“If they could smell, you’d never kill one.” It’s a statement we have all heard, and likely said, about one of the most instinctive animals in North America. The wild turkey, regardless of sub-species, can be incredibly frustrating, while downright fun to chase with archery tackle.
But if you’re going to hunt these birds with a bow, you better have the right setup. It has taken years and a lot of spooked birds to figure out concealment, proper scouting and good decoys are essential to punching an archery turkey tag.
Ground Blinds
It’s no secret their eyes are their lifeline. Staying concealed to get drawn within effective range is probably best accomplished with the use of a well-placed ground blind. It’s been well documented that unlike with deer, it’s not critical that the blind itself is well concealed or brushed in. The more natural however, you can make your ground blind setups, the better.
Some of my most memorable hunts have taken place out of blinds that were tucked back in cover completely concealed from detection. Whenever possible, I take the time to make sure as much light as possible is out of the inside of the blind. I also always wear black clothing and a facemask to disappear into the inside of the blind as best as possible.
Concealing yourself from animals other than turkeys can sometimes make all the difference in your success. There is nothing worse than having a longbeard fired up and coming, then half a dozen deer blow out sending him the other way because they got spooked by a ground blind in the middle of an open field. I have had to find out the hard way that cutting corners with blind setups can be all that separates filling or not filling a tag.
With the amount of ground blind options on the market, it can be a little intimidating to make a selection. Some key factors I look for are easy setup, window configuration and overall size. The hub-style blinds are typically my favorites. Setup and breakdown is fast and easy and there are many models with plenty of room for gear and multiple hunters. Some of the newer models come with ties or loops to make brushing the blind in easier.
Natural Blinds
Blinds created from natural habitat are a great way to really blend in with your surroundings. Like ground blinds, you don’t get to move around much, so you should approach the setup with the understanding that you are committing yourself to a fixed location. This makes scouting…
