In my first article I shared some of my thoughts about the upcoming turkey season. I mentioned several areas of expertise one needs to possess in order to consistantly outsmart Mr. Tom Turkey. Of those mentioned concealment is of utmost importance.
Over the years I’ve used several different types of ground blinds. My favorite set-up would be to find some good pine trees with low hanging branches . Its easy to blend into the surroundings as you hide in the shadows of the pine tree. The problems with blinds of this sort (permanent) is the fact that your target must pass within your effective shooting range. I’ve had situations where a Tom would hang-up and not commit himself within that range. Although I have taken two birds with my bow I usually use my trusty Remington 870’s. Depending on the situation I have one that shoots the standard 2-3/4″ shells, and one that will take the 3-1/2″ “bazooka” round. Any movement while your calling or getting ready to shoot can alert the bird to danger and your “busted.”
Thats why I rarely use that type of set up anymore. I now use one of the various portable pop-up blinds now on the market. There are several to choose from. They can run anywhere from $40.00 to $400.00 depending on your needs and your wallet. I use a “doghouse” ($79.00) that I bought at Cabela’s, and it has served me well. If you don’t want to drive that far Cook’s also has a good selection. These blinds have several small shooting windows to use, while it conceals the hunter and his movements inside the blind. I can use my calls, raise my gun, or swat a mosquito without having to worry about being seen. Of coarse the fact that it’s portable can mean the difference between being in the right spot at the right time or not. Hey if you get a chance give one a try I think you’ll agree its a good tool to add to your turkey arsenal.