It never ceases to amaze me how I can go to bed the night before a turkey hunt, see that the weather is forecasting a calm day, only to wake up to howling winds. But hey, that’s unpredictable spring weather for you and f you hunt turkeys long enough odds are your going to have to deal with a few days like this each season. Many turkey hunters struggle hunting during a strong wind. While it can be tough, you can still find successful turkey hunting in the wind if you understand turkey behavior and adjust your tactics accordingly.
Key Considerations for Turkey Hunting in the Wind
Adapting your turkey hunting strategy in high winds is essential.
Turkey behavior changes in the wind. By understanding these changes in bird behavior, you focus your hunts in areas the birds are likely to be.
Effective calling techniques in the wind can help increase hunting success.
Understanding Wind and Turkey Behavior
When the wind picks up, turkeys alter their movement and behavior drastically. As a hunter, it’s crucial to understand these changes to adapt your turkey hunting strategy.
Effects of High Winds on Turkey Movement
During high winds, a turkeys ability to hear diminishes drastically. In the woods, clattering branches caused by the wind reduces their ability to hear potential threats even more. To combat this, they will often seek areas that are protected from the wind like creek bottoms, bowls, or the leeward side of a ridge.
Turkeys tend to avoid open areas where the wind compromises their ability to hear. The times that I have encountered turkeys in open areas during strong winds, they where in a location of the field that had either a low spot or terrain feature that allowed them protection from the wind.
When confronted with strong winds, turkeys display a heightened sense of caution. Vocalizations may grow scarce as they rely more on their vision.
Strategies for Hunting in Windy Conditions
When hunting windy conditions, adjusting your tactics can significantly increase your chances of encountering and harvesting gobblers. Mastering heavy winds means knowing where you are likely to find birds and how to adjust your calling.
Choosing the Right Location
Finding the right spot is half the battle on a windy day. I look for terrain where turkeys are naturally going to find shelter from the wind. These are often on the leeward side of hills, in valleys, or in dense timber. Focusing my efforts in these areas not only gives me a break from the wind but also keeps me in a areas turkeys are likely to be.
Adapting Calls for Windy Weather
When it comes to calling during windy conditions, I will generally call louder and more often. This is to make sure that a gobbler can hear my calls while also hopefully increasing the chances that I hear him gobble before he sees me.
The box call is a great option for these types of conditions due to it having the ability to make loud hen yelps that cut through the wind. I personally use a glass class when the wind is blowing. The sharp high pitch calls produced from a glass call reach out and cut through the wind really well.
Tactics to Increase Success on Windy Days
When the wind is blowing, it’s easy to think that hunting turkeys is a futile effort. But with the right approach, you can turn breezy conditions into an ally. Let’s discuss some specific tactics that can help you improve your chances of success when hunting turkeys on those challenging windy days.
The Art of Stealth and Patience
As you cover ground, make sure your approach is calculated and stealthy. Turkeys may not hear you approach over the sound of rustling leaves and branches. This can give you the opportunity to see them before they see you.
If you happen to get a bird gobbling, be patient when set up. It might take a bird that is cautous due to the wind a short while to come in.
Timing Your Hunt
Have you ever noticed how the wind can sometimes die down at certain times of the day? That’s the perfect opportunity to intensify my calling efforts. Right when the wind takes a breather, I seize the moment. My calls, which need to be more aggressive on windy days, can finally carry through the woods without getting swept away by the gusts.
Final Thoughts for Windy Day Turkey Hunts
When hunting turkeys in high winds, strategic adjustments are necessary. Louder calls, like box calls and glass calls , are great for cutting through the wind. Patience becomes even more critical, as gobblers may be more cautious during these conditions. Despite the challenge of the wind, staying vigilant and adaptable can lead to a successful hunt and a proud story to share.
