When to set up blinds?
03-11-2006, 09:04 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 7
When to set up blinds?
Hello,
I am novice turkey hunter (about 4 years) and I have a question. I find that when setting up blinds (on public land) I am making alot of noise, or at least more than I would like. I worry about setting up a blind the night before, as it might be taken the next am. How do you guys deal with this problem? Do you have any tips/tricks? I feel it is helpful to cut shooting lanes and lay some brush down in a chosen spot when choosing my spot the day before, but beyond that?
Thanks!
I am novice turkey hunter (about 4 years) and I have a question. I find that when setting up blinds (on public land) I am making alot of noise, or at least more than I would like. I worry about setting up a blind the night before, as it might be taken the next am. How do you guys deal with this problem? Do you have any tips/tricks? I feel it is helpful to cut shooting lanes and lay some brush down in a chosen spot when choosing my spot the day before, but beyond that?
Thanks!
03-11-2006, 03:42 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 123
RE: When to set up blinds?
I set mine up right before I get in it, turkeys have never paid it any attention. I use to make brush pile blinds on some of our private land well before season so they could get use to it but I found out that turkeys are not near as picky as deer when it comes to blinds. Just pop it up and hunt out of it.
03-11-2006, 05:16 PM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 7
RE: When to set up blinds?
That is what I was getting at. In my part of the country, deer see A LOT of pressure, as do turkeys. I am usually pretty superstitious about how early I setup my treestand so it will become the part of the deer's routine. I know turkey are not deer, but I guess I was thinking along the same lines. I like to use a lot of natural material in my blinds, so it requires a little sawing, pruning, etc. just wondered if this was a problem..thanks for the advice!
03-11-2006, 05:40 PM
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 7,437
RE: When to set up blinds?
Well 1st of all - that is what our Camo clothing is - an instant blind. I have several sets so I can plan ahead and use my Camo clothing to help me blend in.
Now setting up a blind on Public is always a problem. When done there are several things to consider.
1. You must get there very early to 'grab' your spot
2. If a Tom is Gobbling you are set-up on and in that blind "Another ' hunter may come in on you. Make sure you can see some distance to protect yourself.
3. I always (If I have a Tom patterend and located on Public) set my blind up the night before - or even that afternoon.
4. While in my experience using blinds - (I have several types) turkeys pay no attention to them - but care should be taken placing them in in areas Toms have been heavily hunted. I have seen a slight difference.
5. I do brush any blind in. I never use a saw - But a sharp pair of pruning shears allows me to snip branches quietly and quickly. Cut them on an angle and they stick in the ground very nicley.
6. I alwasy carry one of those fold-up rag blinds in my back pouch. Those go up in a mtter of seconds with practice.
7. Blinds allow more movement of lower to mid body if set-up correctly. On birds I have come in - Hens & Jakes - I practice putting my gun up to my shoulder and then putting it back down. You learn very quickly on how just much movement you can get away with. It also allows a much more comfortable long sitting period as you can move -whilebeit slowly - always keep that in mind - if you stake on an area to wait!
8. Never set your blind up where you are pinned to that blind. By that I mean there are times you may need to do an end around run on a bird and if you don't have the cover to get out quickly - you are stuck!
Blinds are just another tool we as turkey hunters have at our disposal.
So yes do use natural cover to help blend in that blind......I would not saw anything but use only a pruning shears..
JW
Now setting up a blind on Public is always a problem. When done there are several things to consider.
1. You must get there very early to 'grab' your spot
2. If a Tom is Gobbling you are set-up on and in that blind "Another ' hunter may come in on you. Make sure you can see some distance to protect yourself.
3. I always (If I have a Tom patterend and located on Public) set my blind up the night before - or even that afternoon.
4. While in my experience using blinds - (I have several types) turkeys pay no attention to them - but care should be taken placing them in in areas Toms have been heavily hunted. I have seen a slight difference.
5. I do brush any blind in. I never use a saw - But a sharp pair of pruning shears allows me to snip branches quietly and quickly. Cut them on an angle and they stick in the ground very nicley.
6. I alwasy carry one of those fold-up rag blinds in my back pouch. Those go up in a mtter of seconds with practice.
7. Blinds allow more movement of lower to mid body if set-up correctly. On birds I have come in - Hens & Jakes - I practice putting my gun up to my shoulder and then putting it back down. You learn very quickly on how just much movement you can get away with. It also allows a much more comfortable long sitting period as you can move -whilebeit slowly - always keep that in mind - if you stake on an area to wait!
8. Never set your blind up where you are pinned to that blind. By that I mean there are times you may need to do an end around run on a bird and if you don't have the cover to get out quickly - you are stuck!
Blinds are just another tool we as turkey hunters have at our disposal.
So yes do use natural cover to help blend in that blind......I would not saw anything but use only a pruning shears..
JW
03-11-2006, 06:45 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: south east alabama
Posts: 1,268
RE: When to set up blinds?
I ONLY USE BLINDS DURING DEER SEASON,TURKEY HUNTING I JUST FIND A TREE AND SIT UP NEXT TO IT, AND HAVE SAT IN THE OPEN (BUT DON'T MOVE) WITH LITTLE OR NO COVER, I'D SAY SET IT UP THE EVENING BEFORE, IF ITS GONE THE NEXT AM, SOMEONE SAW YOU PUT IT UP. HE'D BE THE TURKEY THEN. GOOD LUCK,
03-12-2006, 06:37 AM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 7
RE: When to set up blinds?
The fold-up blinds do seem to be the easiest setup. like I said, I like natural materials, but I don't mind mixing it up a bit. I have one of those umbrella-style portable blinds (usually use it in inclement weather in combination with my treeclimber in deer season). I thnink this combinde with some well placed brush might do the trick for a quicker, quieter setup. Thanks again for the tips and opinions!
03-15-2006, 01:29 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The Tar Heel State
Posts: 314
RE: When to set up blinds?
I hunt with a bow, and though it may make for a long day, I carry my pop-up blind on my back untilwe get a bird to answer. Then I set out my decoys and get into the blind. The company I work for has 1700 acres that we can bowhunt on. There are threeof us that hunt together (only two shooters), but our "caller" fills his tags with a shotgun on his own land and just brings his calls when we bowhunt. He likes the practice and, believe me, we appreciate his calling abilities. When we get onto turkeys we set our blinds about 40 yards apart and our caller gets about 30-40yards behind us and slowly backs away. It's a great set-up and alot of fun. Even though I love to hunt whitetails, once I tried turkeys with a bow, I was hooked!