S.McArthur, good luck on the bird. May not work but if you tried different calls on him and you think it's the blind he's wise to, try building a natural blind closer inside his range, leave or continue to setup your original blind as you have done as a distraction type "decoy". Though part is getting in and out to build the natural blind when he's not in or around the area. Good luck, sounds like a smart bird. Just saw your video, why did you set your decoy so far from your blind ?
I was out on the property I hunt getting my camera I left from deer hunting season. It was towards dusk and I could hear a tom gobbling on the adjacent property. I am getting pumped being back out in the field. Hope this year I get one close enough for my bow vs the 12 ga. I'll have to find all my stuff in the coming week. I've got off my first day for my hunt. Bummer is that this year I have to work a few pt jobs and can only hunt mornings or evenings on my 5 day hunt. I might try to pick up an extra tag and hunt up north for the late season in May on public land. How is everyone else doing?
Out hunting a new property I picked up! More less a scouting mission but i think this place could be where I get my first bird! There is a lot of birds talking! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, this is why i'm asking, I draw back with a full length shaft and the tom bomb is about 2" from my knuckle. If I leave the arrow at full length will that cause flight issues or just range? Any input is appreciated.
S.McArthur you should try and find a spot closer to where the tom is strutting and hunt without a blind. Your blind may be keeping him at bay if it is not brushed in well enough, or he may be young and isn't into your decoys?!?!Just a thought
I'm leaving the blind out this week, we'll see how well that works. I think he's shy of decoys as well. I'm going to set them up like I had, maybe he will keep that pattern and it will set him up perfectly. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Out chasing birds again this morning hoping for better success! Had a smart ol Tom skirt me twice yesterday! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had moved my blind from the other spot closer to tthe toms strut zone. I figured he was decoy shy so he would stay away from them. I put my blind in his path so if he hung up again, he would focus on the decoy and maybe not pay attention to my blind, then I would be in perfect postion for a close shot. Really it's just some off the wall tactics I'm trying.
We're on the board! Closed the deal on my first turkey ever! Pics to come shortly! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
WE WANT THEM NOW!!!!!! Congrats, I bagged my first one last year, it was awesome. Now chop chop with those pictures and story!!!
S.McArthur, don't mean to offer confusing or bad advise just suggestions. My thoughts are .. If the bird is older and has been shot at from popup blinds before it may be blind shy, try two blinds at once (one is a distraction the popup the other you shoot from is a natural). If it's a younger bird it may be intimidated by a jake decoy, only use hen decoys for this bird.
No need to be cautious with advice, I'll take all I can get. I have not hunted him before this year so I'm not 100% he has been shot at before. I thinkk the blind is part of it. It will be out all week so atleast he will see it and maybe get used tot it. The hens have not paid the blind any attention, I had one hen feed 8 yards in front of it. May just need some time. As far as decoys, I'm going to only put 1 hen out and see how that works.
The one I missed Sat. morning was about 12 to 14lbs and came in quite and cautious, I had a jake and 1 hen decoy 12 to 14' from my blind. Next time I setup there I'm only gonna put a hen decoy out.
Anybody have any tips for evening hunting? Both places I can hunt have birds that roost on my side of the property line and fly down on the other side. I thought maybe my luck would be better if I could catch them on the way back to roost in the evening. I would have more time available too.
BB4tw, If you know the relative path that they are using I would just set close to that and just wait for them. I wouldn't make very many calls at all. Like a deer, if you can get between them and where they want to be, your golden. The birds aren't as vocal in the evenings either, so keep your head on a swivel. Don't know if itll work for you, but that's what I would do. Hope you gettem!
Monday morning is my opener :D Went and checked cams yesterday and found that there are a group of toms hanging around our place finally. If you have a bunch of hen on your property what is the best decoy setup? Tom with hen or Jake with Hen? or will it matter?
