Using a ground blind in "middle" of an open field?

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Recoil

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I read a blog by an Indiana hunter who swears that placing a ground blind in the middle of a large open field can be very productive even if it sounds counterintuitive. He uses decoys and dresses in black to minimize detection but says it does not seem to scare off turkeys like it does deer. I've never tried that or heard anyone mention this. I hunt a large field where I've had toms pass me in the middle but not by the edge of the field close enough to me for a shot. Has anyone tried this?
 
I have heard the same thing that the birds don't mind a blind set up in the middle of a field even if you set it up in the dark right before the hunt. Me I have not tried it or even own a blind but I'm sure it would make for a fun hunt
 
I'm not proud of it, but I've done it (once) and it absolutely works. You could take one into the field 1 hour before daylight and pop it up and turkeys -- if so inclined -- will pitch down and land beside it. They pay them absolutely no attention. They don't perceive depth like we do, so I think it just melts into the backdrop from their perspective. It's a chink in the turkey's armor. It also takes all the fun out of it, so after I did it once, I swore I would never do it again.
 
it works great the few times I have used a blind I have hunted like this. and I know several people that do it every year. put it out a few days early and it works fine. would not recommend it at all for deer but for turkeys they don't care at all.
 
Never done it obviously since I have issues with decoys and blinds to an abnormal level. But it works just fine according to guys i know who have done it, the birds could care less even if you put it up before the sun comes up. I would just do it early, pitch black, or they will see you if it you're too close to sunrise.
 
Recoil said:
I hunt a large field where I've had toms pass me in the middle but not by the edge of the field close enough to me for a shot. Has anyone tried this?
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I have. They pay it no attention at all. I think it's just another round bale of hay to them.
 
Like everyone else said you can just throw a ground blind up the morning of your hunt and turkey's will typically not pay attention to it. Just experimenting one morning, me and a friend were in a ground blind with many turkeys 80 yards away. We were able to lift the ground blind a couple inches off the ground and slowly walk directly at the turkeys. I NEVER would've believed this could've happened if I wasn't there to witness it for myself. May never happen again, but it did that morning. Not trying to hijack the thread, just trying to show how undisturbed turkeys are to ground blinds.
 
I used one once with a bow and set it up as day was breaking, hadnt got a arrow knocked and three came through the fog strutting. Ranged them at 18 yeards let one fly and he jumped straight up and feel straight down while the other two was spurring him. Then the rest showed up. I had 38 out in fron of me, so i just enjoyed the show for about 10 minutes before they walked right past the blind. Never acted scared the first time.
 
I do caution you that if you do the majority of your hunting or neighbors do from blinds. I have seen birds that have learned what they are.
 
chebuck said:
I do caution you that if you do the majority of your hunting or neighbors do from blinds. I have seen birds that have learned what they are.
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Very true, but I am not sure it is the blind itself. I think it is a combination of the decoys and the strategy used by the majority of people who hunt out of a blind (calling, set-up location, pressure, etc).
 
I've tried that "walking the blind" trick, but the turkeys walked too darned fast for me to catch them! :D

(BTW I can't imagine trying to bow hunt turkeys without a blind; I just think it would be hard with all of that movement).
 
Atchman2 said:
I've tried that "walking the blind" trick, but the turkeys walked too darned fast for me to catch them! :D

(BTW I can't imagine trying to bow hunt turkeys without a blind; I just think it would be hard with all of that movement).
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It's not that hard to get drawn on a gobbler without a blind. I do it every year. You just have to time it right. The hard part is getting him to walk on the side your bow is standing. With a gun you got almost a full 360 degree angle to shoot. With a bow, without a blind, you have about 90.
 
REN said:
Roost 1 said:
Turkey do not generally pay attention to blinds, but if you are constantly shooting at them from the same blind, then yes they will learn to avoid it..wouldnt you??
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only if you miss him hahaha
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I understand what you are saying but others may not understand...when you got multiple birds coming in and you kill one, you just educated the others. This works the same way with decoys...This is why I will not use a strutter in the early season when the gobblers are still bunched up.....its really common sense.
 

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