Turkey Hunting Question!

[Isaac White]

Friday morning will be this years opening day of Kansas's Youth Turkey Hunting Season. All week the weather has been in the 70's and I have been scouting the gobblers every evening and some mornings and have been seeing a great number of birds in many different locations. The birds seem to be following a good routine because I will see turkeys in the mornings and evenings in the same spot. I have a good idea on where me and my friend will hunt on friday and have been waiting for this day to come ever since goose season ended! The only bad thing is that tomorrow there's an 80% chance for an inch of snow and friday it suppose to be really cold and maybe snow again in the evening!!! However it suppose to warm back up on Saturday and Sunday so whatever snow we get should probably melt before then. I have no clue what the turkeys will do! The question is do you think the turkeys will change their routine and will they still be out strutting and stuff in the COLD weather? Also do you think if it does snow and the weather gets nice again they will go back to their old routine after the cold weather? Thanks for the help!

[Aaron Hitchins]

That is definetly a major league wrench in your plans! I would just light a fire in the bush and sit around it waiting for them to come get warmed up!

Aaron

[Levi Fry]

Isaac-
In my experience they may change their routines as the weather cools off. I am actually heading down to hunt in NE OK this weekend, and my Brother in SE KS is telling me that all the birds are heavy with hens. Try for a quick bird off the roost. If that doesn't work, give the birds a couple of hours and then the hens will break off and there could be a few gobblers out looking to add a new girl to their team.
Bottom line, scout them the night before and that should tell you if they are in the same area.
Good luck!

[Mallardbreath]

I'm not an expert turkey hunter, but in my travels, I've noticed that turkeys will be very active after a rain or snow shower. As soon as it stops raining or snowing, I'd be out hunting.

[ksgoosekilr]

Isaac how have you been. You'll have to come back goosehunting next year with me and Zach again. Between the 10dz. FFD Zach is going to get and the 5-6 dz. I will have we will put a hurtin on them. Anyways the turkeys will not change their patterns this far into spring. Wherever the hens are the gobblers will be close behind. Right now you cannot exactly pattern the birds like you could in the fall. Try a morning set up and try to get a bird fired up. If they decide to be quiet, just sit and be patient. More times than not a bird will sneak up on you in the rain (and snow even though it doesn't happen often here!) without making a sound. They will be out in full force by the weekend though I promise you. Take care and let us know how it goes.

Greg

[Walt McCord]

I would have to say try them just off the roost!!! If its been hot here they will be looking for a hen!!! Try and get them when they wake up and start looking for a new hen!!!!! As for the cold changing their normal day, it can. They are like anyother animal you have to be ready for anything.

[Isaac White]

Thanks for the replies!! You all helped me out alot cause I had no clue how they would react. Thanks again, my friend and I are still planning on hunting in the morning. I will take lots of pictures and may even try to video if I can! Once again thanks for your time!

[CurrituckBoy]

Turkeys do act differently with weather change as do most animals, but if it is not a prolonged periond of cold I would stick to what you have been seeing the birds do, I have seen them change with weather but usally, not always, it has to be over a few days.

Good luck and lets see the birds you guys get

Michael

[Mark "LA CROSS" Hoke]

Isaac when dealing with nature anything can happen. For the most part the birds will go thru there daily routines but the big picture will be what stage of the breeding season your turkeys are in a drop of 20 degrees in temp can shut your birds down and leave mature gooblers walking and strutting behind hens with no vocal response to your calls .

This might mean waiting out the birds not over calling first thing . Surely let those old boys know your there but don't push them to the point the hens will take them away . I guess I am saying don't throw your Aces on the table first thing . Cold weather can be the worst thing that can happen to a Turkey hunter . Play it smart and wait for the right moment .

______________________________________
Mark La Cross Hoke
Avery Pro-Staff
Zink Calls Z-Unit

[Rob Jepson]

Isaac when dealing with nature anything can happen. For the most part the birds will go thru there daily routines but the big picture will be what stage of the breeding season your turkeys are in a drop of 20 degrees in temp can shut your birds down and leave mature gooblers walking and strutting behind hens with no vocal response to your calls .

This might mean waiting out the birds not over calling first thing . Surely let those old boys know your there but don't push them to the point the hens will take them away . I guess I am saying don't throw your Aces on the table first thing . Cold weather can be the worst thing that can happen to a Turkey hunter . Play it smart and wait for the right moment.
You can take this advice to the bank Isaac. Mark has killed more turkeys than Butterball!

[RICK MACFARLANE]

ISAAC

Try to roost the birds the night before and get between the hen and tom if the land will let you.I would let the hen do the calling for you if they talk at all.If the hen dosent talk I would try a few soft tree yelps.Good luck.

[Kyle Fisher]

Isaac, even though the weather might not be what you are looking for, the turkey's are still going to do there thing. Iowa has had great weather last week in the 70's, now its 20 degrees and blowing winds of 20 mph plus. I live next to the timber and even in the cold weather the turkeys are still struting their stuff. I would say put your time in where you have scouted and you will be fine. good luck!
Kyle

[FlockedUp]

i have never seen cold weather effect turkeys...they dont have the weather channel. They have always worked off of the moon and sun. where the sun is at in the sky has always started the breeding. the moon will effect them some but not alot, at least not as much as deer. Dont worry about the cold. This isnt the first spring its froze some and it wont be the last. Turkeys have a time table to breed in to ensure survival. They are going to breed when the time is right, the time seems to be now where i am.