Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Forecast, (though, admittedly is a week off), calls for a chance of thunderstorms for our opener. If that's the case......what do I have to look forward to?

Will they be off the roost?

Will conventional tactics apply?

Thanks!

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

They may be more quiet than normal but they will be moving some. I have located birds when they gobbled at thunder!

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

might be slow but never know

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Set up your blind in a field near a patch of green, like the drainage swayles on a cornfield, Last year in the rain I saw many of these swayles occupied by lone gobblers in the rain. This year I will set up on them there if it rains!

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

GMMAT,
I woke up Sat morning (Kinston, NC) and it was 37 deg and raining a little. I was dissapointed because my son had been waiting for youth day for several months now. We went anyway and we had several birds gobbling in the roost right after the sun came up. We didn't expect to have any luck with the weather but we still saw plenty of birds. We had one coming in to a call and gobbling back but he busted us. Went to another spot (field) Sat afternoon and he got a shot at a nice gobbler but missed.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Thanks, krabbie:

I've got a DB.....so I'll be out there as long as it isn't miserable or dangerous.

Congrats on getting your son on a nice bird!

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

The birds will be off the roost. They might fly down a little latter than normal becaus of the overcast skies, but they will fly down. At times, rainy weather will affect thm and how vocal they are. They will still come in, they might just come in quite. When it is raining, I give each spot a an extra 15-30 minutes than I nomaly would (I don't know how many birds I have spooked that were coming in quietly) Also, hunt the open fields. When it rains, the birds tend to go in the open fields as a safety percaution. Give'r hell, be paitent and the birds will be out. Good Luck

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Thanks, Zubba.

MY plan is to sit all day if I have to. I KNOW their travel route (one of them). I'll get on that.......and wait......patiently. Being quiet is ALSO in my game plan. I'm not an accomplished caller......and Less is more in MY book.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

My son was also very ready for the youth hunt in Virginia Sat April 7. We were all ready but Friday they changed the weather outlook from 30% chance of rain to snow and very windy. I decided to hold off and go another day, and we woke up to it snowing sideways. My buddy went with his nephew and they froze and did not hear anything. They did walk up on a gobbler and 3 hens in my area so that is something to look forward to.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

That is exactly what happened to us Sat morning. They gobbled and flew down about 20 minutes later than normal.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

depends how bad the storm is. one morning i remember hunting it was plain out nasty. and a bit colder than it normally is..not MUCH colder though. we sat where we knew they roosted for almost 2 hours i would say. nothing. not a peep..not a fly down..nothing. we started walking the direction some birds usually fly down(away from us) since none flew our way...they were still roosted and flew when we walked under them.

another day it was miserable...steady downpour..but it was our opener..just miserable...i hid under a tiny pine tree till it was breaking light trying to stay dry and keep my calls dry(box and friction calls will go south on you when they get wet) sitting there waiting birds started going bonkers...i couldnt believe my ears. i set up shop and called in a longbeard and a jake. the jake brushed my pants...i never got a shot at the longbeard..

just showin ya it all depends...and if it aint super terrible it can be worth going...depends on how the birds feel like actin...turkey season here is generally CRAZY weather. i always like the nice days...but learned the nasty days can be worth hunting once in a while..noone will believe me but dad and i watched it SNOW during the 2nd or 3rd week of may while turkey hunting

you did your scouting...it will pay off...you know where they roost and where they go after they roost...also keep in mind fields...turkeys like to hit the fields when its raining for some odd reason...i think because they can see predators...since they cant hear well in the rain..but when its down right nasty ive found them in pines and roosted in pines in the middle of the day...killed me a fall hen that flew from the top of a pine tree a few years back one nasty fall day

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Last year it was a boomer of a thunderstorm when my buddy and I went out on National Forest land. We waited it out in our truck. As the rain slacked we got out to a bunch of gobblers going crazy on the roost. As we got ready another truck drove by and set up 100 yards down from us. He cut off one of the gobblers we were calling. [:@] Another walked by on the edge of the field we were on but wouldn't come to the decoys and went to join another gobbler uphill from us.

Definitely hit the fields if its a steady rain. I will hunt field to field in the fall during a steady rain and have had several shots and turkeys in the fields.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

youll be fine it was cold but didnt affect em any in pender i shot one

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Last year in NC opening day it was very windy and rainy. I had birds coming in at all times throughout the day. My brother in law missed two. I shot 1. All total I called in 6 tomsopening day. The best time was after around 11. They were very active then seems to me.

I figured when it rains they can't go home... :-) I also have noted that when it's raining they birds seem to be in fields a lot more. I saw several flocks about a month ago as I was driving along on a windy rainy day. Seemed every turkey in the county was out then.

I am gonna go rain or shine....

Sorry that the youth didn't get a chance to go. I was calling all around trying to get my nieces or nephews out. No takers... I guess I will have to wait till my grandson/grnddaughter is of age.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Hunt the open fields. They will come to the open fields to dry their feathers once the rain has passed...

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

GMMAT

I love turkey hunting in the rain. It is when i have my best hunts. Turkeys will head to the fields when it rains. Setup on the edge of a field put out decoys and wait them out.

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

I hope they are out in the rain, cause im making a 500 mile round trip for 1 morning of hunting...

RE: Forecast calls for RAIN!
 

Had this happen last year. Made for a very easy kill oppurtunity. Passed on the shot but cool nonetheless.