Turkey Season in the snow
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
With the upcoming turkey season looking like most of central and northern Wisconsin will be under a pretty good amount of snow; how is this changing everyone's tactics, and whens the last time we've seen something like this?
I don't think it will change that much....Turkeys are strutting like crazy right now in the snow. It is one of my dreams to hunt turkeys in the snow.
4 and 5 years ago it happened.
Don't make no difference to me. Should be no mosquitoes and no ticks. Calling for 33 degrees sunrise 51 high in afternoon. Will be going ice fishing during my season. I hope that extended forecast holds.
Like Live 2 said-a few years ago this same thing happened. When in the blind I wasn't sure if turkey hunting or ice fishing. The turkeys were VERY difficult. They'd fly down and almost run out of the woods and in the evening they'd come charging into the woods and fly right up. They were not responding to calls....
The lack of bugs is definitely an upside, I've had luck calling to birds in the snowy conditions but not after 8 oclock usually, looking forward to taking a bird in the white scenery hopefully
I’ve had a few good snow hunts with the temps under 20 degrees. Not the most ideal, but as long as it’s not windy the birds seem to do about the same thing that they do the same time of the year w/o snow.
I watched one strutting in my work parking lot yesterday. I may just hunt there, no pressure, in the city limits.
Wouldn't be any fun out today. Fresh snow blowing, the wind is howling. Windchill is below zero. Guess I'm not doing anything outside today.
Hunted turkey in the snow a couple of times before I decided that first season was not such a smart one to hunt in. Now, if I go, it is second season or later. Toms respond better later anyway. I usually don't setup much before 10:00 either. Wait till the toms are done chasing the birds they are with.
Here is a trick that has worked for me,,,, even though I missed the shot,,, ha ha.... I like to sneak in very early too the roost area, and get as close as I dare, than just sit down. If I hear hens clucking, than I am usually screwed, and have to get the chance, that the fly down, will be towards me...... But if the hens are silent, I use soft hen yelps and clucks, very soft,,,,,,,,
I absolutely do not use a decoy at this time, I want that tom, searching, and do not want to give him anything to focus on, except, my call,,,,,,
But if the hens are noisy, and they do not come by me, game over, and like Jeff, I am doing a different set up, after 10am...............
Here is my tactics. Two different ways of getting there; walking in or if I drive I make sure I park far enough away from the action. As I walk in I most times know where to go as I am familiar with the territory. If I have never been there I will usually wait and look for some signs. If at the place I usually go to, I will hurriedly and quietly head down a familiar lane until I get to the destination I am looking for. Once there I take a visual of the imediate surroundings, reach in and grab the best sized Butterball I can see. I usually try a quick exit not to booger up the aisles.
Pasq: Is that a fair chase hunt?! Lots of predators in those locations—be safe!!
Ya know Duke, predators are there but most times the encounters are minimal.
During the fall turkey season there is an amazing doe to buck ratio with many more does seen in most locations I venture into. I hope that doesnt mess with the actual dpsm figures the DNR, CDAC, WTU,NYPD, Foresters and all other entities we have to count deer currentlty use. I don't feel around that fall turkey season, it gives us fair deer numbers. The bucks are there, just not in that turkey part of the woods. Good hunting!
Pete, I gave you an invite. I'm here to tell you this. It's pretty damn addictive (gun or bow), and there's nothing I'd rather do in the spring. So tease all you want, but some day, take me up on the offer. Share a. Comfortable blind in comfortable chairs and see just how fun it is!