What did I do wrong?
 

My son and I went on our first turkey hunt on our own yesterday and I still cannot beleive what happened. We were set up in a blind in the edge of a field that a friend roosted some bird near on friday evening. We got in early and set up a hen she mobile decoy and waited. I had no idea that there were that many gobblers in the area. The woods came alive with on gobble after anouther and in every direction. Finally a hen flew down into the field. Ah Ha, live bait!!! shortly after that 3 BIG toms came out on the opposite side of the field and one blew up and started strutting. All of a sudden the broke out on a dead run, coming straight to our decoy, when they got at 60 yards, I dropped the range finder into my lap and told my son that when I gave hime the go ahead to shoot the first bird in line and I would shoot the second one. Right at 40 yards they came to a sudden stop but I could see them because of a blind spot in the blind. All three were strutting but refused to come any closer. I was just about to give up the idea and give my boy the go ahead but I didn't feel comfortable at him shooting 40 yards with the 20 ga. Intead of coming on in the stared walking back the same way that they came so I gave them a few soft purrs but the kept going away. the further they got away, the faster that ran until they were gone. We saw then in the next field over but being handicapped, a stalk was out of the question. What did I do wrong? I feel horrible. Was I being greedy by waiting for a double? But still, they weren't close enough? The only thing that I can think of is the blind. The wind was extremely strong and the windows would flap just a little from time to time. I feel that I let my boy down. I'm sick to my stomach.

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

i wouldn't worry about it too much it could have been a few things maybe there was a coyote you didn't see or like you said the wind blowing the flaps but regardless you did good for your first hunt on your own some guys don't even get that close.
i went to ala. a few weeks ago and didn't even see a gobbler
THATS WHY ITS CALLED HUNTIN NOT SHOOTING

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

Okay - you need to take a good look at your blind and try to remember how you moved inside of it - how loud did you talk - did you make any noise - did you poke a gun barrel out the window - did you gt too close to the window - where back windows open to so you actually as you blocked it you become a or was a large shadow and blocked the back opening.

Was the blind in the shadows? Or was it in the birght sunlight? This is a good set-up as long as teh back windows stay closed - this blind is in the shadows of morning - http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2763124


I always try to keep my blind as dark as possible - sit as far back from the windows as I can - Keep window opens as tiny as possible - and move slow and easy while in there.

Did you poke a gun out the window way before they where in range. don't need to do that until they are there - let them focus on the decoy. Then poke it out slow and easy like - the bird stops as you are doing it you stop and don't move again till things settle down.

Now don't worry about it.
Use the same set-up but put your son in there and then take a good look from the outside.
Sit as far back int he blind as you can.
Keep windows openings to a minimum and all back woindows closed.
Keep it as dark in there as you can.
To poke a bun barrel out the window poke it strate at them. Do not push, touch or do anything to the fabric.
Take you time nice and slow with that gun barrel.

JW

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

like JW said it could be any one of those reasons. There could have been some hen behind them that pulled them back to the treeline. It sometimes is tough to pull gobblers across a feild. I have had an experience like that several times. Everything seems to be going perfect, and the tom is coming in and them seemingly for no reason at all, it break and goes the opposite way.Dont get too discouraged because as you keep hunting you will see that happens alot, even to the veterans.

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

JW, I guess you learn as you go. Yes, the back window was open. I was moving my head from side to side try to get a veiw of the birds but as I said, they were in a blind spot. It's possible that one of those three sets of eyes saw me moving my head from side to side. As for the guns, they were up on shooting sticks before the birds ever came into the field. I personally think that it was the blind but I'll take an experienced hunters advice first. I've never had any luck with a ground blind but I'm willing to do what it takes. I hope that I haven't mess up but when we left, I took the blind with me and intend to go back in the morning but will sit on the ground instead. I guess I should have taken a picture to show you what I'm talking about but the blind was just inside the woodline. When we returned after a quick trip to the truck for bug spray, I couldn't beleive how much the blind stood out against the small pines in the background. Should I be ok in the am? Should I give it a few days? I don't have another area scouted out yet. It sucks to be handicapped. ANY help before the morning would be greatly appreciated.

God Bless.

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

I will say that blinds are nice for concealment but the hamper your view. I alway set my blind so that I don't have to worry about anything coming in from behind me b/c I want to keep the back windows closed and the inside of the blind to be as dark as possible. Also when I hunt out of a blind I don't usually wear camo but I wear black. Also remember that even though you arein a blind you need gloves and a face mask. A turkey's eye sight is unbeleivable.Just a few tips that I have foundhelpful myself. Good luck and keep us posted.

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

OK , it could be they saw movement with back of the blind open or heard you talk.

But tell us more about your decoy setup...How did you set them and how far from the blind and how close did they go to the decoys??? Did the wind have any negative effect on the decoys??

Were you calling before they left....

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

They probably sillouetted you. Its ok to have the windows behind you cracked open so you can see if anythings behind you but you dont want them open all the way so the turkeys can see through. Also, how far was your decoy from you? You may consider moving it in closer to you so then when they hang up it will only be 30 yards;). Were you doing any calling while they were close? If so they might have suspected somthing was up. Trust me when I say that turkeys do NOT care if your blind is in the open. I was set up in the middle of a field today in my monsterous blind and we had a hen come right up to us. I have had them 5 feet from my blind. Make sure the window flaps are secured so they dont make big movements. One of the flaps on my blind came undone right when that hen showed up and she took off when it flapped. Hope this helps. Good Luck next time!

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

The decoy was 15 yards out in front of the blind and was staked down so that she would swing in the wind. The only time I called was when the gobbler's were beginning to run away. I'm going to try it in the morning but I won't have my blind. Not saying that the blind is to blame but there is no way that I can tote everything in and set it up by myself. We'll see what happens.;)

RE: What did I do wrong?
 

Now you stop that right Now! You are way to hard on yourself;)I wish I had a Dime everytime I have gone and not seen a Bird[:@]You had a Great Hunt, had your son killed that turkey he might have never gone again. Thinking it was to easy. You are asking great questions and I can tell you are a good hunter. So just try to have a good time. I bet your son can't wait tell the next time to hunt.

TF

You think you did bad. Saturday was teh youth Season in MO and I could have taken my Grandson, but the Wind was so bad, and the Cold, it also rained and Snowed....With all of that, their was a Gobbler Strutting in my Back Yard at 10:00 AM It was just to nast for me:D