Brushing a Turkey Blind or No?

[BrockWinegar]

Looking for experiences with brushing a blind in for turkey hunting or not.
Have killed many turkeys by just plopping a blind down in any ole spot and it’s like it’s not there to the turkeys. But the last two years any time I don’t brush in my pop up blind the turkeys seem to skirt me the second they round a corner and can see the blind. Anyone else have luck not brushing?

Also acknowledge it could be coincidental and maybe it was the Jake decoy they didn’t like, have had birds skirt Jake decoys with a perfect hide too.

 

[160andup]

I hate using them, so seldom do, but have never had any indication that they’re spooked by them in the past. Maybe if an individual has been educated by a blind previously, or maybe it’s been educated in that exact location previously? Maybe not the blind. I can’t say I’ve observed them avoiding them from what I can tell.

 

[Muleyczy]

I’ve done both, so idk the answer, but I figure it can’t hurt so I do it if I can.

 

[Laramie]

It is completely unnecessary in my opinion. They will walk right up to a new blind in a stubble field with no brush.

 

[fatlander]

When I bow hunted turkeys, I found it’s completely dependent on the specific turkey. Most don’t care at all. Some want it brushed in. Some are scared of decoys. And some are scared of even the brushed in blind that wasn’t there the night before.

They’re fickle birds.


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[BrockWinegar]

It is completely unnecessary in my opinion. They will walk right up to a new blind in a stubble field with no brush.

I’ve had the same experience, even plopped one down in the middle of a lawn and killed a turkey at 8 steps. But have also seen the opposite occasionally.

 

[BrockWinegar]

When I bow hunted turkeys, I found it’s completely dependent on the specific turkey. Most don’t care at all. Some want it brushed in. Some are scared of decoys. And some are scared of even the brushed in blind that wasn’t there the night before.

They’re fickle birds.


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Glad to know I’m not alone here. I don’t typically use them besides when bowhunting or filming multiple people. Have a true brush blind built near one roost, chopped a head off last week but now they’re taking a different rout and I don’t have a blind built over there but I’ve got some friends coming in to bow hunt and wanted to figure out if there’s a pattern to this blind thing before we sit a blind

 

[Laramie]

I’ve had the same experience, even plopped one down in the middle of a lawn and killed a turkey at 8 steps. But have also seen the opposite occasionally.

When I take kids out, I pack a blind on my back and just set up based on what makes the most sense on that day. I have had whole flocks inside of 5 yards on multiple occasions. At least in the Midwest, I am convinced that turkeys just don't care about a blind. We have even used them to effectively move in on a flock one small step at a time while moving the blind. Brushing in is a waste of time imo. My guess is the guys who have had issues had nervous turkeys that were negatively reacting to their calling or decoys- not the blind.

 

[BrockWinegar]

When I take kids out, I pack a blind on my back and just set up based on what makes the most sense on that day. I have had whole flocks inside of 5 yards on multiple occasions. At least in the Midwest, I am convinced that turkeys just don't care about a blind. We have even used them to effectively move in on a flock one small step at a time while moving the blind. Brushing in is a waste of time imo. My guess is the guys who have had issues had nervous turkeys that were negatively reacting to their calling or decoys- not the blind.

Yeah them being weary of the calling/decoys is absolutely a possibility too. Thanks for the post. Definitely going to keep your trick of using a blind to move in on a flock in my back pocket, that’s a great one

 

[Skerhunter]

They will skirt decoys blind or no blind. I call it a drive by…

I wouldn’t mess with brushing a blind in for turkeys. I think the only thing that matters is if they see movement or not.

Sometimes they are picky and all it takes is a slightly different set up (move 50-100 yards) or different decoys.

 

[BrockWinegar]

They will skirt decoys blind or no blind. I call it a drive by…

I wouldn’t mess with brushing a blind in for turkeys. I think the only thing that matters is if they see movement or not.

Sometimes they are picky and all it takes is a slightly different set up (move 50-100 yards) or different decoys.

Agreed on the movement point. Seems like the consensus is don’t brush the blind it’s more than likely the decoys. Thanks!

 

[DLSJR]

I find the concept of blinds for turkeys interesting, as I’ve never hunted them from one even though I’ve been turkey hunting since 1978. I’ve only bowhunted deer and elk from a Double Bull, and then I absolutely brush them in.

I know that there is no need to brush in a blind for turkeys, as they’ve walked right past my truck more than a few times with me sitting in it on the ranch we hunt. I could easily have shot some nice long beards right out of the drivers side window if I wanted to.

 

[fatlander]

It very well might be regionally dependent as well. Birds in the southeast are a different animal than a lot of the rest of the country. They’re cagey and fickle.

Back to my original point, I’ve personally experienced individual birds that wanted different things when it comes to blinds a decoys.

About a dozen now dead gobblers cared none about a non brushed in blind. They happily charged in to their death.

I remember two different birds that were leery of a non brushed in blind. I killed each of them a couple days later when I brushed in the blind in.

I killed another bird that I thought was leery of the blind. Brushed in and he still tucked tail that morning. Turned out he was leery of the decoys. Hunted him again with no decoys and he strutted around with hens after fly down without a care in the world of the blind. He walked within 2 yards of the blind.

Another bird I finally killed sans blind. First I thought it was brushing in, then I thought it was decoys, and finally realized he didn’t like a black hole in a cedar tree that wasn’t there yesterday.

For what it’s worth, they’re all more fun outside of the blind. It’s harder, but, at least for me, leaves you with a much higher sense of accomplishment when it comes together. If you hide yourself with a makeshift natural blind, and sit still (like you’re actually turkey hunting), you won’t risk busting birds because of the blind.


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[BrockWinegar]

It very well might be regionally dependent as well. Birds in the southeast are a different animal than a lot of the rest of the country. They’re cagey and fickle.

Back to my original point, I’ve personally experienced individual birds that wanted different things when it comes to blinds a decoys.

About a dozen now dead gobblers cared none about a non brushed in blind. They happily charged in to their death.

I remember two different birds that were leery of a non brushed in blind. I killed each of them a couple days later when I brushed in the blind in.

I killed another bird that I thought was leery of the blind. Brushed in and he still tucked tail that morning. Turned out he was leery of the decoys. Hunted him again with no decoys and he strutted around with hens after fly down without a care in the world of the blind. He walked within 2 yards of the blind.

Another bird I finally killed sans blind. First I thought it was brushing in, then I thought it was decoys, and finally realized he didn’t like a black hole in a cedar tree that wasn’t there yesterday.

For what it’s worth, they’re all more fun outside of the blind. It’s harder, but, at least for me, leaves you with a much higher sense of accomplishment when it comes together. If you hide yourself with a makeshift natural blind, and sit still (like you’re actually turkey hunting), you won’t risk busting birds because of the blind.


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Great info, thanks! Don’t get me wrong, I love hunting without a blind but bow hunting with 2 shooters, I’ll sacrifice some perceived fun for better concealment!