Pockets or indentations along a field edge are great spots for turkey blinds. Not only do they provide cover, they also force toms to search harder for the source of the calling they hear. (Shutterstock photo)
May 07, 2025
By Blaine Cardilli
There was a time not so long ago when I considered myself a dyed-in-the-wool run-and-gun turkey hunter. Running and gunning was cool. It was chic. It was what everyone else was doing. I’d hear a bird gobble, close the distance and set up in an effort to call him in. It often worked, but sometimes it didn’t. One day in particular changed my attitude.
The air was crisp and still as a whisper that morning as I moved slowly and quietly along the edge of a tree line that bordered a large, rolling field. The moon was full and bright, so I stayed in the heavy shadows as I went along to avoid being silhouetted in case there were turkeys roosted near the field’s edge.
As dawn began to break, hens started waking up, initiating the first gobbles from nearby toms. Once on the ground, they wasted no time getting to the field. My heart began racing. The hens came out first, followed closely by three strutters. However, my enthusiasm waned when I realized I had not considered the position of the rising sun.
That became painfully clear as the brilliant rays broke through the treetops, temporarily blinding me and effectively obscuring my vision to the point that I could no longer determine the flock’s location or movement. Much to my frustration, it was game over before it even began. That’s when I decided to get into the ground blind game.
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Having chased wild turkeys for 30 years, I knew that success when hunting from a blind wouldn’t come from just popping one up in any old spot. Instead, I would need to put considerable thought into both how and where I set up.
We all know that turkey hunting scenarios can be markedly different, each having their own set of rules. Variables can include the terrain you’re hunting, your positioning with regard to the rising or setting sun, the time of day you plan to hunt and whether or not you’ll be using decoys.
If you want to step up your game and improve your success rate when hunting from a ground blind, try some of the following tips.
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BLIND BASICS There are many benefits to using ground blinds for turkey hunting, but there are also a few things you need to consider before setting one up.
1. Track the Sun: Whether it’s rising in the morning or setting during late afternoon, always try to ensure the sun is either at your back or off to one side.
Always stake out your turkey blind. A sudden gust of wind when turkeys are nearby could potentially ruin not just the day’s hunt, but the entire season. (Shutterstock photo) 2. Use the Shadows: Even though your blind is camouflaged, you always want it to blend in naturally with your immediate surroundings, and shadows can help with that. Too, if the blind is not in direct sunlight, you’ll remain cooler and be more apt to stay out longer. It’s no fun when the sun climbs and you suddenly feel like you’re in a sweat box.
3. Angle It: Make sure at least one window opening is covering a secondary avenue of bird travel. Even though I’ve had gobblers approach from the front, I’ve also had satellite gobblers sneak in silently behind me. Preparation in your initial setup can sometimes provide unexpected benefits.
SETTING UP ON FIELD BIRDS Hunting fields for turkeys is a lot of fun because most of the time you can get eyes on the birds from afar and watch how they react to calls. However, you don’t want to have too good of a view.
Many hunters (me included) have made the mistake of setting a blind along a field edge where they can see 150 to 200 yards or more. That can be a problem because once you get the birds’ attention, they’ll expect to see the hen that’s making those calls pop out and come to them.
More often than not they’ll just hang up, strutting back and forth, no matter how much you call. How many of us have sat in frustration when this happens, only to watch them eventually get bored and walk over the next rise?
If you’re still in your blind mid-morning, don’t despair. That’s when hens go to nest and leave lonely gobblers roaming the terrain. (Shutterstock photo) What I like to do if I plan to hunt a field is look for little indentations, coves or pockets that I can tuck my blind into. It’s been my experience that in these areas where the field terrain is slightly varied, it arouses the turkeys’ curiosity to want to come and investigate the calls that are coming from around (or behind) that particular spot.
By the time the birds round the corner where you’re set up, it will be too late for them because they’ll already be well within your kill range.
PUBLIC-LAND SETUPS Hunting private or leased property is one thing, but if you hunt land that other hunters have access to, you need to consider safety when placing your blind. Unfortunately, you may encounter inexperienced hunters who are attracted to your calling and end up seeing and/or stalking your decoys. I’ve had this happen several times.
For this reason, especially when using decoys, I do two things. First, I position the back of my blind close to thick brush or tree clumps that make sneaking up behind me almost impossible. Second, I set my decoys in such a manner that if anyone sneaks in on me and decides to shoot at one, the shot will come from one side or the other—not directly at me.
Proper turkey blind positioning is key to scoring on a spring tom no matter what part of the season you’re hunting or whether you’re on private or public land. Set up where you expect turkeys to travel, keep the path of the sun in mind and position the blind hard against cover. Use a pruner to trim any small limbs or brush that could deflect your shot or arrow. On public land, stake your blind in such a way that both you and your decoys are not in line with the easiest access route. (Illustrations By Peter Sucheski) Lastly, if you see a hunter coming toward your setup and the decoys are directly between you and him, do not move or wave your arms, as the added movement might prompt him to shoot. Simply remain still and holler loudly and clearly. It doesn’t hurt to tie a blaze orange ribbon, cloth or bandana to the top of your blind so it can be visible to any incoming hunters. Always make safety your top priority in all hunting situations, especially on public land.
Above all, don’t be that hunter who just sets up his ground blind in haste when crunch time comes. Before popping up your blind, take a few moments to evaluate the area and put some of these basic tips to use. A good ground blind setup can be the difference between throwing a big gobbler over your shoulder and packing up and going home empty-handed.
BLINDS FOR BIRDS Three ground blinds that are optimized for the turkey woods. Ameristep Doghouse Blind Photo courtesy of Ameristep The Ameristep Doghouse is a great one- or two-person blind that offers a wide, partition-free shooting window that makes it easy to maneuver a bow or shotgun but is also great for a cameraman. It features an aluminum frame and leafy 3D trim. The Doghouse’s footprint is 60 inches by 60 inches, the height is 66 inches and it weighs just over 13 pounds. MSRP: $124.99
Cabela's Specialist Blind The Cabela’s Specialist features three large windows with quiet-slide, shoot-through mesh that offer 300 degrees of visibility. Its footprint is 58 inches by 58 inches, the height is 68 inches and it weighs 19 pounds. MSRP: $159.99
TideWe Vis360 Blind The TideWe Vis360 features four mesh walls that are completely see-through from the inside but appear opaque from the outside. The footprint is 58 inches by 58 inches, the height is 66 inches and the weight is 17 pounds. It can accommodate up to three people. MSRP: $179.99
This article was featured in the May 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
