Ok, so turkey huntin is a couple months away here n NC. This yr will be my second yr huntin em. Las yr i carried a........(one of those things). It as my first year n Dad wanted to introduce me to his passion so i carried "it". This year im gona carry MYYYYY weapon of choice. itll be much more fufilling im sure. but heres the thing. I enjoyed the hell out of "runnin in gunin" as dad calls it. The mobility of not useing a blind is a great advantage when it comes to huntin turkeys no doubt. I first thought of deviseing some way to carry my blind on a sling over my shoulders n its still on my mind. that way i can move n call as a please. But thatd be sorta bulky. But alsoooo i must admit the idea of huntin useing natural cover and NOOO blind is somewhat romantic. Maybe ive looked at to many jack paluh prints. N that would seem a lil more befittin for turkeys with "traditional archery" gear. Soooo have any of yall chased birds without a blind??? if soo gimme some tips n information. Im kinda convinced that with enough patience n wit and alot of luck, i can pull it off. itd def add to the exciteinmentand feeling of accomplishment.
During turkey season of 2010 I had six turkeys walk in on my calling and decoys. All were close enough to shoot, the closest being a mere 8 paces away. I was simply sitting in some brush. No camo. No store-bought blind. Just cut away some branches for a shooting lane and that was it. My own errors failed to bring me a bird, but I can say for certain that it was my experience that natural settings and not moving a muscle can got me close to a success.
ya gotta use a blind on one or at least ask them to put a patch over one eye! shooting turkeys with 2 good eyes is really only for the experts.
i dont think tha indians walked around the woods wwith their double bulls. Come on, its has to be possible. Im just askin to hear from people who might have done it. Surely if a bird walks behind a tree you could draw n get a shot. Theirs no way its completely impossible.
I hunt without a blind quite a bit. I have a spot where three trees have grown up together. I get in the middle of them and set a decoy up and I have had good luck hiding there. I think if you break up your out line and be patient for the right time to draw you can make it work.
Thanks man. Im glad to hear somebody has done it without a blind. It gives me hope. do u wait for a single bird to gi behind a tree to draw or how has it worked out for ya???
Two words - Shaggy Suit
Move very little to not at all before and during the shot.
i missed three times today, by the time i would get drawn on them they were getting the hell out of town,theese were two flocks of 7and10 gobblers,getting close isn't the hard part. its the movement of the draw...theyer sharp!!
spring is different you have new groth and lots of foilage to hide in, rite now theres nothing but tree trunks...takes a lotta luck to getter done on turkeys without a blind. and i wont use one.....good luck
thanx, for the examples. Mr Walker, ive thought about investing in one of those. prior to postin this i serached the net for articles on the topic of interest. A shaggy suit or leafy ghillie was HIGHLY recomended n im thinkin bout investin in one. Would yall suggest camo for the bow as well??
i either use two large trees or a cluster of junipers to call from. I have found that when I am not carrying a turkey tag I can be anywhere and wear anything I want and they don't care, must be they can see that I don't have a turkey tag.
Best to you on a very addictive sport.
First, so no one takes it the wrong way I have never used a pop-up blind or netting. Never used decoys. Just the natural cover. If that is ones choice by all means use it.
You mentioned runnin and gunin. If that is your choice and Iam sure your dad covered this is to make sure you have the right cover to get in and set up if a bird was to answer you close by.
If you are backed into some brush or behind a blowdown only call to the bird if he can not see you, if you see him he can see you. Try then only to draw if and when the bird goes behind a tree or whatever and time your draw that he appears from behind whatever.
Again there are so many different situations the only way is learning what the birds teach you over the years.
Now, what has worked best for me and takes a lot of determination, willpower and nerve controll is if I get a bird going I will place myself on the backside of a tree wider then myself from where the bird is coming and throw my calls out and away from me and hopefully the bird will come past the tree continuing to look for the hen that he thinks is another 50 yards or whatever further out past my position. Now I have had birds pass within a few steps of me but that is where nerves and a rock steady position comes on. I am usally on my knees with the bow up in front of me with the bottom tip on the ground. Most birds have a tendency to swing aroung most calling positions so hopefully when one comes out past you he will be within bow range. Now once you got the bird committed again this comes from years afield and of cource most gobs don't play the game fair and that is to stop calling and make him look for the hen. You may hear a lot of spitting and drumming which the gobs do coming in.Listen for that and not so much gobbling. Now while he is trying to see the hen once he passes you and he knows the hen is close he may go into strut for you once that tail is beteen you and him that is your chance. If he does not go into strut he may be focused enough for you to make your move carefully. With practiced you will be surprised what you can get away with.
So now that I confussed you. Please feel free to PM me and I will give you my phone # since I cannot articulate in typing as well as words.
Earl
It can definately be done. Especially if you get a lone gobbler and have a killer decoy like DSD hen that will keep the tom busy.
I am stuck to hunting a blind on my private land honey hole. The birds are plenty and they are fairly dumb. The close shots are what is so appealing to sitting the blind. Turkeys can be tough to kill and having the advantage of a blind is a plus, but if a guy wants to make it a challenge, go for it.
It's all about getting in the woods and having fun. You are only limited by your own imagination.
The one guy on Dual Survival killed a wild hen turkey with out a blind and a guy here in Oregon that does come on here once in awhile killed one without a blind.
Good luck.
Paul
Got to second what greyghost said, turkeys without a blind is a hoot! I have tried it the last two years during a fall hunt. With a Gillie suit on I was able to get away with a lot, almost too much for my own good, cause I seemed to push, when I should of stopped! It is a great learning experience, and a great way to test your own abilities!
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!
I've taken a good number of wary Easterns while wearing a Shaggie Suit and with the help of a "stuffed" decoy. When the gobblers open their fans to show in front of my decoy I draw and shoot them up the rear window. "Texas Heart Shots" are deadly guys!
(Hit F5 on your keyboard to refresh the page if the photo fails to download.)
(http://logsdonstudios.com/stalkerturkey2.jpg)
joebuck has a ton of info on hunting turkeys without a blind. He and Mudd have photos of bow blinds they have made that camo the bow and they shoot thru. Don't put much into that Dual Survivor example: Lots of people feel that bird was tied down. Now, if you tie them down, you won't need to put a blind or a patch over their eyes :bigsmyl: :archer2:
Thanks Guys!!!!!!!!! Keep it comeing, yall are addin fuel to the fire. Ive really taken to turkey huntin and i am REALLY anticipating it. But last year just didnt feel right cause i had a 12 gauge in my hand. I enjoy all the strategy n technique to calling, that was sooooo appealing. But i want something more. Im even thinkin bout throwing the calls away n just callin entirely with my mouth. Keep tellin all the cool stuff u can.
I would suspect that the Native Americans relied on more efficient means for catching turkeys. I have read some interesting methods for catching critters,including turkeys. from old trappers m anuals. Most of us would deem these techniques as unethical, however I am confident that many of the techniques were both viable and efficent.
You may wish to try the to consider how my buds & I hunt on occasion until you feel much more confident in your stalking abilites.
1. Pattern birds morning, afternoon and evening.
2. Blind hunt morning
3. Scout, single and team stock birds in afternoon
4. Blind hunt evenings
Yes, birds can be taken without a blind, however nearly everything has to be in your favor. I recall back in the 80's, before tha advent of modern blinds, when a Bow Hunting Zone opened up and there were ~30 of us would go after them on the 5300 acres. For years there were ~3 birds taken per season. I would track down those successful hunters and get their story. None seemed to be able to repeat taking a turkey the next year and most all flat admitted that much luck was involved.
Consistant successful stalkers are few and far between and so far I have only met one.
Best of luck in what ever methods you try.
No blinds...just natural cover and some luck. Hopefully one tom comes in and either walks behind a tree or starts to display. Then its full draw, aim and shoot.
With 2 hunters, like elk hunting, put the shooter about 25 yds ahead where the bird should come with the caller setup behind.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/P4070007.jpg)
I believe Turkey hunting pressured birds without a pop up blind is easier...Yep I said that.Not eveyone has private land Turkeys to hunt and Public land birds ain`t easy. It takes a lot of Turkey hunting and very little calling and the ability to run and gun or should I say run and bow.
I`ve had turkeys spook from a pop up blind and they are to heavy and to much trouble to tote for me.I use a Ghillie/leafy type suit and hunt very aggressive.
I hunt the same public land and have a routine that works.I`ll let you hear it and maybe you`ll pick up a good tip.
I find where birds roost and I mean several different birds/flocks. Don`t put all your eggs in one basket
I listen during pre-season to the different groups and find out where they go at fly down.Its easier to call a Turkey the direction he`s already headed.I`ll then go at midday and throw a few limbs and things together for a makeshift blind. Nothing fancy just something for a small amount of cover.If its kinda thick and there are big trees I don`t worry about doing that.After fly down and the birds headed another way I`m not tied down with a pop up blind to tote around and move ahead and cut the bird off.
I don`t hunt the same birds two days in a row.
If I could only hunt one time a day it would be from 11-4.Any bird that gobbles this time of day will usually show up.
I`ve killed quite a few Turkeys and only two have been from a pop up blind.Felt like hunting in a closet. Can`t hardly see or hear and miss the whole outdoor experience or for me thats how it seemed.
A lot of folks will give advice on this subject but those that say no blind or camo and the birds just stumble up and are succesful at killing them...Have never hunted public land Easterns.RC
Also I would recommend investing in a very comfortable and pack ready stool.
I meant no disrespect to you fellers about the no camo and stumbling up birds. Just a total different ball game in the south east.RC
I believe and hunt the same gospel as RC. He's spot on IMO
It has been 10 years since I've bowhunted Turkeys and I'm anxious to get back at it this Spring. I agree with RC...mobility is the key. Ghillie suit and 3 leg folding stool, as well as limb pruners and you're pretty much in biz....as long as you've patterned your birds. Nothing beats an early Spring morning and the fly down.....then it's on. Dang....3 more months.
I've ued a ghillie sence the eary 80's. Run and guns fine but when you get there slow,slow down. My grandady killed over 300 gobblers in 9 or 10 states. This he stressed to me a 1000 times. I'm sure this is happen to all of you. You give upget up and spook your gobbler. When you think he's gone weight another hour. HE'S LIKELY THERE.
Never know a gobbler real gobbler hunter that did'nt scout alot have patience.That come bind with scoutings.And learning to be totally still. Remember a gobblers are'nt like deer. Gobblers see depth reception. So they can look over and say look there's a hunter in CAMO.
Use a ghillie and learn to use the natural cove and do'nt move. Scout,scout,scout, Get in his way it's a lot easer ot call him if he already wants to go that way. Your calling just got great.
I killed dozzens useing just that tactic. My friends think I'm a great caller. I let them think that. In reallity I'm not you don't have to be. Turkeys don't go to calling contest. So they don't know what their surpose to sound like. They all sound different.
All yea learn to shoot of the ground seting on your butt. You can learn to do it. It's not hard I've shoot a 60 to 64 inch selfbow while seting on my butt for over 20 years. Plus if you set on your butt you'll beand in alot better. You may not have the time to look around for a nice spot to set up a stool.
Mudd and Guru have described a "bow blind" that they added to the quiver side of their bow to aid in covering draw movement. I made an ultra light version and it seems to work OK. I will try it out next spring.
Might do a search and find that thread
ChuckC
Chuck - Did some searching for that thread....no luck. Anyone?
I guess I'm just not that good of a turkey hunter, and I agree with RC, spot on. The turkeys in southeast Ky are hard to hunt(for me anyway), even with a blind :knothead: My hat is off to all you guys that can consistantly harvest these wary birds :notworthy: :campfire:
The only turkey I was able to get a shoot on last year was without a blind. I missed but I have killed in the past without a blind. You just have to be more aware of your surroundings when you draw. Movement is what always gets me busted when I don't have a blind. If you can pull them passed you then you are in business. Some of the roosts I hunt may take a 4 mile hike to get to so going in light can be a real advantage. The bird mention above I don't think I would have shoot at from my blind. I had abandon my decoys(which they could see but won't commit) and had bellied crawled to some hen'd up birds. When I finally was right ontop of them two of the lesser birds came in on a string. This was after two hours of calling. Blinds have a big advantage in some scenes but being without a blind has advantages too. You can see the birds better and can adjust to what is needed easier IMO.
joebuck has a ton of ways to hunt without a blind. I've used his Martha Stewart wreath to help cover my bow movement plus my ghillie. Wire wreath rim with silk vine attached that you can get & make from a crafts store. Tell the sales lady what you're trying to do...then watch at her facial expression :eek: Tape the wreath to your bow and shoot through it...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/VermontTurkeyHunt.jpg)
My 56" Pronghorn with wreath & paint job.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/MarthaStewartTurkeyBow001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/MarthaStewartTurkeyBow003.jpg)
Interesting set up there Tippit :thumbsup:
Turkeys can be patterned just like deer and in my opinion should be hunted the same way anytime other than in the spring. You should scout for three days and hunt the final day. Once you figure out their travel routes, pick an ambush point in the brush and bust one.
While sitting in a deer stand I noticed this group of birds walk up out of the woods and feed through this little field for a few days in a row at about the same time daily. I went in cut out a couple shooting holes in the cedars and like clockwork they came through.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Turkeys/insideout.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Turkeys/thehole2-600.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Turkeys/thehole3-600.jpg)
My right side shooting hole in the background of this next photo from the birds perspective. There were around 18 birds in this flock and they had no idea I was there.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Turkeys/thehole1-600.jpg)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Turkeys/tj08bird1-600.jpg)
I shot my one and only turkey without a blind. I was caught in the open, I was on one knee and the tom was focused on his hens. They had passed me and I just held very still. I drew very slowly and let 'er rip. I must say that God blessed me and my arrow hit right where I was looking. It helped too that I wasn't calling. Had a friend doing that from behind a tall juniper. I felt great until the tom ran and flew off the hill. Then the fun began... We found him under a tree and he's now adorning my wall in the "man cave". Good luck, it can be done.
-Jeremy :coffee:
Ky T, that's a really cool set up there and a super nice result, congradulations :notworthy:
Yeah, i was gona say the same thing bout how "kewlllll" ur set up looks. I prefer the natural over the "produced". I cant think everyone enough for all ur stories of success and advice.
100% with RC. He hit the nail on the head on all aspects. Here is my set up. Big Snuffer heads are the order of the day. If you see a couple of gobblers with their heads locked up fighting use the opportunity to walk up on them and shoot one! When their necks are all twisted together and one has the head of the other in his mouth. They will be so involved with each other that they won't pay attention to you. Move quickly but no jerky motions. The picture is proof.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb437/SHOVELB/100_0537.jpg)
Lots of good info here, RC and KY TJ, I agree with you both, depending on hunting situation. I tend to hunt more like TJ, on small spots of private land, and just hunt travel routes, like deer hunting, actually same ones, as they use the same ones here in SE Ky where I live. I have taken 10 trad birds, last one was on the ground in a ghillie, slipped up on a whole flock, using terain, they were in a feeding frenzie, eating fox grapes, and I shot the closest one, had his back turned to me, a #20 gobbler with 7 inch beard. I believe the ghillie to be the utltimate camo.
I read an article several years ago by E. Donald Thomas about cutting a v in a cedar or pine and shooting the bird when he walked by from the side. I had some light weight webbing type material called leafaflage. A 30 foot piece weighed about a pound. It was 3 foot high. I would walk through the woods and lost call until a gobbler answered me. I would then find a tree and wrap the leafaflage around a tree facing away from the gobbling bird. If the bird was to the north, I would wrap the flage with 15 foot pointing toward the S.E. and 15 foot pointing to the S.W., and I would sit with my back to the tree and my decoy would be 10 yards from the end of the mouth of the fence. The idea was as the bird came down the side of the leafaflage "fence" You draw and shoot when the bird comes into view. I have killed two gooblers using this method. It was light and worked well. The tree would hold up the fence on the back and I used 2 tent stakes to hold the ends of the fence.
I now use a blind on an old golf bag hand cart. And I just set up in a good area and read a book and call ever 15 minutes, sooner or later, a bird will show up.
Chris
Trouble with hunting Pa. birds is they are so smart. They become decoy shy and blind shy both. There is a old timer named Jack Brobst who has killed over 50 turkeys in the old days with a recurve and longbow with no blinds. He would set up aginst a tree with a stool. He had a article in TBM a long time ago, Mike Fedora, his wife and himself all killed a turkey in one morning with their recurves.
You have to wait till they fan out or walk by to get a shot without a blind. Sometimes you can get a shot when they walk behind a tree and when they step out you shoot them. I like to set up where there are big trees, they will let you move when they walk behind them. You got to practice shooting by holding your bow out and pulling straight back with little motion.
Jack Brobst wrote a book explaining his style of hunting. It is well worth reading, especially if you want to torture yourself and hunt eastern turkeys without a blind. I bought my copy of his book directly from him, years ago. I'll check to see if he left a phone number anywhere inside.
Jack B. also used a fabric blind material he staked out around his tree. Jack was the pioneer of calling up birds and bow shooting them
I think these dudes in eastern NC can evaporate like that cat in Alice and Wonderland.
I am just taking advice here, none to give as I have not chased a turkey in 10 yrs. Thing shave settled now so I can get after em this yr.
Believe in run and "bow" on most anything around here. Tactics this yr will be closed roads on game lands hunting off a mountain bike, (as well as some bblind work). After morning hunt I am going to patrol that road stopping and calling looking for a gobble will have ghille suit for these times. Also going to spend some time on a creek outta the boat/kayak to access even more remote game lands. Got to clear the crowds
Worth a shot -
J
Look for this Guru post in April 2010
***This years turkey challange..."Ghillie up"!***
Without the ***'s
ChuckC
Jack Brobst phone no. is 610-498-4676, dont know if he is still selling his books or not.
Here's my list in order of importance to kill a turkey without a blind.
1. You have to be still to get the bird close to Traditional range so you have to be COMFORTABLE. use a seat. I recommend the Waldrop Pac Stool. it leans against a tree and is right height to get bow tip off the ground.
2 Calling. You have to have some skill to call the bird up. Less is better in my book. Soft clucks and yelps from wood calls. Gobbles and cutts from my mouth call. I make all my own mouth and wood calls. I am constantly practicing and listening to real turkey talk .
3 Hide your draw......some people put this first but if you
can't sit still and call bad....you'll never get to draw! I have a shield in front of my bow that hides my draw when bird is attacking my decoy. Or I draw when his fan helps me or goes behind a tree
4 Decoys!!!! Dam if you do and dam if you don't......but I always tote 2. Struting Jake and hen. All my decoys are full body. As season progresses and birds get smarter. I use my hen. I do not skimp on $$$ on my decoys either.. They are either DSD or stuffed. They look real...there is a difference at least
on these wily eastern I hunt.
5. my setup is my deer setup. Same bow ,bh , everything. I do not change a thing. in short I shoot my most accurate setup. Why change.
Lots of good advice. I have plans on hitting the turkey hunting purdy hard this year. I'm gonna take everything said here and put it to good use. Best of luck to everybody! Jason
I have killed a few without a blind and it is extremely hard. What I do is wear a Ghillie suit and a pair of carpenter knee pads. I try to find a tree big enough that I can hide behind and get on my knees and get as close to it as possible. This limits you to shooting on only one side of the tree but it works if everything is perfect and the birds come on the right side of the tree. It is hard but very very rewarding and there will be many more birds that get away than birds that die.
That picture of Jim Dahlberg, is one of the coolest turkey picture I think I have ever seen!!! :D
I sit on one of those low fold up seats w a pad just a touch off the ground then. Set up with a direction of bird travel in mind. Don't call much and don't move. I shoot a 68" bow and just lay it over. Missed several this way! Key is getting shots relatively close and b very camo'd
Thanks for all the info. By far this has been the most replys out of any post ive made since bein a member. ALL were positive. Thanks guys. Keep em coming. I will say this whole idea was born of nastalgia and some part egotism. I wanna show everbody that says "ohhh nahh u aint gona pull that off" that i can. whether i do that or not, im thinkin this is gona be one BIG RUSH.
Joey is your shield home made or bought ?
and do you have a favorite ghillie ?
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Gary what kind of Ghillie is that you are wearing ?
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I like to use my ghille suit, and natual cover.
All of my Turkey hunting is done on public land here in the North GA Mountain WMA's and NF. Carrying a pop up blind would suck all of the fun out it. Too steep in places and too thick in others. Some hunters will bring in a blind, set it up and leave it...not sure that's allowed, and often someone else will find it and walk off with it.
This time of year I scout while pig hunting, closer to season I'll go out in the evenings and roost them, then try and get back in the morning to see where they go.
My set up is ghille suit, longbow, pack with quiver attached, and a folding stool.
Our birds stay fairly quite in the early season so the biggest mistake most make is calling too much. I carry a Robert's Brother's glass over slate call and Lynch's Super Hen for long distance calling and use mouth calls when they're in close. I'll set out a decoy if I have time, but more often than not they come in before I have time to set them.
I have 4 or 5 "ridge-line loops" that I walk and never hunt them back to back. However, being public land that doesn't mean someone else isn't in there.
It may not be the way the experts do it, but it works for me. Looking forward to the coming season because my son will be old enough to go with me this year.
Yeah Ray - I agree - I have been carrying so much stuff it isn't fun any more. But my turkey sightings and shot ops while bowhunting have skyrocketed using a blind - so I want to think this through and scale down carefully.
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Corey,
If it works, stick with it. Nothing wrong with seeing more birds and having more shots.
Maybe try one of the "screen-type" blinds, they're lighter and set up/break down fairly quickly.
Well i havent totally ruled out carryin a blind myself. Its that id like to not have to. But if thas whats required thas what ill do. Id carry the blind call..No bird? git up n move repeat. Ideally id like to strike a bird as soon as the fly down n go set up on him. dies nebody do this as well? sitn a blind up n one spot n sitn n it an calln all day for several days doesnt sound real fun to me.