Recently I was asked if hunters should use hunting blinds while going after turkey. As I reflected for a moment on the most recent outing I had with my son I knew that the answer was a little more complex than a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
It was a perfect weekday morning over spring break. We had never been to this spot before but after a few wrong turns and a double check of the map we arrived at the parking area. My first observation was that we were not the first ones there despite that it was still an hour before sunrise. In addition, it wasn't minutes before two more truckloads of would be turkey harvesters pulled up. Many public spots are just like that.
After a quick coordination with the newly arrived hunters we checked our gear and, as luck would have it, we had left our blind at home. Not letting that stop us, we trekked down an old fire access road for about a quarter of a mile. After choosing an area just off the road that had some cover but still offered a decent view of the clearing we each found a big tree to set up against and settled in - at least that was the idea. As the morning light revealed our surroundings I began calling. In the midst of sounding out some of the most amorous turkey lures I could muster I noticed my son was fidgeting with his pant leg and constantly trying to find a more comfortable position. He had worn some ankle socks instead of his usual calf-high ones and, to make matters worse, the ties at the base of his camo jumpsuit had permanent knots in them making it near impossible for him to secure a bug proof outfit.
It was right about then that we heard our first gobble.
It came from about 15 degrees to our left, 70 - 80 yards out through a partially wooded area, and it was heading our way. We worked that tom for about 30 minutes and got it in to about 40 yards when it went silent and just disappeared. My son would not sit still. I was all but positive that the old tom had spotted him. We never heard from that gobbler again.
The greatest advantage that hunting blinds offer hunters is concealment. They conceal both movement and scent. While turkey do not have any measurable sense of smell, they do have excellent vision which puts a huge plus on the side of using one. Would you dare hike out to your favorite turkey spot wearing a t-shirt and jeans, set up a comfortable folding chair, raise your binoculars to your head every 5 minutes while sipping on the coffee you bought and hour ago, and still expect to come home with an eighteen pound bird? Of course not! But that is a completely reasonable scenario when using a blind (well maybe not quite eighteen pounds).
So what kind of blinds are best for turkey hunting? Even if you are hunting alone I suggest a two man blind. They are roomier and just make the experience more pleasant. Make sure that it comes with camo netting that covers the windows in order to keep down on bugs as well as increase concealment. If the netting is held down by Velcro you can cut a vertical slice (not a wide whole, just a thin slice) roughly 12 inches long at about eye level, which will give you access to a silent shooting hole. The slice does not give bugs any measurable increase in ability to enter the blind and by making it vertical the slit tends to stay shut whereas a horizontal slice can tend to sag open on the bottom. Most blinds provide shelter from a light rain unless you are using one similar to the Ameristep Jakehouse Blind, which is effectivley a 2.5 foot camo screen that does not provide a roof (but is considerably more portable that a doghouse style). Try to ensure that the camo colors mimic your surroundings. If you will be hunting in the fall, brown and tan colors will be fine. If it is a spring hunt you may want to find one with various shades of green.
While there are many advantages to using blinds while hunting turkey there are a few considerations you should think about. Being so concealed it would be easy for another hunter not to see you. Many blinds do have blaze orange patches or strips that can be exposed if you are in a public area. You may also consider using a blaze swath of cloth wrapped around a nearby tree in order to alert others of your presence. Be sure to set it high enough that your blind does not obstruct its view from the front. Also, mobility is a consideration. Once a blind is set up and in place the hunter is not as able to pick up and move as quickly as without one. Many blinds now can be set up and taken down fairly quickly so it really comes down to motivation. While I concede that mobility is a consideration I have not had any problems packing up and re-locating with more than 15 minutes added to the time it would have taken otherwise.
In answering the original question, if you address these considerations then the benefits far outweigh the limitations and using a hunting blind for turkey will not only improve your harvest but it will make you more comfortable in the process. So gear up and I'll see you in the field (unless, of course, you're in a blind).
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