SD_Gobbler

Im sure there are numerous post about this on here but I will still post anyway. I am relatively new to turkey hunting. I am planning on hunting the next few days up here in SD but they are forcasting rain showers. What effect does the rain have on the turkeys? Do they change from their normal patterns or habits? Any help would be great.

Shawn Perkins

from my little experience...lol...they dont talk as much. they like to get in open ereas so they can use their great senses better. they can see better, and hear better also. makes them feel more safe.

also, if you get one, they smell pretty bad. my dad calls them "skurfy bassturds". haha

RIStrutStopper

Maybe a little less vocal in the rain, might stay on the roost a little longer before fly down, and they kind of like being in the fields and open places. Since the rain drowns out sounds, they feel safer in the open where they can see what's coming.

StruttinGobbler3

on a rainy or cloudy day turkeys will stay on the roost longer than normal and definitely will not gobble as much. if its raining hard, they will stay in the woods, but as soon as the rain stops, they will be out in the fields, on logging roads, dirt roads, any open dry space where they can dry out. so your best bet is to set up near one of these. good luck

vmartin

i agree with you "struttingobbler3" for the most part, they tend to stay on the roost longer and they don't gobble as much. my observation is that sometimes when it is raining hard they do stay in certian types of woods but the overwelming majoraty of the time like 75%-25% they will seek out wide open areas. think of it this way, if a bobcat is hunting a turkey in the woods he can get much closer to the tom due to the lack of sound and the use of objects and turrain. to get a big bird in the air with wet wings it takes a whole lot more runway, he just added a lot of water weight and his feathers don't fly as good as when they are dry.

ICALL2MUCH

Fields, Fields, Fields.

They will fly-down later, sometimes talk less. I love my chances when it is raining. Again, FIELDS.

foxfire66

LOVE TURKEY HUNTING IN THE RAIN!!! Like others have posted..FIELDS!!

wis_bow_huntr

Ive been turkey hunting for 18 years and have hunted pretty much every weather condition I can. Ive found that hunting turkeys in the rain can bring big success. Hunt the field edges. Turkeys will spend more time in open areas when it rains as they lose most of their senses in the rain inside the woods, from the wind, the sound of the rain hitting leaves and on them. They dont like to be dripped on. Set up just inside the edge of a field and be patient if you call, as they will likely not answer back near as much. If you get a good foggy morning, take advantage of it as well along the edge of a field.

Canned Heat

I agree with my fellow cheddarhead.

I've actually done pretty well in the rain and other than last year, I had to deal with rain for the previous 3 seasons for at least 2 days of the 5. If it's really coming down, they tend to stay on the roost a little longer and when they do come down, they usually make a b-line for open fields for security (and to browse)...at least where I hunt. I was lucky enough to be set up the first year where I hunt now in a blind on a tucked in edge of a field and didn't even need to call. I let the birds work there way to us and popped the big boy at just under 40 yards.Looked like they were heading away or I would've let him come closer.

I'd have a tough time sitting in the rain the whole day, but if you've got a decent blind, I'd definitely be out there.

kdsberman

Yeah, check open areas like fields and things like that. They can hear a lot better.