Confession time

[Setterman]

Well as everyone knows I'm staunchly against decoys and blind hunting turkeys. Having never done it, I was convinced it was not even close to the thrill that calling one in with nothing but air and leaves between you and the bird. I also was convinced that it was fairly easy compared to all that goes into killing one the traditional way with nothing but calls and a gun. I don't mean to offend anyone with my feelings, and only offer them as a preface to what I've just done...

Last night I got a call from a good friend inviting me to hunt with him on one his places. My first response was sure, but I don't want to go if your plan involves decoys or blinds. I was assured that wasn't the plan and agreed to go. Well I was duped.

We arrive to the farm, and out comes this incredible pile of gear; blind, chairs, decoys, etc etc. I ask politely what the hell is all that for. He just giggles and says you need to try this once. At this point I'm too far invested to bail an decide screw it let's see what this is all about.

The hunt unfolded with scattered roost gobbling, with heavy ground gobbling for 30 minutes. There was one bird in particular that was begging for death, but there we sat like turds in the blind staring at plastic turkeys. After an hour or so a hen wandered in, and shortly thereafter I spy a lone strutter 200 yards across a pasture. As I reach for my call, my buddy says don't it'll just mess it up. In no time I'm watching the strutter strut all the way across the field, and well into range. At this point I'm being begged into taking the shot which I refuse, and my buddy kills the strutter at 20 steps who's so distracted that I literally can't get him to budge out of full strut.

So I've seen it now, and no offense to anyone that hunts this way, but there was no where near the excitement with that and it was incredibly easy. There was no chance of being seen, the bird came as if being led by a leash, and it took virtually no skill by us to kill the bird. Don't get me wrong I had a great time being able to shoot the breeze, laugh, eat, drink, pee with no worries of getting busted, and it was gorgeous watching the bird strut all the way in. However, that style of hunting is not for me as I suspected, and seems way too easy. It felt like I watched an assassination rather than a hunt/kill.

Good times though with a good friend, and a nice bird as well. Bird weighed 21.5 lbs btw :poke:

 

[String Music]

Well my goodness. You'll be reaping by the end of the week...

 

[Setterman]

Well my goodness. You'll be reaping by the end of the week...

Haha, I doubt it but that would probably be exciting and certainly exciting compared to the blind/decoy thing.

 

[TreyB]

You peed in the blind???? :poke:

 

[BigRod]

About like catching those trout on midges, just isn't a challenge is it? haha. Sending you a pm got a question

 

[AT Hiker]

Not a lot of skill involved in setting up a strutter and letting a angry bird come in. I could care less if anyone does it but its not much for me anymore.

However, setting up some of those ground blinds require a mechanical engineer to do so, especially when it comes to putting them back in the bag!


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[Gravey]

I have a pretty boy that I tried when they first came out. Even cut a fan down to a jake and every bird that ever saw it ran the other way. Its still in my barn if it hasn't dry rotted yet. Just not for me either I guess.

 

[Fleet Fox]

I like to do it when I am taking someone that hasn't been before, or a kid. I think it's exciting to see them come in and try to demolish your decoys. When I'm alone or with someone who doesn't mind walking, climbing hills and can efficiently sneak around I stay on the move. Belly crawling through the bushes with ticks crawling across your nose isn't for everyone.

 

[Anonymous]

I calling BS. No way a bird killed from a blind weighed less than 25.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

"Turds in a blind". [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]


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[REN]

id be lying if i said i have never used decoys or sat in a blind. Just really don't care much for either especially sitting in a blind. I have literally sat leaning up against a blind before, just couldn't make myself get in it hahahah. just such a big difference to have one come in while you are on the ground trying not to get busted and have to shoot them from you knee.

 

[woodsman87]

I thought setterman was coming out of the closet, or at least say he shot a turkey out of a blind over a decoy.

Takes a true sportsman to not just kill something just because it's legal, out of spite, or what have you.

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[catman529]

Well I have to knock it off my bucket list too. I wish there was a pic of you in the blind setterman, lol. It's tough to make myself even buy a decoy on clearance, or drag into the woods and set up a blind. I'm especially blind shy since being stuck in one for 6 hours in the rain the other day. One day ill do it, I know it will at least make a good video. Setterman's on the Dark Side now :D


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[callemquacktn]

Well my goodness. You'll be reaping by the end of the week...

:super: I about peed myself on that one.
I'm with Setterman on this and the reaping. Not for me.
Now I do hunt the blind with my wife and the youngest kids so they can be comfortable but I tried sitting in a blind this morning for 2 hrs while bow hunting and couldn't stand it anymore.

 

[megalomaniac]

next time don't shoot the bird until after the show is over. I can promise you, you will have the time of your life if you let the bird come in like a bowling ball and watch him destroy any male decoys (especially if your friend payed for them and not you!) You missed out what the entire thrill of using decoys is all about. It's not about the kill, it's the most insane show of dominance in nature. I've even had them pop, deflate, then stomp into the dirt the inflatable ones!

I've had a few birds get bored after 30 seconds or so, but many will keep fighting for 3 or 4 minutes with the decoys, and I even had a flock of 5 gobblers and 7 jakes spend 15 minutes fighting with the decoys and each other a mere 10 yards away.

I do leave out the blind, prefer natural cover myself.

 

[PalsPal]

As I reach for my call, my buddy says don't it'll just mess it up.

THAT had to hurt!

 

[Mike Belt]

Sometimes it works like that and sometimes it doesn't. I've had birds lock up too far away to shoot and then have to loop around them to get in position to try to call them in. I've also had gobbles come in behind hens and the hens lead him away from the dekes. I guess in the heat of mating season they don't want any competition. Just for grins I had a lightweight decoy I could run and gun with and had hens with a couple of gobblers in a field. Every set up (and I had 5 different points I set up on with the deke) the hens saw the deke and turned away. That was just as exciting as running and gunning without the deke.

 

[catman529]

Hey setter now with your newfound passion, I found something that will be a perfect fit for your mobile run-and-gun style: http://youtu.be/J2iImpk2iG4




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[Setterman]

Hey setter now with your newfound passion, I found something that will be a perfect fit for your mobile run-and-gun style: http://youtu.be/J2iImpk2iG4




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My eyes are burning, I could actually see where decoys might be useful, but the blind is like a prison

 

[catman529]

Hey setter now with your newfound passion, I found something that will be a perfect fit for your mobile run-and-gun style: http://youtu.be/J2iImpk2iG4




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My eyes are burning, I could actually see where decoys might be useful, but the blind is like a prison

especially for 6 hours in a rain storm with no turkeys

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[scn]

Great post, Jim. It mirrors my feeling about hunting the black devils as well. The blind/decoy deal is a great way to kill a bird, but for me, I'd opt to take a nap instead to re-inergize for chasing and calling. I sat on green field yesterday evening for several hours until I kept hearing a bird gobble. He was shut up by the time I got there, but I think I did find a great tree for a ladderstand for deer season in the process.

The birds I'm playing with are either totally shutmouth or are gobbling a little on the roost and shutting up when they hit the ground. But, I'm seeing a bunch of gobbler tracks, so hopefully one morning soon it will be "right".

 

[catman529]

Great post, Jim. It mirrors my feeling about hunting the black devils as well. The blind/decoy deal is a great way to kill a bird, but for me, I'd opt to take a nap instead to re-inergize for chasing and calling. I sat on green field yesterday evening for several hours until I kept hearing a bird gobble. He was shut up by the time I got there, but I think I did find a great tree for a ladderstand for deer season in the process.

The birds I'm playing with are either totally shutmouth or are gobbling a little on the roost and shutting up when they hit the ground. But, I'm seeing a bunch of gobbler tracks, so hopefully one morning soon it will be "right".

scn similar gobbling here. Quieter than usual, but there's that occasional bird or two that gets fired up. I don't get to hunt much sunrise anymore , I'm usually in the woods by 10 am


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[AllOutdoors]

I have killed them using decoys but never a blind. So where does that leave me?

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[TheRealSpurhunter]

Man I hate blind hunting for them as well, but you guys that hate them because "its so easy" must have the dumbest turkeys in the whole world. There is no slam dunk with decoys, blinds or even live turkeys feeding all day in front of your blind. If its really that easy, maybe turkeys really do smell and I stink like a predator?

 

[TheRealSpurhunter]

I have killed them using decoys but never a blind. So where does that leave me?

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It makes you a turkey hunter. There is absolutly no shame in decoys or blinds, I and some other just prefer not to for different reasons. (im too lazy to carry that stuff most times)

 

[muddyboots]

I sat in one with my daughter on the juvi hunt for 3 hrs. Not for me.

 

[Fleet Fox]

Your a better man than me Setterman. The few friends I have that use decoys and blinds no better than to ever invite me :D Besides, I could never stoop as low as to hunt there "pet" turkeys anyways ;)

It's you're, know and their. Since you know everything else, I figured you should use proper grammar.

 

[MRUTVOL]

Ok Setterman(Captin Hook )......Since blinds and decoys were made to help make turkey hunting be more successful for some lets apply your logic that you have preached for some time to art of deer hunting. Lets just say that deer calls(grunt,bleat,etc),cover scents,sent lures,camo clothing,commercial tree and tower stands,scopes,food plots just for deer hunting over,compound bows, rattling bags or horns and all other products that have been designed to help improve the odds of a hunter killing a buck deer were outlawed and not able to be used to hunt with. To use your logic anything that is designed to increase your odds of success should not be used. I would bet that for the most part you probably have used most if not all of them. So would that make you much less of a hunter than you think you are?
Even turkey calls are made to make turkey hunting more successful so if they outlawed all commercial turkey calls and can only use natural devices for calling such as made from bone or cedar or whatever then we might as well go back to slingshots and spears ! I have hunted with decoys and from blinds and I will tell you I have never had the easy experience that you had. As a matter of fact a decoy at times can cost you a turkey . I have had them work as much against me as much as they have worked for me. To each his own if it is legal I have no problem with it.

 

[scn]

Ok Setterman(Captin Hook )......Since blinds and decoys were made to help make turkey hunting be more successful for some lets apply your logic that you have preached for some time to art of deer hunting. Lets just say that deer calls(grunt,bleat,etc),cover scents,sent lures,camo clothing,commercial tree and tower stands,scopes,food plots just for deer hunting over,compound bows, rattling bags or horns and all other products that have been designed to help improve the odds of a hunter killing a buck deer were outlawed and not able to be used to hunt with. To use your logic anything that is designed to increase your odds of success should not be used. I would bet that for the most part you probably have used most if not all of them. So would that make you much less of a hunter than you think you are?
Even turkey calls are made to make turkey hunting more successful so if they outlawed all commercial turkey calls and can only use natural devices for calling such as made from bone or cedar or whatever then we might as well go back to slingshots and spears ! I have hunted with decoys and from blinds and I will tell you I have never had the easy experience that you had. As a matter of fact a decoy at times can cost you a turkey . I have had them work as much against me as much as they have worked for me. To each his own if it is legal I have no problem with it.

I haven't read all the discussions, but I don't remember ever seeing Setterman saying that blind and decoys shouldn't be used. He just says that they aren't for him. I've used both, and tend to agree with him. For me, it was sort of like watching paint dry. I'd rather sleep in than do it that way. But, for those that enjoy that type of hunting, more power to them. It certainly doesn't mean that they are wrong, and likely they will kill more turkeys than I will.

 

[Setterman]

Ok Setterman(Captin Hook )......Since blinds and decoys were made to help make turkey hunting be more successful for some lets apply your logic that you have preached for some time to art of deer hunting. Lets just say that deer calls(grunt,bleat,etc),cover scents,sent lures,camo clothing,commercial tree and tower stands,scopes,food plots just for deer hunting over,compound bows, rattling bags or horns and all other products that have been designed to help improve the odds of a hunter killing a buck deer were outlawed and not able to be used to hunt with. To use your logic anything that is designed to increase your odds of success should not be used. I would bet that for the most part you probably have used most if not all of them. So would that make you much less of a hunter than you think you are?
Even turkey calls are made to make turkey hunting more successful so if they outlawed all commercial turkey calls and can only use natural devices for calling such as made from bone or cedar or whatever then we might as well go back to slingshots and spears ! I have hunted with decoys and from blinds and I will tell you I have never had the easy experience that you had. As a matter of fact a decoy at times can cost you a turkey . I have had them work as much against me as much as they have worked for me. To each his own if it is legal I have no problem with it.

What does deer hunting have to do with turkey hunting? Nothing is the answer deer hunting is a completely separate deal, and not even remotely relevant to a conversation about hunting turkeys. I think this comparison happens, because a lot of turkey hunters became turkey hunters well after they hunted deer already. When I grew up the two were separate, and every one I know/knew used deer to pass time and provide meat until turkey season opened up. We are turkey hunters who deer hunt some but it's just something to do in the off season.

Do I believe that sitting in a blind helps you hide from turkeys, and get away with conversations, movement, etc? Yes, and it takes away a huge part of what makes turkey hunting challenging when done with nothing but a tree to lean against.

Do I believe decoys render calling insignificant and unnecessary basically eliminating another major challenge hunters face? Yep, knowing when to call, what call to make, which call to use, how loud, how soft, and how often are eliminated when all the bird has to do is see the decoys and he's on his way.

Do I believe camping in one spot staring at plastic turkeys while inside a fabric prison is not even close to the same as on the move with a couple of calls, shotgun, and nothing to hide yourself except whatever natural cover is nearby? Yep, they are not even close to the same in terms of challenge, fitness requirements, etc.

Do I believe that by eliminating one of the most challenging aspects of a turkey hunt which is choosing the best set up on a vocal bird in the woods, by camping in a blind makes things dramatically easier then having to make quick judgements as a bird closes ground to your calling? You bet I do.

So yes, I believe turkey hunting with the aid of blinds and decoys is dramatically easier then a more traditional approach. Easier to the point where after seeing it all I could do was laugh at how simplistic that form of hunting is, and something I have zero interest in ever being a part of again. Simple other than the absurd amount of gear required.

I'm not saying the hunters employ these tactics are bad hunters, bad people, nor do I wish to disrespect that style as it is effective but the fact remains it takes most of the challenging aspects of turkey hunting and eliminates them IMO.

FOR ME, it took all the enjoyment out of why I turkey hunt, and I was not entertained in the least other than by the conversations we were able to have while being completed concealed and being without worry of being busted by an otherwise wary animal due to the fabric prison and his attention focused on a Chinese made plastic turkey