My grandpa always told me that if its raining to hunt the open fields. He claimed that the rain would make it hard for the turkey to see. And that the turkeys would go to the fields because they could see better if anything was moving in on them.
Have any of you guys had luck in the fields with rain ?
I have noticed them congregating in middle of fields during heavy rain. However, if it's raining that hard, they just hunker down and wait. Now, once the rain stops and sun comes out, things can get fun... ;)
They will move to fields from the woods in rain because of all the noise and movement on and in the foliage due to the rain. It's a good tactic to hunt fields during rain. Also less hunters during rain. Great bonus if you hunt public like I do.
Yep, I think they use fields to feel safer from predators with all the sound and movement in the woods.
I believe what was said as well, however I know they hit the fields for food, lots of worms and grubs out in the rain, we killed a few birds in a bean field one spring, every time it rained they swarmed it, my client killed a tom and when I went to get the truck I noticed night crawlers all over that field.
My clients have killed quite a few birds in fields during big rains.
Steady rain + turkeys = Fields.
I have seen more turkeys in fields when raining, than not.
I think they may be after worms and things.
Public or private, if it is raining, I head to the fields. See lots more activity.
I like to hunt fields anyway, but even more so on rainy days. As long as It's not raining cats and dogs I'll be on the edge of a field somewhere, or just back from it. I have a pet spot that I try not to over hunt, but rainy days without lightning are a great time to be there. It's a big old maple tree out in the middle of a field, with some small brush and rocks around it.
Bob
There is a old cedar tree up on this little knob . The only tree for about 200 yards. Thick with weeds and thorns. It used to be a old coal mine. I see the turkeys up there about every time i go up there. I think its a strut zone. Im going to try that spot if it rains this season.
Have taken plenty of birds during the rain in the fields, I think it messes with their "awareness" they have between visual acuity (to much stuff moving i.e. leafs / small weeds and such) and hearing (lots of noise from rain splattering) this is taking away their 2 key survival instincts. Once they move out into the open they are at least getting back some "vision" of what's moving around them. If that rain gets to hard birds may just hunker down in the middle of a field. We have killed birds in a complete downpour though. Here's a great video of a bird "sleeping" in a field just as the downpour quits rain is still coming down lightly...
MK M GOBL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qfb9925NSQ
Quote from: MK M GOBL on March 18, 2016, 04:00:52 PM
Have taken plenty of birds during the rain in the fields, I think it messes with their "awareness" they have between visual acuity (to much stuff moving i.e. leafs / small weeds and such) and hearing (lots of noise from rain splattering) this is taking away their 2 key survival instincts. Once they move out into the open they are at least getting back some "vision" of what's moving around them. If that rain gets to hard birds may just hunker down in the middle of a field. We have killed birds in a complete downpour though. Here's a great video of a bird "sleeping" in a field just as the downpour quits rain is still coming down lightly...
MK M GOBL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qfb9925NSQ
That's crazy, thank you.:icon_thumright: I didn't think turkeys slept that sound when they were on the ground. Seems like any I've seen slept with one eye open.
Bob
sleeping on the ground. While hunting in Kansas I was cutting and a hen came running into see who was in the area. She had 3 jakes behind her you cant see in pic. She set on a log and went to sleep and the jakes just waited across the ditch. After about 30 minutes my legs were hurting so I got my phone out got ready and pitched a small twig over and hit her. I took pick when she raised her head. She was about 10 feet away. Maybe she was wore out with the jakes chasing her around. I have never seen anything like it. I hope the attached photo come through
Thought about this thread this morning when I killed a gobbler in a field, on a rainy day. :funnyturkey:
He hit the field within thirty minutes of the rain stopping.
i was always told another another reason beyond sound is the rain weighs them down and they need more time to get off the ground.