Woodsmanship or tools?

[cw642]

What do you prefer, using your skills in the woods or using all the trendy "as seen on TV" tools for hunting turkeys?

[DonBo]

Tools and gadgets are all fun and games in the turkey woods, but unless you are set up in an area that actually holds birds, during the time of the day and season they are using the area, anything you carry with you is just a waste of time. Woodsmanship will get the job done even without ANY tools or gadgets.

[Hoyt4]

Agree with Don

Woodsmanship will harvest more birds then decoys and toys.

[minky]

Good points guys.

[cw642]

Woodsmanship kills turkeys. Plain and simple all the trends now point to sitting in a blind with 4 $100 decoys sitting out in front of you. It's everywhere. Every hunting show. Every forum. Every hunting magazine. Page through any major hunting publication come spring and you'll see 4-5 different new blinds, and 3 or 4 pages with the hottest new decoys from each of the big manufacturers.

Why have the old ways of hunting been forgotten?

If you ask my 10 year old son what hunt over the years was his favorite you'll get one answer. Waking up late one morning, leaving everything over 12 oz. in weight behind besides his gun, sliding within 70 yards of a gobbler on the roost after daybreak, and harvesting that bird before the bus arrived for school. Not sure that having to get on the bus was a high point, but it's defiantly noteworthy. This is a kid who has hunted everywhere, harvested multiple Grand Slams, so why was this hunt special? Simple, it was the high level of excitement from the time we went out the door.

At any point during that hunt it could have been over. One wrong move, a stick breaking, or a simple rustling of the leaves would have put that bird on high alert. There was no waiting around looking out a blind, no wondering if they would arrive to our area at such and such time. We went to a gobbling bird using the terrain and our woodsmanship to get in close.

I have talked to a lot of people who have struggled, both during and after their seasons and hear way to much of the "well the birds were there, but when we were in the blind...." My favorite is "I had them on camera all spring using the food plot so I set up there." My advice to them is always leave the blind, cameras and decoys at home, grab some calls and FIND a bird before setting up.

I'm not saying that a blind and decoys don't have a place, it's just sad that so many people up here believe that is the way that you need to hunt turkeys. I know leaving $1000 worth of gear behind is tough, but the benefits can pay off big.

CW

[Borch]

We hunt in blinds, out of blinds. Whatever it takes. The blinds are set in high percentage spots based on scouting, (and we do a lot). Blinds get moved if things change, (they usually do). Advantages of blinds really show themselves when hunting with younger or less experienced hunters. Not to mention hunting in the rain. I've always hunted in the rain but it's a lot more enjoyable in a blind. We've killed a lot of birds in the rain.

So whatever it takes.

But like you said, woodsmanship kills more birds than fancy gadgets.

[DonBo]

A lot of us don't have the option of chasing gobbles around the globe. In todays real world, many of us only have 10 or 20 acres to hunt. A blind is the only way to hunt these smaller parcels IMO.

Setting that blind in the best possible spot still takes some woodsmanship.

[Hoyt4]

Woodsmanship kills turkeys. Plain and simple all the trends now point to sitting in a blind with 4 $100 decoys sitting out in front of you. It's everywhere. Every hunting show. Every forum. Every hunting magazine. Page through any major hunting publication come spring and you'll see 4-5 different new blinds, and 3 or 4 pages with the hottest new decoys from each of the big manufacturers.

Why have the old ways of hunting been forgotten?

If you ask my 10 year old son what hunt over the years was his favorite you'll get one answer. Waking up late one morning, leaving everything over 12 oz. in weight behind besides his gun, sliding within 70 yards of a gobbler on the roost after daybreak, and harvesting that bird before the bus arrived for school. Not sure that having to get on the bus was a high point, but it's defiantly noteworthy. This is a kid who has hunted everywhere, harvested multiple Grand Slams, so why was this hunt special? Simple, it was the high level of excitement from the time we went out the door.

At any point during that hunt it could have been over. One wrong move, a stick breaking, or a simple rustling of the leaves would have put that bird on high alert. There was no waiting around looking out a blind, no wondering if they would arrive to our area at such and such time. We went to a gobbling bird using the terrain and our woodsmanship to get in close.

I have talked to a lot of people who have struggled, both during and after their seasons and hear way to much of the "well the birds were there, but when we were in the blind...." My favorite is "I had them on camera all spring using the food plot so I set up there." My advice to them is always leave the blind, cameras and decoys at home, grab some calls and FIND a bird before setting up.

I'm not saying that a blind and decoys don't have a place, it's just sad that so many people up here believe that is the way that you need to hunt turkeys. I know leaving $1000 worth of gear behind is tough, but the benefits can pay off big.

CW

I like your thinking

[cw642]

A lot of us don't have the option of chasing gobbles around the globe. In todays real world, many of us only have 10 or 20 acres to hunt. A blind is the only way to hunt these smaller parcels IMO.

Setting that blind in the best possible spot still takes some woodsmanship.

In our world, we hunt the same property as hundreds of others. I wish we had the luxury of hunting 10-20 private acres while hunting out of state. The reality of it is we do it on the cheep. We sleep in a tent mostly, hunt public ground and rarely eat out. Cost is really just fuel, and tags. So yes we've hunted a lot of places, met a lot of people and filled a lot of tags. We've also learned a lot of things about what works and why it works.

I'm just saying that after wasting 3 of your 5 days sitting on your food plot in your blind with your full flock of decoys out, you might want to look into some other tactic.

CW

[Powerstroke]

The great news is you're mostly preaching to the choir here. I've only been a turkey hunter for the last 6 years and in that time I've taken 3 birds of my own and turned my best friend onto this sport and he's harvested 3 of his own in even less time.

The fact is we are both accomplished bowhunters for deer and I think the same tactics that bowhunters use, will serve a turkey hunter very well. Sometimes I hear people compare turkeys to waterfowl due to the hunt style and calling involved with waterfowl, but I don't think there is a comparison. I would be no more successful at either hunt if all I did was plop down in a spot I'd seen birds and start calling.

Like you said, good old-fashioned woodsmanship is required every time. The ability to be silent, move slowly, know your prey and how to hunt them.

I use a blind and I purchased a $100 decoy last year. That being said, I took my first bird with a bow over that decoy and nearly got another one if it wasn't for my own foolishness. My second hunt last year was during a snow/sleet storm in southern MN during season A. I called in a small flock of birds with a loud slate call and my $100 decoy. We were in a plowed field with no cover. Those bords died due to a combination of good, but limited calling, a realistic decoy and good woodsmanship by finding a slight depression in the field to lay down and ambush those birds in the wide open. My buddy and I had a double and we called it a season.

The toys do have their place, but they are no substitute for hard work and cunning. Its a great lesson to remember when we are staring at an unfilled tag and wondering what new piece of gear could've helped.

[Hoyt4]

Like Don said earlier let the birds tell you what to use. I'm not a fan of decoys but the birds will tell you a lot in scouting and watching their reactions.

Well said Powerstroke.

Just do not tie yourself to your blind or decoys you might have to get out and make a move to harvest that bird.

[brittman]

Run and Gun vs sit and wait. Like DonBo said, if you are limited to a farm or maybe two - then a blind (decoys is a whole separate discussion) is a great idea.

I had a large public woods that had marginal pressure (some years none) and I could run and gun to my hearts content. I grouse hunt those woods and know the entire layout like the back of my hand. I have killed 3 big Toms and have passed on countless Jakes on those acres and too many grouse and woodcock to note here.

I also have access to a farm that is split into 3 blocks. Total acres of huntable woods is not that great.

Over the past 3-4 years the Turkeys are mostly gone from my big expansive public area - the farm has been VERY productive. Sit and wait is working lately.

[brittman]

The amount of distance an adult Tom or two put on each day can be incredible. (I have watched them and followed them in Ag country).

Sure he may hang with a hen or two for awhile after flydown -- but later in the morning many start a big "circle". Others hung up for a few days will release when that hen moves on. Still others may procede to walk towards the new hen (your calling) and pass by unseen ... but he say you.

[Powerstroke]

I guess one thing I didn't really spell out in my post is that the second successful hunt of my year did not involve a blind. It was a matter of calling to birds and reading their reaction and using some of the tools I had.

I certainly have seen birds leave their trail to circle around a blind 60yds away and I've seen birds walk within 30-40yds, see a decoy and turn tail and run.

Sitting still has never failed and I've ambushed birds without a call or decoy by knowing their route to food thanks to scouting. Some of the toughest hunts are learning from your mistakes 3-4 days in a row and putting all that info together to try and seal the deal on day 5.

One thing you'll find about turkey hunting is every hunt is a learning experience.

[sticknstring]

Shooting a deer from a heated box blind or stalking one through a national forest? The method is not important! Why you do it and doing what you enjoy is!

I've taken birds carrying the shotgun & a mouth call and got them to commit by only scratching leaves. Was it fun? Heck ya it was! I've taken a bunch more with the bow watching birds commit to life-like decoys at spitting distance from a blind. Was that fun? Heck ya, you bet!

It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you're doing it!

[DonBo]

It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you're doing it!

And there you have it. Good answer!

There is no right or wrong way. I once sat in on a clinic put on by two friends of mine, both VERY good turkey hunters. I was amazed on how their hunting styles differed. One rarely uses a blind, one almost exclusively. One rarely calls, or only spareingly, the other doesn't stop till they pull the trigger. One never uses decoys, the other uses a whole flock. One...oh, you get the idea. Fact is, they are both very successful. The only thing they have in common? Both love to hunt the wild turkey and they are both out there doing it, rather than sitting here talking about it.

[brittman]

Both love to hunt the wild turkey and they are both out there doing it, rather than sitting here talking about it.

And where might that be Don ? Not even Florida is open quite yet.

And actually they did sit or stand around and talk about it - at a seminar no less.

OK. Sorry, but you kind a brought that one upon yourself now.

[cw642]

Nebraska is open.

I guess I was wrong. Every new hunter should find food plot, set up a blind with as many decoys as possible in front of it and wait. It's the Minnesota way, or at least you would think that by the most common answers given to the new hunters here.

The way I see it is we always seem to fill tags. Sometimes we have used a blind, but more often than not we are covering acres finding and harvesting a bird and then moving on to find the next bird. Like some have said there are many ways to harvest a bird. With the short time frame we usually have (drive Fri night, hunt Sat-Sun, drive home Sun night)it has been beneficial to us to go run and gun.

CW

[brittman]

Nebraska is open.

I guess I was wrong. Every new hunter should find food plot, set up a blind with as many decoys as possible in front of it and wait. It's the Minnesota way, or at least you would think that by the most common answers given to the new hunters here.

CW

Done fall turkeys enough to say in is not the same. Guess chasing turkeys is better exercise than on the treadmill. If I made a Jan hunting run it would be with my dogs for smaller birds.

Not sure anyone said you are wrong. As far as new hunters. I guess I kind of prefer they are in a blind some where rather than stalking me. The DNR may not promote run and gun techniques because it can cause safety issues and trespass issues to those that lack woodsmanship.

I will agree sitting in a blind is the Minnesota way - just as elevated deer stands are for deer. Many simply hunt the season they have been assigned, close to home in a method fairly similar to how the hunt deer. Prepare a week or day before your season begins. Hunt what comes your way.

If you hunt even a half hour to hour from your home - time and gas money can rack up quick if you are aggressively scouting the area and/or roosting birds the night before every hunt.

[DonBo]

And actually they did sit or stand around and talk about it - at a seminar no less.

[Archerysniper]

My scouting and patterning the birds is what fills my tags,im still using the same calls from 10 years ago. I will buy a few new diaphram calls every spring but that is because the reeds have cracked or stuck together over the off season.