No blind turkey gang!

[huntsmanlance]

Since last year with my first time to call in two jakes i have the fevor bad. When i saw Joebucks threads i really got pumped up again. Definately take the time to check out his post on PBS....in the knowledge through experience ......      http://www.probowsociety.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=10     ...there is a whoooole lot of good stuff to read there.

New stuff......I ordered a ghillie full body poncho off of e*** for $50, a pretty boy jake for $40 on their site and am seriously looking at those "shield" bow blinds. I have listened to Joebucks and others on utube where they show you how to use the different calls....so i have allot of practicing to do until the season gets here.

I will stay in touch with the warden who keeps up with where the birds are and their movements to give me a good idea where to go and scout.

My "plan"  and we all know how those wind up       is to find them with a crow call...locate which paths they are taking then try one of the suggestions Joebuck posted....set up the decoys on the path and then back track about 20 yards and to the left of the path from the decoys.....so when the toms come down they will be facing the decoys.....start calling as soon as they leave the roost and hopefully when they walk by me to get at the decoys i will be able to get a good shot off.


Wish me luck because im going to need it!!! And i do the same for all of you!!!

Lance

[Glunt]

I love hunting turkeys w/o a blind but my 5YO will be tagging along this year so we'll probably use one most of the time.

I hunt early in Nebraska and the birds are in big flocks and not very responsive to calling sometimes.  Spot and stalk as close a possible and call one out of the big bunch or setting up an ambush where we think they are headed has yielded results.  I've only killed one without a blind, but lost count of the close calls over the years.

[joe skipp]

Never used a blind, just natural cover or if a tom answers my call while I'm just standing there looking stupid....find anything to hide behind!

A good headnet, practice religiously from a kneeling position, learn to use mouth calls (keeps both hands free) and don't over call.

Stay alert and time your shot. Wait for the tom to display and offer that nice "fan" shot or let him walk behind a tree before drawing and take the broad side shot.

I like the 160 gr Snuffer as turkeys are tough. Not much else to offer except check out the Turkey vitals diagram...it's somewhere on the Forum.

[bowslinger]

I have only taken one turkey with a bow; a tom with a longbow and no blind.  I had spent the morning in a blind and botched a shot at a tom that came in running at full speed. Never even got a shot off.

Packed up the blind and was walking back to the cabin for lunch.  A buddy that helped me take down my blind and I were walking back to the cabin for lunch when we walked up on a large flock of turkeys feeding along a valley.  Mark had already taken one with a wheelie bow that morning, so he stayed with the flock while I manuevered ahead.  I backed into an isolated cedar tree and shot a tom as he walked around the tree not 3 feet from me.  He turned and ran as I drew.  I nailed him on the run.  I am now hooked on hunting turkey without blind.

I almost shot a second tom the next day. I had two toms walk up out of a brushy draw as I crossed an open pasture. I saw them first and layed down flat on my belly with my bow in front of me.  I watched Fred Eichler practice this shot and had practiced it myself.  I  had two toms within 15 feet while on my stomach.  I was not turned right to raise up and shoot.  But I tried anyway.  They ran off and stopped abut 20 yards away.  I shot , thinking they were 25 yards, and shot over one's back.

It was an absolute blast.  Hunting from a blind will never be as much fun now.  I say go for it.  Use terrain and spot and stalk as best you can.  The fun in trying is sheer joy!

[wollelybugger]

No blind for me, I do use a stool and like to get in blow downs if possible. I use a mouth call by Woodwise and a True double by Primos. I also like to use a Smith box call. I use a Osage self bow that pulls short so I don't have to make a lot of movement. I can shoot sitting down or kneeling. Try to get some big trees around you and you can adjust when they go behind them. You only have about two seconds to shoot if your lucky.lol Once they start gobbling stop calling and they will come. It can take them a long time but they will come.

[snakebit40]

Originally posted by mongoose:
Snakebit, I'm not sure about decoy attached to my bow, I think I'd want the old bird looking elsewhere          

I've had friends tell me it works with the "other bow" so I figure I'll try with my trad bows. Also I'm very fortunate in that I have a lot of ground I can hunt and have a lot of different birds I can try different techniques on. I'll keep you guys posted on what works for me.

I've tried the two man set up and it worked out pretty well. My buddy shot a tom while we were using it. My favorite thing to do with cover is actually a sniper technique. I like to get a lot of cover in front of me and have a hole to shoot through. Not a very big hole, I like them about the size of a truck tire. I know this doesn't leave you with very many shooting opportunities but I did it does work. I One other tip, most of you if not all of you probably already now, is the golden hour. Around here the golden hour starts around 10 to 10:30 a.m. The hens leave around this time and the toms are on the search again. I don't know how many times I've heard my friends leave and then I tag out. Actually last season I didn't even start hunting till around 9 to 9:30 a.m. and had shot opportunities almost everyday I hunted.

[Joeabowhunter]

Without a (artificial) blind is my goal for spring turkey.  I would like to make or buy a ghillie suit but here is the plan.  I know where the birds like to roost and can sneak in close under the cover of dark.  I like to go in really early.  I'm gonna set one hen decoy in an opening outside of the hardwoods.  I've got a nice low stool to place behind some heavy deadfalls and scrub.  Decoy will be about 12 yrds out to the west facing away from me so I'm not looking into the sun and hope for the tom to aproach from its rear.  I finally learned last year that I'm not good on the call and I call too much.  Now knowing that I hope to control myself and stay quiet this year......not easy to do, I get so excited when the gobbling starts.  Anyway, I'm feeling confident in my plan and setup just hope it all comes together.  Man I'm pumped up thinking about it!!!!!

Good luck to all of you, Joe

[Russ Clagett]

it takes some skill to stalk and kill 6 wild turkeys...........well done sir....

[Dave Thaxton]

Im in too. Leafy suit,natural cover, blow down or a blown over tree root ball. Practive from my pacseat and knees. Try and set up a jake deke less than 10 yds on my left side(shoot righty)facing me so that ol big boy will come in and get in the dekes face...hopefully offering a fan shot.
Favorite call is an OLD Rohm brothers doubled side slate but I use a box some too. I always have a diaphram in for close calling to cut down on movement. As much as I love deer hunting turkey hunting is my favorite!

[Knawbone]

Tried it last year with minimal success. Will try again this year. Planning to try a jake decoy in combo with one hen. Going to start calling a ways away from the setup and then move to the setup site.As long as they don;t come in flying(like one did last year) I just might stand a chance.

[tecum-tha]

@Rob W.: Don't you want a blind or can't afford one?
I have 3 DB, one of them is a recurve model and an additional cheap blind laying around.
I just don't have decent hunting ground around here beeing suitable for blind use...
The cheap one needs a shorter bow because it is slightly smaller. But when it rains it beats the heck out of getting your ass soaked...

[Whip]

I went blindless last year, and ended up missing two mature toms.  So now I'm convinced it can be done - I just need to get my shooting under control!  I will definately be going blindless again this spring.  I love the freedom it gives me to move wherever I need to be.

The link to Joebuck's thread at PBS is a wealth of information.  To hear him present it in person come to Alabama next weekend for the Tannehill Pre-spring arrow fling.  He is doing a seminar on Saturday evening.

[PA stickbow boy]

Good info coming here.  Been reading the PBS thread too.  What might help me is some pics of how you successful guys set up your decoys when using them.  And the relationship to the no blind sitting spot and/or blind.  I usually just set 2 hen decoys about 10 yards infront of the blind/or tree if going blindless. I've never been sure when to use a jake decoy or a tom decoy or combo of those with hens and how to posistion the decoys.  I just throw them up randomly.  It's worked but just curious to what others do. A picture can be worth a thousand words.  

[Rob W.]

Originally posted by tecum-tha:
@Rob W.: Don't you want a blind or can't afford one?
I have 3 DB, one of them is a recurve model and an additional cheap blind laying around.
I just don't have decent hunting ground around here beeing suitable for blind use...
The cheap one needs a shorter bow because it is slightly smaller. But when it rains it beats the heck out of getting your ass soaked...

I have an intimidator that I use when I take the kids out. I just don't like sitting in one. Drives me nuts and they are a pain to pack in.

Rob

[Rob W.]

I have always hunted turkeys with a run-n-bow     approach. I'm thinking this year maybe more of a deer hunting type strategy is in order. Seems like it would put the odds a little more in your favor(if thats possible).

I'm just not sure I can listen to a bird hammer on the next ridge and keep my butt put.

Who hunts turkey more like deer?
Rob

[Covey]

I've never killed a turkey...but I would love to. Came close a few years back, but the old tom just wouldnt come that last little bit. Just don't have a good turkey huntin spot. I still go and try and I'm gonna go and try again this year. I'm with Rob though...I hate pop up blinds! Feel couped up in those thing's! Nothin like turkey huntin with a bow without a blind!      

Good hunting, Jason

[PA stickbow boy]

I've tried without but havent had any shot opportunites that way. I've got feathers 3 times from the blind. I was thinking sorta of like Rob W. and try the deer type hunting. Tuck down in a log pile or something. Either way, it's a blast.

[hawkeye n pa]

I don't own a blind so that answers the first question.

As far as strategy I'm still looking for that "dumb" bird.   You know him.  He's the one in the garden on Sunday afternoon's.  Or he walks past the door during the other eleven months of the year.

[huntsmanlance]

PA,....... joebuck talks about the best times to use certain decoys........you just have to dig through the thread to find it!!!    

[huntsmanlance]

Another reason not to use a blind is because when you wear a ghillie suit the bigfoot sightings go up!!!