Trad Gang

Any advice on making a ground blind for turkeys?

Try to keep something in front and in back of you. Wait for just the right time to easy on up and draw and release just as slick as that.
  Well, thats MY plan for this spring, With my buddy filming me with my new bow. The part about stuff in front and back is true tho. I have called birds in but no good shot opp. with this technique. Good luck to you.

I dont want to mislead you I have not tried this on turkey but I have used it on deer . It is that camo meash .It is easy to take down an fast to set up .In the case you would have to reset on some birds.or it would work well inconjuction natural materials

You will increase your odds with a blind. I won't bowhunt turkeys without one.

I 2nd longbow1. You only need it if you want to increase your success rate.

I've killed two birds and missed two while useing a umbreller blind. Make sure the tree behind you is wider than you.

I always carry some pruning snips and some zip ties painted brown in my pack. You can usually make a good blind in a matter of minutes. If I know where I want to set up I take my double bull, If I'm wandering, I build on the spot.

I've found it very, very difficult to draw on a  smart old tom unless I'm in my doghouse pop up blind. I'm sure it's not impossible... but still very tough.

I've used "V" blinds (homemade) and had limited success. I also missed a big tom twice (!) from behind a multifloral rose bush one time. I had a jake decoy set up facing me at 18 steps and the big tom ran in, faced the jake and puffed up. His fan popped up between me and the back of his head. Perfect shot opportunity... and I mmmmissed.

Good luck

I`ve killed a few birds out of homemade pemanent blinds in the edge of fields and one in a pop-up blind. this year I`m gonna use a Ghillie suit.RC

BLIND, ON COOL DAYS THERE WARM,ON RAINY DAYS THERE DRY.I HAVE ABOUT 10 TURKEYS OUT OF MY DOUBLE BULL.I CAN STAY OUT ALL DAY LONG, WITH A LUNCH.I ALSO LIKE TO TAKE KIDS WITH ME TO HUNT AND YOU KNOW HOW THEY LIKE TO MOVE AROUND.IF I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE THREE.FIREARMS,MY BOWS,OR MY BLIND, THE FIREARMS WOULD GO FIRST.BUT TELL MY WIFE.THAT HOW MUCH I LIKE MY BLIND.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/whoffman1955/Turkey/blindhog.jpg)

YES!


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/whoffman1955/Turkey/Ga2008.jpg)

NO!

I've killed 6 turkeys under 15 yards and 4 around 20[sorry but did kill them,you harvest fruit,you kill animals at least thats how it is in WV] with my selfbows,18 others with shotguns.Blinds work good but for me there to much moveing when it comes to turkey hunting.And I like to move when I need to.This takes blinds out of the question.And there not to tradional but there good to get out of the rain.We live in the USA so you have that right if you choise.Person'ly I don't use them.
 You either have to use decoys or get a ghillie suit.I use both most of the time.I made mine almost 20 years ago.I once was crawing up to a goobler[ghillie on] that had claimed the corner of a  farm field.At about 75 yards I heard something.So I layed still a hen picked by me within a foot, headed to the gobbler.I almost graber her by the leg.I wish now that I would have.When she got there my hunt was over anyway.That would have been a great ending to my hunt.Two other times I had hens 10 feet.Get a Ghillie to can't beat it when it comes to camo.The turkeys can swear to it if they were alive.

it is true that turkey can't see thru "screen mesh". late spring i had a hen inside 10 yards and i was behind a screen. i did head bobs and moved my hands and she was looking right at me and never spooked! like with deer hunting you need to see the bird first and try to get in position-ha! i like the flexiblity of no blind just my sheet of screen. i have one friend that lays flat on the ground but getting up is tuff!

good luck to all!

Do you really need a blind?

I'd say YES.

I need something to hide movement, like when I'm raising my bow arm, or roasting wood-ticks with my Bic.

fnshtr,, is got it right. He placed his decoy to put some sort of sight block between him and the bird.

Using a blind is all a matter of personal options. I killed one bird from the blind and two without the blind. I prefer without. The blind is devastating to the turkey. You take away his most keen sence,,EYESIGHT,, Plan your setup, use the sun, use your decoy, use a  brushblind or popup blind to take your bird. Its all up to you and how you want to get the job done. Do some scouting and plan your hunt as best you can.

Have a safe a happy hunt,,JB

I've killed far more turkeys with a bow without a blind(at least a commercial version of one) than with one. But when it comes to close controlled shots, a blind is a huge advantage. It's a matter of personal choice. Out west, we often have to cover a lot of ground to locate birds, and the truth is that I love hiking, getting back into shape, looking for sheds and lion kills, and glassing for bears. You miss all that when you sit in a blind all morning. And blinds have certainly leveled the playing field. Before their time, killing a gobbler with a bow was a real accomplishment; now it's just another bird. I'm not knocking blinds... they serve their purpose well and I still use them. But the birds that I kill when I'm out roaming the hills do mean more to me... Don

I've called up to bow range at least 8:1 more birds Without a blind. I've killed 8:1 more birds with a blind. This is from a Southern Eastern bird perspective over 19 years. The other 4 species i shot did not spook on a blind what so ever except a Rio here and there. I'm totally over the blind craze and back to my custom seat/leafy suit and calling up birds real close   :)   which is my real drug and why i bowhunt them.

I am using one this year! LOL Like hunting in the rain and staying dry. Like being able to get away with movement. and just like staying out all day comfortable.

Hunted in one now I gotta have one for myself. Like has been said - not too trad but how much of the stuff I carry is? - besides my bow.

J

Question is , do I really need a turkey blind? This is a good question that can only be answered by you. How much time do you have, how many birds are in your area, in my opinion there is not a heck of alot of difference between portable blinds and ones you make, I guess the dif would be you can move the portable one, If I had just a limited time to hunt, Id have to go with the blind, but I,m kinda like the Montana fellow so I roam around alot and have the time usually, and am blessed with lots of birds and a fairly long archery only season before shotgun takes over.

One thing I thought of they will do for me is pin me down! I might not move as much if I am in a blind. I like to roam probably as much or more than most (a dog in Gene Ws article) so I need something to keep me in place.

Just a thought - if you like a blind use it - if not?

Later

J

I like what joebuck stated, that essentially you may be able to work far more birds without a blind versus with.  However, calling a bird within range is a far cry from shooting one with a trad bow!!!  I've personally never been able to draw a bow in front of a bird without all hell breaking loose!!  I have killed quite a few birds from a blind however.  Don't think just because ur in a blind that the birds are going to just sacrifice themselves!!  I've missed far more than I've hit and I'll continue to hunt them from a blind because there is still nothing more exciting than having a big, old tom spitting and drumming as he closes in on you!! Good Huntin'

Hey Biggie,

Is there anything that you CAN'T kill????
Man. You are always taking game!!!!!

jf

The Don and Joebuck nailed it.  I ditched the blind about 5 years ago and have enjoyed turkey hunting so much more ever since.

Warrior, it's like Don Thomas told me once years ago, "you just have to keep putting nickels in the slot and eventually it will happen"

http://www.shrewbows.com/hiddenhunterblinds/index.html
Click on the "set up demo movie"

Ron, isn't that the Lucky Blind with a new name?

QuoteRon, isn't that the Lucky Blind with a new name?

No it isn't. The Hidden Hunter Blinds are made in Iron Mountain Michigan. I've been using them for several years now and they're the quickest and easiest blind to carry, set up, and take down that you'll find.     :thumbsup:    

I bought a Lucky blind about 20 years ago. It got twisted up beyond repair by the wind a long time ago. It's still hanging in the barn.  The material is still good but the rods aren't    

Ron brought one to K'zoo and popped it up in the isle for us to check out, pretty sweet deal!

Definately on the wish list

Eric

Do you need a Turkey BLIND. If he is it sure would help my success.

Do you need a turkey BLIND? If he is it sure woud help my success.

if you want a turkey to eat use a shotgun. if you like to hunt turkey use a bow and no blind! you'll get a few but hunt longer and that's what i like!

The blind Ron brought to Kzoo is sitting in my living room now! My wife thinks I'm nuts!

In a word: no.

Primos makes a little "fence" blind that is maybe 5'x 18 -24", comes ready to go on stakes that scissor open and push into the ground. Very easy/user friendly and rolls up about the size of a magazine. I use it deer and turkey hunting. Cost about twenty bucks. Always have something behind you that is as wide or wider, like a big tree or bushes. If you dont you will get busted quick!!!!!

now we are getting somewhere!!

If you like shooting turkeys - get a blind.  I have hunted them for several years.  Got one every year except last year.  Don't ask - cut the feathers off his back.  :knothead:  


A blind is nice when the wind is blowing or raining or snowing.  You can hunt all day instead of going back to camp.  A little propane heater will keep you hunting all day as well.  May sound a little lazy, but I will be shooting birds when others are back in the PU getting warm or going home.  :goldtooth:

Don Thomas summed it up well.

I was scouting yesterday and walked up on a nice gobbler with six hens. The gobbler was in full strut turning in circles in the middle of the feeding hens. I got within 20 yards and motioned as if drawing a bow everytime the back of his fan was pointed towards me. The hens were so busy feeding that I went unnoticed. Now if I can be so lucky while hunting.

No you do not have to use a blind but everyone agrees your odds are better.  The problem for me is you simply can't always use a blind in the hill country of KY.  I purchased from Rancho Safari a simple one panel blind called the Shaggie Shield.  I think it is exactly what I have been searching for, quick, simple and effective.