No blind turkey methods

[joebuck]

[Doug S]

Since I just moved to S.D. most of my birds were easterns, and there is deffinatly a difference in what they will tolerate. I, 2 different times have waited 2 hrs with a bird within 30 yards for a good shot oppurtunity. They both would strut and turn gobble ect. but for different reasons, brush ect. I couldn't get a good shot. These were both easterns. I killed them both. 1 was 5 yrs old. It's tempting to draw as soon as they are coming but you have to resist. Like Joebuck I'll have 20-30 birds within 30 yards but maybe take 2-3 shots. Sometimes they just walk away because I couldn't draw undetected.

[jeff / sc]

Didn't mean to bash blinds....still hunt out of mine, particulary if hunting a field or food plot.  It's just not as much fun as chasing them ....and carrying that blind all through the woods gets old in a hurry.  I have found that if you set the blind out in a field or food plot, rather than on the edge...birds will walk right up to it.  I think they expect more danger from the edge and will sometimes skirt around a blind setup on the edge.  I agree, it's easier to call one into range without the blind, but lots tougher to get s shot, and if more than one bird, your probably just going to watch the show....but that's not so bad either.  I am curious about just using a jake decoy...is that maybe better than the usual hen or hen / jake??

[jeff / sc]

A comment on shot placement....every bird that I've ever lost was hit low....a bird with 1 broken leg can fly...real well.  I'd rather error on the high side.

[bgram]

Don't know how many of you have seen it, but, I think I'll try the new Eastman portable blind.  You just stake it in the ground and you can adjust the height of it.  Saw it in Cabelas catalog, looks pretty intersting.

[varmint]

Jeff,

  Not sure if using just a jake decoy is better,but it does work.Good thing about it is you can set the jake decoy up FACING you and the gobbler will usually come in and circle the jake decoy to get face to face,giving you a chance to draw.

[jimneye]

When using a blind I'm told to set up the decoy 5yds away but, how far away if I'm not using a blind?

[joebuck]

[varmint]

Very cool chair!!

[4runr]

Good stuff joebuck. Thanks for all your trial and error. Maybe it'll help some of us newbies have less errors.
That chair looks like the cat's meow for us stiff kneed fellows who need to get a little further off the ground.
Thanks again!!

[jeff / sc]

Cool chair joebuck, have you ever tried it deer hunting??  My little turkey stool works OK, but I like your setup better.  Looks like a modified pack frame.  Really neat idea.  Noticed the white fletching on your arrows....do you use those arrows turkey hunting??
Varmint...thanks for info on using jake.
I never used decoys when hunting with a shotgun, but seem to think they are necessay with a bow.....are they really necessary??  Sometimes they work great, but in the long run I'm not sure they don't hurt more than help.

[joebuck]

[jimneye]

A big thanks to all who contributed to this thread.  Myself and a few others will put all this knowledge to good use.  

Looks like we need to have a turkey chair build along.  What do ya say Joebuck?

[the Ferret]

Hunting the second week down in Kentucky one year, if the gobblers spotted a decoy, even from 150 yards away, the squatted and ran out of the field. Don't know how they could tell a decoy from the real thing at that range, but they were definitly call and decoy shy.

[jeff / sc]

Hey guys..thanks for all the good info....with all this turkey talk, I'm starting to get pumped.
Really nothing like roaming the woods with your bow on a spring day......fall ain't bad either.

[joebuck]

[jimneye]

JOEBUCK, Thank you very for all your advice, good luck this year.

PS  if you wanted to pm me those plans, it wouldn't upset me too bad.