Hunting in the rain.

[deerbasshunter3]

I imagine this has been covered more than enough, but here goes.

Do you hunt in the rain, or call it a day? If you do hunt, do you prefer to stay in the timber to try to get out of the rain, or do you hit the fields? I ask because it seems like I have read that the turkeys will tend to go in the fields in the rain.

I am guessing a blind is the best way to hunt in the rain, but should it be on the edge of a field or in the woods? Finally, can it be raining too hard for it to even be possible to kill a turkey, or is it really just up to what the hunter is willing to endure?

[surehuntsalot]

as far as me 99% of the time if it's raining, I'm not hunting, especially turkeys. If I do hunt it will be in a blind

[Marc]

I have killed birds in driving rain...  Would prefer not to though.  Generally those breaks in the rain, or when the rain temporarily lets up is a great time to kill a bird.

I have limited days to hunt this season, and outside of a tsunami situation, I will be hunting.

I actually have had pretty good success percentage wise hunting in the rain...  The toms are pretty keyed up for breeding...  And I figure turkeys are kinda like people, the boys are ready any time any place, but the situation has to be just right for the girls...  Puttin' out a love call when all the rest of the ladies are not interested has provided me some successful hunts...

I hunt wooded foothills and tend to hunt areas of thick cover near open areas.  Also I have experienced little to no gobbling during the rain...  They have all come in quiet...  I have been surprised a couple of occasions and have flubbed up by moving or calling at just the right time with a bird close by.

[tomstopper]

Killed some nice birds in the rain. I like to hunt pipelines bordered by timber during the rain. IMO, they like them because they can see long distances, bug, and escape into the timber when alarmed.

[fallhnt]

I hunt fields nice and dry in a blind.

[Captain Hooks]

If it's a down pour I'm waiting in the truck, but when it starts to lighten up or there is a break in the weather I'm hunting a grassy field edge.  Birds usually end up in field whenever it rains.  I'm assuming it's a safe place for them to preen theirselves.
I've killed some of my biggest bird using this strategy

[deerbasshunter3]

So my best bet would be to pop up a blind on the edge of a field, setup decoys, and call like any regular hunt?

I am assuming it doesn't matter if the blind is new to them or not?

[buck_hunter21]

So my best bet would be to pop up a blind on the edge of a field, setup decoys, and call like any regular hunt?

I am assuming it doesn't matter if the blind is new to them or not?

Throw that thing up smack dab in the middle of the field. Turkeys will pay absolutely not attention to it.

[stinkpickle]

So my best bet would be to pop up a blind on the edge of a field, setup decoys, and call like any regular hunt?

I am assuming it doesn't matter if the blind is new to them or not?

Throw that thing up smack dab in the middle of the field. Turkeys will pay absolutely not attention to it.

Exactly!   

[TRG3]

A couple of years ago, it was the first day of the Illinois turkey season and I was backed up against a big oak tree with my decoys in the fescue field behind me. I was facing the woods where, in the past, they'd always come from. It was about 40 degrees and drizzling. I was somewhat cozy in my rain outfit but doubted that I'd have any success since I'd heard no gobbles. About 8 a.m., the morning coffee was starting to work on me, so I looked to my left and right to be best of my ability around the big tree, sat up from my ground lounger and swung to my right on my knees only to face a big gobbler only 20 yards away that had come in silently to check out my decoys. My shotgun was laying on the ground and when I went for it, he took off. "Running" on my knees to the left side of the big oak, I sent a load of #5 shot his way as he passed the 40 yard mark. He did a couple of front rolls and then flopped for a while, giving me some time to finish what I'd originally started.

[Cullenhunter]

In a good rain, head to open areas. I don't know if it is because they can't hear well due to the sound of the raindrops and they can rely more on their eyesight to avoid predators or it's some other vague turkey reason, but they tend to head there when it's raining.
On the other hand, a steady rain, especially a cold one, shuts gobbling down. Turkeys sit longer on the roost. What to do? Hunt open fields, like pastures and short alfalfa. In this kind of weather, turkeys would rather walk in short vegetation so that their feathers won't drag through sodden grass and underbrush. They prefer open spaces where they can see predators that might otherwise slip up on them undetected in the wet woods. Stake out a field if you know birds use it. Or move quietly, glassing open areas for birds. Once you spot them, spend a few minutes determining their line of march. Get around them, set up, and call. Be patient; they may not respond as quickly as on a nice day, but they'll come.