tukey hunting without a blind

[beyondmyken]

How many guys hunt without a blind?  I have a double bull but getting it into the woods where I hunt is a real chore.  Plus, it always seems like they are gobbling on the next ridge.  Any tips for hunting without a blind?

[One eye]

I shot my first turkey with a bow without a blind, but this was many years ago.  It is a difficult proposition, but one that can be done.  I like to use deadfalls or large trees to hide behind in order to get drawn.

Dan

[mcgroundstalker]

Guess there are just some guys that do not want to be tied to a blind or tree stand...That's cool in my book...Ain't this hunting stuff susposed to be hard anyway?...I understand when you say the game is over there and I am asleep in this tree stand or blind!...

I'm just thick in the head...Love to stalk and still hunt...Give me heavy cover and a close shot and I'm happy!...

... mike ...

My 2 Cents Worth...Thank You!

[razorsharptokill]

Maybe a section of military camo netting in a duffle bag? I saw a post some where that showed a set up with the hunters back to the tom, sitting in a "V" shaped screen of burlap or netting. Decoys set up at the top of the V and out a few yards. Tom walks past hunter, goes into a strut and hopefully turns his fan toward hunter and presents a shot. Big maybe there but I think it could work. A roll of burlap or section of camo net would be easier to get through the woods than a whole pop up blind. Just my oppinion tho'.

[John Nail]

I have killed a turkey with my longbow. I Don't own a blind.

[Fletch2]

I tried today and got busted. I think I'll use ablind next time.

[robslifts]

ameristep makes a really lite three sided blind that sets up in 15 seconds  it is a very nice option if you like to move a lot

[52 bow]

I used a Eastman blind that is 11ft. long 36'' @ expands to 40'' high and has 5 built in stakes.I curve it around me ,pull my longbow neeling and raise up and shoot.It roles up and fits in your hand.Took my bird using it this year and works great.Bought it at a Pamida store. it was a little light camo colored so out came the spray can.

[whitebuffalo]

I think it'll depend on how many birds you have in your area and what difficulty level your looking for. The blinds can be worth there weight in gold. I shot my first bird this year from a blind,,, Great experience.. Next year I'll go without for sure. I'm not after baggin a bird every year, I'm after limiting myself more and more to see what I can acomplish as a hunter. Right now I shoot a 60# recurve,aluminum arrows,snuffer heads. I would like for some day to shoot my own self bow,self arrows,self heads..and be blessed to harvest a turkey or deer with that equipment.

I think as traditional archers we are all limiting ourselves to a level we can acomplish effectively. Go on and have a great time buddy. JB

[BMOELLER]

It can be done without a blind. I came as close as you can get without bagging a bird.  Tom flew in to decoys at 10yrds. strutted and drummed for what seemed like 10min.  Never presnted a shot until he went up to my jake decoy and then turned his rear to me in strut.  Pulled back, anchored, and let fly.  The arrow went through him.  He fluttered and just walked away like nothing ever happened.  I waited a half hour got my arrow.  Little blood feathers and meat on it.  Looked for about two hours and found nothing.

It was the most awesome experience being that close.   I was using a ghillie suit while sitting on a stool against a fallen tree in the middle of a field.  Bird never knew I was there.

[Shawn Leonard]

My son-in-law was hunting in a blind this morning, he had a bird come in but out of range. It moved off thru the hedgerow and he made a stalk and got a 12 yard shot, the arrow deflected and he missed the bird just walked away and to the next field. He ran ahead and set up behind a large tree and when the bird walked by, shot again, he missed again but called me and was excited as all get out. He does both, I guess!! Shawn

[jeff / sc]

I've killed more using the blind than without (including the one I got this year), but really prefer to hunt without the it and chase the birds. I blew a shot, with some assistance from the turkey, this year at a bird without using the blind. It was classic, strutted to the hen decoy fanned his tail and turned around.  I rely on good camo...leafy suit with netting sewed over the eye opening, set on one of those low turkey seats, and generally just use one hen decoy facing away from me.  Not sure that's the best setup, but it's less to carry, and at least for me, has worked as often as using both a jake and hen.

[Dave2old]

Depends on what you're after -- a better chance of bagging a bird, or a more traditional and challenging hunt. Which is more fun and satisfying to you, win or lose? I personally don't like blinds for the same reason I don't like tree stands: just something else to buy and lug into and out of the woods and worry about getting stolen if you leave 'em there while you're gone. I hunt to simplify my life and escape from the material world. I like to travel light and fast, and can't count the times I've had birds close enough to reach out and grab, without a blind and without camo. (Although I still have some old camo jackets and pants I sometimes wear, all the stuff I've bought in recent years is dark plaid on top and dark green, brown, or black pants, and I've never had an elk, deer, antelope, or turkey notice the difference.) It's JUST more fun and challenging for me to try and arrange set-ups by thinking like a turkey (my wife would agree!)... which way is he most likely to come from, and where will he be looking? Where will he display and strut? (Gotta leave open room for that.) How will the terrain influence the direction my calls "sound" like they're coming from to an approaching bird, and thus, which side of the brush or downed tree should I sit on? Where should I place my decoy; or am I better off using no deke at all? But I hunt mountain forest country, which I realize is different from hunting flatlands, ag lands, etc. To each his own. No doubt blinds are more efficient in general. But so are shotguns. I'm far more in love with hunting turkeys than I am with killing and eating them, so I don't mind "losing" more than I win. We always learn more from losing than from winning with tech support. Good question you ask; good thinking process. Good luck to you. Dave

[jeff / sc]

" I'm far more in love with hunting turkeys than I am with killing and eating them, so I don't mind "losing" more than I win. We always learn more from losing than from winning with tech support. "

Well said Dave...........

[dan ferguson]

This thread makes me feel a little better,couldn,t agree more with Jeff,Dave,BMoeller, Its about the hunt and the experience, I really got hammered on a simular site for bringing up hunting them without all the stuff, It can be done, go out and have a good time.

[AnointedArcher]

Even as good as the pop up blinds are they don't work with a hoot if you have Robslifts and a video camera and tripod in there with you  

[Dave Lay]

I am with ya.. same deal, I wanna kill a bird without a blind and I wanna call him myself, and with a stickbow. I have come VERY close the past two years, just got busted moving, its gonna happen, just gotta keep after it. Nothing wrong with a blind, but it just isnt for me.

[Alex.B]

if my life depended on it, I'd use a blind,...maybe. 'til that happens, hopefully never, I'll just keep hiding behind the bush the best I can