Turkey hunting

[Doc Pain]

Who hunts turkeys without a pop up blind and what is you set up?

[ksbowman]

This is my very portable set up. It works very well and all you have to do is hold still and draw when the birds head is behind his fan or another object.                                                                    

[ksbowman]

Here is from the birds view. Even though it doesn't look like it only my shoulders and head are above the netting, keep your bow resting on your boot and vertical.                                                              

[ksbowman]

Results.                                                            

[YosemiteSam]

I take similar netting and set it up when I can.  But sometimes, there's only enough time to tuck myself into some shade or behind a tree.  My netting is fairly noisy -- sounds like leaves rustling.  So I only set it up when I have time & think I'm out of earshot for a while.

[Dendy Cromer]

Leafy-suit, waldrop pacseat, two decoys and my bow.

[Fat Clyde]

I gotta find a seat. I been kneeling in my leafy suit behind natural cover.

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by Fat Clyde:
I gotta find a seat. I been kneeling in my leafy suit behind natural cover.

Been practicing shooting from a seated position so I can just carry a foam pad & shoot from a seated position.  A little more cant to get the lower limb off the ground, a little Kentucky windage off to the left a few inches puts them right on the mark.

[NittanyRider]

Originally posted by Dendy Cromer:
Leafy-suit, waldrop pacseat, two decoys and my bow.

I'm going to use a similar setup... hammock seat, leafy suit, two AvianX decoys, and my recurve with a string tracker.

Last year was the first year I hunted turkeys with a bow.  I used a popup blind, but I didn't like sitting inside that thing at all... you totally miss out on being surrounded by the sounds, sights and smells that make spring turkey hunting so awesome!

[ChuckC]

I will try this rig out in a month or so.

So if I had the money to buy just one "premium" decoy.... which one should it be ?  Why ( I hunt in Wisconsin).
CHuckC

[R. W. Mackey]

Chuck, you can't buy just one premium decoy, you need two.
A hen that can be seen, not one of those silly sitting on the ground ones and a Jake. The Jake is the most important, you only need the hen because your using a hen sound to bring the Gobbler in.
 A dominant Gobbler will always go straight to the Jake and
Show him whoes boss. They will not even pay any attention to the hen. Set the Jake at 10 yds facing you the hen at 12 yds
And offset a couple yards to one side. The Gobbler will strutt around the Jake and face him straight on, at this time he will be facing away from you, he doesn't see you draw, and you have a shot right at the middle of his back, which I think is the best shot on a turkey.
 Now if you want the best, get the Dave Smith Decoys, why cause they are the best. Now if you can't afford the best, second best is the Avian X decoys. Both work and look great but the DSD decoys will hold up much better over the long haul.
 Everyone has their option and this is mine. Give it a try, I think you will like the results.
 RW

[ChuckC]

Thanks RW.  

I have some "lesser" decoys, including a jake and hen ( numerous different hens). Would love to purchase a DSD or two.

Any particular poses the best ?

Not many turkeys where I get to hunt so I am hoping to capitalize on whatever chances are thrown my way !

[R. W. Mackey]

Chuck, like I said earlier about the hens, the only reason you
Use a hen is because your making a hen sound to attract the gobbler. The pose is not important it just need to be upright so it can be seen from a distance.
 Now as for the Jake decoy both of the brands mentioned make a 1/2 strut Jake. I like these because they show just enough of the breeding display that the old birds can't stand him around the hen and not enough aggression to keep other
Jakes and younger gobblers from coming in.
 This is really a fascinating and challenging sport, I wish you the best of luck this spring.

RW

[Doc Pain]

A lot of good info.  Thanks to everyone.  Gonna try to make it happen in another month.

[Mark Colangelo]

I agree with RW...I have Avian Xs but DSDs are awesome as well. The difference between the interaction with budget decoys and high end is not comparable...ill never go back from top shelf dekes again

[Orion]

Chuck:  I agree with RW.  I have the DSD half-strut jake, and it's worked very well in my neck of the woods, which isn't too far from you.  I often use it alone, but sometimes add a (feeding) Avian X hen.  Thinking of getting another (breeding) Avian x hen as well, which looks a lot like the feeder.  I don't like the sentry hen posture.

Now with two or three of these full body decoys, you're not going to be doing any running and gunning.  Too much to move so you'll have to determine the roosting areas and travel routes and set up  your pop-up or stick blind well in advance.  

BTW, I did the natural blind thing. It works, but much more likely birds will detect you before you get a shot. They'll often see you from so far away and slink off that you'll never know they were in the area.  

I can sit real quiet for an hour or two, but after that, I start moving too much, and that's when birds would pick me up in a brush blind.  I sit all day in a pop up blind, am much more comfortable, and the birds don't make me. Good luck.  Turkeys with a bow are a blast.