3. Don’t Let High Winds Blow Your Hunt Away
As perhaps the most significant weather condition for turkey hunters, high winds make chasing gobblers a lot more difficult.
At the start of the spring season, hunters plan on the advantage of calling aggressive turkeys. However, high winds make this approach much more difficult, as the wind can carry sound away from (rather than toward) the turkeys you want to harvest.
High winds also make it challenging to hear a gobbler respond to a call and identify their location. When you can’t hear a tom call back, you may also struggle with the patience to hold your ground and listen for very long.
In windy weather, be prepared to sit longer without hearing responses from turkeys (even if they are in the area). You might also need to change your calling strategies to work around the wind.
Using friction or slate and box calls can be ideal on windy days. These calls produce a high pitch at a higher volume than others and can compete with noisy wind conditions, so using these calls extends a hunter’s calling range.
Mouth calls can still be effective when dealing with windy conditions; just be aware that the active range will be shorter than in less breezy conditions.
Wind Changes a Turkey’s Daily Pattern
In addition to the impact on how sound travels, windy weather changes a turkey’s daily pattern. When it’s windy, wild turkeys must depend on their eyes more and tend to spook easier in poor weather conditions.
Our experts recommend setting up near open areas protected by timber. Turkeys feel more comfortable in these areas. They’re also less likely to feed in open, unprotected fields when windy.
Use the Wind to Your Advantage
If the wind interferes too much with your patience to sit, listen, and wait (and you prefer more action), try “running and gunning” after birds to stir them up.
Don’t be afraid to move and check fields for activity often. Moving on windy days can pay off. Turkeys still depend on their amazing eyesight when it’s windy, so move in thick concealed areas surrounding these open areas to improve your chances of harvesting a bird despite the wind.
Most importantly, hunters can use high winds to their advantage. Windy conditions help eliminate your sound to conceal some of your movement that might spook a bird. Turkeys have a harder time seeing even slight movements when their surroundings blow in the wind.
A breezy day could give you just enough surrounding movement to move your gun or draw your bow and make an excellent shot before a turkey realizes you’re there.
