Natural ground blinds

[osprey]

I think in one of the previous threads we mentioned log blinds, maybe in the one on tips. If you've got the place and a little bit of time, get in the woods before the season and make some natural blinds, they work. Here's one I did last month, first the inside view...



...and what the birds will see...



Here's one I did two winters ago, the holly leaves all fall off (I just pile them up for a place to put them when I'm clearing to be truthful, the logs alone give enough cover and break up your outline) but it still works. Killed a good Tom out of this one last year.



This is the view from in the log blind. Sitting on a cushion makes the top log a perfect gun rest. A few weeks before the season I go back to them and rake out all the leaves so it's just bare, quiet dirt inside. For this one, which is close to the field corner, I also rake off a trail to it so I'm not crunching leaves. Have had birds on the roost 45 yards away that never heard me come in while it was dark. I like it when they land in my lap!!

[Hardcorehunter]

Thanks for the pics osprey. I have made those blinds when I used to play paintball. I move around so much during turkey season. I doubt I would ever be in it if I made it.

[osprey]

I don't always end up in them, still gotta go where the birds are, but they always roost in certain spots and that's not a big woods. Plus some mornings they don't gobble and the best choice is just to sit still and call in one spot, might as well be comfortable and hidden.

[THE DEER HUNTER]

They sure do look comfortable. I normally carry one of those portable umbrellas with me & set it up once I locate the birds, but your ground blinds look much more natural.

[Rommel]

I've heard the turkeys going to roost in the pines in front of my deer stand and there are already a large group of blown down trees between my stand and the pines, I think I'll clean it out a little and give that spot a try this year. This will be my first serious attempt at turkey hunting and it's because you guys talk about it so much and have given me some insight on the sport. Nice pics of the log blinds, I can use the same concept for deer hunting as well. Thanks Osprey for the ideas. I love having this access to everyone elses knowledge of the outdoors, it's great. Thanks for a great website Buckmaster, This was a great idea you and your buddies came up with.

[wicomicojoe]

Awsome pics! Thanks for sharing. I am planning on building some ground blinds for next year to us when I take my kids with me. I think I am going to us them sooner, like this spring. Thanks for sharing Osprey.

[osprey]

Watch how high you stack the logs for kids. I took a little boy last year but he couldn't see over the logs! I forget what it was like being 3' tall.

[BuckMaster]

Here was my set-up for my first turkey. I let the group of Toms get within 15yd before I shot one. I didn't want to miss

[Rommel]

Cool Buckmaster, Is that an umbrella turned on it's side? I'll have to make sure I've got mine packed for the opener in case we have to move around. The guy I used to live next door to is involved in NWTF and him and I are going to hook up this season so he can help get off on the right foot with this turkey hunting. With new game to hunt I have to go shopping for all new "trinkets".

[BuckMaster]

Yes. The umbrella is a great tool for turkey hunting. The deer hunter and I would walk and call and when we heard turkey we would get close and set-up. It was very usefully for hunting on the move. This year thanks to everyone on the forum we have lots more info about turkey hunting and we have a good felling about where they will be

[nybuckstalker]

Permanent blinds can be just as useful as your old fail proof permanent deer stand. If you build one in a spot where the turkeys already congregate without you calling them there it will be almost a guarantee. My brother in law and I have one in the top corner of a hay filed in New York. Between the two of us, we have killed a Tom out of it every year for the last six years. I am confident we could set up decoys and not make a peep and still kill turkeys every year out of it.
Like Osprey said. On those days when you can’t get anything going off the roost go hold up in you blind. You have until noon to hunt so, Hunt Till Noon. I’ve killed more turkeys between 1100 and 1200 than I have between 0600 and 0800. Make periodic calls and pay attention to your decoys. Many times a subordinate Tom or Jakes will approach completely silent (This is where the log blind comes to the rescue. You are caught with your pants down but you have the ability to get on target for a shot)
Good Luck!