Anyone regularly archery hunt spring turkey without a blind? I myself feel audibly and visually restricted in a tent style blind

This year may be no blind since mine blew into the next county from my yard. Had it staked to practice out of and the next day she was gone...owell I think it's very doable once you've called and know where they are coming from position yourself accordingly behind some sort of cover

I hunted turkeys for a number of years out of make-shift natural material blinds with little success. Then I bought a pop up blind and have been killing birds regularly ever since.

Turkey eyesight is phenomenal. In a stick blind, they'll often pick up movement and move off without the hunter even knowing it was there. Additionally, if you do happen to get one in range, it's almost impossible to get drawn without the bird seeing you.

Sure, you can kill a bird without a pop-up blind, but it's very tough.

Orion how many windows do you like to have open in your blind? Just the one with decoys in front of it or more?

Blind

Blind who wants to be a hero. Killers use what they kill out of.

I hunted the darn things for six years without a blind. I was determined to kill one on my terms: No blind and a single decoy. Frustrating! I could get them in, but never could get to full draw on them.

I gave up and bought a blind and have killed several since.

I've got a friend that kills two birds every year from the ground with no blind. He uses a ghillie suit and snuggles up to large trees. He's an agile little feller.

:^)

Both

If I can get a blind there, I use the blind. It is definitely an advantage with the bow. Likely going without on Thursday due to the ground we are planning on covering. My Double Bull is not a light piece of equipment to carry.

No blind, just use what cover is out there. It's not easy but it can be done.

Blind 100%. To me, Turkey hunting is a relaxing good time. I want it to be easy. I'll be a hero for deer season...but not for turkey.

I always take a big thermos of coffee, a mid morning snack, and a packed lunch.

Get out well before sunrise, setup the decoys, and sip on my coffee watching and listening to the outdoor world wake up while relaxing in my Waldrop Pac Seat or Magnus rack pack.

If a bird is hot on the roost, I start light calling and never let a gobble go unresponded. Should they fly down and come in to my calls, the decoys always bring them in the rest of the way to give me an easy 5-7yd shot. Should they get hen'd up right off the roost, I simply end the calling for an hour or so and then do a calling sequence every 20-30minutes. I stay patient, and this level of patience pays off when those Toms are looking for round 2 mid to late morning. My last three successful hunts, birds I had going at sunrise and got hen'd up, made there way back around searching for my calls mid to late morning, and they come running into the decoys. I kill my bird, I eat lunch, enjoy a final cup of coffee(If there's any left), take my time packing up my gear, and then leave.

Let me emphasize, I hunt public ground in northern MI...there are no field edges or agriculture for miles.

I got one out of a blind last year. Thought I would try w/o this year. Hunted w/o blind in the past but never connected. Came close put they always caught me drawing the bow. I don't like being confined to an enclosed blind, but turkeys walk right up to it and don't know you are in there. Pretty cool having them so close.

I tried for years without a blind and was not successful. Using a blind makes it a lot easier. I use a Hidden Hunter blind and only have one of the vertical windows partially open. I set my dekes about 5 to 7 yards from the blind and hope for the best. I turn the jake decoy facing towards me and the hens facing away. With that setup, the chances are good that the tom will be facing away from me for a shot.

Just my 2 cents.

Darren

If I can't take my blind I'll just go fishing. 100% blind for me.

No tent blind.....but I do use a wall blind. It's a good medium. You get the experience of being outside but your lower movements are covered. Regards

No blind for me. If I had to use a pop-up blind, I'd quit.

Natural blind and guillie top

for hunting I prefer no blind

for actually killing turkeys I much prefer a pop up blind.

I have to be with Jeff Durnell on this one. No blinds for me. I always thought you should stay on as even a playing field with the game you pursue as was possible, even if it means coming home empty handed more than not.

Blind. Wear black and keep the windows behind you closed. I put one decoy at 3 yds and a jake and hen at 8. Gives me a 10 yard shot if I can wait.

I went from one every 5 years (1 bird) to a bird about every other year. Probably a little more than that. I've got 19 species and it's the toughest.

Love those guys hunting without. Increases the bird population.

Bowmania

I use an open top pole type blind that I can shoot over , or natural blind. and a face mask , if they see your eyes or face game over

For turkeys both works great so no blind for simplicity and maneuverability. For deer, 100% no blind. Public land deer see that for a mile. Unless you hide in an all natural down tree or something

Personally, I just do not like blinds, just do not like seeing what is going on around me, with closed windows. Is it harder to harvest a turkey without a blind, Yes. But same time, I like the ability to being flexible. What I have found is a greater knowledge of the area you are hunting. I found that if the turkey moves off, I can use woodsmanship, and circle around to get in front of them and set up, has worked for me great many times. Using little seat, just off the ground, I set up facing the direction the turkey is coming from, soon as I see him, I get my bow up.

I had trouble too jimmy but have had good luck with the ghillie suit

Screen

I go without a blind. I shoot pretty fast to make up the difference. Most times, if a turkey is unaware, I get by with a Hill tempo shot. That does not mean that I am not using cover, cedar shrubs are my friends. If a group come in a cluster of large tree trunks or thicker shrub high stuff like cedars with a Big Jim Bush in a Bag is better. There are times when turkeys can be deaf, dumb and blind, like the jake last week end. Regardless, they are motion detector machines, they pick up on the slightest waivers when one is holding a bow out.

Ghillie suit.

These four hens cruised through our windbreak last evening going to roost out behind the house. They are there every morning now. Just gotta go out there and strategically throw up some brush mid-day for a hidey spot, and be there in the dark opening morning when....

this big boy comes down, spots my jake n hen deeks, and goes to peck it to death...and winds up a (hopefully) pin cushion. He's out there gobbling away every morning before sun up now. He and a couple others further over. Looking good for the 1st (still over 2 weeks away - arrrggghhh!!).

When I am in the woods, I want to enjoy it. Sitting in a small tent isn't fun for me. I'd rather fail and get the fresh air.

I have had 4 solid shot opportunities and missed (just hit feathers, bounced off of obstructions) because of errors. I've mainly been busted when stalking.

This season I got within 15 yards on foot, hesitated waiting for a different angle, and then got busted.

Always a blind.

IMHO, if you're not in some kind of blind, man-made or otherwise, you're just bird watching. Nothing wrong with that, but it's low in calories.

Never used a pop up blind on turkeys. Always used natural cover making sure I had a few trees in front of me to mask my draw. Over the years I've missed 6 and killed 3. If I wanted to kill my 2 toms every spring, I'd bring my .12 ga. Takes patience when calling them in and timing your draw plus when a few hens show up that's just more eyes. Also never used any decoys.

Depends where you live. In most of Ohio they have a ton of pressures any killed without a blind is pure luck. I use a 3ft camo net with glass rods I can set up quick. I hate pop ups. Just not for me. I put 1 decoy in front and shoot Thu the net usually about 5 yards.

""IMHO, if you're not in some kind of blind, man-made or otherwise, you're just bird watching. Nothing wrong with that, but it's low in calories.""

Nice to see you put "in my humble opinion" because one of the best turkey hunters ever with a bow and arrow, Jack Brobst, killed most of his by just sitting against a tree. And, he's taken a bunch of them both spring and fall.

No blind for me. I get a kick out of guys wearing camo sitting in a blind. And I thought hunting was supposed to be hard.

If we're talking preferences, then of course - no blind.

If we're talking putting a bird in the fridge - yes blind.

I'm sure there is the rare individual who has the time, patience and skill to draw during the strut and defeat one pair of eyes with only natural cover....when there's a flock of a dozen pairs of eyes I'll take the turkey's odds of survival every time...and "bankrupt Vegas"!

Right you are Zman !!!! Keep the blind and just give me my Rancho Safari Long Coat Ghillie suit !!!! You Betcha !!!!!

I don't own a blind and as many ticks around here I don't know if I could set still in the dark. And yes I'm my clothes are treated. Plus don't own enough land to leave it set up and as unpredictable as the turkeys are around here I would hate to carry it. I've had several shots but just haven't connected, my bad.

Last year I had three hens twenty feet from my feet and the gobbler strutted behind the tree I'm setting against. Just doesn't get any better! IMHO. Had a doe and a groundhog mess up two other opertunities while drawing. I love the challenge though! Best of luck and be safe.

It's hard to nap when the skeeters are eating you alive. That's the reason I like a blind unfortunately I can't use it with my longbow so supper time skeeters. I do have bug proof cameo with a head net that also works. But they still buzz constantly very annoying.

I don't use a blind. I wouldn't mind owning one though. A blind would probably work pretty good where you have birds patterned.

It would seem like a hassle were your constantly on the move setting up maybe, don't know never used one.

I do pretty good with out a blind so usually don't usre one.

For all that think its to hard...think about this.

Bowhunting for turkeys with a bow is no different whatsoever than hunting with a shotgun, with these two exceptions.

1. range is a little less, although I honestly prefer NOT having them right in my lap. 15-20 couple yds is ideal for me. Lots of turkeys killed at that range with a shotgun anyway.

2. and this is the biggest difference....getting your bow drawn.your set up and knowing when to draw, and being able to hold at full draw if you have to, are the keys.

There is a nack to everything, learn it and you'll do well.

Sometimes the whole...well if I can't nobody can thing gets old. And no Ryman it has nothing to do with being a hero.

One crew takes 3 days to set trusses, next crew sets them all in a day, and sheets the whole roof.

There is a knack to it.

George have you read Jack's book?He has taken a fair number of birds just sitting in front of a tree.But he does recomend using camo netting/poles to help hide your form along with setting out a deke in such a way as to have the birds go behind a tree so they cant see you draw.

I like the blind, but since I have had 2 stolen from private land, I hesitate to buy another one,,,,, if I could fine a cheap one I would,,,,,,

last year I went after them with the fan and decoy set up,,, worked pretty good, but tough to get the bow shot, with a gun it would be a no brainer

Little advice, hope it helps.

Gobblers are far easier to call in if you set up between were they roost and were they are heading. Often a gobbler can be patterned with a little pre season scouting right before the season.

When picking a spot to call from, try if possible to set up in a location that enables you to stay out of his line of vision as long as possible. Gobblers have a uncanny ability to be able to pinpoint your location. The longer he has to scrutinize your odd shaped lump, the more likely it is it will register in that pea brain of his that your not exactly what he's looking for.

I prefer to use a slate call, but I will use a mouth call when he closes in, and I usually try to direct the sound away. I almost never call when he can see me. I don't want him pinpointing me. He has a pretty good idea where that hen is, but you don't want him staring right at you if you can help it.

Most times you will have a short opportunity to draw, when it happens, do it with as little movement as possible. Sometimes you can shoot right away, sometimes you cant, but do it because it may be your only chance to draw you get. Never force the opportunity it usually don't work. However sometimes they come on in and you have no choice but to go ahead and draw. You will have precious few seconds to get a good shot off because he will be heading out of dodge.

If you swing draw your bow....Go buy a big blind or take up golf. It aint gonna happen without a blind.

I like to hold my bow upright and rest the tip of my bow on the ground, kneeling with my legs tucked under me and sitting on my calves...yea, it gets uncomfortable.

As the bird comes in I actually partly draw my bow, keeping the tip on the ground, and my string hand right under my chin, and my string arm tight to my side. You can hold a bow for a long time like that. When you get the chance to draw, it takes very little movement to raise and extend your bow arm, and (for me at least) anchor middle finger in the corner of my mouth.

Once that bow is drawn....well.....all ya got to do is kill him.

Or miss him, lol..don't sweat it if you do, there will be other days. I've gotten plenty of gobblers and I've even missed them with a shotgun a time or two over the years.

One thing I like about bowhunting turkey is if you do miss (and I have) if you stay still and quiet let them settle down a bit, you can sometimes call them back in.

A couple years ago I called two toms in. My son and I were setting slightly apart. I shot the one gobbler, and the other putted and ran off, however my tom had gone down and began to flop...I started calling aggresively purring, and loud clucking and cutting. Was more than the other tom could take, he came in looking to flog the downed bird and BAM! my son shot him with his 12 guage. A double, and a memory maker.

Jim...I think I know who that lil fella in the ghillie is...lol.

I don't do much turkey hunting anymore...spring ticks here in Wisconsin are un-freekin'-believable!!! Never used to be an issue...I dunno what brought em on. But, I know waaay too many friends with Lyme in the last 10ish years.

Anyhoo...when I was really into it, I loved to sit early then run & gun em. Lotta fun, and I've put a few on the smoker doing it. Then again, I had several hundred acres of private land to hunt...today, not so much.

I'm but a humble whitetail hunter anymore.

But never say never...eh?

Shade, I stick my bow in my boot if I'm wearing high rubber boots. Bow stays upright and you can rest a little. Easier with longbows

JSD, you standing when you tuck bow into boot?

Rick, I hear ya shot gunning for turkey I like the sit for first part of morning then run and gun the mid morning, but I have been tryin that way with the bow and def not as effective but have had some great encounters

These boys (2) and girls were out in the field next to the house this morning - its the yellow grass area in the background of the previous two pics. But I was asked to please kindly 'not shoot them' by my beloved, so now they are just lawn ornaments. Got to admit, they are fun to watch and listen to every morning. Luckily there are several more way further back behind the land there. Those will be nice and patternable by the 1st. No harassment, no one bothers them any more. No blind, just me n hopefully a new leafy or ghillie...going to Buffalo Cabela's next weekend for a look-see. Also checking online. The 'personal blind' method is more appealing to me than sitting crouched in a little tent. And if I spook the birds, there is always 'tomorrow'. I want to achieve the goal of taking another bird without a blind more than I care about actually killing one every time from within one.

Island....while I've indeed shotgunned my share of birds, by "run 'n gun" I meant with bow also. Yeah, it's saved me from plucking a few...lol...but it's doable.

I guess I just like to get after em after the 1st few hours. Doesn't work out too often, but a lot of fun.

Big blind with a cot and decent chair.... :)

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here