It looks like Friday is going to be the best, possibly only, day for me to hunt this week, but it is calling for 15-20 mph winds, with gusts up to 30 mph. Is it even possible to be successful in that high of winds, or should I really just stay home?
I'm guessing if it is doable, I should plan to be using a box so I can reach out to the birds over the wind? Any terrain features that I should stick to, or stay away from?
Turkeys still gotta be turkeys even when it's windy. Get out and hunt!
I think wind has an adverse effect on gobbling but it won't stop them. The biggest problem I've had in the wind while running and and gunning is having gotten too close before I hear them gobble. They can certainly be called and killed in the wind but it's harder to hear them which for me has caused me to bump them.
So, I should be able to locate them in the morning with an owl call, just like on a calm morning?
You can hear them better if you are down wind of them. They may not Gobble as good as a clear morning but wind won't stop them.
Quote from: Rzrbac on April 05, 2017, 11:23:59 PM
You can hear them better if you are down wind of them. They may not Gobble as good as a clear morning but wind won't stop them.
Interesting statement, but I have always thought opposite...
When hunting in the wind, I am more likely to set in a likely spot (or spots), knowing I will not hear them (whereas normally, I prefer a more mobile or "run & gun style")... I would rather be up wind, and have them hear me, than me hear them...
I try to pick areas that are open next to wind-breaks (trees or a hill). I have seen birds follow the downwind side of hills and troughs to avoid wind, and I try to set up in such areas.
I have no idea which is actually the correct approach... Upwind or downwind... Until proven otherwise, I will probably continue to hunt upwind of the birds (or at least where I think they are).
I've heard of guys doing both. I just figure they hear better than me so that's why I try to get downwind.
With everything being said, would I be better off starting out on the edge of a field where I heard a bird gobble last week, or try a new spot that is just a long open dirt road between two sets of open/burnt pines? I feel like either way could be the way to go. The field, obviously, has had a bird roosted near it (within 100 yards) in the past (last week), but the trees should help with cutting the wind.
I was doing some research online last night, and it seems that the birds like to go to a field when it is windy, because there is not as much moving around and they can see predators coming.
I like the idea of the trees breaking up the wind, but the field jumps out to me as the best place to start.
What do you guys think?
I think you should start where you know birds have been. Best way to hear Them is being already near them
I head to either a field, or deep in the swamp bottoms. Seen them travel the creek bottoms pretty well as it is not usually that windy down in those bottoms.
Quote from: Rzrbac on April 05, 2017, 11:00:02 PM
I think wind has an adverse effect on gobbling but it won't stop them. The biggest problem I've had in the wind while running and and gunning is having gotten too close before I hear them gobble. They can certainly be called and killed in the wind but it's harder to hear them which for me has caused me to bump them.
This exactly, it can be done but it's a lot harder to hear them. Easy to spook.
Regardless of weather I'm starting every morning near the best roost spot on the property if I don't have a bird roosted from the night before. the rest of my day might alter in the high wind, I'll check lots of fields as well as deep hollows and ravines.
Like someone said turkeys ares still on the ground being turkeys so that means they are still killable, I've shot birds in wind, rain, fog, even snow.. Heck in Kansas and Nebraska that's just a normal day for wind. Think about the direction the wind is coming from and then find places on the backside of that wind direction that will be out of the way, small fields under a ridge, creek bottom logging roads just go slow because you might be right ontop of them before you hear them.
You might consider hunting hollows. Turkeys will feed on a windy day but they do prefer shelter. I have not seen turkeys spend to much time out in open field when it was windy. Even when hunting in New Mexico where it was very open and windy every turkey was on the lee side of some type of terrain feature or popped out of a valley that was sheltered.
I hardly ever hunt a place where I heard a turkey on a nice, calm, clear day. Instead I look for shelter and especially a pine grove. Turkeys know when the weather is changing and will adjust their routine accordingly. Works for me. Just my 2 cents.
Doesn't really matter either way...
1.) I am already sitting on the couch...
2.) Somebody beat me to my primary spot...
3.) I neither saw nor heard a turkey at my second spot, but did see 3 trucks drive by me while I was walking in and another truck that came in (within a couple hundred yards) where I was walking and calling...
4.) The wind is just now starting to pick up...
Oh well, maybe next week...
If someone ever beat me to my spot I'd be horrified. I go in very early. If you're seeing trucks walking in you're also too late n if there's that many guys around Id never hunt a field.
In hunting it's always been said 10% of the hunters get 90% of the game. There's a reason for that. They cross rivers, hike mountains, walk further, try harder n scout more. If you want to be in the 10% you'll have to emulate the successful folks. It's a brain thing, called determination.
First bird I killed it was outright howling. I walked into a place in the Catskills n didn't know much yet so I was running n gunning. The spot was pre scouted though. I walked in trying to locate, after going in far enough I headed back out n switched to a crow call. I thought through the wind I heard a gobble. I went closer n heard it again. Few yelps on a mouth call n he came right in like the wind wasn't even blowing. That was long ago n I can still see em.
Sitting on a couch woulda maybe had me posting on OG if something like that existed in the 80s. Food for thought. Good luck
Quote from: Bowguy on April 07, 2017, 06:08:45 PM
In hunting it's always been said 10% of the hunters get 90% of the game. There's a reason for that. They cross rivers, hike mountains, walk further, try harder n scout more. If you want to be in the 10% you'll have to emulate the successful folks. It's a brain thing, called determination.
Right there is something to learn!!! :z-winnersmiley:
It's called workin'
I always say miles=gobblers.
Work your box call till you think you are going to start a fire ! If its really howling you might have to get down wind of him to hear him gobble