Setterman
Well-Known Member
Well as everyone knows I'm staunchly against decoys and blind hunting turkeys. Having never done it, I was convinced it was not even close to the thrill that calling one in with nothing but air and leaves between you and the bird. I also was convinced that it was fairly easy compared to all that goes into killing one the traditional way with nothing but calls and a gun. I don't mean to offend anyone with my feelings, and only offer them as a preface to what I've just done...
Last night I got a call from a good friend inviting me to hunt with him on one his places. My first response was sure, but I don't want to go if your plan involves decoys or blinds. I was assured that wasn't the plan and agreed to go. Well I was duped.
We arrive to the farm, and out comes this incredible pile of gear; blind, chairs, decoys, etc etc. I ask politely what the hell is all that for. He just giggles and says you need to try this once. At this point I'm too far invested to bail an decide screw it let's see what this is all about.
The hunt unfolded with scattered roost gobbling, with heavy ground gobbling for 30 minutes. There was one bird in particular that was begging for death, but there we sat like turds in the blind staring at plastic turkeys. After an hour or so a hen wandered in, and shortly thereafter I spy a lone strutter 200 yards across a pasture. As I reach for my call, my buddy says don't it'll just mess it up. In no time I'm watching the strutter strut all the way across the field, and well into range. At this point I'm being begged into taking the shot which I refuse, and my buddy kills the strutter at 20 steps who's so distracted that I literally can't get him to budge out of full strut.
So I've seen it now, and no offense to anyone that hunts this way, but there was no where near the excitement with that and it was incredibly easy. There was no chance of being seen, the bird came as if being led by a leash, and it took virtually no skill by us to kill the bird. Don't get me wrong I had a great time being able to shoot the breeze, laugh, eat, drink, pee with no worries of getting busted, and it was gorgeous watching the bird strut all the way in. However, that style of hunting is not for me as I suspected, and seems way too easy. It felt like I watched an assassination rather than a hunt/kill.
Good times though with a good friend, and a nice bird as well. Bird weighed 21.5 lbs btw
oke:
Last night I got a call from a good friend inviting me to hunt with him on one his places. My first response was sure, but I don't want to go if your plan involves decoys or blinds. I was assured that wasn't the plan and agreed to go. Well I was duped.
We arrive to the farm, and out comes this incredible pile of gear; blind, chairs, decoys, etc etc. I ask politely what the hell is all that for. He just giggles and says you need to try this once. At this point I'm too far invested to bail an decide screw it let's see what this is all about.
The hunt unfolded with scattered roost gobbling, with heavy ground gobbling for 30 minutes. There was one bird in particular that was begging for death, but there we sat like turds in the blind staring at plastic turkeys. After an hour or so a hen wandered in, and shortly thereafter I spy a lone strutter 200 yards across a pasture. As I reach for my call, my buddy says don't it'll just mess it up. In no time I'm watching the strutter strut all the way across the field, and well into range. At this point I'm being begged into taking the shot which I refuse, and my buddy kills the strutter at 20 steps who's so distracted that I literally can't get him to budge out of full strut.
So I've seen it now, and no offense to anyone that hunts this way, but there was no where near the excitement with that and it was incredibly easy. There was no chance of being seen, the bird came as if being led by a leash, and it took virtually no skill by us to kill the bird. Don't get me wrong I had a great time being able to shoot the breeze, laugh, eat, drink, pee with no worries of getting busted, and it was gorgeous watching the bird strut all the way in. However, that style of hunting is not for me as I suspected, and seems way too easy. It felt like I watched an assassination rather than a hunt/kill.
Good times though with a good friend, and a nice bird as well. Bird weighed 21.5 lbs btw
oke:
