I went out this morning to call for a buddy who has a tag right now. Not really sure why he asked me since I have never killed a turkey. Anyway, We got out a touch late and did not hear any gobbling. This suprised me since yesterday we were in the same area and heard 10 different birds! We set up in a double bull blind in an area where turkeys are known to frequent and I did my best to do some soft calling every 15 minutes or so. Nothing happend all morning till finally about 9:30 I look up and see a bird coming through the woods towards us. A few purrs on the slate call, and he was on his way in. He got to where he could see our decoy and blew up and started gobbling, but was too far for a shot. Eventually he tired of this and started to move off. I let him get out of sight and then started yelping on the slate call. He came right back to us, only this time he was coming from the other side of the blind and was gonna offer an easy shot. He was right there when my buddy very slightly moved position for the shot, when all of a sudden he let out a putt and took off running. We could not believe it. For a few minutes neither one of us could figure out what happend since we were in the blind with mess up on the windows. But then I realized that the window opposite his shooting window was slightly open. I got out of the blind and stood where the bird was and realized that since the back window was open a little, the bird was able to see through the blind just a little. He must have seen the movement because of this. Its all in the details I guess!
Yep....been there done that with deer!
Keep them back windows on lock down! If I feel a bird may come from behind I usually unzip it about 1" and tuck the flap in so theres no light. If I have to peek out I can but usually the turkeys go where I need them just not the gobblers lol. If I would have had a side window open I could killed of a giant tom a few years ago. I had it upzipped but the flap was up and I could see the bird strutting through the small crack, would have been easy gun kill but I like bowhunting :)
Yep, watch those windows, any movement sends the alarm. I've seen a whole flock run from leaves blowing across the ground.
Have taken a few bird out the back windows in years past. For the past ten years, I back the blind into cover and permit myself the blinds front 1/3 as my window of opportunity. Excess lit areas are covered with a dark heavy cloths.
Fewer being busted opportunities have been the results.
Yep, we blew a couple of easy shots on gobblers a couple years ago just like that. Two things we do now; wear black inside the blind, and keep all windows to our back closed.
Deer got me that way last year. i now keep all my windows closed except for the tops and only keep my shooting window open all the way