After the rain......

[WKUs final approach]

Why is it that when it rains birds seem to go out into fields? I was watching a hunt on the outdoor channel and some guy seemed to think that when their feathers get wet they can not fly as good and get away so they like to be out in a field where they have a large view and can see a long ways to watch for predators.....it made sense to me. Is this a proved fact or just this guys theory?

[RutNBuck]

i feel they do it for 2 reasons
1- as we all know a turkey has super hearing so can you imagine what it would sound like to them in the woods with all those drops of water falling to the ground? spooks them to death
2- so they can fan out and dry their wings/feathers off
i have witnessed this many many times

[notimlmit]

I agree the main reason is that they can no longer hear with all the rain falling so they convert to their second best defence their sight in the open

[drakeshooter]

And it is the easiest time to kill a Tom. I sneak throught the woods and ease/belly crawl to the edge of a field. If you can see where they are heading you can make a huge circle, sneak up the the fields edge and bushwhack 'em without ever bringing out a call. It is far easier to kill a tom that way since he already wants to go that way and he ain't looking for what is making the call.

Also, it seems like they gobble their heads off after a rain, especially if it has rained all morning and they were late flying off the roost.

[WKUs final approach]

Never really thought about all the noise messin with them!!:rolleyes:

[gobblergetter]

i'm not so sure its the noise as it is the fresh grubs/worms that surface in the fields after a rain. These are easy pickins for turkeys. They don't have to scratch through the leaves and dirt to get to the food.

[RutNBuck]

i know i have seen gobblers/hens stand in one spot for hours after a rain with their feathers puffed out almost like they are struttin but stay there and dont move..

[str8 shot]

i think the main reasons for them to get in the feilds when its raining is because of what most have already said,they cant hear with all the rain dropping in the leaves and trees.Another reason is for the worms and stuff that comes out when it rains so its easy pickins for them.I think this also holds true for when its windy also and they cant hear in the woods then theyll head to the feilds then too