Hunting in the weather???

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Talked with a few guys that said they never hunt turkeys in heavy weather be it snow or wind and rain. One guy said he watched birds roost all day. Just want to know what people think???

Looking like it will be snowing tonight and tomorrow.

[Tom Tamer]

Talked with a few guys that said they never hunt turkeys in heavy weather be it snow or wind and rain. One guy said he watched birds roost all day. Just want to know what people think???

Looking like it will be snowing tonight and tomorrow.

While I've never hunted with snow of any depth I have had some success in bad weather rain/ snow if you have a spot you know they run through, i set it and soft call. If you got a blind these are great days for that, they keep you dry, and the wind off you, I'll even tote in a small propane hand heater to keep the chill off. the way it's starting to look come the opener I may be heeding my own advice

[PA BEN]

Years ago I was hunting just out side of Asotin, we put these toms to bed the night before. The next morning the wind was blowing hard and the rain was blowing sideways. We hunkered down in the only trees we could find, the toms were roosted along ways up the draw. At daylight we couldn't hear any gobbles because of the wind and rain. We called anyway. About a half hr. after day light out of nowhere 5 toms came fling in on top of us, I mean right in our lap. One tom landed 2 ft from we. We went O *censored*, the toms went O *censored* and got the hell out of there before we could shoot. They could hear our calls and had us pin pointed. I've killed several toms in the rain before. don't let bad weather keep you out of the woods.  

[ol_grayfeather]

My son and I will be out.  Weather guessers around here are saying 30% chance of precip all night and 31 degrees in the am.  Guess I should have bought him snow camo instead of nice spring green colors.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

If you don't like the weather,..just wait 15 minutes...

[Machias]

They are gobbling up a storm right behind my house right now.   

[BPturkeys]

Nope, I ain't going huntin in the rain no mo, it's no fun , and I just ain't going to do it again!

[Whitelightning]

I dont mind the weather, The birds live there year round so they must not mind it either. Just be patient and they will come.

[the shootist]

Pa Ben is right on the money with this one because I actually prefer hunting in the wind and rain, but the best time to do it is just before or after it gets bad. I like to use a mouth call and decoy, and call into the wind as loud as possible. The toms only need to see the movement of that hen and it's over. A lot of times on calm days you can't get the decoy movement and the birds just don't respond as well; Plus there are always fewer hunters in the woods because they think it's not going to be productive. WRONG!!!!  Turkeys still need to do their thing, and although they may stay in the trees longer they WILL come down eventually. So dress for the worst but expect the best!!!!

[PA BEN]

Talking about being in the woods when others leave, I've shot lots of toms between 11 am and 1 pm. The hens after they get bread go to there nest. The toms are looking for hens. Hunters give up because the toms are henned up are take a lunch break. By the time the hunters get back into the woods the hens are back with the toms in the flock. The hens don't stay on the eggs until they have laid all there eggs.  

[boneaddict]

Good observation PA

[turkey slayer]

Well it's snowing hard rite now with about 5 inches on the ground. Perfect ha

[baldopepper]

Well, last I checked the hunt runs thru May-pretty certain that sometime between now and then we'll get good weather and I can wait it out!!!!  I've hunted in that rain and sleet, and yes, shot birds in it-BUT-if I had'nt shot those birds , chances are they'd still be there when the weather got nice.  I turkey hunt because it's great to be out in the spring with the grouse drumming, birds singing and the toms gobbling-none of which you can hear when the rain is pounding down on you.  More power to those of you who want to get out in that stuff-birds are there and you can get em, but they'll still be some around when it clears up and I'll still have a tag to justify being out.

[BPturkeys]

Amen to that brother

[turkeydancer]

I've got 3 umbrella blinds ... I will usually set up on a field edge or forest opening ... put 1 in the tree above me and use one as a wind break.  I also have a 3 man popup blind with tripod stools and a 5000 BTU heater if its real bad.  Hunter in near 0 degrees and over a foot of snow.  Had really good "luck" ... almost prefer it at times. They are more predictable in where they are going to go.