Global freezing = turkey season

[Cervinae]

Here in Iowa, second season gobbler hunting begins tomorrow. My arctic gear is packed as the forecast calls for a winters mix, which includes wind gust up to 35 mph.  A day off work has been scheduled weeks ago; no turning back. The hunt is on.  I will be hunting hilly ground with timber and open fields. I know where the birds roost and plan to start my morning there...then what?

[Mike Honcho]

I hunt ne KS...was 30 degrees this morning....turkeys silent....finally saw two hens walking back to my truck...had to get back for work. I didn't get this cold bowhunting deer last November!

[TauntoHawk]

Gonna be 25 for the open of youth season tomorrow morning with highs in the 40's. Chilly but Reports of good roost gobbling and plenty of strutting have me hopeful.

[stinkpickle]

During first season, the toms were glued to the hens in the middle of the fields ALL DAY LONG.  They gobbled well on the roost, though.  I caught one on Monday in a fence row moving from one field to the next (I missed).  Then on Wednesday, a tom flew down before the hens during a rain storm.  If those hens would have landed first, I would've been screwed.

[Gooserbat]

It was plenty cool here in OK this am.  Had 3 different birds talking and should have killed one but I screwed up...nothing new..I got to do it a couple of times each season just to make sure I ain't lost my edge.  Anyway it's been cool/cold, windy and wet.  I ready for some warm bluebird days.

[Mike Honcho]

I drove around and scouted some after hunting this morning and didn't see any birds at 4 different places that normally I would see birds at at least 3 of the 4.  I think they are staying low out of the cold wind.

My boss did get one this morning finally...he didn't have any luck at his first set up but drove around and scouted
, saw some birds about a half mile away.  Was able to get set up between them and where they were going and ended up making a 20 yard shot...he had hens so he just  kept quiet, no calling. Nice eastern, 23 lbs, 1 1/4" sharp hooks, 10 1/2" beard.

[Cervinae]

Despite the weather, it was an enjoyable and educational turkey hunt. As with most anything, how you mindfully approach something makes the outcome what it is. I didn't kill a bird but had a fine opportunity present itself. There was less gobbling but the birds were on the move; high winds and cool weather wasn't stopping the mating game. The day after the bad weather day, the mating game intensified, as if to make up for lost time. Gobbling and response calling was good. The lack of greenery made ambushing difficult and that is why I got picked off by a Wiley bird. The slate and trumpet call got em talking.