No-Blind????

[3Feathers]

Anybody hunting turkeys without a pop-up blind?I,m trying it with my ghillie and its tough but exciting.Had 2 deer yesterday morning checking out my dekes at 8yards.....just awsome.Now if I can get the birds to follow..................

[Joeabowhunter]

Yes, just trying to use natural cover and tough is an understatement.  I've been out twice.  Saw birds both times.  First time too far and not interested in my calling or deke.  Second hunt I called 4 jakes into my setup but they caught me off guard and must have saw me turn my head...  It's a fun challenge.  Good luck to you.

[centaur]

I'm not using a blind, and I'm also not eating any turkey yet. All the turkeys I have bow killed in years past have been without a blind, but they were all fall turkeys, and fall birds seem a lot easier to stalk, at least for me. I have killed one spring bird with no blind, but I used a shotgun. A spring bird with a stick bow without the use of a blind is a real challenge.

[shedhunta]

I have done it 2 times in 2 years with the compound.  This is my first trad only turkey season.  Called a Tom into 30yds last thurs and he caught me.  It is VERY tough.  May sit in a blind the rest of the season to have a better chance.

[Whip]

I am very far from an expert on going without a blind.  Just killed my first with a bow and no blind last week in Nebraska.

But I can share a few things that I have come to believe.
A bow blind of some type is a huge help in hiding your draw when a bird is close.  I have had a number of close encounters previously and it took me awhile to have confidence that these things really do work.  But they are amazing - you may get busted occasionally, but many times I am able to get to full draw unseen even with a bird broadside at under 10 yards.  (The reason that last week was a first for me was due completely to my poor shooting and not with getting busted on the draw    )

Match the background cover as best you can.  I have a lighter colored ghillie suit and this year added a Big Jim Bush In A Bag to my arsenal.  The BIAB is darker colored and worked great under the cedars I hunted last week.

Here is my set up with the Bush In A Bag and bow blind attached.  One thing I will be doing in the future is using some face paint around my eyes.  It is not a factor so much if the bow blind is up, but as you can see my face sticks out otherwise.
 

Pay attention to every detail.  Those birds are sharp, and they will notice everything.  I even used a Sharpie pen to blacken my shiney broadhead.

[njloco]

Whip, congratulations on the turkey. That looks like a real nice set up, and I agree with the adding the face paint.

Good hunting.

[Pete McMiller]

I agree, it's tough.  I agree with everything Joe has said and will add this.  If you have a choice and can hunt on a day with a little wind it seems to help alot.  The wind moves all the weeds, leaves, tree limbs, etc. so your movement to draw your bow is less likely to be detected.  I haven't tried a bow blind yet but that may be my next purchase.  I have been trying for three years and was only able to draw and shoot once - unsuccessfully.

[awbowman]

And practice a lot with the bow blind attached

[Thunyor]

I am going to try this very thing this year... I am hopeful, but this thread kind of brought me back to reality! I have been stalking and still hunting for deer for the last few years and have been very blessed.. So I was thinking I could hopefully get just as lucky with thunder chickens! Maybe I do need to get a blind!

[LimbLover]

No blind for me. No land I can put one up and leave it there. I'm using natural cover and I've never hunted turkeys before. Plus my wife is calling and she's never hunted...its going to be a long rough road but I wouldn't have it any other way. lol

[Docdevin]

34 years experience with turkeys.  Called in many a nice tom for others.  When I call in birds for myself with the bow it is really tough to get the shot.  One thing to remember too is the scouting ahead of time to know how the birds are reacting to different situations, is going to help you know where you can set up to allow yourself to be with cover you can shoot through, around, or over, in front of you and still some cover behind.  Ideally with you in shadows.  If I am able to do the calling for another bow hunter then I like to still go without artificial decoys.  I want them looking hard for where that hen is(me) and not looking around to see the archer.  If I am calling and shooting it is going to be different in that I want to get them started coming my way and then let the decoy take their attention and my calling to be as minimal as possible as they close in.  But if you want to go no blind the best trick is a budy to call.  I think you would be surprised how many of us old guys would love to still go with you and help you call, even  if we don't get to shoot.  One year I called in 15 toms and two jakes to bows and guns and at 48 I am still loving to call 'em in.  I just wish more people would ask me.  I don't even go for myself too much any more.  You all may have someone you know that would love to give you a hand.

[Docdevin]

One other bit of info that might help.  I carry a sheet of camo netting and my knife and a minisaw from Gerber.  When you get to an alomost ideal place I can whip the camo net out and trim a little bit of the cover and sharpen a few branches to drape the netting in front or behind me if I need a little more cover.  We are blessed/cursed with junipers(red dedars) here and you can quickly cut a vee back into a cedar and allow yourself to sink back into the tree and place cover low in front and still be able to draw and take aim.  And I totally agree with the slight wind hiding much more movement.  Using the camo netting you have to watch to not let it blow too much, it is so light.  It is like mule deer spot and stock, there will be a few misses for every successful hunt.  Just also remember the birds will get educated pretty quickly, ask me how I know, LOL.

[RecurveRookie]

Setup looks real good.  Get a big one!

[wetfeathers]

A lot of good tips here.  I also never use a blind but I have only killed one spring bird with trad gear.  I like to use small ravines and blowdowns for cover,  but when he's only 10 yds away,  It's sooo difficult to draw on them.  I've missed many running birds!  Good luck to all.

[toddster]

I have hunted turkey's for 15 years.  In that 15, I have used a blind once, didn't like it.  Not clausterphobic, just like being able to see all around.  I have harvested 12 in the spring and 8 in the fall.  With 9 of these bow harvest.  My experiance is alot like what DocDevin said.  I hunt public land, so I get out early, and try and get a shock gobble.  then I slip in, and mimic a flydown and tree yelp.  Using good natural cover is good, but sitting low to the ground with just enough brush and in the shadow's help.  I found, like Doc that the thick foliage, helps, and make's that Tom look hard for the hen.  Decoy's have to be used right, try and set them up in shade, to where the turkey walks past you.  Once you get him coming in, get your bow up and ready for the shot.  If using Decoy's I found that having them facing you causes the tom to come face to face with it and give you a great "bullseye" shot when in strut.  Another tip, when set up have a spare arrow ready next to you, (saved me twice).  This way if you miss, slowly get next arrow on string and wait with some soft calling or leaf scratching, the tom has a good chance of coming back in.  Practice with a mouth call, or rig a tube up to your wingbone for hands free calling.  I have found in timber, that scratching the leaves like a turkey eating works great at bringing in the bird.  We don't have to worry about the sense of smell, but keep this in mind, we are trying to fool one of the keenest eyesight in the woods.  Use thick cover on edge of field, or just down a slope to make him look for her.  the other tactic that works great, is to circel around the bird, causig him to get really worked up.  We are going against nature, for the hen is suppose to come to him, so the thick cover and circling makes him work harder.  Hope this helps.

[stillhunter]

I personally don't care for the blinds. Feel like i'm in a ice shack and with "aged" hearing I can't always tell where there at. On the other hand I tryed to "run and bow" them one year and had 8 toms within bow range and could not even tighten my fingers on the string and they were gone! Don't even begin to underestimate their eye sight and use all cover and shadows to your advantage like others have said. I always put in for the later weeks for more folige to help. Learn to shoot with a full cant sitting flat on the ground (tough but can be done). I usually take dyecut netting in mossy oak and a set of pruners. Can set up a blind with a small folding chair in a few minutes. Put some small branches on the top edge to stop the wind from moving it and just so your arrow clears the top. If I set a decoy I put it facing away at ten yards so hopefully the tom will fan up and cover my draw. my biggest tom came this way at 4 yards and I skewered it up the back with a delta. Keeps me mobile with every thing strapped to my day pack. Very intense trad hunting!

[longrifle]

I have killed so many turkeys here in N.Y. without a blind with a bow that I have decided to use blaze orange this year for the added challenge!!!!!!!!!!!  NOT!!!!!!,sorry guys I couldn't help myself.The reality is I have been trying since 1989 to kill one in the spring with a trad bow and have not done it yet.Someday it will all come together and it will happen,until then I will keep on trying. Good luck to all.