Rainy Day Gobbler

The alarm clock woke me at 3:15 a.m. From the sound of the torrential rain outside, I knew that the weather would not be cooperating for today’s hunt. I rose and got dressed, and at 3:45 Ed Beam called me to discuss the game plan for the day’s turkey hunt. I told Ed that since the turkey doesn’t have a choice but to hang out in the timber during bad weather, we should give it a chance and see what happens. He agreed, and we met and headed into the timber. On the way into the timber, I told Ed that in order to get to the pop up blind that we needed to hunt from, we would have to pass by the roost tree and needed to be as stealthy as possible. As we crept past the roost tree, I stole a glance upward and spotted nine birds, three of which I could see were long beards. The rain was still coming down in relentless sheets. We made it to the blind, and I placed a jake stuffer decoy and a hen stuffer decoy fifteen yards in front of the blind. As dawn broke, I softly yelped three times with my mouth call. The long beards immediately responded with gobbles. I waited 30 to 45 minutes, and when the birds flew down they were between 60 and 70 yards from us. I softly purred, and the trio of longbeards rushed to the jake stuffer decoy and began to pummel it. I told Ed to hold off for a few moments so that we could enjoy the show the trio was putting on for us. Once the largest of the longbeards stepped away from the decoys I told Ed to take his shot when he was ready. The shotgun barked, and the tom fell. The other two gobblers actually stayed where they were and continued to attack the decoy. In addition, they also hit the downed boss tom a few times. They beat a hasty retreat, however, as we emerged from the blind to get Ed’s trophy. The bird had an 11 ½ inch beard and 1 ½ inch spurs. I shook Ed’s hand and congratulated him as the heavens continued to saturate everything. We then made our way back to the truck. Once we reached the dry haven of the truck cab, we discussed what an awesome and memorable hunt it was for both of us. Ed said that he couldn’t wait until next season when he could come back and hunt with IMB Outfitters again.

Great story Pat,
[/align]Poor weather conditions are to be expected, but you've gotta get out there to get er done.
As in your story, the rain can actualy inhance the quality of the hunt.
Of coarse one and a half inch spurs don't hurt it none.
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[/align]Steve
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Good story Pat, your story is one of the few that I have seen as far as success in weather like that. Hitting the birds just at the right time will make for a good hunt, but on most of the bad rains I've seen the success is a lot less.

Good story and good out come...

Last year was my first year turkey hunting and during a rainy day I noticed the birds would leave the woods and come out into the fields. Tried to make a stalk on one ,belly crawled to a rise but was still 75yds away.

The main reason that the turkeys came into the field is because the rain falling moves all of the leaves and grasses in the timber anbd takes away their best defense being thier eye sight. On a rainy day set up on fields and your chances will go up at harvesting a tom in the rain.

That was a cool story. It was rainy and kinda warm today, went to a shooting range. Only a few more months till spring, can't wait.

If it aint happen'n on the fields, try the pines. Pines are less disrupted by weather conditions and allways make for good cover frompredators of above reguardless the weather.[/align]

Good points!
When the weather turns wet, I almost makes the birds easier to find IMO. But I would much rather have one roosted and set up him, and whack him 2 seconds after his feet touch the ground!
Shoot straight!

Excellent Pat!! You are making so many great memories for your clients and yourself. Hard to believe you're fine tuning your skills even better than when I first heard you call. I don't know how you could improve. You were 1/2 Tom when I heard you. You must be full Tom now God bless you & Leslie in all of your adventures out there.