Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: syoungs on April 11, 2022, 03:30:12 PM

Title: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: syoungs on April 11, 2022, 03:30:12 PM: Looks like there's going to be snow and rain in the forecast for some of us this weekend for the opener.
I haven't hunted turkeys in either snow, or rain.

What should I modify about my setup? Do the birds hunker down, or keep moving?
Gotta worry about snow on decoys backs?

Thanks for any bad weather tips! :tup:
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: rtspring on April 11, 2022, 03:53:01 PM: They will not gobble as much. Also they will get out of the wind.
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: Mfowl on April 11, 2022, 03:59:11 PM: I found in rain they often like to be in open fields w/short grass. I think they can shed the rain better in the open vs the forest w/underbrush and dripping branches. I would be in a ground blind w/heater buddy and decoys on the edge of a field playing the waiting game for this opener.
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: Bendejo on April 11, 2022, 04:02:37 PM: Lil easier to follow them (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220411/7d63bdcc7c8c4e462aae0497f57036c3.jpg)

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Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: syoungs on April 11, 2022, 04:05:37 PM: Should keep the ticks down as well :dunno: :chuckle:

Thanks for the advice so far!
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on April 11, 2022, 04:39:33 PM: If it rains or snows they usually hunker down if it’s heavy. Once it breaks they will be out trying to dry their feathers. They will still be workable just not as pleasant for us chasing them getting wet and cold
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: baldopepper on April 11, 2022, 05:15:47 PM: Long season, lots of birds. Why chase em when it's cold and miserable. Think I'll just stay dry and warm and wait for better weather. Retired anyway, so not a big hurry. :)
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: MADMAX on April 11, 2022, 06:35:45 PM: :yeah:
I hear that
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: syoungs on April 11, 2022, 10:58:50 PM: Quote from: baldopepper on April 11, 2022, 05:15:47 PM
Long season, lots of birds. Why chase em when it's cold and miserable. Think I'll just stay dry and warm and wait for better weather. Retired anyway, so not a big hurry. :)

I've got hunts planned for almost every weekend of the season, not gonna let a little cold weather stop me :tup:
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: Russ McDonald on April 12, 2022, 07:35:42 AM: I am going to be out from the 14th-25th. What I have seen in the snow is they don't fly down from the roost right away

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Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: salish on April 12, 2022, 09:06:01 AM: Thanks for all the great tips. I have the option this weekend of hunting in a blind, and that idea of the the Mr. Buddy heater and a thermos of hot coffee sounds pretty good to me.
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: birddogdad on April 12, 2022, 09:16:56 AM: weather can drastically affect them. my recent CA 4 day adventure was very much affected by fronts and heavy winds. As spoken, lots of time, get out of wind and dont get discouraged, they will heat up at some point.
Title: Re: inclement weather and birds.
Post by: phildobaggins on April 12, 2022, 09:25:16 AM: Wind always finds a day to hurt a day of turkey hunting in the spring. I've never chased them in the snow, though.

I know the few trees the birds I hunt roost in, so I'm just going to be by the roost in the AM and if I don't hear gobbles or see them fly out of the roost I'm going to silently and slowly creep and look for their tracks. :dunno: