Turkey and rain...
- Thread starter mgcolley
- Start date
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
The birds here are active in the afternoons. Mornings not so much.
I will be out tomorrow morning but I think I will probably be more successful in the afternoon.
I will be out tomorrow morning but I think I will probably be more successful in the afternoon.
always found that the rain pushed them out of the woods and into the fields.
My trail cams and scouting are telling me this also.... most active between 11 and 1:00
Last years opener was as bad as it gets... rain, very high wind... calling was pointless... after a few sets, we (my son and I) did some scouting and spotted some birds... a short while later we had permission to hunt them. We put a small bush between us and the birds and crawled in as close as we felt comfortable... then began to call... they came in but retreated before we had the big gobbler in position... we belly-crawled about 30 yards closer and called again, again they came in but retreated without an acceptable shot... we held a conference and decided to get face down in the mud and worm closer (risky) to try to get to a fallen log... we made it, eased the guns into position and I made a few clucks... the hens and jakes started coming, but the gobbler held back. I told my son to take a jake if he wanted to, since the gobbler was still hung up... but just as he was lining up, the gobbler started coming... I nudged my son to hold-up... a minute later, I had the shot I was waiting for through an opening in the brush, I asked my son if he had a shot, he said "NO..." I said "should I take him?" He said, "shoot!" Boom... gobbler down... second Boom... jake down. And this was on a horrible day for turkey hunting... so, despite bad weather, get out there anyway and make something happen... On a typical calm sunny day, we would NEVER have pulled off that stalk and call tactic... we would have been busted before we were within a 100 yards.
I believe that is because rain makes it harder for them to hear predators. In an open field they are able to see things coming a longer distance away.
Exactly!.... this is what hunting is all about... if a little adversity sends you packing to the truck for a warm cup of chai tea latte then maybe hunting isn't for you.....lol
Always found that rain pushes them into the fields as well. I think that makes them more comfortable since they can't hear so well in the woods with the rain falling. Unless it is really windy, then they whole up somewhere and ride out the weather.
I've found a light or even steady rain with no heavy wind can make for an easier harvest if you can tough it out.
I've found a light or even steady rain with no heavy wind can make for an easier harvest if you can tough it out.
I don't think the rain bothers the birds much... it messes more with the hunters... one real problem for me in the rain is keeping my slate pots dry (and I love my slate pots!)... one drop of water and the call is pooched. I keep a glass and a copper pot on hand for these occasions... I'm not much for diahpragm's... too high a gag reflex... I would be fertilizing the trilium's with Timmy's sausage breakfast sandwich using a diaphragm!
I was out scouting yesterday around Merickville, Ont, hoping to see some birds outlined against the snow. It was drizzling, and windy, but I saw two hens. One was skirting a field - not bothered in the slightest about the rain - and the other beat a hasty retreat as I drove slowly by a hedgerow. This confirms what I had heard also about birds being "out-and-about" in the rain. I did hear, however, that they aren't fond of the wind and lay low if it gets too breezy. For what its worth I was happy for the sloppy conditions because I also found some nice big tracks along a farmers field that I'm planning on sitting beside.
- Location
- Niagara on the Lake
Just stay home!! I'll take care of the birds in town for ya!!
keep you calls dry... Last year I shot my tom on a rainy morning, I could see it walk about 100m in front of me and it couldn't see my decoys due to the tall grass and distance. I tried to call it in but both my slate and box call had gotten wet and I couldn't get decent sounds out of them, luckily I had my push button call which did the trick and I managed to lure him in with a couple of purs and tucks but I got lucky considering the situation... My box call was "water proof" well I had never tried it wet and I wish I had before.
double header on opening day in the rain this morning with my father-in-law. the 6 males that came in never answered any calls. the one i shot on the right has a 6" beard and 1" spurs, left is a jake with 2" beard and stub spurs. i was able to take a longer shot with my browning gold with undertaker choke tube. father-in-law was using his trusty ithica 37 and shot the closest bird. the bigger tom was just to far to take a shot at and wouldn't come in closer and the birds were getting nervous after the tom i shot had nocked over one of my decoys. i'll see if i can get another next week....
[/IMG]
