Turkey Tactics WITHOUT A BLIND

[kevgsp]

Anyone else out there hunting turkeys without a manufactured blind?

Behind a thick tree- draw and then "lean out"

decoy between 2 trees/bushes- draw while turkey is behind obstruction

Piece of camo-mesh attached to dowels, staked out if front of me.

This is what I have tried so far. Have had close encounters but not connected yet. Most of the encounter have been with jakes.

Had a gobbler come in the other day, held off for a "better shot" which never came.  Kinda regretting it now.

What I'd like to know from any "blindless" hunters out there, is how do you time your draw?

When a birds in full strut and they see you draw do you have sec before they react.  Alot of times with deer it seems to take a sec or 2 and by then the arrows on it's way.

Is the only hope to draw while there heads behind some thing tree/clump of grass/ deke/ there own fan. etc

Is anyone having success without a blind?

Would love to hear what has or has not worked for you.

Cheers

[IronCreekArcher]

I have wanted to try this myself and will be keeping a close eye on this thread.  I shot my turkey Saturday morning by stalking to within 25 yards of him in a heavy wind.  Only wish I had my recurve as it would have been a perfect set-up after he stepped out from behind the tree.

[Dartwick]

Sit on a small flat flat on a hill side so the turkey crest at point blank.
Sit in a dip.

This is what Im trying but I still havent succeeded with a bow.

[wollelybugger]

I try to get a few big trees in the game so when he gets behind one of them I can get on him and shot when he steps out. I have shot at quite a few birds but only have hit one and didn't get him. I dont use a blind and have been shooting right over their backs. You can't make to much movement with the draw, straight back and you usually only have a second before they spook. Good luck, the hardest thing I have ever tried, but still love it. I carry a stool, bow, three arrows and some mouth calls.

[Soilarch]

I want to follow this thread as well so I'll give it a bump.

To be perfectly honest I'll probably cave and use the triangle-of-cloth with two corners staked to the ground and one clothes-pined to a limb trick.

Dartwick, I really like that tactic but where I plan on hunting is all flat bottom-lands.  I may be able to get them a creek though?

This fall, Lord willing, will be my first ever attempt for turkey...and trad at that.   No, I'm not expecting miracles.  

[Robhood23]

Apparantly (have not tried it yet) but some buddies from Nebraska will wear good camo and quick draw the birds. They say they pause just long enough to look at you to get a shot off!

[Gehrke145]

Shot a few without a blind, the biggest help I've found is keep the sun at your back

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

A big tree in back of you, and a make shift blind in front,,made of local foliage etc. (Carry them pruning shears).

Good camo,(Hands and face) and turkeys can see color.

A leafy suit or a Gillie would be a plus. Use only a diaphragm call when bids are inside of 100 yards.

(If you are not using a pop up,, why are you using decoys?? They kind of fit in the same basket don't they?)

[varmint]

I tried a blind when I first started hunting turkeys with a bow,hunted once and felt more like I was camped out in a tent.Gave the blind away and basically hunt the same as with a shotgun.

I try to find a group of trees growing closely together,or a multi-trunked tree.I also cut limbs/branches/saplings and stick them in the ground in front of me to make a blind to break up my outline and try to hide any movement when drawing.Just make sure to stick them in the ground far enough in front of you so they do not interfere with your drawing of the bow.

[Morning Star]

I think the best strategy for bowhunting without a tent blind is the same as with a tent blind.

Do your homework, turkeys are much easier to call to a place they want to go, than a place they don't.  Find those strut areas or secluded fields that see birds every day, then build yourself some natural blinds.

[Jack Skinner]

What wollelyburger said.

Turkeys go from full strut to mach1 faster than an olympic sprinter. I use a decoy to try and get their attention. I keep hoping for that perfect set up and time when the tom struts with his back to me and fan in the way of his vision.

I enjoy without blind much more than with blind. Having said that I havent got a bird with bow...Yet. I have had the opportunities just havnt connected.

[Gary Logsdon]

I have taken turkeys while wearing a Rancho Safari Shaggie suit and sitting on a small stool.  I sit and call (sold yelps combined with scratching in the leaves)with my back to the approaching gobbler, keeping some cover behind me so that the bird must walk around me slightly to get to a strutting jake decoy and hen.  The decoys are facing me so the gobbler will keep his back to me as much as possible while addressing the fake bird.  I can then draw the bow and shoot him in the back (if wings are folded) or up the anal opening if he fans out.  This setup can be very effectve.

 

[Gary Logsdon]

Two more things to add to how/why I've had success hunting Easterns without utilizing a blind, I've put in a lot of boot leather learning my area, plus I use "real" decoys, consisting of an old banged-up mounted jake known affectionately as "Frankenturkey".  My hen decoy is an old Featherflex with feathers glued on her, and yes, you guessed it, she's known as the "Bride of Frankenturkey", the name given to her by my son:^)  That dynamic duo is deadly!

[kevgsp]

Thanks guys, there is some good advice here!

Turkeys are so frustrating    

Had a hen come in the other day as close as 5 yrds. my hunting partner got her on film for close to 20mins, we continued to call, very loud at times, were moving around, while she just hung around, hopped up on an old stump etc.  

Sometimes they seem so smart...then comes this hen.

[BMOELLER]

+1 on the ghillie.

[dan ferguson]

I have shot more out of the blind than in one. The most important by far is they must not see you period. I use terrain to the max, washouts, deep cowtrails, edge of canyon lip etc. All I know is when they see you, you better be ready to shoot. The other day I called some up, I wass in full camo including face, hands leaning up against some trees, 3 toms and one hen came up to ten yards, when I thought they were settled down I tried to draw fast on them, My bow hand only made it up to about 4", It looked like a turkey gernade went off, They blew out of ther like they had rockets tied to there rear ends. Another thing that helps is being able to hunt where there is a high population and low hunting pressure.

[Skipmaster1]

I took my first trad bird yesterday with no blind. we heard some birds gobbling and my buddy stayed put, I went  towards the birds and set up my decoy, then went 25 more yds and set up behind a stone wall. I hit my call and they fired back. 30 seconds later and they fired back much closer. i shot up and my buddy called. The birds walked right past me focused on my deke and my buddies calling. They had no idea i was there until we ran after the one i shot