Question for you Turkey Guys

You rang?!

So I’ve always wondered why guys hunt from the ground for turkeys. It’s rare to hunt from the ground for deer if there’s a tree around so why not do that for turkeys? Thanks!

I heard it was illegal…

Mark

what? really? interesting. Shows you what i know about turkey hunting.

Just talked to friend who told me that I am nuts regarding the illegality, so… his take was birds learn at an early age that their predators are up, so… I guess I really don’t know.

Mark

Before I discuss my success from a tree stand, I’ll re-check the regs

WB5-
For me, I hunt deer from a tree because of scent and visability. However, if the right circumstance presents itself, I will hunt deer from the ground as well.

As for turkey hunting. Hunting from the ground makes it easier to move around or adjust to what or how the turkey’s are reacting each day. Most days when chasing Ol’ Tom it’s a more aggressive approach then deer hunting and being mobile can make a big difference when watching a bird strut his stuff. Plus, add in how good a turkey can see, I couldn’t imagine trying to get down from a tree and not getting spotted.

Just my 2 cents

Agreed wholly Rico.

I’ll have to read-up on the regs too, but I don’t recall there being any legality issues at least in MN regarding hunting them from a tree.

For anyone who’s practiced drawing your bow while turkeys are below your deer stand, you know that it’s just as easy to get busted up there as it is down on the ground. Add that to the limited mobility factor, and it just doesn’t make sense in alot of setups. For some circumstances, like hunting over food plots, or a predictable travel corridor they frequent, I’d personally opt for a ground blind option which gives you more freedom of movement without being seen inside. That’s just a personal preference however, and of course you have to bring the blind in, and set it up quietly, which adds complexity.

I’ve never been a fan of hunting turkeys as if they were deer, so the sit-and-wait is just something that’s not built into the style or way I typically hunt those birds. I like to take the fight to them, but there’s more than one way to skin a gobbler!

Joel

That clears it up quite a bit.. Thanks guys.. I would say the best set up from a tree would be the one where you’ve been scouting them coming out to a field night after night, or morning.

I like my treestands for fall hunting. Like clock work, they often come down the same trail around the same time. Never had an issue with getting spotted in a stand by them. Works for the wait and see method