Turkey tactics and the weather

For a number of years my first hunt of the spring was a Cornhuskin’ gobbler chase, and my turkey tactics were very weather related.  Some years it was 75 and sunny, while other years it was 25 and spitting snow.  You had to approach the birds differently with each front that blew through, and by changing our turkey tactics we always brought home some birds.

Turkey tactics in the snow

When there is snow on the ground, that means it is winter to the birds and your turkey tactics must reflect the bed, loaf, and feed pattern the turkeys are in.   These turkey tactics relate to bad weather any time in the spring.  Bad weather forces the birds to lay low and conserve energy to stay warm, so your turkey tactics will be heavy on patterning the birds daily routine.  Find a good feed lot, or a corn field the birds are using.  They will show at roughly the same time and spot every day, so find a way in where they don’t sense your approach, set your blind up where they want to be and wait them out.  It is one of the most boring turkey tactics I can think of, but it is effective and will get your tag punched.

Your turkey tactics will change with many variables, but weather is one you can predict from 500 miles away.  You don’t have to be there to know what the birds will be doing, and if you are spoiled like me, you will stay home when it snows, and save those kitchen passes for days the turkey tactics you employ are your favorites.

Turkey tactics change with the weather

When the sun comes out with a south wind and the temps climb into the 60′s and 70′s your turkey tactics change drastically.  The first 2 days of nice weather will have the toms splitting out of their winter groups and traveling for miles to set up their spring ranges.  Your turkey tactics now will be to cover ground and try strike a bird, and get in front of him.  He is on the move and it is a solid plan to try get in front of him.  Turkey tactics now dictate he won’t come back to where he just was so don’t try following him and calling him back.  Get in front of him.  Change your early season turkey tactics to match the weather this spring, and watch your success rate climb with the temp.

Turkey tactics for consistently nice weather

As we have discussed before, 3 nice days in a row is the best time to get out in the woods and after the turkeys.  Your turkey tactics now are as aggressive as they get, and it’s a great time to introduce someone new to the sport.  Even if the tom does not commit, your rookie hunter will be sure to hear some birds, and most likely have them answer a call or two.  It’s one of the few scenarios where my turkey tactics will include a box call in a youngsters hand.  When that wound up tom will answer the scratchings of a 6 year old boy or girl, they are hooked for life.