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Its often said that turkeys pay no attention to ground blinds (pop-up/hub blinds). But my experience and conversations I've had with folks I consider to be real turkey experts indicate that turkeys are in fact sometimes shy of blinds that either stick out like a sore thumb or that were not there yesterday. What are your observations?
Turkeys have no working memory. A ground blind that is in place for some time will just be the landscape to them. Yes, if it isn't really blending, or has bits blowing in the wind, it may get a bit more attention.
I have always placed mine out well in advance, and if need be, I have a small umbrella style blind that I take for the odd run and gun scenario.
Blinds that flap in the wind, or move at all will get their attention. Down south, guys put their blinds right out in the middle of fields. I once brought out a buddy that could not walk any distance. I used my Argo. I parked it a hundred yards or so down the field along the bush. A big flock came out right at the machine and didn’t give it a second thought....Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebulldog
I’ve also had hens come up to the blind and look inside.
I wouldn’t worry about a blind. Keep in mind though, that keeping too many windows open, allowing them to see any movement, will get you busted every time .
I've used a ground blind the last 2 years. I've had hens, jakes and toms walk right past them, coming and going. Each time we set it up the morning we got there. Last year my brother and I had 2 doubles.
Also had the confidence to bring my son for his first turkey hunt.
Nap time
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I've never used a ground blind because (i) I hunt crown/public land and (ii) they're a PITA to set up and take down. I like sitting in the shadows and getting comfortable using 3-D loose leaf camo. I found that I could hear and see better hunting from concealment.
Have you seen the new ones Trimmer...if you're setting up for just a day, no need for peg or guy ropes so they go up and down in seconds. They have spring steel instead of poles so it folds up quick and make it easy to carry out in a shoulder bag.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
They are truly amazing pieces of kit to sit in without detection. Don't block sound and allow you a little more movement so you don't get busted as often.
Game changer for turkey hunting in bushes where there are few large trees or fence lines to sit behind. I still do the later but find pop-ups a great addition to turkey hunting.
Set your blind up a couple of weeks before the season....get them use to it.....it dont bother them at all...
Turkeys are rather clueless when 8t comes to a blind, even if you spook the birds by some freak accident they forget about the danger within 30 mins and can be called back.
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I live too far to set up my blind ahead of time. I set up the afternoon before opener. I’m sure it might bother some but we usually manage to get turkeys.
I know for sure they won’t tolerate any movements in or outside of a blind.
Never seen or heard about these new ground blind MikePal, will definitely check them out.
I have had Toms drumming with their wing tips brushing against the blind. I usually set up my blinds a week or so before the season. I take quite a few new hunters out and I find the blind hides people better if they have problems sitting still. It is also very comfortable to be in a blind with a comfortable chair. A blind allows me to go out in any weather. I have shot quite a few turkeys from a blind during raining days.
I just use the die cut leaf sheet blind thats attached to ground poles. It's eight feet long and stands I believe 30 inches. Its the perfect hight to conceal your movement but gives you the freedom to run and gun. The turkeys never notice it , at least the birds I shot didn't LOL
I’ve had an Ameristep Doghouse for almost 20 years. It’s very easy and quiet to set up and packs up into its own backpack. I use it early season and when I have new hunters. The side windows are getting ratty, from guys( and girls) not raising their gun up enough before they shoot! All hold good memories of hunts over the years.
Several times I have put it up right under roost trees (not on purpose) and it’s so quiet the birds didn’t know I was there....but my favourite is full camo, sitting in the shadows against a tree...
Blinds don’t bother them, it’s movement that alerts them. If the blind is a good solid hub type it seems invisible to them.
I will put a hub out for the season, but also use a cameo screen in other spots, and even just sit still in full cameo. As long as you don’t move at all they ignore you. Once while lying in cameo on a dirt pile I had a hen spend 5 minutes alternating between trying to peck the orange bead off the front of my shotgun and sticking her head IN the barrel to see what was in it! I also have had a hen walk over my legs while sitting against a tree w my legs stuck straight out, and a gobbler walk right by me while I’m standing still w my gun in one hand and my folding seat in the other hand. He only made it 20 more yards!!
This may be foolish question but do folks shoot through the window screening or is the bottom of the screen left unzipped so the barrel can be poked outside of the blind before shooting?Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
I always leave one window open to shoot from, and keep the rest mostly or completely closed so they don't see you silhouetted in there.
Souvenirs of past hunts....Quote:
Originally Posted by pinepointer
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I don’t keep the screen in. We all use scoped guns. When you pull up to shoot, you have to make sure the muzzle is outside the window. You can’t tell through the scope if it’s outside. Some have forgotten that in the excitement ! I usually watch for that, and tell the shooter to get the muzzle past the window edge.....especially after the first hit....Quote:
Originally Posted by pinepointer
Same here. The window that is open, is only open about half...Quote:
Originally Posted by genec
Haha. My daughter pulled one like that also with her first Turkey. She bought me the Blind for my birthday, so I let it pass.:shades:Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
The blind I have has a top and bottom screen that basically lets you slip the barrel between them. No scopes on our turkey guns but my brother shot through the screen anyway.
I have had a hen walk right beside my blind with its wing brushing up against it. Haven't had any bad experience while using one other than getting to my spot only to find the wind has yanked it from its pegs and cartwheeled down the field. This has happened more than once and no matter how much I stake it down the heavy gusts of wind manage to pick it up. I now try to tie one end to a bit of brush or branches if the option is there.
You have to just forget about the stakes (tent pegs) that came with it if you're going to leave it up, especially in an area exposed to wind. Take a saw and hatchet with you when you set up your blind. Cut some heavy duty stakes out of saplings (1.5" thick or so). Use the guy lines that attach to the hubs rather than the peg tabs and drive the stakes down deep with the back end of the hatchet or hammer. Your blind should stay put.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkM
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The anchors that come w the blinds are far too weak! I use heavy, long tent pegs, and tie
off every hub ring to surrounding brush, so no matter what the wind direction or velocity it never shifts.
I've never shot a turkey from a ground blind. I know lots of guys like to use them, but it's just not my cup of tea -- it's a real event if I'm sitting in one spot for more than 30 minutes.
Because I hunt 30+ farms, I've always opted for the run and gun style of hunting. If I find a henned up longbeard that's being stubborn, I leave and go find one who's alone and willing to play.
-Nick
Rain=ground blind for me. Or when I have the kids with me. Any other time its me vs the wilderness.
Everyone is different and I am not being critical of those who use them but, I have one and I used it a few times and hated it. It just not feel like I was really in the woods with the birds and taking the whole experience in the way I feel with sitting with my back to a tree. To me it is not just about the easiest way to kill a bird. I enjoy all the sensory experience of being in the woods in spring which I find the blind dulls.
Now I am lucky in being retired so I only hunt on nice days. If I was restricted to Saturdays only no matter the weather I would use it on rainy days and I might break it out again when my grandsons are old enough for their first hunts but for next year it is staying in the corner of the garage.
I'm with Toddy, i put one out week before season. Use it only on rain days or it back is sore and chair better. I have gotten almost half my birds in the rain, but they make for ugly photo's. here last years. I just retired so I can be picky now, but that might cost me birds and i like DR jigging so might only hunt turkeys in the rain. For blinds I have a chair blind so it all attached to the chair, no a lot of room but keeps me dry and I also use tent pegs long ones.
Attachment 39685
For the past few years I put my blind up in the field an hour before legal light and never have a problem filling my tag at 3 -10 yds in front of my blind.
I also only hunt public land but I use a blind most of the time. My favorite is a chair blind which is light weight and sets up in about 2 minutes. If it's a rainy day I may set up my hub style blind but even that one sets up in about 5 minutes. Just stake out the corners and pop out the sides and top. To run and gun I use a Primos Wingman chair. Super comfortable and you can set up anywhere, no need for a good tree. In my experience turkeys pay no attention to a blind at all. TCQuote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Blinds are a great tool to have if you hunt with young hunters or inexperienced hunters or old hunters who need out of the elements for comfort. No worries about having to set it up weeks before the hunt, longest I’ve set mine up prior to hunt is the day before but that’s just for convenience, no issues setting it up that morning in the dark. I personally love to plunk my butt down at the base of a tree out in the open but I hunt with several people who prefer sitting in the blind. If that gets them out more I’m willing to sit along with them. In reality my blind only gets used a couple of times a year but I wouldn’t want to be without it.
Two tips:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkM
1) Instead of tent pegs at the corners, use corkscrew dog tether stakes. Get them cheap at the dollar store and spray them flat black.
2) If your blind's design allows it, leave it in place but collapse it flat and and put a stone on top. Just pop it up each time you're back.
I set two pop ups on the home farm for bad weather or when the kids want to hunt. We never used them and the weather destroyed them.
I don't like being in a blind. Just don't feel right to me for turkey hunting. We do have a permanent shooting house for deer hunting in December.
I use pop up blinds occasionally, they work, they dont bother the turkeys where im at, and what i do to my blinds helps for deer hunting, dont know if it helps with turkey hunting though, i zip my windows up when i buy a blind, i spray paint the window coverings black, so they will always look the same, opened or closed, black, when i leave my blind for the day, i close the windows, they still look like they are open, black
bdog, i don't know if that works, but I like the idea. I have gone by blinds when windows closed than again when open and I really notice.
This years newest blind from Primos..no poles...7 sec to set up....180 degree visibility...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo
That looks like an awesome blind!Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Tags are now available. Less than 2 months to go.
now that is quite the blind. Expensive but if i had the money that be the blind I'd buy. Wonder how well they stand up to the weather and how long they last.
The material is the only concern for me, how well does it hold up in our Canadian climate.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabmgb
I've had blinds for many many years. The Fabric has always held up to well to normal usage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacomaboy25
ie; set up for the week of the hunt then taken down, dried, cleaned and stored.
I have left some outback for a long time (Apr thru to Dec) and that resulted in the fabric getting bleached by the sun. That also makes the fabric brittle after 4-5 yrs.
The only damage I ever had to the screen windows was from Mice, Racoons and Porcupines eating it and of course shooting thru it. Never had one rip from 'age related' issues.
With these newer blinds, I'm sure that the fabrics used have only gotten better.
And they probably put the fabric through vigorous testing before sending it to market.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
We have had blinds out for five years never taken in branch off a tree ice storm killed it
One is 6 years old and still going other than bad zipper
Those new 360 view blinds must have plastic built into them for wind. Not sure how they will hold up
Its interesting how some hold up and others don't. On a neighbours farm the guy that hunts it left up his blind and the wind completely destroyed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
The two I had up all of the deer season held up well until one of them ended up in the creek during a wind storm.
can i have one?!?! :P
You should watch "My life as a turkey". Turkeys do have a memory. They recognize things that are out of place. If a blind has been there for a while it just becomes normal to them. A horny Tom or Jake is less likely to care if they think they can get some "action"!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebulldog
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I enjoy hunting from my blind every now and again - especially for the longer sits or when there is a chance to rain. I hunt several different farms so leaving one out is not an option. Just make sure you have a quiet chair - not one that squeaks every time you move.......Attachment 39796
I've been debating whether I will use one on rainy days or just not go out. I'm leaning towards not going out if the weather is bad but that my change depending on how successful I've been.
Not according to the biologist I worked with during the trap and transfer here. We fed a spot out in a wheat field during the winter. We put shelled corn down for several nights in a row. We had to put a large branch near the corn, stuck into the snow. The bio said turkeys have no memory, and need something to orient to. Without the branch, they would not find the corn each morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by rippin_355
If you can pick and choose the days you can hunt than warm, calm, sunny days would provide you with the most vocal/ active birds and exciting hunt. For me I have found wet windy days provides for usually a lack luster hunt and a wet bird doesn't make for as pretty a picture. Unfortunately for most you got too hunt when you can and a shelter option can make the best of it in the worst of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacomaboy25
Lucky for me I can pretty much make my own schedule at the farm so the only time I'd be going out in bad weather would be on weekends with buddies.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
A horny tom is a horny tom. What doesn't work one day may very well work on him the next. I've called to a tom who had several hens and jakes with him, he would respond but not come in to me. After an hour I moved 150yds further from him along the bush edge, started calling and the whole works of them came to me in under 10 minutes
Rainy days are good for turkey hunting (see my above post......that is one soggy Tom).Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacomaboy25
I have had good luck in open fields on rainy days.Quote:
Originally Posted by 410001661
i felt that the rain forced turkeys out into the open areas more because they couldn’t hear predators as well in the woods due to the rain - just my theory anyway, but it paid off on many rainy days.
Good to know!Quote:
Originally Posted by 410001661
My buddy has had similar experiences.Quote:
Originally Posted by cantgetright
Would that not be remembering? Using an object as a reference. Recognition is memory.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
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There must be some type of "learned behaviour" that one could say it was "memory" . Not wanting to argue the point though.
As far as blinds go I'm sorry to say that as I get older I am getting somewhat softer. Nothing beats a blind in a windy, rainy day.
I have a busy teenage boy and I really enjoy the very few days I get to hunt with him. The blind guarantees he'll still want to go out on those crappy mornings.
i watched it after i read this. i think they imprinted more on him then he on themQuote:
Originally Posted by rippin_355