Weather or Not Your Turkey Shows Up

This was a paper I wrote for my Outdoor Writing (ENGL 358) class.

If you have lived in Wisconsin long enough, you know the burden the weather can be. Temperatures can reach 70 degrees in February and then be in the 40’s or snowing by May. While the unpredictability of the weather can be a factor that all people must cope with,

Wisconsin turkey hunters are constantly battling the elements when attempting to tag the elusive birds in the spring months. Here are some tips and strategies you can use to battle whatever weather conditions you face, instantly giving you more time in the woods and improving your odds of harvesting a turkey.

Turkey Hunting in ‘Perfect’ Conditions

As the spring turkey hunting season approaches, hunters dream of perfect hunting conditions. What exactly classifies as ideal conditions though? Hunters will respond differently, but most would probably say any day you can get out in the woods is an ideal day to hunt. The more time you spend in the woods, the better your chances are of bagging a bird. While that is certainly true, there must be a particular type of weather to target, right? Yes, and ironically, the best mornings for hunting actually occur after bad weather. Because bad weather conditions can subdue turkey activity, a clear morning that follows can restart turkey activity. If you’re lucky enough to have a clear morning with no wind, consider yourself lucky; not only should turkey activity be higher, but you should be able to hear, locate and call to toms with ease. Another time to head to the woods is when low-pressure weather systems approach. Turkeys sense changes in air pressure and prepare for the approaching storm, hitting fields to stock up on food so they can avoid the bad weather when it hits. So, when trying to pinpoint that perfect morning to go out hunting, keep an eye on days following bad weather or days or hours before the unfavorable weather is about to hit.

Hunting on a Windy Day

Because of a poor sense of smell, turkeys rely upon their sense of sight and hearing to survive. When it’s windy, a turkey’s hearing diminishes. This immediately puts turkeys on high alert and makes them skittish. As a result, turkeys try and stay in areas out of the wind, often in open hollows or other treeless areas. Wind will make hearing gobbles difficult and also limit the volume of your calling; call louder than you usually would, choosing to do so when/if the wind dies down even a little. If you locate a gobble, try and get near that position instead of letting a cautious tom slowly work its way towards you. Use the wind to your advantage if you are walking, but know that any slight movement or sound in a turkey’s area could send a long beard running for safety.

Hunting in the Snow

While most hunters don’t anticipate trekking the hunting woods with their boots crunching in snow, it is certainly possible in Wisconsin, even with the April and May hunting seasons. The first thought hunters have when snow flies is that the turkeys will avoid the fields and stick to the woods; hunters then avoid the woods too, choosing instead to sit at home and complain about the weather. Do not let the snow discourage your hunt. Turkeys will still browse fields, usually in groups. Toms might be less vocal, but tracks in the snow will give you a new strategy to track the birds. Walk lightly and slowly, keeping your head on a swivel, as the crunching snow will startle turkeys if you get within their comfort zone. Turkeys might also fly up into the roost earlier in the night to avoid the cold ground, so be sure to ambush turkeys earlier in the afternoon; if you fail to harvest the birds before roosting them, you might also have to wait longer so that darkness can aid your exit from the hunting grounds.

Hunting in the Rain

The weather has warmed up, but precipitation is still falling, now in the form of rain. While rain might be a burden to sit in, it can also bring benefits, if you plan accordingly. A key to sitting out in the woods and increasing your odds of tagging a turkey is being comfortable, regardless of the weather conditions. Wearing rain-repellent camouflage or a cheap camouflaged rain poncho should do the trick on a rainy day. Keep yourself out of the rain by sitting in a location that offers you some cover, both from rain and turkeys. If you arrive at the hunting property and it’s raining hard, the best move may be to wait until the rain subsides to move into your hunting spot. Sit in your vehicle with the window cracked open and listen for gobbles. Once the rain diminishes, quickly move to where you think the gobblers might show up; the rain should have softened the ground and leaves, allowing you to silently sneak into a prime location. Turkeys often stay in one area when it rains, attempting to stay dry. Hunting near fields, logging roads or meadows are among some of the better settings to sit when it rains, as toms will head there to shake off water and strut, trying to impress hens.

If the weather offers a combination of rain, thunder and lighting, keep yourself out of danger. A turkey is not worth your life. If you know the inclement weather will pass, wait the storm out from the comfort of your vehicle. Again, roll down your window and try to listen for gobbles. Toms will often shock gobble after the thunder rumbles. Use this as your locator call and ambush the birds as soon as the storm passes.

Hunting in Hot Weather

On occasion, turkey hunters must deal with mild and warm temperatures, most often in the later portions of the spring turkey season. While conditions may be more bearable than when its precipitating or windy, warm temperatures are known to have the worst impact on turkeys. Toms gobble less often, and sometimes not at all. The birds stick to the shade of the woods, only stepping out in the open to get to other cover or briefly take in the sun’s rays. Find yourself a shady area to sit and be patient. Call occasionally and stay alert, even if no gobbles are heard. If you stay persistent, a turkey may find interest in your calls and come searching for the source. If you can, seek an area near water, possibly a watering hole, creek, river or man-made pond. The warm weather may be a pain to sit in and leave you as dehydrated as the birds you are hunting, but during some point of the day, turkeys will seek a water source. You may have to be more patient on these days than in any other conditions, but if you can, your chances are just as good as any other day of the season.

Wrap Up

While the Wisconsin spring turkey hunting season can bring an assortment of weather with it, hunters can still have successful hunts if they are willing to cope with the conditions. Turkeys rarely keep the same routines from day-to-day, and they certainly don’t follow the same habits every day of the season. Try hunting on a hot day or a windy morning to shake things up if you haven’t had success yet in the season. The one thing you can know for certain is that you cannot harvest a turkey sitting on your couch or sleeping in. If you’ve hunted long enough, you’ve probably harvested an animal when you didn’t expect it. Maximize your chances by spending as much time in the woods as possible. If the season ends with you tossing your tag in the trash, as I often have to, at least you’ll be satisfied that you gave it your all. You’ll also gain more hunting experience that you can use in coming years, memories that will last a lifetime and an even greater appreciation for the chance to hunt turkeys. Success can be so much sweeter after years of tossing tags in the trash.

References

Almy, Gerald. "Bad-Weather Birds: How to Turkey Hunt in Inclement Conditions." Bass Pro Shops, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 1 May 2017. <https://1source.basspro.com/index.php/component/k2/93-turkey-hunting/3286-bad-weather-birds-how-to-turkey-hunt-in-inclement-conditions>.

Carpenter, Tom. "Peak Gobbling: 7 Days You Must Turkey Hunt This Spring." Outdoor Life. Field & Stream Network, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2017. <http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/strut-zone/2014/03/peak-gobbling-7-days-you-must-turkey-hunt-spring>.

Hickoff, Steve. "How To Kill Turkeys In Any Weather." Realtree. Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 1 May 2017. <http://www.realtree.com/turkey-hunting/articles/how-to-kill-turkeys-in-any-weather>.

Johnson, M.D. "Turkey Hunting: How to Hunt Gobblers in Rain, Wind, Snow, or Unseasonably Hot Weather." Field & Stream. Field & Stream Network, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 31 Apr. 2017. <http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/turkey-hunting-how-to-hunt-early-spring-turkeys/2013/03/turkey-hunting-how-hunt-gobblers-rain-wind-snow>.