I'll be joining this club.  I've tried turkey's with a blind.  Shot my first one without a blind though.  I've gotten probably 5-6 shots on them without a blind too.  To me it's more fun trying to set up and close the deal.  The blind certainly adds to the odds being in your favor.  I only bring it if it's going to rain.  We shall see.

-Jeremy  

QuoteOriginally posted by huntsmanlance:
Hey guys...last year i used a face net but i didnt like that at all.....i want to try the facepaint or burnt cork but doesnt all of that stuff just rub off or run off if you sweat or it rains?

Some of it does but some doesn't. There are benefits either way though. The stuff that stays put is harder to clean off.

b.glass- I've experienced the same thing right off the roost. A lot of times the hen's take the toms and jakes the other way because of the competition with another "hen" (I think     )  . But don't give up on the call, wait for the hens to leave the toms/jakes mid morning and then call. I've had this work a number of times.

As for decoy's I really don't use them. I have a little in the past but I've had just as good of luck without. So I don't even bother bring them along anymore.

Rob, maybe you could take some of us Southern IN. folks to school.  :D  I done a little looking around on my hunting spot the other day...not much turkey sign. I've seen turkey there but I think they roost across the road in a big pine thicket. Maybe,just maybe...I can call one in this year. I hope!

Jason

Nice set-up TJ!

Jason, most of the time turkeys are safe with a longbow in my hand.    :D  

If the weather is good I wouldn't mind camping a weekend during season. Last year was a monsoon.


Rob

Hey guys, this is a great post. Never hunter turkey before and will be attempting this season with a homemade ghillie poncho and a short seat. Great info here on decoy set up and calling. My hunting buddy and I saw a ton of turkeys during deer season. It was raining turkeys all around us one morning. Looking forward to giving it a go here in NY. Will probably then only see deer then!

I'd be up for camping! Alot of forest ground not to far from my house. I think the Hoosier National is about 210 thousand acres. Come close to killing a turkey there a few years ago. I'm up for any place though...just let me know.

Jason

Looks like a spring turkey camp could be taking form here.  

One thing I have finally figured out over the years is if a bird answers assume he is on a dead run toward you. I don't know how many times I have been caught trying to make up some ground between me and him.

Last year was my first for hunting turkey, and getting busted was the standard pattern for me.This year im more determined than ever to bag one. Kinda gets in your blood.  

Rob, you hunt private or public ground?

Jason

I like to kill turkeys from time to time so I will probably just use the blind, but if I am successful will try more hunting without a blind for sure.  It is definitely much more challenging.

I am off on the 5th and 6th, Sat. and Sun, of May and might be able to get the 4th off. I am also off on the 23rd and 24th of April but that is a Mon. and a Tues.

Those would be the best chances for me to get down there. If I don't get drawn for the 7th and 8th of May at the Mississinewa then I could use those days down there.

Jason, I have private ground close to the house but usually hunt public. I like to stretch my legs.

Rob, I like to stretch my legs myself. Maybe we could get together and do some huntin.

Let me know!

Jason

Good luck guys. Eastern turkeys will make a fool of alot of folks including me. I hunted them hard for nine seasons without a blind here. Every year I had several within bow range but never put one on the ground. Some years I called in nine gobblers and never got a shot.

Tail tucked between my legs, pun intended, I'm ready to go back to the challenge. My thoughts are a set of decoys fifteen yards out. Two "fake" stumps (two stakes in the ground with solid camo fabric stretched between them over turkey head height a few yards away from the decoy. In a nutshell just something for the gobblers head to go behind so I can draw my bow and shoot. I think it will work. Wish me luck! lol

By the end of this season i may be putting land mines all around my decoys!!!

Im in this year, the only time I'll use my blind is when my daughter wants to go with.

doug77

My kids to my wife...."wheres dad?.....is he out in the back yard dressed like a bush and playing with his toy turkeys again???"