Leaving Tuesday for lead, sd. The weather looks atrocious. Going the last week of the season I figured we didn't need to worry about snow. It's got the wifey freaking out. Any tips for the bad weather? were thinking of even scrapping the trip and taking the loss. Idk all the planning and prep sucks when I see the forecast.
That's the chance you take with western hunts. The weather does look sketchy, but it's probably not impossible hunting. It's the same weather pattern that's moving through Montana. I'm not sure if the BH are like us, but we can have multiple days of 50%+ forecast and still see very little moisture. We'll see the cold and clouds but our moisture is nowhere near as continuous as the Midwest or East. However, we can still have some miserable weather.
I've done NW Nebraska late season several times that I hunted 4 days of rain. Sometimes just a drizzle or must, but sometimes a drenched. Although not quite as cold as BH.
Another thought...jump to the next week, hope the weather improves, hunt Nebraska and do a day trip to see the sights in the BH.
Merriams are probably the least affected by inclement weather of all the subspecies of turkey. They will gobble in the snow and there will be plenty of lonely late season birds.
If you have the ability to hit another state where the weather will be better, I'd consider that but the truth is, many people have killed merriams in snow storms and I'm sure there's someone on this forum who will a black hills turkey during the dates you're supposed to be there.
Fair weather hunters save a lot of turkeys for the rest of us. Don't be a fair weather hunter.
It snowed 6 inches the morning we got there a few weeks ago. The soil temp is warm, especially since we've been there. The snow will melt pretty quick. If you haven't been there you'll spend the first day or so driving around getting a feel for the area anyways.
I used to do these trips with family (wife and 3 kids) and only one kid was hunting. That is where the real misery comes in. The wife and kids wanted to enjoy nice weather and be away from home in a new place, especially a place like the Blackhills. It was a mini vacation for them, not a death march in miserable weather. You need to weigh in your wife's part in the trip. Leaving her in a hotel room watching tv while you tough out the weather may not win you any points,for more trips. My wife toughed them out with me but never enjoyed the raining cold weather and being stuck in a cabin. I usually spent extra cash on local restaurants and movie theatres with her and the kids and didn't hunt a lot of evenings on those trips.
rain gear...check!
Yeah I honestly don't mind the crappy weather I know that comes with planning a out of state hunt. I just don't want her miserable I still think we might go ahead and roll with it. I have 400 dollars invested in tags and down payment for the cabin. If anything it'll help with the learning curve for next year if we come back. I will definitely bring the pop up blind for comfort they don't mind those do they?
I've not used them and not hunted the BH specifically. However, the birds there will respond similar to anywhere else. I would recommend being somewhat mobile anywhere that you hunt Merriam's. Riverbottom country may be the exception.
The birds won't even notice a pop up blind and your wife will likely appreciate it.
Make sure your rig is adequately equipped with emergency stuff and even better, stuff to self-extricate.
I would try to get one the day after the snow, when it gets nice.
All it takes is being in the right place at the right time. My one trip to South Dakota was pretty much 2-1/2 days of rain on a three day trip. We were cold and wet and covered many miles searching for birds. On the last afternoon the weather broke and the sun began to shine. The birds came alive as soon as the sun broke through the clouds. I would do it all again if I had to. With good rain gear of course. I couldn't imagine hunting in those conditions without it.
That's what I'm hoping, Saturday looks clear for now
As I stated when you were asking about a 4 wheel drive vehicle or not for your hunt, South Dakota is very susceptible to snow their entire spring turkey season. We went the last week of their season a few years ago and we were greeted with 6 inches of snow on our first day of our hunt. We didn't hunt the first day because it snowed almost all day that first day. We hunted the second and third day with snow on the ground but it didn't effect the turkeys at all. As soon as the sun came out, the birds were back to gobbling and moving. Good Luck and enjoy the adventure.
Thanks guys were headed out in a few hours. I will keep y'all updated hopefully we can get a break in the weather and scratch a bird or two.
Quote from: wdog on May 16, 2017, 09:50:30 AM
Thanks guys were headed out in a few hours. I will keep y'all updated hopefully we can get a break in the weather and scratch a bird or two.
update?
Enroute should be there around 4 am mountain time!
Headed out here at 6am in the morning getting where we're going in northern Nebraska around noon.
Hope y'all have a good report. I'm heading to NW Nebraska myself May 21st.
When we were there earlier last month it snowed on is pretty heavy. There were tracks and strut marks all in the snow. Definitely a cool place to hunt. Would like to do it again one day.
Just got a nap in... rain seems pretty light headed out shortly, very cool looking place so far.
Good luck. Looks like weather should be ok tomorrow, but better on Saturday.
My parents drove 90 East through South Dakota today on their way back home. The drive through the same heavy rain that passed through the Black Hills last night.
No dice, not even a gobble. first morning tomorrow see how it goes... on the bright side saw a herd of elk and a ton of whitetail and some mule deer
Quote from: wdog on May 17, 2017, 11:29:53 PM
No dice, not even a gobble. first morning tomorrow see how it goes... on the bright side saw a herd of elk and a ton of whitetail and some mule deer
You will see an ungodly amount of deer. Bet we saw a couple thousand in 6 days.
Pretty slow heard 2 gobbles this morning putting miles on the truck and the boots just can't seem to find em yet
Quote from: wdog on May 18, 2017, 02:43:24 PM
Pretty slow heard 2 gobbles this morning putting miles on the truck and the boots just can't seem to find em yet
I can put you on some birds if you want. They weren't acting right a few weeks ago, but they might come to calls now. Text me if you want. 3144354777
That is a very kind and sportsmanlike offer Boland!! :happy0064: :happy0064: :happy0064: :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
Quote from: spaightlabs on May 18, 2017, 05:39:22 PM
That is a very kind and sportsmanlike offer Boland!! :happy0064: :happy0064: :happy0064: :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
There are 5 gobblers and I guarantee no one else has hunted them since. And I'm 1300 miles away so someone may as well try to kill them. They deserve to die after what they put me through!!!
Quote from: Bolandstrutters on May 18, 2017, 06:20:37 PM
There are 5 gobblers and I guarantee no one else has hunted them since. And I'm 1300 miles away so someone may as well try to kill them. They deserve to die after what they put me through!!!
:TooFunny:
I'd definitely check out the birds mentioned if you can get that info. I wouldnt exactly count on the assumption that theyve not been hunted, but that doesn't mean they aren't still there. Keep putting the miles on, and don't hesitate to do plenty of yelping and cutting to locate Merriam's. Just make sure that you are ready to set up quickly if needed.
Quote from: hobbes on May 18, 2017, 07:14:04 PM
I'd definitely check out the birds mentioned if you can get that info. I wouldnt exactly count on the assumption that theyve not been hunted, but that doesn't mean they aren't still there. Keep putting the miles on, and don't hesitate to do plenty of yelping and cutting to locate Merriam's. Just make sure that you are ready to set up quickly if needed.
Yeah you're right I can't guarantee they haven't been hunted. It was one of the few places that no matter how much we walked we didn't see any signs of humans. And lots of turkey sign too. It wasn't as accessible as most of the spots which I think is why. I walked 14 miles without hitting a main road and didn't touch probably but a quarter of the chunk of land in the that spot.
Put 12 miles on the boots today and finally found some turkey sign and had one work. Man Do these things move fast! Caught me off guard but hey im learning. snow in the forecast should make things interesting.
Thanks for all the tips and encouragement fellas it's definitely keeping me motivated.
Snow isn't necessarily a bad thing (see my New Mexico thread). Good luck. I leave for Nebraska Saturday night.
Good luck today!
Finally a calm night. Was able to put 2 birds to bed. At em in the am
Quote from: wdog on May 19, 2017, 11:20:08 PM
Finally a calm night. Was able to put 2 birds to bed. At em in the am
Get in early, get in tight, and on their level.
Good luck! I'm looking forward to the pictures!!
Denny
A hen ended up coming to the bird gobbling his head off this morning. I fired her up and she came right in with the tom in tow. He got to about 80 and just strutted back and forth. Back at em tomorrow, one more morning. Midday toady was a bust.
If you pinpointed the tree he was in this morning, you should be able to slip in and bust him on his way bask to roost.
Well got it done last morning of the season headed back to wisconsin with a merriams in the cooler. Anyone want to help me post a pic.?
Way to go man, that will make the ride home a lot easier
Congrats. There should be some instructions for posting photos somewhere.
woohooooo!!!
Congrats, way to go !
Good job on getting one! Look forward to hearing the story and seeing the pics
Congrats, man.
Congrats, can't wait for the pictures.