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Would a ground blind be good for turkey hunting?
I hunt in New Jersey and was wondering if i should invest in a ground blind for turkey hunting.
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Yes you should.
You can get away with movement better, than sitting on the ground. JMHO |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 :) |
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.
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Originally Posted by JW!
(Post 3761446)
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! :cool2: |
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 |
Originally Posted by JW!
(Post 3761693)
Timber do you mean this? The design of the chair was so uncomfortable because of my back. I had one sold it. JW |
Originally Posted by JW!
(Post 3761693)
Timber do you mean this? The design of the chair was so uncomfortable because of my back. I had one sold it. JW I bought two of those bad boys from Cabela's... They were on sale for 19.99... I like mine alot... |
Real turkey hunters don't use blinds. Just ask JW and Arrowmaster.:biggrin:
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But seriously, blinds are good in the right situation, like when your old and can't get around anymore, like JW and Arrowmaster. I say go ahead and get one. I have one just in case. They can come in handy at times, especially if you are bow hunting.
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I love hunting out of a blind!! That used to be strictly how I hunted. The past few years I've changed some of my strategies and because I move around more, I hunt off the ground more. But I still find myself putting several hours in my blind. Great for rainy days for obvious reasons, but I also love the comfort of being able to move around more, sitting in a campchair and being able to stretch when I need or pull my gun up without being seen. Both are great ways to hunt!
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I like hunting with my bow so a blind would be a lot of help to me. Last year where I set up the turkeys stayed just out of range. I think they kept seeing me as I would move closer to where they kept coming out and then they would come out in a the area I was at. Before I moved to the different location. In the fall though that appears to be a different story.
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JW & Arrowmaster BOTH use blinds!!! HA HA HA HA
Kim :) |
If you are using a shotgun, there's no need for a blind. You can if you want to, but you definately don't need to.
Now if you are bowhunting, a blind is almost manditory. |
Get a blind and hunt fields. Put your blind right out in the open and watch your success rate go way up! Good luck!
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I am Blind and do like my naps! :)
JW |
JW, I bet it's pretty tough to carry your blind and recliner to the field.
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Not really - is no problem at all and even did it right after rotator cuff surgery and even set up the blind and shot a bird one handed! Super I have so many tricks you may never catch up!
I will post pics of how I motor al that equipment, quietly, and efficently out to my spots as I am far from a road hunter and YES - I do have a recliner, with a neck pillow - really do! JW |
Originally Posted by Turkey Goddess
(Post 3763838)
JW & Arrowmaster BOTH use blinds!!! HA HA HA HA
Kim :) So does Turkey Goddess :hit: :happy0157::happy0157::happy0157: |
LOL Arrowmaster!!!
Kim :) |
I think blinds can work if your sure were the birds are gonna be, like fields or whatever. I dont use them myself though, I think if your going to be in the turkey woods you need to be as moble as possible. Even when hunting fiels birds can hang up, and im sure most of you have backed of and circled around or crawled or whatever it took to seal the deal. To me blinds make me feel like its deer season again, just sittin and waiting for something to come by. Just practice your calling, have some woodsmenship, get back to those turkey hunting roots and shoot em in the face!
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Not really a fan of blinds. I HAVE to be able to walk around. I have used mine in thunderstorms before. It was nice to be able to sit in the dry.
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I've shot several turkeys since I started, but I shot my first one out of a blind last season. The big tom sprinted the better part of 200 yards to get face-to-face with my Pretty Boy. I had an issue with my gun and with him at about 7 yards I had to chamber a new round because the first didn't fire. He didn't know what was up until... well I bet he still doesn't know what hit him. Did I mention I was out of the rain? :)
It never would have worked had I been sitting against a tree. rw |
I am with JW. Most of my hunting is done from a RAG blind and a low boy beach chair. Both are very easy to carry in the field. The areas we hunt have alot of palmetto and that makes for a great natural blind.
Ray |
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