I am getting ready to hunt some turkeys and have them figured out. I know where they are roosting and about where they come out into a large field and their strutting zone. I plan on using my doublebull blind. For the experts, should I set up right at their strutting zone? It's right in the middle of a field or should I set up where I think they will enter the field?
I am not an expert, but I would set it up right in the middle of the field at the strutting zone. Keep the decoys in close and face your blind so the sun isn't shining into it. Let them come to you.
I wouldn't try for an ambush where they enter the field unless it was a bottle neck or some natural funnel that I could known for sure that is where they are entering. Otherwise if you miss them and they won't come to the call, you may just get to watch them from a far.
On the edge where they enter the field. I use bottle necks just like deer hunting. You have a point you know where there going to be. Once they hit the field anything can change there direction or they may not like what they see.
Plus it will be a lot easer to call them to this spot. It's a lot easer to call gobblers if your already where they want to go.
Your calling just went from all right to great.
I love finding that "Strutting Zone" spot. It means you can sleep in and then around 9 am sometime go put your decs and blind out right in that spot. Before slipping in be sure they are not close by watching you. I have and most likely will this year sit afar and watch them fly down and wander off and then slip in and set up. They will come back shortly. Very deadly tactic.
If this spot is in a field (like mine is) and the birds are roosted close by it is very dangerous slipping in in the dark especially on those nights with a bright moon. They can see you setting up and will pitch down and go away from you.
Also in our area when you find that spot it is usually good year after year also.
Good luck to you.
TJ
I would choose the actual strut zone. The birds don't pay any attention to double bulls, so a large box sitting in the field won't bother them. Heed KentuckyTJ's advise. sometimes they pitch right out to the field they strut in. If so it might be tough to get in without being seen or heard.
The birds are flying down in the woods I would say 50 yards from the field edge the walking out to the field and go to the middle feed and strutt. They are entering it from two different angles in 3 groups one large and two smaller groups from what I can tell. 30-35 bird total.
Exactly what Mainiac and TJ said. I killed my bird last Saturday like that. RC