Turkey without a blind?!

[ishiwannabe]

I know, I know...What?!

I know a few have done it.(If you have feel free to post pics!) I know it is difficult to say the least. BUT, I also know it can be done.

I just cant bring myself to A. Get a blind, or B. Hunt out of one.
When I go into the turkey woods, Im going with my bow and some good camo. Since going "trad" three years ago, the less gear I have or need with me, the better the hunt for me.
Anyone else?

[horatio1226]

What? I love my blind! This year I am going to:
A. Put a recliner in it
B. Shoot a turkey from it!
I'm just playin with ya Jamie! I really do love being in my blind. The birds are chirping and nesting on the branches that I used to brush in.
I guess I'm just not that hard core. I was in the Air Force ya know!

[ishiwannabe]

Hey Brian, to each their own man. I have no problem with people using em, it just isnt for me.

That recliner line had me laughing!  

[horatio1226]

I know ya don't Jamie! I think I could fit 2 recliners in mine if ya change your mind!

[Shawn Leonard]

Jamie, I have done it on fall birds. I located a flock feeding, scattered them and called them back. There was a lot of young birds and it was not too hard to fool them. Shawn

[No-sage]

I've been trying for several years.  I've had many a "shotgun" bird that I would have been able to tag had I been carrying one.  

So far all I've been able to manage is a tight string to half draw.  I've never even gotten to the point of being able to get a shot off.  Once I almost got to full draw before getting busted.

I have a blind now.  I didn't get to hunt out of it last year but one time with no opportunities.  I hate lugging it into the woods, that's for sure, but I'm going to give it an honest effort this year and see how I do.

It's either that of I'm going back to the thunder stick.

[Sunstroked]

I've hunted the really hard way during a spring hunt. I set out some decoys and hid behind a log. A big Merriams Tom came in to check things out. I was peeking between a gap in the rotted log, trying to get an arrow on the string and the recurve in position. Next thing I know the bird was right on the other side of my hide. I sat up quickly and drew my bow, only no turkey. He was running up the hill behind me, my arrow passed harmlessly behind him. I also knocked some feathers from a jake on that hunt. A forest fire broke out and forced me off the mountain to end my season.  This yr, I drew a tag for the same unit. Not sure how I'll hunt it this time. I bought a new benelli for the occasion. The bow will be in my camp as well. I'll see how things go with the action.

[ishiwannabe]

I hear ya Keith. I have taken three birds with the bow(insert contraption), all of em out of a stand in the fall. I have walked up on them numerous times, like Shawn, but I have yet to take a shot.
I have a lot of naturally formed areas that should help me out. Stuff that will make the bird either commit or walk away, and if he commits, it should be a decent chance at getting a shot.

Those of you that have done it, what worked for you?

[Elksong]

I've killed half a doz. or so.  Never shot one from a blind. shot 3 toms in the spring and 3 hens and one tom in the fall.
 

[tarponnut]

I'm going to give it another shot tomorrow am.
Just a little camo netting, a decoy,and natural cover.

[Gary Logsdon]

It can be done; if you don't like sitting IN a blind, then BE the blind:^)!!  Shot this KY Eastern last spring while sitting on a stump close to an old logging road the longbeards use as a strut zone.  You need to develop a controlled method of drawing the arrow - straight back.  No swing draws!  The Shaggie suit fools their eyes up close until you can move on them.  Draw straight back whenever their beady little eyes go behind something.  I like to shoot-em up the anal opening (Talk about picking a spot!) when a bird's fan covers his head.  Nothing like a "Texas Heart Shot" to put them down quick.

 

[ishiwannabe]

"Texas Heart Shot"    great stuff!

[KentuckyTJ]

I like to use natural blinds so to speak. Notice the dark hole in the cedars at ground level in the background. That was the arrow's path on this old girl.

   

   

   

   

[joe skipp]

I've spent the last 15 yrs hunting them from natural blinds or blowdowns with the bow. Real tough when you have more than one set of eyes looking around.

I wouldn't hunt them any other way. Over the years I missed some, lost one and finally connected. If I was a gun hunter, I would have taken my bird every year but...I just enjoy the challenge of doing it the hard or some say "stubborn" way. Thats just me...

[Duckbutt]

I enjoy it more without the tent.  Have had a little success.  Hope to have some more in the morning.

[ishiwannabe]

Yeah Joe, I was remembering last year..atleast I think it was last year.

KentuckyTJ, I have very similar stuff to work with here. Also have rock walls, large rocks, "cliff like" ridges...all the good stuff that will make them move along a certain path.

Great stuff guys.

[bluegrassbowhunter]

I've taken 7 that I wasn't setting in a blind, mostly in the Fall while deer hunting out of treestands.Most of my turkey killing is out of a Doublebull,at least when I want to get down to bussiness....


 

 

 

 

 

[Bowspirit]

I hear you, Jamie. Seems like I'm making a whole bunch of changes this turkey season...no blind, switching from carbon to wood arrows, less camo in the ol' hunting wardrobes...at the very least, should make for even more excuses as to why I didn't get a bird...  

[overbo]

Killed my first 2 seasons ago after 12 years trying w/out a blind.Called him im 5 times to get him in the right position to kill'um at 6 yrds.160 snuffer thru his eyeball.

[Randy Morin]

3 in a row for me w/out a blind.  All run and gun with 2 strips of camo burlap, a 3 leg stool, some big paper clamps, and dekes.