Would a ground blind be good for turkey hunting?

[Anddres]

I hunt in New Jersey and was wondering if i should invest in a ground blind for turkey hunting.

[jrbsr]

Yes you should.
You can get away with movement better, than sitting on the ground.

JMHO

[RockyMtnGobblers]

I think it really depends on where and how you hunt.

Myself, I hike up hill about a mile or more most places I hunt so a ground blind would not work for me. I like to move at will and may not come back by the same location I started at, I have a fav. starting point in the turkey woods and can usually call in toms at that point but some times I have to go where the tom wants to go at a gobbles notice.
I have had many close encounters with turkeys 3 ft from me! and all I had was my camo and I didn't move, they never saw me. Do you NEED a blind NO, but if you want one it really helps hide movement.

[Terasec]

blinds help,
although i am not a fan of pops,
especially if you hike some distance,
and i could never pop them back down,
i now carry a camo canvas that i setup with branches and vegetation,
folds up nice and small, takes little room in a backpack

[JW]

If you plan to sit in one spot and not move a fully enclosed blind is sooooo comfortable. but as the other posters have told you they can be a pain to lug in, put up and take down.

But I am nothing but a blind user now as I have gotten old and it is too hard to seit next to a tree real still for very long.

So I would rather lug in a blind.
As others have informed you the below RAG type blind is easily set-up and taken down quick. I then added a steel framed beach chair painted OD green. Aluminum beach chairs although lighter in wt did not hold up at all!



I also lug in a cam foam boat cushion.



Above picture is my chair now 11 yrs old! And is well used! The small rolls are those Avery Pop-up RAG blinds in two different colors. Fits in my vest easily - the poles are bungee corded so the pop together quickly and stops them from getting lost. Cost is aboit 20 bucks. Midwest Turkey supply has em.

Here is ia Rag Blind set up



The other nice thing about the Rag type blind it gives you a back drop as Terasec had told you. More than once I draped teh camo rag over the top wire of a fence to hide my silloette!

Fully Enclosed Blinds
Here is a different style ground blind with results. This is a Avery Blind which is nice but the fabric shines, did not take the punishment I give a blind and did not last long. I now own a Double Bull blind which is several yrs old.
NOTE: The sun is at my back! I am in the shadows! and I never ever brush a blind in turkey hunting! SAFET AT ALL TIMES! I want to be seen! AND my decoys are never more than 10 yards (10 steps) from the very front of my blind! The blind, the decoys, are not hidden. I am hoping some idiot does not take a pot shot so that is why I set the blind up like this. I had 3 yahoos, 2 boys and their DAD!!!! crawl in on me with my rag blind set-up as I was well hidden. Now that was scary!!!!



Now I use a Double Bull and have for 7 yrs. Beat the crap out of that blind. I also carry a big ole chair, decoys and use a wheeled deer cart.

But what blinds do allow a turkey hunter to do is go where no cover is available - especially the fully enclosed!

It is just another tool one can use. The traditional boys don't use em at all.

JW

[Timbrhuntr]

Not sure if you are new to turkey hunting or not ? I personally think there are alot of better things you can spend your money on than a blind. If you are archery hunting taking a youth or maybe trying to film they are okay.I guess if its pouring rain they have a use also. But there is nothing like sitting against a tree with a full field of view hearing and then watching that tom come in. Then when he stops at 65 yards and struts around you can get up and move quickly to another location to set up once he has finally walked off. Also being exposed like that you quickly learn what you can and can't get away with when a turkey is right out in front of you.

JW

You should check out the gobbler lounger at cabelas it is great for resting our old bones in only problem is you might fall asleep in it.

[Turkey Goddess]

I got a blind last spring - it is a lot to carry in, but I know several EXCELLENT turkey hunters who swear by them. I think it depends on the situation and whether or not you need to be mobile. That is the one thing they are NOT good for. It allows you to be comfortable and still concealed.

I LOVE sitting next to a tree with a wide-open view - but this is a great option too. I had to practice setting it up at home, because I PROMISE YOU - it will be a challenge the first few times you go to do it. LOL!!!

Kim

[Arrowmaster]

I myself us a blind. The Primos eclispe by ground max. I love it. I set it up and hunt and if I have to move Im still mobile cause I'll get out of it and leave it and go to the gobbler if need be. I have my vest always and it has a padded seat. Now that may not work on public ground, since ya dont want the blind stolen. But I always prepare myself for those situtations.

[Arrowmaster]

Originally Posted by JW!

If you plan to sit in one spot and not move a fully enclosed blind is sooooo comfortable. but as the other posters have told you they can be a pain to lug in, put up and take down.

But I am nothing but a blind user now as I have gotten old and it is too hard to seit next to a tree real still for very long.

So I would rather lug in a blind.
As others have informed you the below RAG type blind is easily set-up and taken down quick. I then added a steel framed beach chair painted OD green. Aluminum beach chairs although lighter in wt did not hold up at all!



I also lug in a cam foam boat cushion.



Above picture is my chair now 11 yrs old! And is well used! The small rolls are those Avery Pop-up RAG blinds in two different colors. Fits in my vest easily - the poles are bungee corded so the pop together quickly and stops them from getting lost. Cost is aboit 20 bucks. Midwest Turkey supply has em.

Here is ia Rag Blind set up



The other nice thing about the Rag type blind it gives you a back drop as Terasec had told you. More than once I draped teh camo rag over the top wire of a fence to hide my silloette!

Fully Enclosed Blinds
Here is a different style ground blind with results. This is a Avery Blind which is nice but the fabric shines, did not take the punishment I give a blind and did not last long. I now own a Double Bull blind which is several yrs old.
NOTE: The sun is at my back! I am in the shadows! and I never ever brush a blind in turkey hunting! SAFET AT ALL TIMES! I want to be seen! AND my decoys are never more than 10 yards (10 steps) from the very front of my blind! The blind, the decoys, are not hidden. I am hoping some idiot does not take a pot shot so that is why I set the blind up like this. I had 3 yahoos, 2 boys and their DAD!!!! crawl in on me with my rag blind set-up as I was well hidden. Now that was scary!!!!



Now I use a Double Bull and have for 7 yrs. Beat the crap out of that blind. I also carry a big ole chair, decoys and use a wheeled deer cart.

But what blinds do allow a turkey hunter to do is go where no cover is available - especially the fully enclosed!

It is just another tool one can use. The traditional boys don't use em at all.

JW

I love the field set up JW!

[JW]

JW

You should check out the gobbler lounger at cabelas it is great for resting our old bones in only problem is you might fall asleep in it.

Timber do you mean this?

The design of the chair was so uncomfortable because of my back. I had one sold it.

JW