Blinds For Gun Hunters
Copyright © 1998 -
2021
Roger W. Raisch * Nadine Adele, all rights reserved
Blinds
Department
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Gun hunters are
beginning to use blinds a lot more than a few years ago.
Although blinds are not required in order to routinely bag gobblers with a gun, they can
provide several important advantages if you're willing to pack them around the woods or
take time to set them up in good Strut
Zones. The primary reason to use a blind
is to camouflage any movement you need to make while you are set up and calling. The movement of operating a friction call, your fidgeting around,
or adjustment of your position against a tree will all spook a gobbler. Another good
use of a blind is to help conceal two or more hunters who may want to hunt together at one
location. If you bring a novice along on a hunt, a blind will make it possible for
the person to move around, remain comfortable and not foul the hunt up.
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A natural blind made
by pushing cut leafy brush into the ground all around your tree can be effective if you
have time to set it up. Use a good quality pair of
Pruning Shears to do
the job quietly and quickly. For those who want a commercial camouflage blind, there
are many to choose from. However, most are designed for bow hunters and can be quite
bulky for a gun hunter to pack around. There is a Special Turkey Hunting Blind
for gun hunters that fits neatly around the base of a tree that gives full coverage and
will accommodate two hunters.
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For those who want a
more substantial blind in terms of size and protection from the elements, there are Full Coverage Camouflage Blinds that
have been designed for turkey hunters. Heavier, these
types are probably best suited for placement in good strutting, roosting and feeding areas
that have been determined before the hunt. They can be set up
a couple of weeks before season and camouflaged with natural vegetation. Although it's nice to set them up in advance, turkeys will not notice a
well camouflaged blind even if it was set up the day before.
I prefer to set them up early simply because I want to let the area cool off from
my intrusion for a few days before returning to hunt. On the other hand, I have set
up blinds quietly in the morning and had birds within bow range the same morning.
These larger blinds are perfect to use when you have guests along on the hunt, especially
non-hunters. They also work great in very open areas
where there may not be a suitable tree to sit down against. I've also set them up
against large, round hay bales in a pasture to fool turkeys that like to stay out in the
middle of those types of fields. Try one along a fence which can act like a funnel
to direct turkeys right to your location.
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For those willing to spend
time building an effective, portable, full coverage blind, I recommend my Construction Blueprints as a
guide for building my customized turkey hunting blind for gun or bow hunters. I have
used this round design for the past 25 years very successfully on turkey, deer, elk and
antelope.
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With a blind, your
confidence will improve, especially if you strategically locate it in the proper place. You will be able to remain Patient for the hours that it
often takes to have success. To further aid your hunt from a blind, I strongly
recommend a good Seat Cushion
as part
of your gear.
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Try a blind...you'll like
it! |
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