I have the opportunity to hunt turkey this weekend, but where I will be it is expected to downpour. I'm assuming the rain will be a disadvantage for them to smell and see me. I'm not worried about hearing them less in the rain, I'll be in a blind where I would certainly expect them to come as they do routinely. I'll be seeing them, not listening for them, per se.

Their normal pattern is to come off the wooded hill, fly across the road, and drink from the creek on the property. It's a 3.5 hr drive for me. Not a problem, but I am concerned that the toms will not need to fly across the road to get the water, if it's pouring rain. Those of you who know a lot more about turkey behavior than I do, will the rain change their daily movement routine? That is, even if it's raining, will they likely still fly over by habit?

All input is appreciated. Thanks.

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Peace and Blessings,

Alec -

Don't count the sheep; talk to the Shepherd

Hunted turkeys in Oklahoma years ago in a driving rain/sleet/snow/lightening and thunderstorm - what an experience!

The turkeys didn't come off the roost until 'way late in the morning. Every time the thunder would boom, the gobblers would gobble. Finally, the hens started flying off the roost and the gobblers followed. Due to everything being soaking wet, they basically just stood and milled around more than feeding.

Don't look for much action in driving rain. Wait til it's over.

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Thanks for your valuable comments kdub - I'm looking forward to giving it a go.

Best,

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Peace and Blessings,

Alec -

Don't count the sheep; talk to the Shepherd

When turkey hunting in and or after a rain, hunt in open fields. Turkey do not like their tail feathers to drag the wet leaves and prefer the fields during and after a rain. I love to hunt turkey right after a rain because I know where they will be... Put on a good rain suit and hunt. I hunt a lot in the rain and since I bought my Frogg Toggs Rain Gear suit it's much more comfortable. Check them out at (removed by MikeG site admin)

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MikeG

I hunt Turkeys in upstate NY and my experiences so far were that I did not have any success during a downpour,they did not seem to stick to thier regular pattern.
But when there was a sight mist or drizzle,there was no effect on thier movement or routine.
I had tremendous results hunting the fields and old logging roads.

Turkeys smell?

I hunt in upstate New York and I have hunted spring turkey in all types of weather, even snow we had 6 inches of snow on mothers day with tempertures in the low 30's one year, we
still got turkeys to respond. As far as the rain goes I would go, you will have more time to set up the rain and it may be able to hide your movement a little depends on how hard it is coming down. If the rain is steady and light to medium, I would start off with a soft tree yelp and if you get a responce stop and wait till around fly down time then use a little louder yelp but not to lound then fallow with a fly down cackle right after the yelp then stop calling and wait he sould come right in. If after doing a tree yelp and you got no response stop calling untill after fly down, just cluck and every now and then yelp. If the rain is heavy, then go with a few really loud crisp yelps after fly down, if you get a response go with a loud yelp again and stop then soften it with clucks and yelps but not to many yelps you may have him hang up on you, in fact I would make them futher apart and softer if you do not get a response with any of these calling methods I would stick with clucks thru out the day with a yelp every now and then. All of these methods have worked for me in the rain. I don't know where you are hunting, but every bird is different and the best way to see what works is get out a week or two before the season starts and try to listen for the hens in both the rain and the good weather and try to copy them. Rain, sun or snow turkeys are turkeys and they are always going to be out there feeding and breading. GOOD LUCK and hunt safe.

A little FYI, turkey can't smell or at least they never smelled me and I have sprayed insect spray on me by the tons during sring season, and still got turkey as close as 5-10 yards from me with the wind going from me to them and they never picked up on me.