Turkey hunting in the spring often means dealing with windy conditions. Heavy winds can make it difficult to hear gobbles disrupt normal turkey behavior and expose you to their sharp eyes. At what point is it too windy to effectively hunt turkeys? This article examines how wind impacts turkeys and your hunt to help you make the call.
How Wind Affects Turkey Behavior
Turkeys strongly dislike being exposed in wide open areas when it’s very windy. The gusts ruffle their feathers and make it hard for them to see predators approaching. Hens will only tolerate brief feeding forays into fields before retreating to cover. Toms have trouble strutting and displaying for hens.
Instead, turkeys seek out semi-protected spots that still allow visibility like:
- Low areas of a field where wind blows over them
- Clear cuts and open timber surrounded by cover
- Brushy fencerows and ditches
- Lower elevation draws and creek bottoms
They want to avoid dense woods where wind prevents detecting predators But also open ground where wind masks sounds and makes them squint
Scouting Windy Spots
When scouting your hunting area, make notes about spots where turkeys congregate when it’s windy:
- Leeward sides of ridges, hills, and bluffs
- Inside edges of field corners
- Wooded finger draws leading to cropland
- Any locale markedly quieter than surroundings
Revisit these areas on blustery days. Look for turkey sign like feathers, dusting bowls tracks and droppings that confirm they use the sites.
Gear Adjustments for Wind
Heavy winds call for special precautions with blinds and decoys:
- Use real steel stakes or spikes to securely anchor blinds
- Downsize and stake decoys low to avoid spinning
- Position blinds upwind for concealment and to carry calls better
Box calls are ideal for cutting through wind. Use loud, sharp calling to be heard. Expect delayed responses from toms as they strain to hear you.
How Much Wind is Too Much?
As a general rule, sustained winds over 20 mph with stronger gusts begin to negatively impact hunting conditions.
Visibility and hearing are compromised. Turkeys restrict movements and vocalizations. Your odds fall rapidly.
Winds 30 mph and up essentially shutdown the hunt. Birds hunker down and go silent. Calling is pointless. Stay home and wait for better weather.
However, not all wind advisories are equal. The type of habitat and terrain makes a difference:
- More open country = lower wind tolerance
- Hills/mountains = winds funnel and swirl
- Forests = less effect on turkeys from wind
Learn your particular hunting area. If it’s tightly wooded, you may hunt at higher winds versus open prairie. Be flexible and adapt as conditions dictate.
Wind is a nemesis for spring turkey hunters. But you can still have success on blustery days by playing the wind smartly.
Understand how wind impacts turkeys, adjust your tactics accordingly, and be selective on when winds simply make hunting futile. Do this and you’ll still bag gobblers when it’s blowin’ and goin’ this spring.
How to Hunt Turkeys on Windy Days
FAQ
Is turkey hunting good when it’s windy?
How windy is too windy to hunt?
Can you call turkeys in the wind?
How windy is too windy to take-off?
Do turkeys suck when hunting in high winds?
The turkeys likely can’t hear you if you’re not using a box or mouth call during high winds. The louder you can go with your yelps and cutts, the more likely you will rise above the wind and be heard by nearby gobblers. Conclusion Turkey hunting in high winds sucks, but not as much as not turkey hunting.
How to hunt a Turkey on windy days?
1) Use a tight choke tube Turkey hunting on windy days usually means that the birds will not work within the close ranges you may be accustomed to. Whether it’s the rustling vegetation or movement caused by the wind, turkeys approaching a decoy setup can be very weary.
How do windy days affect turkey hunting?
Turkey hunting in high winds can wreak havoc on ammo ballistics and the largest is wind drift. Crosswinds tend to be the worst and for longer shots, this effect can cause the shot column to travel off target by inches or even feet. One of the best ways to reduce these effects on windy days is to use tungsten or other high-density ammo.
Are turkeys more successful on windy days?
An Ohio native with 16 years of turkey hunting in his background, Randolph realizes turkeys react differently with high wind warnings in play. “ I can’t say that I am more successful turkey hunting on windy days, but I can say that I am more successful than sitting at home,” Randolph quips.