And while turkeys are not generally spooked or alarmed by a blind, they can initially be overly cautious about anything new in their territory. Getting the blind set well before the season opener allows birds to acclimate to the blind’s presence. It quickly becomes part of the landscape.
Are blinds good for turkey hunting?
While some shotgun turkey hunters prefer to sit in the open and depend on their turkey hunting clothing while they hunt instead, ground blinds are almost necessary for bow hunting turkeys. Because turkeys have such amazing eyesight, more shotgun hunters are turning to turkey hunting ground blinds as well.
Are turkeys blind shy?
The vast majority of turkeys are not blind-shy, to the point where you might argue that it doesn’t really exist. I have however encountered situations when you start by removing decoys, and eventually become accepting of the fact that the blind itself is causing birds to skirt your position or flat be alarmed.
Where do you put the blind on a turkey?
Try setting up your turkey blind where you have good visibility down two different trails (e.g., where trails cross, come together, or turn sharply). This spot offers good visibility for your decoys.
Do turkeys pay attention to ground blinds?
Too, turkeys don’t pay attention to a ground blind like deer do. You probably can set up a turkey blind in a parking lot, and a gobbler will walk within 5 feet of that blind and not be spooked.
What is the best turkey hunting blind?
- Best Overall: Primos Double Bull SurroundView Double Wide Ground Blind.
- Best for Bowhunting: Ameristep Pro Series Extreme View Hub Blind.
- Best for Shotgun Hunting Solo: Ameristep Gunner.
- Best for Tall Turkey Hunters: Browning Envy.
- Best for Run-and-Gun: Primos Double Bull SurroundView Stakeout.
Do pop up blinds scare turkeys?
Turkeys just don’t care. I regularly pop up a blind in the dark on the morning of the hunt 100+ yards from the closest tree in a wide open field. The birds come on a bee line to the decoys and flat ignore the blind. I’ve done double blind sets too when we have three or four of us hunting/filming together.
What time should I be in my turkey blind?
Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.
How often should you blind call turkey?
Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations.
How well do turkeys see in the dark?
Turkeys really struggle to see at night, though. Their lack of low-light sight is why it’s so imperative that turkey hunters are set up early. However, this doesn’t mean that you can wander too close to the roost in the dark, since they still have a great sense of hearing.
Where should I put ground blind?
Ground Blind Placement
Look for cover or bedding areas and food sources, as the deer will leave their bedding areas to head to that food source. Ground blinds should be placed where you have clear vision into the deer’s feeding area, but still allows you to be concealed and undetected.
When should ground blind be installed?
Setting up your blind a couple of weeks before deer season allows the new smells and outlines to become part of the deer’s familiar territory. When you can’t set up in advance, be sure to place the blind where it isn’t obvious. Forget the edge of the field and get it inside the tree line for better concealment.
How many decoys should I use for turkey hunting?
If I am fall turkey hunting, I will use up to four or five decoys to create a flock, since turkeys are traveling together during that time of the year. How far away from my setup do I place my decoys? I like putting my decoys about 15 to 20 yards away.
Will a ground blind spook a turkey?
Hunting blinds conceal movements allowing you to move when birds are close with the confidence they will not spook unlike when hunting on the ground where even the slightest movement can alert a gobbler.
Do I need orange on my hunting blind?
At least 144 square inches of blaze orange is also required on each visible side of ground blinds. California — Hunter orange is not required in California, but it is strongly encouraged.
Can turkeys smell?
Smell. “Smells are interpreted by the olfactory lobes in the forepart of the brain,” Dickson said. “These lobes are small in the turkey and probably indicate a poorly developed sense of smell.” Eriksen adds, “The olfactory sense in most birds, including the wild turkey, is poorly developed.
What is the best time to call turkey?
When To Call A Gobbler. OK, so let’s narrow it down to the time of day. In my view, the best times of the day are right off the roost, then again from about 8:30 to 9:30 when more hens start to leave the gobbler to go lay an egg, and again from about 11 until noon.
Do you need to brush in a turkey blind?
A blind gives you a reliable ambush spot regardless of surrounding cover. If it’s in the middle of a treeless field it won’t deter turkeys from frequenting the area. Another plus is that you don’t need to brush the blind as you would for whitetails. Simply set it in place and you’re ready to hunt.
Do turkeys roost in the same tree every night?
In areas with few suitable roost trees — parts of Texas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas, for example — turkeys predictably use the same roost trees day after day for generations. Unless you spooked your turkeys by the roost site that morning, they probably just chose — for whatever reason — to roost elsewhere that night.
How far can you hear a turkey gobble in the woods?
As a general rule a gobble made in a tree can be heard twice as far as one made on the ground. That same “twice-as-far” rule applies to all other turkey sounds.
Should I turkey call in the evening?
Hunting Evening Turkeys. To successfully hunt evening gobblers, your tactics and techniques must change with birds’ behavior. Go Light on the Calling: Turkeys don’t make much noise in the evening, so tailor your blind calling to match.