Turkey Hunting From the Ground

[BoonRoto]

Hey guys, do any of you Turkey Hunters forego a blind and try and hunt from the ground, run and gun style like you would with a compund or shotgun? If you do how do you make it work with the length of a stick bow? I was playing the other day attempting to shoot from a seated position with a 58" bow and the only way I could make it work was by canting my bow in the opposite direction I would if I were standing. With a 52" bow could one shoot normally while seated? Any methods or ideas that work?

Thanks guys!

shouldnt be a problem shooting sitting down, with a 52" bow, unless your sitting directly on the groung.   imo

[brill16hockey]

I use a little three leg chair to sit on and I can shoot fine with a 62" longbow.  If I am wearing a ghillie suit I will set up on the front of the tree, if not I sit behind the tree and set the decoys so the turkeys have to walk past the tree.

[b44mag]

i have been practicing sitting on a bucket. i have a 66 in. recurve works fine for me but im 6'4" tall

[macksdad]

I shoot a 60 inch recurve from the top of a 5 gallon bucket with a swivel seat lid that I got at Gander Mtn. I brush myself in amongst some trees. Seems to work very well.

[bowslinger]

Last year, I took my first turkey with a longbow (or any bow for that matter).  I sat in a blind all morning and never took a shot.  One of the other guys in our group walked down to my blind and helped take it down.  We were walking out to the cabin where we were staying and walked up to a large flock; ~70 turkeys.  He shot one that morning so he stayed with the flock and I headed to a likely ambush point.

A large draw extended from an open grassy knoll  where the flock was located to a broad, grassy valley.  The draw passed through a cedar and hardwood-lined strip along the valley wall.  I literally backed in to an eastern red cedar that stood by itself away from tree-lined valley wall.

I had a tom walk around the cedar to within 5 feet.  I drew, he ran, I drilled him.  He died 35 yards away from me.  Full camo, headnet gloves, etc., but no blind.

Two days later, I tried to run and gun with my longbow.  I had two toms strutting at 10 feet on top of a grassy knoll while I was laying on my belly.  I could not get turned to try a shot from the ground.  This is a shot I have practiced after watching Fred Eichler and a few others execute it. Ten yards is very do-able, let alone ten feet.

I was able to get to a knee after spooking them and overshot one standing still broadside.  Mis-estimated range at 20 yards; I thought 25 and overshot.

I will continue to hunt turkeys from a blind for a while, but it is not necessary.  It is an absolute blast running and gunning with a bow.  You may want to try practicing shots laying down and from just about any conceivable position.  Find out what from what positions you can shoot accurately and be ready when the opportunity comes.

As for this year, my turkey season ended before it started.  I had cervical fusion surgery on my neck about 2 weeks ago and cannot shoot a bow for about another 1 to 2 months.  But next year I will be back and chasing turkeys ouside the blind!  You should too!

[Saltydog]

Ghillie suit and 3 legged stool is a tough-to-beat combination that works in scenarios. I also carry a 4' x 6' piece of camo fabric and some painted clothes pins to set up a quick ground blind sometimes.

[bowkevin]

Alot of good ideas here. I bought a blind but would rather be free to move. Perhaps a ghillie suit would have been a better investment?

[PEARL DRUMS]

I ditched the blind for a steeper challenge. I started using my bows years ago because I thought a gun was too simple. After sitting in a blind and having them walk by at 5 feet each season I realized my challenge............still wasn't. Now I sit on the ground on a foam mat. I use a 58" bow and hide behind multiple trunk trees or brush. Unless your going to hunker down and wait them out, you have to be constantly on the look out for your next hiding spot or you will get in a spot where you can only watch them and not get a bow pulled back. Now we are talking a challenging hunt in my book!

[3Feathers]

Going to use the BigJims bush-in-the bag. Want to be able to be mobile.When a tom hangs up and then walks of ,you have to make your move.

[Huntschool]

I have never used one of the "blinds."  Just dont have the ability to pack one around.  I set up my decoy and try to get backed into some brush etc.  Seems to work ok although this year I have had way to many eyes around to get a bird yet....  

I think hunting withoput a blind works fine but you need to pat attention to your set up....

[BigJim]

I have just purchased the remaining stock of Gorilla "undertaker" blinds. They were closing them out and i took advantage of a good thing. They are about the size of a collapasble blind chair and make a great screen and set up in seconds. Take a look at my web site and you can see them. Selling for less than 40 percent of origianl price and cost about as much as a case of beer.
thanks, bigjim
Huntschool, even you can pack this around!