How does heat affect turkey hunting?

[WyoHunter]

This spring in the areas I hunt (WY, KS, NE) has seen higher than normal temps. What's your opinion on how this affects bird movement and breeding activity?

[Dan Mallia]

Here in CA we recently just had a hot spell for a few days and it seemed like the birds went quiet and there wasn't much activity..........   I assume the rise in temps up 15 degrees had something to do with it.

[NEKVT]

Intresting... We had a Hot spell up here in VT for a few days a couple weeks ago and they seemed to be extreamly active.... However rainy and cool weather seemed to have quieted them down some.

[Mike Honcho]

I hunt mostly in Kansas...I've always noticed the later in the season (ie hotter temps) that the turkeys are mostly active the first hour after flydown (visible feeding in fields) then after that they head back in to cover and prefer areas where there is shande and some water,  like creeks.   I like to hunt during this time of day the most so I really don't have to change my tactics.   If you are hunting in the heat of the day get nearer their cover and water.

They can expose themselves again a couple of hours before flying up to roost as they travel back to  roost sites depending on the terrain/location.

We had 92 degrees where I live yesterday so I'm sure I'll encounter this on my weekend hunt with the grandsons.

[redleg06]

Intresting... We had a Hot spell up here in VT for a few days a couple weeks ago and they seemed to be extreamly active.... However rainy and cool weather seemed to have quieted them down some.

I dont think rainy and cold together is a good combo.  Either a rainy (avg temp day) when the rain breaks  OR  a cool crisp/clear morning is what I'm talking about.

I hunt in the South (Tx, Ok, Bama) so an unusually warm spell down here, in the spring, can get in the 90's and even low 100's in Tx and Ok and that can really shut them and ME down during the middle of the day (when I normally kill a lot of birds).