kudu88 Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 So this is my first year turkey hunting and I will be up in Michigan trying to bag a bird. The concern I have is that the area I will be hunting has several feet of snow still on the ground and the forecast for the next two weeks doesn't look promising. If there still is a bunch of snow on the ground how will that effect the birds? I have read that their breeding season goes off The amount of daylight hours so it will technically be spring even if the snow still suggests winter. Anyone have any good ideas with how to approach the season with snow still on the ground? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 (edited) try to find out where they are feeding...turkeys will follow the deer and let them dig acorns, them come in and scratch to feed..birds are still bunched up here and on a roost/feeding pattern still..we had birde right by the road, called to try to get them to shock gobble..they RAN! I'd keep pretty close to a hen purr and maybe soft yelp ..dont over call..seems they want nothing to do with a hen just yet Edited April 7, 2013 by Mathews XT Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 I wish I had something to tell you. But I'm in the same boat as you. Headed west end of the week for a Merriam's hunt and the area I am going to is bracing for 12"-18" Tuesday. Guess just get out there in it, put down some boot leather and listen closely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 We went 9 for 15 with our Learn to Hunt program in the snow. The kids did great but their feet got cold quick. Hunt food sources and exposed ground. The birds were not receptive to calling much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 I can't say how an Eastern bird is going to react to snow. I've hunted Merriams in the snow twice in New Mexico during 2 hunts. Called in and killed gobbling turkeys both times. Got my 2 bird limit on the 1st hunt but only 1 on the 2nd hunt. The day before our 1st hunt a blizzard blew in. 1st day, ~8" of snow low and more up higher. Sun was out our 1st day and we had no problem getting those Merriam gobblers fired up. I was buddy hunting with one of my old friends. We made the mistake of calling to the 1st gobbling bird & then tried to move into position to work him closer thinking he wouldn't come that far in the snow. By the time we were set up in a closer spot to work him the bird answered us gobbling right where we had 1st called from. We ended up back there & saw his wing drag makes in the snow. Go figure. We killed 1 bird the 1st day, 1 the 2nd, & 2 on the 3rd day. The last day was better, mainly because we had the option by then to hunt where the sun had melted off the snow in some places. I killed one of those last day birds where there was still snow on the ground though. Overall, it was a great hunt! Worked birds every day. I'm not sure how many but a lot. As turkey hunting goes you're not going to kill every bird you get to respond. BTW...worst part was sitting under a tree while the snow was melting the 1st day. Like sitting in a cold rain shower. Be prepared for that if there's snow in the trees, especially evergreen trees. I wasn't! Our 2nd hunt was miserable. We woke up to thunder, lightening & pouring snow the 1st morning. Couldn't really get to where most of the birds were. Out of 4 of us hunting, well trying to, 1 gobbler was killed the 1st day. I killed my bird the 2nd day on a marathon hunt in the snow. Got on him ~9:00 and killed him at 3:10 that afternoon on my 14th setup. 2 other birds were killed that day by my buddies. The evening before the last day a blizzard blew in. We couldn't see much less get to anywhere to hunt the birds so that day was a bust. Again, that's Merriams that may be more used to spring gobbling activity in the snow. Can't say for sure how an Eastern bird will react to snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlriggins Posted April 7, 2013 Report Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hunted in WV last season as the season opened about a week prior to ours, it snowed about 1.5 inches. Birds did not shut down completely but were unresponsive except for 1 but he wouldn't leave the hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudu88 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 hunting in the snow? Awesome thanks for all the info! Sound like ill be doing less calling and setting up on whatever food sources I can manage to find. I think i'llapproach it like a winter deer hunt. Just sit and wait on a food source and something's bound to show up. Thanks for the advice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 8, 2013 Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 kudo..we have the same thing right now..birds wont even respond if you are on top of them....we hunt wed here and we are just going to sit between roost and closer to feeding area,,,hopefully they will pass by..at leat with the snow we know what they are doing and where..again a soft tree yelp and a hen purr just to let them know u r there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.