Turkey Hunting - Wind: Friend or FoeI have been hunting turkeys for 13 years now and I have not learned more in any year than the most recent, spring 06’. Being part of Mid-America Hunting Club (MAHA), and living in Kansas City, I am fortunate enough to hunt both Kansas and Missouri, both over the counter states for turkey tags. This allows me the opportunity to hunt from early April to the end of May every year.
I did not have this fortune of KS and MO 5 years ago as I moved to Kansas City then from Wisconsin. In WI, it is a draw for one 5-day season, while some are lucky to get two seasons.
Drawing from all of my hunting experiences in the past, I have always hated to hunt when the wind was above 8-10 MPH. I always considered the best day for turkey hunting to be a calm day. Now, I define a good a day of turkey hunting “being able to hear many turkeys”, so that probably adds to my opinion. Of course I love being able to harvest my sought after animal also.
My last day of turkey hunting in MO proved to be the absolute best day of turkey hunting I have ever had. I had only hunted two prior days in MO this season and either me or my hunting partner harvested a turkey each day. Many other days were spent scouting and it all came together on the last day.
It was the last Friday of MO season and on my way out to the field I could see all of the trees and grass blowing around in the wind. My first thought was “here we go again”, another day of fruitless turkey hunting where I don’t even hear a bird. I know I have heard plenty of stories.
I met up with my hunting partner and we went to where we harvested his first MO turkey. The turkeys were in the same tree as two weeks before and flew down in the same spot. We made a small move as they changed their direction. It paid off as we called in three long beards but never really had a shot.
Shortly there after in the same spot we called in three jakes. They were a bit hesitant being subordinate birds. We passed up on them as most hunters will and took off after the three long beards.
We caught up with the three long beards in full strut alone. They were in a wide open field. This is a turkey hunters dream. With about 10 minutes of calling they came in. As often happens we thought the turkeys were closer than they were and both of us missed on our double.
It is now about 9:45 am, and after some discussion about heading out, we checked out one more field. As we started to cross it, I noticed a small flock about 300 yds. away from us. We proceeded to stalk this group but could never catch up. Finally there was a spot where we thought they would come back at us, and we were right. We were delighted by watching a mature tom and 5 hens enjoying the afternoon sun. The same three jakes were tagging along behind.
After lots of calling the tom and hens made their way past us, but the three jakes were still in sight. After a short bit I was able to call all three in and my partner took one of them. It was his last day to hunt and he was tired after working third shift the night before.
Now it is 11:15 am and I proceeded to hit up the another section I had reserved after my partner left. By now it is 20 mph winds and I can’t even hear myself think. I had called my girlfriend and stated “I am just going walk in see what I see and will probably be on my way home in an hour.” Well as it turns out I did just that, but was on my way out with a turkey. I walked in, spotted a tom, called him in, and that was that.
You see, the turkeys were all over the fields and once I found the lone gobbler it didn’t take long for him to find his way to me. I was sitting there with a gobbler 100 yds away watching him gobble, but I could not hear him. Ironically a real hen came in behind him, but he didn’t see her.
That day proved to me that wind can be a friend. I didn’t go over 15 minutes without a bird within sight. What I noticed is that the turkeys are more apt to be in the fields. It is my belief that they can’t hear either, so they attempt to get in the fields to use the now best sense, sight.
I used the strategy of working the fields with a lot of walking and watching. They can’t hear you if you are walking through the adjacent woods. There sight is not as good as normal also with everything blowing around so much.
Next time, on those windy days, try some slow working of the fields and who knows maybe you will be on your way home early.
I have attached pictures of the three mature birds. The one picture shows clearly the triple beard that harvested first.
Until next turkey season (time for deer hunting),
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