[huntbigbucs]

I can't recall ever hunting turkey in the rain. I have Friday off and it looks like rain is in the forecast. Assuming its not a torrential downpour or thunderstorm, as anyone had much luck hunting them in the rain. I assume they will continue thier normal early morning routine, but will they go hide a dry spot or look for a hen??

 

[JR1]

I've killed more than a couple in the rain. A hard rain can really shut them down, but a light rain doesn't seem to slow them down much.

They do like to get into fields in a rain. Or in a harder rain, they enjoy the security of a good cedar thicket.

 

[Hobbshunter]

I've killed more than a couple in the rain. A hard rain can really shut them down, but a light rain doesn't seem to slow them down much.

They do like to get into fields in a rain. Or in a harder rain, they enjoy the security of a good cedar thicket.

+1. A light rain, they'll go in the open. They say the birds dont like wet brush wetting down their feathers.
Heavy rain, who knows?

I'll be out there with you Friday morning. We'll see. They could move that forecast a lot between here and there.

 

[FroMan]

+1. A light rain, they'll go in the open. They say the birds dont like wet brush wetting down their feathers.
Heavy rain, who knows?

I'll be out there with you Friday morning. We'll see. They could move that forecast a lot between here and there.

+2

Head to the fields. Turkeys can't see or hear as well in the rain so they head to fields to get some of the advantage back. Plus they can dry off their feathers out there.

Good luck!

 

[spur]

The rain dulls turkeys sense of hearing and to a lesser degree sight. I've killed turkeys in heavy rain and had them gobble all the way in but that is rare, usually they head to cover and stand still til the heavy rain is gone. Light rain is advantage hunter in my book. The drops dripping off the leaves, quite walking will let you skirt many a field edge til you find them. Then you can get in real close!
Good Luck!

 

[huntbigbucs]

This is good if they want to be in an open area (powerline in my case). Thats where my bird was Monday afternoon. He just got there before I did and could not get in on him.

 

[shiftymcfive01]

light rain and calm wind is some of my favorite turkey hunting. throw in a few rumbles of thunder in the distance and you've got it made.

shifty

 

[Hobbshunter]

Right now they're calling for 50% chance of scattered T-storms Friday morning up here in NWA.
I might get a chance to hear one gobbling at the thunder. Hopefully, it'll be distant thunder! I've sat on birds that were gobbling at approaching thunder way too late before and literally sprinted back to the truck before the storm got all over me.

 

[reggie-2-guns]

Reggie has had quite a bit of luck turkey hunting in the rain. None of it has ever been good.

 

[Hobbshunter]

Another thing about rain... I've found that a hard rain storm isnt worth trying to sit through. Wait in the truck. But be there when it's over! It's just as good as first light, and that goes for deer hunting too.
My first archery buck came when I was camped in Oklahoma. It was storming hard in the morning. I didnt have anywhere to go, so I waited and napped in the truck. I got in the stand about noon, and I saw 1 buck immediately. At 1:00 2 more came through and gave me a 10yd shot.
If it's storming tomorrow morning. Those turkeys will just stay on the roost, but they'll be there gobbling when it passes. Even if it's not until noon.

 

[Buba Garrett]

Another thing about rain... I've found that a hard rain storm isnt worth trying to sit through. Wait in the truck. But be there when it's over! It's just as good as first light, and that goes for deer hunting too.
My first archery buck came when I was camped in Oklahoma. It was storming hard in the morning. I didnt have anywhere to go, so I waited and napped in the truck. I got in the stand about noon, and I saw 1 buck immediately. At 1:00 2 more came through and gave me a 10yd shot.
If it's storming tomorrow morning. Those turkeys will just stay on the roost, but they'll be there gobbling when it passes. Even if it's not until noon.

I agree 100% If you have a light rain find any opening, the rain gets the grasshoppers ect moving and the turkeys feeding!

 

[huntbigbucs]

Another thing about rain... I've found that a hard rain storm isnt worth trying to sit through. Wait in the truck. But be there when it's over! It's just as good as first light, and that goes for deer hunting too.
My first archery buck came when I was camped in Oklahoma. It was storming hard in the morning. I didnt have anywhere to go, so I waited and napped in the truck. I got in the stand about noon, and I saw 1 buck immediately. At 1:00 2 more came through and gave me a 10yd shot.
If it's storming tomorrow morning. Those turkeys will just stay on the roost, but they'll be there gobbling when it passes. Even if it's not until noon.

Deer definetely stir like crazy after a good storm or hard rain.

looks like 80% chance of storms in the south tommrrow. Looks like I will have to get up at 04:00 and assess the situation. Would not hurt my feelings to not have the storms let up till noon. some extra zzzzzzzz's never hurt

 

[Triple Threat]

For myself, I appreciate the question and all the knowledgable answers.:up:

 

[Hobbshunter]

I went over to Madison Co WMA bright and early this morning, and I went out in the light rain. There was one thing that was different from last nights forecast though... It was windy!
I couldnt hear a thing. I tried hunting openings, but all the food plots were on ridgetops so after a while I went in a bottom and got out of the wind. No luck either way. Oh well. It was worth a shot.

 

[huntbigbucs]

The wind did me in this morning too. I got up and it was pouring here and looked like it was head towards camp, so I opted to go to work and save my day. I will try it again

 

[Arkie_3_fan]

Reggie has had quite a bit of luck turkey hunting in the rain. None of it has ever been good.

Reggie, you aren't the only one with that kind of luck. :smack: