Author Topic: How stupid are turkeys? (Read 1066 times)

Bowhunter57 · « **on:** May 12, 2012, 11:38:04 PM »

>Turkeys seem to be suckers for a groundblind. It wasn't there yesterday or earlier today, but that's cool...and they walk right by it.

Goofy! I plan to purchase one before next year's turkeys season, as it's just not in the budget for this year.

However, I do have a Cabelas Ice House, ice shelter. There are no "shoot through" windows, but I could leave the door unzipped, the air vents open for some air and wear some black. The thing is...the blind is black, all black. There are no ties or loops to hang brush on, to brush it in, like normal groundblinds have. A few branches could be leaned up against it, I suppose.
This is the model that I have:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabel...h-All+Products

Are turkeys stupid enough for me to set this ice shelter up, like a normal groundbling and hunt out of it with my decoys?

Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated.
Thank you, Bowhunter57

52bagman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2012, 01:18:36 AM »

Turkeys are dumber than a box of rocks but their acute senses make them really slick. 8 power binocular on a stick, hearing 5 times better than ours and if their sense of smell was as good as a deer you would seldom kill one.

mcbammer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2012, 06:25:26 AM »

Its all depending on hunting pressure . They get educated real fast . I think the ones I hunt have a college degree.

eastbank · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2012, 08:23:47 AM »

they are not that smart, just very scarded. just about every thing in the woods wants to eat them.a ground blind will get the job done,i have killed quite a few turks with out any thing more that a good set of camo cloths and set up againest a large tree. i don,t think the call matters much in the spring,a box call and being able to make 3-5 yelps with a few clucks and purrs added in will get you a turkey if you are willing to put the time in. scouting is a must so you can map there cycle of movement. right now i,m working on a very large bird on the edge of a field bordering the mountin,he takes his hens for a morning stroll to feed there. i have seen him last tuesday and friday morning, tomorrow it,s to rain and i will be in the set by 5:00am. good luck,eastbank.

Bowhunter57 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2012, 11:30:40 AM »

Quote from: eastbank

they are not that smart, just very scarded. just about every thing in the woods wants to eat them.

eastbank,
I agree with you on the turkeys not having a whole lot of common sense. Most of the time I believe that they're as giddy as a school girl and their "knee-jerk" reactions is the only thing that keeps them alive.

Quote from: eastbank

i have killed quite a few turks with out any thing more that a good set of camo clothes and set up againest a large tree

Are you refering to bow kills? The reason I ask is that movement is movement and the drawing motion will give the bowhunter's position away...more often than not. I have some excellent camo that I use when I hunt coyotes and have never been picked off. I'd just rather not deal with getting spotted while hunting turkeys.

Bowhunter57

dukkillr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2012, 11:49:40 AM »

Ground blinds are magic for bowhunting turkeys in the spring. Unfortunately they aren't that much fun to hunt with. I go out once or twice during the Kansas archery season but it's mostly for scouting and getting out of the house. I don't like being stuck in one place, I don't like carrying that damn thing all over the place, I don't like having a hard time with directional hearing. The things I love about turkey hunting are greatly decreased inside a tent. After I checked Spring Archery Tom off my list I mostly moved on. I'd rather save the birds for a more fun hunt.

eastbank · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2012, 02:11:27 PM »

i,m no bow hunter,i never mastered it. but i can see where a blind would be a big help in hiding movement. eastbank.

Bowhunter57 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2012, 04:28:26 PM »

Well, it was a thought and that's all it was, but I appreciate all the input from you guys. I set up my ice shelter this evening and the zipper door has to be opened too much to shoot out of, in order to not hit the blind itself. Plus, with the door that open there's too much light allowed inside and it's clear as to who/what's inside.

I'm just going to continue to hide in blow-down trees and set my decoys in a way to keep the turkey's eyes off of my position. I just ordered 3 more hens, which will be here tomorrow when I get off work. All total that will give me 4 hens, 1 jake and 1 strutting tom. This small flock of birds should give any approaching tom some feeling of safety with numbers. Hopefully, I can take advantage of the situation, before he figures it out.

Bowhunter57