With Ron Newman
Blind Hunting Techniques for Spring
As the bird gobbled steadily behind me, I was confident that once he passed by, I'd get a shot.
Passing behind and to my left, the old boss gobbler's attention was riveted on the decoys in the field ahead, and he never saw me draw my recurve. A split second later, the arrow was on it's way, taking him through the center of his back, dropping him instantly. As I ran up to him, I smiled, doing things "backwards" had worked again.
For many hunters, Turkey hunting with a bow seems impossible. Too small of a target, too much movement to shoot, the hassle of carrying a blind, etc. I guess this is all true - to a degree. However, there's ways to increase your odds for a successful shot, at a bigger target, and if necessary, with more mobility than typically found hunting from an enclosed blind.
A tent blind, like this one by Cutting Edge Products allows you to set up in minutes and shoot a recurve or longbow without being too cramped. First off, although I am primarily a "Run & Gun" style Turkey hunter, Commercial blinds are definitely effective for bowhunting gobbler's. There are many excellent designs today which allow you the ultimate in concealment and comfort. Companies like "Double Bull", "Cutting Edge", "Underbrush" and numerous others, all make blinds which can conceal a bowhunter, and allow them to get off a undetected bow shot at a unsuspecting turkey. In specific situations, they can give unmatched advantages while bowhunting these tough to fool birds.
I use, and prefer, a full sized enclosed blind when I have the birds "patterned", or know of a consistent feeding area or "strut zone". The ability/option to pre-set your blind where you can wait comfortably gives you a great advantage. In fact, the bowhunter can actually "create" the ideal scenario. For instance, you can just wait for the birds to come by, or you can do random calling in a good area..
For the instant ability of setting up on birds that you haven't previously located I prefer the mobility and versatility of a simple "V" blind.
Using a piece of camo or better yet, 3-D material, you can set-up a "blind" covering you on both sides as well as using a tree as a SHIELD rather than a background. A piece of fabric approx. 4' X 12' weighs little and is easily rolled up. With the use of corner ties, it also allows you to use a few trees to set up your ambush and direct the Turkey to where you can make an effective shot.
The inverted "V" set-up may seem strange at first but is extremely effective for bowhunters. Sitting with your BACK to the turkey allows him to walk past your position, giving you a shot at an unknowing gobbler. By placing Yourself BETWEEN the decoys (discussed in more detail later) and the bird, you force him to go past the hunter to see his "ladies in waiting."
The typical "decoys in front" placement, between you and the bird, still leaves you directly in his line-of-sight, as you are in-line with an approaching gobbler's focus. Any movement behind the decoys will certainly not go unnoticed. Placing the decoys in front of you, but putting your BACK to the turkey, concentrates his attention PAST your position, and once he passes you and is walking away, you have a window to shoot through he can't see.
This can also help avoid a common "hang up" which occurs with field or open area gobblers. If you set up facing the field with decoys between you and the bird, once he sees the decoys he will likely strut and expect the hens to come to him. Getting on the same side of the field or opening as the bird, and sitting backwards between him and the decoys, gives you a shot opportunity before he sees the "hens" and begins "calling you".
