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17 yds. Hunted the downwind side of a timber block on a windy day. I knew they would show up, just a matter of time. Tom took 3 steps and fell over!
Thanks Hunt, first one I've shot with the JakHammer, worked very well.
Downwind side? Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong:)
Congrats on the fall bird! C
Congratulations! Yea, Charlie... guess I have too. What's that saying? "If turkeys could smell, we'd never kill em'." Lol
Ha! You guys are funny. I've actually learned a lot about turkeys watching my chickens around the farm for the last 10 years. They always get on the downwind side of the groves....after I let them out, they mill around, check the wind and make a beeline to the protected side.
Guess if your outfit had lots of surface area and negligible mass, you would be forced to do the same. Have you ever noticed a Tom that has to strut out in the wind, to impress the hens, he has a perfectly disgusted look on his face, while his tail is getting pushed over his head, lol. Like landing an airplane , into the wind works best...turkeys prefer to forage in less wind, if they have the choice. I like windy days ( good thing, cause I live in Iowa) because I know where they will be, on the downwind side of the timber or hillcrest. Probably doesn't bear as much significance in the big timbers out east, but on the plains where I'm at, lee side cover is key.
Congrats and Damn good advice. I've never even thought about wind with turkeys other than not being able to hear them gobble in it. Might have to try this out sometime
I grew up in Wyo where the wind howls around 364 days a year. The same thing can be said with antelope, elk, and other game. They seek out shelter from the wind. It can be trees, a ridge, or canyon. Open country critters like antelope (and sometimes turkeys) may be seen on ridgetops when it's not windy but when it's howling they disappear and toms often completely quit gobbling. It's easy to eliminate a lot of void country by searching for sheltered areas. This makes for tough conditions....but look for shelter and that's where they'll be holding up!
Thanks Forrest and Dyjack.
Well said jims, I hunt more and more with wind cover/shelter in mind. Seems to be a crucial piece of the puzzle.
