Has anyone......
- Thread starter tn24
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Setterman
Well-Known Member
I've hunted them in enough clothing I could have taken a direct 30 yard shot to the chest with a turkey load and never had a scratch.
16 degrees is the coldest I've hunted them and it sucked. I did kill one though
16 degrees is the coldest I've hunted them and it sucked. I did kill one though
I like a cool morning but wish it was going to be about 15 to 20 degrees warmer on Saturday morning.
This time of year reminds me more of my dad than any possession I have of his.... he loved cold mornings that ended with almost room temperature days. Now it's my favorite weather.
Y'all know me, I'll be soooo excited Saturday morning that I may leave the house in a tee shirt. :p Lows around 30 here for the next three mornings.
My first time and I feel your pain!
woodsman04
Well-Known Member
I did as a youngster. Got chewed out by my dad because they were very bulky and loud as I walked behind him through the woods listening. Never again, don't care how cold or windy it is. I usually walk enough to not need them anyways. I will wear a layer of thermals and maybe a heavy jacket, but when moving I'll usually put the jacket folded up in the back of my vest.
Ive hunted in the mid to low 20s a few times.
Ive hunted in the mid to low 20s a few times.
woodsman04
Well-Known Member
Me too
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Yes, many times.
No longer own any insulated coveralls, but will be starting out wearing a heavy parka, and walking in some insulated boots.
One easy trick is to carry some heavy headgear, like multiple insulated toboggans, an insulated hat, as well as non-insulated. Easy to change these items out as conditions change.
Don't forget the handwarmers.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Jeez, after 83 degrees and 100% relative humidity today in south MS, I'm looking forward to upper 20s. I sweated at least a gallon off today.
In 2018 or 19, can't remember which, it spit snow on my first six hunts. I still probably prefer that over extreme heat days.
I can't stand to wear thick clothing turkey hunting and start sweating. I will wear a base layer of the moisture wicking material under my camo and then just a light weight fleece jacket. My head will definitely have a fleece beenie ! I remember one year there was a light snow on the ground , my buddy and I doubled at different times that morning. My feet froze watching and waiting on him to shoot the bird he struck up that morning. I was never so glad to hear a gun go off!
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
I killed one here in TN the first week of 2018 and it was sleeting. Hard. And a stiff north wind. I was dressed basically just like I would for a cold day of duck hunting.
And in 2014 we drove to Nebraska in early May and arrived to a fresh layer of snow. It was in the low teens that next morning.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
Ive hunted them in a blizzard in NE more than once before, Im pretty sure I can handle whatever TN throws at me this weekend.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Rarely hunted in this cold of a forecast over the years. Will dress in layers, shed as I go, and seek sunny spots to sit and warm up as needed. The turkeys will prolly be seeking some sunny too.
I killed one on a very cold morning at Catoosa back in the mid 90s while I was in college at Tennessee Tech. As soon as he got in range, he picked me off, but I already had the bead on his head. I figured he picked me off because he could see the moisture from my breath rising up on the dead still morning. I probably looked like a smokestack sitting there against that tree.
SwampChicken
Well-Known Member
I'll be boating in and camping in a tent along side the river on Friday evening, it's fixing to get pretty chilly in the mountains after midnight but I couldn't be more excited. A base layer top of merino wool is all I'll need as I start scaling the mountain at 5 am, will certainly be toting a jacket or two and a big ole coffee thermos in the pack for this opener
Rakkin6
Well-Known Member
Not going to be to bad here, Saturday morning 38° high of 64° that afternoon. Going take a camo hoodie just trying to decide if I want to wear anything heavier for a base layer on my legs or just my regular pants and nothing underneath.
I'm tent camping Friday and Saturday nights. Friday night the low will be "around 30" per the National Weather Service. I won't really be roughing it though. I'll be in a Teton Mesa canvas tent with a buddy heater to keep it toasty warm. As far as the hunting, I'll wear my base layer, camo pants and shirt, and bibs and coat to start out. If I get set up on a bird and have to wait him out I don't want to be freezing. Once it warms up some I'll shed the bibs and coat.
The absolute main thing to me is minimal wind, or dead quiet spells between moderate winds. I can overcome the temperature swings, but I cannot make my ears hear over the howling wind we have some days.
Rakkin6
Well-Known Member
Yeah I feel you, I wear hearing aids so wind is a killer for me. I am not completely deaf I can hear somewhat without them. I don't wear them when I hunt though. They are supposed to not increase noise over a certain decibel level but don't want to take the chance of it happening or causing issues with my hearing aids due to my gun going off. Not trying to fight the V.A. to get new ones. The biggest problem I have is determining an exact direction if a bird is gobbling at a good distance away from me. I will be able to get a general direction and then I start moving out at a good pace towards him and get a better gauge on where he is before he shuts up.
The year my son killed his first turkey it was 19 degrees and a heavy frost.
Absolutely.
I'd much prefer 20 something degree crisp than warmer but with wind.
I get so warm from walking that I never wear more than 2 layers. I will need a hothand though.
Years ago was camping with a group at Catoosa and a cold front came through that wasn't predicted , even snowed on us the 2nd morning and all any of us had was light weight " normal " Turkey hunting clothing. I had 3 different sets of clothing and a rain suit and wore all of it at one time 
Seems we get some snow flurries about every year on the northern plateau during the turkey season. Looks like it's going to be 23 here at daylight Saturday.
Uncle Jesse
Well-Known Member
I was wearing coveralls on the last bird I killed that was over 20 pounds. He weighed 24 and that was 2003. Don't remember the exact temp but it was in the upper 20's
It seems with each passing year I'm wearing my deer hunting clothes in turkey season and turkey hunting clothes in deer season. Unfortunately I'm gonna miss opening day as we're going to my parents on Saturday for Easter and it's killing me.
I remember opening morning in 1990 or 91 it snowed at least half an inch. I don't wear coveralls but layer accordingly so I can remove layers as needed.
Bgoodman30
Well-Known Member
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- Nov 21, 2016
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I love it. Honestly the weather for the opener is about as good as it gets..
