Portable Blind Hunting, …… for Turkeys, by Ron Gaines
When hunting turkeys from a blind I take the same approach as hunting
whitetail deer and antelope, with the exception that scent detection is
not an issue. However, concealment, eliminating noise and
movement is a major priority. Turkeys have excellent eye site and
a superior ability to detect movement. Specifically, here are a
few tips and details I pay close attention to when hunting from a blind:
Author proves doing the right things can have positive results.
Portable blinds have limited floor space…..therefore your shot flexibility is limited.
I like to position all gear such as packs, extra
clothing, food, water, etc. towards the front of the blind. This
will allow more room to position yourself further back from the
shooting window and reduce the possibility of movement detection.
Because I prefer to shoot from my knees, all I have to do is fold my
chair and move it forward to maximize the shooting floor space.
Using shoot through mesh over the windows is a
good idea; also, wear clothing that mirrors the interior of the blind
or a dark neutral color.
Blind placement is very important. Try to
determine the direction of the approaching bird. Hunting from
farm areas or private ground makes it much easier to pattern
turkeys….understanding how they use an area will allow for a more
accurate prediction for your setup. I like to place a blind in an
area where approaching birds will have to pass from the left or right
in front of the shooting window to access the decoys. If
possible, position yourself on the same side of the blind that the
birds are approaching from. This will give you an opportunity to
draw your bow in a concealed location which will help decrease
detection.
A common mistake hunters make is forgetting the
arrow shaft is lower than the bow-sight ….therefore it is very easy to
send an arrow shaft through the wall of the blind. Take a moment
to make sure your arrow will clear the shooting window.
Archers should plan shots on non-strutting
turkeys….strutting birds will often appear larger than they are.
A turkey will often drop down a few inches at the sound of the bow
string causing a high hit or a missed shot. The strutting
position will sometimes create an illusion confusing the archer on the
actual location of the vital area.
Hope these tips are
helpful…..good shooting and hunting!
