skitish and never really get out far from cover.  Frankly, I have enough time during the season to hunt that I usually just sit out the real windy days. (Aside from the fact that wind can make it very cold sitting early in the season!)

[WAcoyotehunter]

Personally, I've never had much luck chasing them when it's very windy.  Aside from the obvious calling problems, they just don't seem to be very active when it's windy.  My own theory is that they are just sight oriented birds that all the movement makes them very nervous to move around much.  Additionally, all the brush movement makes it difficult to see them. If I have to hunt on windy days, I usually try to find a canyon or other area where I can get out of the wind. Seems that even when they move out to feed on those windy days they are very skitish and never really get out far from cover.  Frankly, I have enough time during the season to hunt that I usually just sit out the real windy days. (Aside from the fact that wind can make it very cold sitting early in the season!)

+1.  I agree totally.  I think it freaks them out a little.

[Limhangerslayer]

They will come to calls in the wind, I have done it quite a few times, just remember to call often, like every 50  yards.   And it helps to have a buddy off to your side listening.   Also be ready to set up in seconds because they will be close.  Try to be on the leeward side of the hill also.

[turkeydancer]

Turkeys 2 main defenses are their eyesight and hearing.  All the moving brush messes with their eyesight and the wind makes it so they can't hear or be heard.  Best to head down along creeks or field edges owhere the wind won't affect them as much.
 

[BOWHUNTER45]

 I will usually go to a slate call or box call when it gets windy ....just like Turkey dancer mentioned ...stay along open areas when it windy and definitely when it is raining ...the turks like to hang out where they can see in these conditions since the hearing part is minimal 

[ChadH]

I will usually go to a slate call or box call when it gets windy ....just like Turkey dancer mentioned ...stay along open areas when it windy and definitely when it is raining ...the turks like to hang out where they can see in these conditions since the hearing part is minimal 

With the Caveat that I am new to Washington and birds here may act differently than I expect, my experience has been that BH45 and Turkdancer are correct. Birds in the Midwest, Southeast, Northern Plains and Wyoming/MT that I’ve hunted headed to open fields on Windy days (as a general rule)... something that may seem counter intuitive, as you would expect that they wouldn't like their feathers being blown around that much. Personally, I agree that their senses of sight and hearing are so effected by the movement of understory and ground clutter, and their hearing interfered with by all the rustling on windy days that the safest option is in the wide open where the predators advantages are somewhat neutralized. Calm days... well back to the woods and field edges they love.. This is all just my experience, like I said I may learn differently this spring. The biggest thing about turkeys is that any given bird, on any given day, will do what ever it wants, without following predetermined rules. It is best to be prepared for (and willing to try) anything, every time you go out. Experience is your friend, so don't sweat killing every bird you play with. Just go for it and see what happens and learn from the inevitable mistakes. In Missouri, where I grew up, I learned by being pretty aggressive with birds. I was told by an old time turkey hunter (my grandpa) that, "there is always another bird out there, so don't sweat it and just have fun 'jerkin a gobble out of them'.” That works well in the midwest and south because of the shear numbers of birds. Heck, if you set in one place long enough a bird will eventually come by. If you enjoy that kind of hunting, it sure is relaxing (and great for a nap under a tree), but I've found my grand father was right about a good many things in my life, not just turkey hunting. So, have fun and don’t be afraid to try anything that seems right to you. It’s more about the hunt and the experience than killing a bird anyway.

Chad

[Karl Blanchard]

  good post!

[kevinp16]

Thank you for your input. I've always struck out when it's windy out with turkeys. The place where we hunt usally has a slight breeze through the trees and not alot of open clearings for birds to hang out in.

[Austrian Hunter]

I have taken a lot of long beards but not one in the wind  and also none in the rain! 

[turkeyfeather]

I have taken a lot of long beards but not one in the wind  and also none in the rain!

I generally won't even go if the weather isn't good.

[Austrian Hunter]

I have taken a lot of long beards but not one in the wind  and also none in the rain!

I generally won't even go if the weather isn't good.

Yep!  I second that!  I wake up, look outside, if it blows or rains I go back to sleep 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I do not care if it rains    I just find a bigger tree to hide under  this weather is getting me fired up ...but I may wait until May before heading over !! Let them gobblers get lonely 

[SteelheadDC]

Absoulutly the easiest/ least guilty time to hit ignore on the alarm clock when the wind is blowing in Turkey season.  That being said, maybe people slay them in the wind I wouldnt know zzzzzzzzzzz.