ground blind question
 

Has anyone shot a shotgun for turkey through the shoot thru mesh on a ground blind? I did on the last day of my hunt and missed a bird at about 10 - 15 yards away. I am thinking it was because of the mesh window? I have never missed a bird with this gun before and have shot many at this distance without the blind and the only thing I can think of is that it made my shot stray somehow?
My brother said he did the same thing and also missed a bird he shot attrying to shoot thru the mesh material.
Anyone else ever have this experience?

RE: ground blind question
 

There should be a warning somewhere on the inside of your blind telling you not to shoot through the mesh with a firearm.

The mesh is there for archers.

RE: ground blind question
 

We have take 21 toms this season in blinds. All but 2 were aced through the mesh. It has not affected the shots a bit. Shots were as close as 10 yarda dn several in the 45 yards range. I am using an amerastep blind. Mabey other meshed are not good, but this one had been great.

I take a lot of kids and the mesh has been a god send. My son also took a om through the mesh in a double bull. He was shaking something bad. The bird is dead, but mabey he just got lucky on that one. But for the most part I think the mesh is fine to shoot through. If an arrow is mot affected, not sure why it would bother a shotgun shell. But I learn new things every day.

RE: ground blind question
 

I know it hurts, butYOU have to admit that YOU SCREWED UP! :D It happens, people miss, nobody is perfect. ;)

I assure you that the mesh has absolutely NO EFFECT on any firearm! We've got atleast 8 birds through our Matrix with no problems. The only problem is the softball sized hole you blow in it! :D

RE: ground blind question
 

I know it isn't good to shoot thru the mesh. I have had many blinds including the ones mention here and they will tell you never shoot thru the mesh. It's not that it will effect the shot but it can catch on fire. I wouldn't shoot thru it. We leave the screan cracked about 10 inches and have shot many turkeys from differant blinds. On all blinds that I've had there is a warning not to shoot thru with a firearm.

RE: ground blind question
 

I think it has more to do with a fire hazard.

RE: ground blind question
 

I hadn't even thought about that. Thanks

RE: ground blind question
 

My guess is that you pattern is pretty tight at 10 yards and you simply missed the bird. Not a big deal, everyone misses once in while. Just get them next time.

RE: ground blind question
 

I agree with zubba, you had a very tight pattern at that range, and you missed. That netting isn't going to disrupt the pattern enough at that range to keep you from killing a turkey.

RE: ground blind question
 

Yep. No shame in missing one that close. Every bird I have ever missed has been 15 yards or tighter.

RE: ground blind question
 

I had no problem with shooting thru mesh this year. One consideration is your sights: if you are in a pop-up and relying on fiber optic sights on your shotgun, you could have a problem with not enough light to line up properly...

-fsh

RE: ground blind question
 

Wow, ive never heard of anyone shooting though the mesh with a gun before, i was inclined it was for archers only. Now that i think about it i doubt it would affect a rifle bullet very much but i dont know about a shotgun, i would think that the wad would have trouble exiting through the mesh hindering your accuracy.

RE: ground blind question
 

Being as you have already blown a hole in your shoot threw mess... Why dont you set your bling up and set a turkey target up at the distence you shot and try it again... Just a idea... That is what I would do... And while your at it... Shot one at verious distances to make sure...

RE: ground blind question
 

If shoot thru mesh affected shots we only ever kill feild turkey's. Shot a few with brush and stuff in between me and the bird. Mesh won't bother it. The warning is due to fire hazard from the muzzle blast like was mentioned.

I think when it's a slam dunk guys miss more. Turkeys at 15 yds and no idea you there and we get complacent on technique. I had it happen to me yesterday. Put a gobbler in a guy's lap at 15 yds. We were both smilin as he strutted up right in fornt of the gun barrel. I know the guy was admiring the bird and not aiming. Sometimes your cookin' the turkey fingers too soon ;)It happens....

RE: ground blind question
 

As mentioned before the mesh doesnt affect the load, you do. I shot a turk that snuck in on me then somewhat saw me so I just pulled up without thinking and smoked him. Blew a good hole in my mesh and sindged it good. I got lucky that it didnt start on fire. I also just about blew out my eardrums! WEAR EAR PROTECTION! or have the muzzle outside the blind.

RE: ground blind question
 

Okay - I have read this for the inforamtion.

Buck mentions a good thing - the first time I used my blind - do take the time to make sure you muzzle is outside the blind!

Yeah I shot - did kill the Tom at 27 yards - but I shot right through the fabric of the blind and didn't even know I did it. I didn't discover that until I was walking back towards brand new blind and saw a tear in the fabric!

Now I do use a gun with a very short barrel and a scope.

One thing I do tell all who hunt with me and especially the youngsters I take out with me, is to put the gun barrel straight at the bird as you get ready to take you shot. That way you are keeping your movement of soemthing new to a real low minimum. Take the extra time to poke at him slow but straight at him. That means with longer barreled guns you move it back in the blind first so you can poke that muzzle out. Only need an inch or so out and you are good to go. I have yet to have a bird who spooked. I even have dropped my windows to make them bigger in a slow sure manner and yet have that spook the bird.

JW