How will snow effect hunting?
04-08-2019, 12:49 AM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 12,501
How will snow effect hunting?
I am curious how snow will effect turkey hunting. We had six inches of snow last week which is mostly gone from the fields now. But now we have up to a foot coming in today and tonight. No we are not used to snow this time of year. However we did get some when I was a young fella. Then we never had wild turkeys either. So even if this snow was gone by the end of the month it would still be in our woods. With turkey season starting up at the end of the month. How will all this snow effect the turkey hunting? Any of you ever hunted turkeys in this situation? Thanks for any info.
I doubt the turkeys need to be shown theri haunts!
04-08-2019, 02:48 PM
#8
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 12,501
I know that this morning they were all worked up before the snow hit. They were making a lot of racket and the hens were jumping and taking short flights while the toms were having it out. Now it’s snowing hard here.. I believe that where I live is the main route of travel. Across the river here is some pines that they roost in. Then across the road from me is a section of small alders and the like to the river. Beside my house is an old abandoned house with some brush growing near it. Then in back of me is four different fields. One of those fields is my own property which is only an acre and a half. But the turkeys with will travel threw it.
Last edited by Phil from Maine; 04-08-2019 at 02:54 PM.
04-09-2019, 07:54 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 1,906
Phil - the toms will still strut and gobble, but the hens will change a few things:
1) Their eating habits will change, in that they will concentrate on the most convenient/easiest food source they can find.
2) They will often head to the fields, where the snow typically melts the fastest - this will allow them to find new shoots and any worms/bugs that may be in the fields.
3) They will typically follow the path of least resistance - so start looking on logging roads or well-worn deer trails.
As for the toms:
1) The toms don't like to strut in snow that's too deep because their wing feathers get wet and can freeze at night. They will move to areas with less snow for strut zones - and in my experience they will continue to use those throughout the season (and these may be completely different than 'traditional' strut zones where you typically find toms).
2) They may change roost trees and opt for those with less snow and/or ice. These may or may not be temporary, it will depend on how many things the hens change (see above).
Good luck.
1) Their eating habits will change, in that they will concentrate on the most convenient/easiest food source they can find.
2) They will often head to the fields, where the snow typically melts the fastest - this will allow them to find new shoots and any worms/bugs that may be in the fields.
3) They will typically follow the path of least resistance - so start looking on logging roads or well-worn deer trails.
As for the toms:
1) The toms don't like to strut in snow that's too deep because their wing feathers get wet and can freeze at night. They will move to areas with less snow for strut zones - and in my experience they will continue to use those throughout the season (and these may be completely different than 'traditional' strut zones where you typically find toms).
2) They may change roost trees and opt for those with less snow and/or ice. These may or may not be temporary, it will depend on how many things the hens change (see above).
Good luck.
04-10-2019, 01:18 AM
#10
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 12,501
Thank you everyone! We only got around 4 inches from that storm that was supposed to dump a foot of snow on us. Then last night a two inch storm dumped around six inches of snow on us. Go figure. But, on the bright side it shouldn’t last very long. I will be glad once it’s all over with and we start getting some nice spring weather.. Those turkeys have been outside fighting the past two days I did get part of a fight on my phone with a video. It’s been good watching them just outside my window.. You can hear them thumping each other and all the squawking going on with it. The big Tom fans his tail but keeps his wings up in the snow.
