Turkey hunting without blinds

[captain caveman]

That hips blind looks like would work well.  What seems to be favorite pattern.  Marsh grass looks nice but how's that pattern in bigger woods or does it even matter as long as movement is concealed.

[joe skipp]

That's the only I bowhunt them. In one area I have 3 natural blinds I constructed to hunt out of. Not only do you want a good back drop, you need cover in front.

I also want a few trees in front so the bird can walk by or behind, giving the opportunity to draw on him. A simple trick is to set up facing away from the bird. Your back against a tree and in a small "V", run some netting or 3D leafy netting up maybe 3 ft high.

You want the bird to walk by you..and this is nerve racking...pass either side of the netting and wait for the quartering shot or hopefully, he displays giving you the back shot. I never use decoys...tried it with a friend 2 yrs ago and we setup wrong. Out of a blind, I believe they are very effective.

The buddy system...have the shooter 25-30 yds in front of the caller. If a tom hangs up...shooter still may get off a shot. Definitely use this method if using a decoy. Full face netting, gloves, total camouflage. Learn to call and know when to shut up.

[trubltrubl]

thanks to some good friends down south and great scouting...I took this bird with a rancho safari ghillie suit at about 10 yards..waited till he was concentrating on the hen decoy

 

 

 

[trubltrubl]

Lon pictured above  was the caller and I was behind a tree in the shade....waited briefly till the tom turned and looked at the hen...then drew...we called in a second tom about 30 minutes later and just missed a double as Lon'a arrow skimmed the top of the birds back...

that was 2012...got snowed out this year

[ArrowAtomik]

I cheated with a 12 gauge at 6 yards this year.  I had 3 Toms coming right at me to get to the field.  and I just had standard camo leaning against a tree.  I've also had many hens nearly in my lap this year bowhunting with a ghillie suit.  Put in enough time and it should happen.

video taken while hunting with a guille....
  click for video
 
 I had just missed a jake at about 12 yds.earlier.