Hunting turkeys without a blind

[southernarcher]

So I’ve been skeptical about trying turkeys with my bow. I tried like 20years ago with the compound,unsuccessfully I will add. I tried a blind a few times but it doesn’t fit my style. Most of my hunting is on public swamp bottoms here in S.C.  I have no problems getting my birds with the shotgun, but this year I’m going with the longbow only. Anyone hunting them without a blind? Any setup strategies to share? Thanks.

[arrow30]

a guile suite will help a lot.

[Skipmaster1]

I’ve killed a few without a blind. I like to set up so I am behind something like a big blowdown, stonewall or something like that. I get between my decoys and the birds I’m working. Wait until they pass by me, focused on the decoys and shoot them when their attention is the other direction. 

[76Aggie]

X2 on a ghillie suit and a very comfortable chair.  You may want to seriously consider a thermacell if hunting in swamp bottoms.

[OkKeith]

Michael-

I hunt Turkeys on public land quite a bit so staying quick and mobile is important. In my pack I carry these things for fast set-ups:

1 - Length of camo netting (Not sure size; 6'X15' maybe, comes in a package at Walmart, BPS, Cabela's, etc.). I tie about four feet of string (paracord, whatever) on the corners.
4 - Plastic squeeze clamps. The medium size that comes in the multi-pack from whatever hardware store you choose (I hit them with some dull spray paint to knock the shine and the bright colors down).
4 or 6 - Four foot lengths of 14 Gauge galvanized wire. I loop the ends so they don't poke anything and hit them with the dull spay paint. Roll/fold them up to fit in the pack.
1 - foldable camp/hunting chair (hit all shiny or bright spots with the spray paint).

Here's how it works...
Turkeys have FANTASTIC pattern recognition ability but do not see very deep (this is why lots of birds are killed through blind windows without mesh). The hardest thing is to get your bow drawn on them without alerting them to your presence. Just haveing something in front of you helps tremendously. Find your spot you want to set up and see what you have for back cover to hide your silhouette. Then string the mesh across in front of you far enough out that it will not hinder your bow limbs or the draw of the arrow.

You can use branches, limbs or tall grass as support. Tie it up with the corner strings or clamp it to whatever as needed. If you don't have anything handy or need more support in the middle pull out the wire and straighten the pieces out and jam them in the ground for support. If the ground is too hard make a loop on one end and then fold the rest of it at a ninety degree angle making a little stand. You can even use the clamps on the bottom for support. Set your hunting chair/stool up behind it.

The critical thing for this setup is... NO FLAPPING. All corners, edges and such must be tight and not move in the wind. I have even pinned the mesh down and propped it up with spare arrows.

When chasing birds I have been able to get this up and solid in just minutes and be ready to shoot. It weighs next to nothing, packs small (not counting the chair) and is inexpensive.

I shot this bird last year out of this sort of situation.

Good Luck... Have Fun!
OkKeith

[mec lineman]

i use a rancho safari longcoat(Without jute or berlap) and a waldrop pack seat. cut coat in back and cut off sleeves on both arms . great mobile Turkey setup

[Tedd]

I don't have an answer for that but I do know that some areas of the Country they are less wary and you would not need to go to the same extremes as another area.

Tedd

[YosemiteSam]

+1 on leafy suit or ghillie.  Decoys are a must for me.  I practice a fair amount of shooting with my rear on the ground.  That lets me setup anywhere I can find cover, low to the ground.  Use cover to conceal your movements as you raise your bow & draw.

As a kid I called a nice tom over off the roost.  It was my first turkey hunting season.  My step dad took the shot when he was about 25 yards away from where I was sitting, thinking I didn't see it (or so he said...).  He was still walking my way when he got hit.  No decoys.  No blind.  Barely adequate camo (army field jacket & a spray-painted baseball cap).  Did almost the same thing the very next day but I got to take the shot.  All that to say that the intensity of your camo isn't always that important...  Until it is... 

The difficulty kinda depends on your turkeys though.  Hunting private land, I feel like a pro.  Then I go hunt public land & feel like a complete newbie.  This year, I'm planning to hunt public land on the border of some private parcels.  We'll see if I can coax a dumb one over.

[southernarcher]

Thanks for the replies. I have no problem getting on birds and working them in in the S.C. swamps. Please keep the comments coming. I’m opened to anything.

[fisherick]

I have taken 3 birds in the last 8 years backed up to a tree and a camo umbrella as a blind and missed a few more. I use one hen decoy. May try a leafy jacket this year .

[southernarcher]

What do you guys think about the hammock seat? I’m thinking it maybe an option for seating. I’d like to stay as close to the tree as possible I believe.

[old_goat2]

I've missed a few Jakes without a blind using a compound, bet I would of sluiced them with a stick bow! They were too close! Had the birds patterned, stood in a clump of trees that blocked their view of me till they were at my hen decoy. Set your hen facing away from you and hopefully they will strut up on her with their fan blocking their view of you, set the decoy within comfortable shooting distance.

[Jason W]

That animal is hard for me. In PA I have tried blinds and suits. I had them come in very close and I was using a round bail for cover. I am sad to say, I missed at 5 yards....those suckers are my nemesis!

Last year before our PA season in spring, I went to NE and spot and stalked them. Was a blast!!

[toddster]

There are few things I love better than hunting turkeys, with a longbow.  I have had the pleasure of chasing them for 20 years on public land with traditional gear and 30 all together.  OkKeith has some great advice, and used a similar method with success.  I have harvested 10 wild turkeys with just longbow.  I have tried pop up blinds, but not for me.  Here are some things that I have learned, that I will share, hope helps:
1)  Understand the season your hunting birds, Turkeys have a different attitude in fall than spring
2)  Woodsmanship goes a long way, know the land you are hunting.  I have found that knowing the terrain, I have been able to "circle" around the birds, get in front of them and set up for an ambush.
3)  Know the language and your limits, I find that a few "select" calls are better on public land.  Turkeys are very vocal and communicate often, but also are in tune with what is not right.  Ray Eye, which I consider the most knowledge person out there, has excellent DVD's, well worth the money.
4)  Use nature, as OkKeith said, they are very in tune with things out of place.  I find that getting in front of them, and using pruners "backing into a shrub" works much better than blind.
5)  Use Decoy in shade, keep in mind a decoy is a tool in the box and not guaranteed.  I like to keep them in the shade, and like with deer to pull the attention away from me.  I have harvested many birds without them, and feel that only use them when needed.  I have seen birds "spook", when come across decoys used in wrong way.
6)  Shot, we all know this is the hardest part.  I found that when I decided to shoot, to commit to the shot, when I start the draw cycle, I follow through.  If you are confident at 15-20 yards, then harvest them then.  Do not try and get them closer, as this usually leads to getting busted.