Turkeys without a blind

[Orion]

Blind hunting and "chasing em" aren't mutually exclusive, of course.  I do some of both.  One of the problems with chasing them around here is that the land parcels are small, private and often posted.  If you hear a bird on the next ridge, it's often on another chunk of private land that one doesn't have permission to hunt.  

Also, few people can sit for hours without substantial movement, which is what it takes if you have to wait/call for the birds to come to you long after flydown.  Most folks can sit quietly for an hour or so after flydown, but after that, they start getting restless.  Then, a lot of birds that might be coming in/by will see the hunter and disappear with the hunter never knowing they were there.  So, later in the day, on small parcels of land, a blind helps.  Plus, it's a nice place to take a nap.      

[Biggie Hoffman]

I LIKE NAPS!

[Marty]

Trouble is Biggie, when you nap in the blind, you always spill my coffee!

[highpoint forge]

OK. So...bring a blind, a sofa, a coffeetable, a pillow, and perhaps my espresso maker and a generator to power it.
That should help me stay put for a couple of hours after flydown.....

   :D

[highpoint forge]

I was kidding.

[coaltroll]

This is all very interesting, as I will be going on my first turkey hunt this year. Will be with my uncle (retired game warden) so he can call them in. I have never hunted them with anything yet and will take my longbow only. I don't even care if I don't get a shot. It will be just getting out to hunt in the spring for a change. I would like a chance to see some. I think it may be interesting, every one else will be using shotguns so my odds are probably not very good but I will be in the woods.

[joebuck]

Ya'll don't let Biggie fool ya'll. He's pretty slick about these turkeys. He's got a deadly soft yelp and purr. He IS drinking coffee, sampling some pastries, and texting on the cell phone but........he has his game face on and calls up big birds every year to Buffet Tent!

Coaltroll...your Merriams usually come in readily to a blind. Try to borrow or buy a Double Bull and let your uncle scratch his magic...Take your camera..It's all fun!

[Biggie Hoffman]

Highpoint....no dude...they make battery powered coffe pots you know...

[coaltroll]

Joe, thanks, My uncle does have a blind, he just will not let me shoot from it. Even though I offered to replace the screen if I did shoot through it. I was kind of hoping I could find some decent cover off to the side of where he sets it up. The camera is a must.

[laddy]

I make tea with a stick fire and smoke my pipe when I hunt turkeys, how fire proof are those blinds?

[woodchucker]

I've killed a few over the years,all without a blind.

Find a strutt-zone along a field edge and set up within bow range on a bucket or stool. DO NOT use a decoy!!!!! Call untill you see the Tom come into the field,then STOP!!!!! DO NOT call again after you see the Tom.He knows "the hen" (you) were at his strutt-zone,and now you're gone.He will make his way up to his strutt-zone (be patient) and start strutting and gobbling to call you back.

Making The Shot:

Take your time and wait untill the Tom is all fanned out in full-strutt.When he turns his back to you and his fan is covering his head and blocking his vision,raise and draw your bow.pick a feather in his fan,and a spot half way between the top of his fan and the root of his tail.The objective is to drive the broadhead into his spine between the wing butts. All but 1 Tom "dropped & flopped" right where he was standing.The other one I had to chase across the field.(about 80 yards)

Hunting Turkeys without a blind takes some work,and ALOT of patients,but it's not hard.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!  

May The Great Spirit Guide Your Arrows