Blind Faith? or Getting Aggressive with Run & Gun Tactics?
By Eli Jackson, Buck Fever Outdoors
When presented with this seemingly simple question, my intention was to take a position and give a simple answer. Not so simple! I typically despise indecisive answers. Too often, people sit on the fence to avoid the confrontation of a differing opinion, remain neutral as to not offend someone, are fearful of being wrong, etc. Those who know me well, know that I'm anything but fearful of sharing an unpopular belief. My closest friends can attest that I have had many lengthy debates over the years, so their jaws will hit the floor when they read a hesitant indeterminate answer from me. Well, that is just what I am going to give you.
When it comes to hunting, the truth is that there are a wide variety of strategies that work. There isn’t one right way to get the job done, so every hunter needs to find what works for them. On any given hunt there are multiple variables to take into account regardless of what species you are attempting to harvest. Hopefully, my inconclusive answer will help you better assess those variables, explore your options and be decisive when it comes to choosing a strategy for a specific hunt. Let’s dive in!
PROS AND CONS
I have been turkey hunting for about 20 years. During that timespan I have spent a lot of time both sitting in ground blinds, and trying to “run and gun”. Both approaches have led to: success and failure; excitement and frustration; laughter and tears; sorrow and bliss. One thing that I am certain of is the rush of seeing a thunder chicken’s head turn red from non-stop gobbling as he approaches and will hook just about anyone! Let’s look at 3 pros and 3 cons of each approach.
Pros to Blind Hunting
The first and biggest advantage of using a blind is comfort. Sitting in a chair is way more comfortable than sitting on the ground. When it is cold, you can bring a small propane heater into the blind to alleviate the chill. If it is raining or snowing, you are sheltered from the elements allowing you to log more hours in the field.
Second, the blind conceals movement. Many people struggle sitting still. Since turkeys use vision as their main sense to avoid predators, the smallest movement can be enough for them to spook. Sitting in the blind allows you to have happy feet without them spotting you. Mouth calls are difficult to use for many people. The blind allows hunters the freedom to use a slate or box call even when a bird is at a close distance. It is also much easier to film a hunt from a blind.
Finally, the blind has a lot of space inside of it. If you are trying to throw the whole kitchen sink at them, you have room to bring a backpack, food, extra decoys, video equipment, etc. One of my favorite parts of turkey hunting is spending time with friends or kids. Sitting in a blind is great for hunting with someone because you can sit directly next to them, talk, laugh and share the experience together.
Cons to Blind Hunting
In my opinion, the number one con is the amount of gear you need to carry with you. If you do not have the ability to drive right to where you want to set up, it is a lot of work. By the time you have a backpack, gun, and decoys, you are fairly loaded down. Now add a blind, chair, video equipment, heater, etc. On many occasions, I have looked like a rocky mountain pack mule on my walk in. Those hikes inevitably lead to sweat pouring out of me. That sweat results in getting cold or stinky depending on the weather. If you have success, the hike out will be even worse with a 20+ lb. bird added to the load.
The second con is mobility. It takes a lot more time to set up and take down. There is not a good way to quickly maneuver from one area to the next. This makes it difficult to close the distance between you and a gobbler that is responding to calls. In the wild, hens go to toms that are gobbling. You are working against nature by trying to call a tom to your location without moving.
Finally, depending on the blind, visibility can be an issue. Depending on how the blind is laid out, the window placement can make it difficult to see everything around you. You need to make sure you have a black background to conceal your movement. This means that you are not able to see anything behind you.
Pros to Run and Gun
The first and most obvious box to check off is mobility. All you really need to take with you is your gun and a call. I will typically carry a decoy or two with me if I am hunting in an area that has good visibility. At times I will carry a turkey fan as well in case I get the opportunity to “Reap”. If you decide that you don’t like your set up or location. You simply get up and move. If a tom is fired up at a distance you can quickly get up and cut the distance between you and him to increase your odds of success.
The second pro is the level of exercise. When I run and gun I typically cover a lot more ground and stay mobile throughout the day. I am constantly trying to move closer to the action instead of waiting for the action to come to me. It can serve as a kick start to burning off that extra layer of insulation that I typically add to my body after being less active throughout the winter months.
The final pro that I will share is your hunt becomes more intimate with nature. There is something magical about the smell of the fresh earth everytime I kick the leaves away from the base of a tree. It is a hefty improvement over breathing in the aftermath of whatever you or your buddy had for supper last night! You need to learn how to blend in with your surroundings, which increases your skill as a hunter for any species.
Cons to Run and Gun
The biggest con for me is comfort. I struggle with back pain on and off throughout the year. It is guaranteed that after spending a few hours of my day sitting on the ground I will wake up the next morning with a stiff back. I choose to carry a collapsible chair with me which provides some relief over sitting on a cushion or bare ground.
For others, the biggest con is movement. If you struggle to sit still you will be spotted. When birds are at close distances, you have to be good with a mouth call because you are not able to reach over to scratch on a slate or move a box call. Because it is so easy to be mobile, many hunters, myself included, lose their patience and move, which can quickly ruin the hunt if an animal spots you moving.
The last con that I will share is exposure to the elements. You cannot escape from the cold, wind, rain or snow. It is miserable hunting when you are shivering or soaked to the bone. Ticks and other bugs become more of a factor as well. Don’t get me wrong, I have pulled ticks off of me in blinds, but the ground and grass significantly increase the odds of them finding their way onto you.
Which Approach Should I Take?
There are many variables to consider when deciding which approach will help you harvest a long beard. Here are a few of the questions I try to answer when making a decision between a blind or run and gun for any given hunt.
What is the Layout/Size of the Property?
If I am going to be hunting a property that has a lot of agriculture and long lines of sight, I will likely set up out of a blind. The main reason for this is it is more comfortable for me. With that said, on many occasions I have utilized the blind almost as a basecamp for the day. If I hear gobbles off in the distance and nothing close by me, I will adjust my strategy to run and gun. I always want to get closer to the action if possible, so I try not to restrict myself to only sitting in the blind.
I often choose the blind when I am hunting a small property. One reason for that is it is usually a shorter hike with all of the gear on my back. The second is, I don’t want to be as aggressive and risk bumping birds off of the property I am hunting. Once that happens, you might as well go home for the day.
When hunting large blocks of timber or ridge systems, my line of sight is not as good. Because I cannot rely on my eyes to see long distances, I will usually run and gun. This allows me to cover more ground while searching for an active gobbler.
How Familiar am I With the Property?
On properties that I am familiar with, I usually, not always, choose to sit in a blind. Oftentimes, I will set up near a known roosting area or between two of them in the morning, then rely on my ability to call to bring the birds in. I will also have a good idea of where the strut zones are, and the time of day that they are being used. Having acquired this knowledge of the properties over the years gives me confidence that sitting in those areas will eventually produce, assuming I remain patient.
When hunting unfamiliar land, assuming it is a large parcel, I take the run and gun approach. Being mobile helps me learn the parcel and gives me flexibility to relocate with minimal effort. I usually carry 1-2 decoys and a turkey fan with me.
Who am I Hunting With?
I absolutely love taking new hunters and kids out to the woods in the spring. Turkey hunting is usually exciting, which is a strong hook when introducing someone to the sport. I almost always set up using a blind with kids or new hunters because it is more comfortable and allows them to move around without being seen by the wild game. With more experienced hunters I use both approaches depending on the other variables.
What is the Weather Forecast?
This answer is self explanatory. If the forecast is calling for wind, rain, cold, or snow, I will sit in a blind to escape the elements and extend my hunt.
What is my Skill With Calling Birds?
If you do not know how to use a mouth call (diaphragm), I recommend sitting in a blind. Slate, crystal and box calls require more movement, and make it difficult to call without the cover of a blind. Regardless of your ability to use a mouth call, you should buy one, keep it in your truck and practice anytime you are driving alone. Adding this to your calling repertoire will increase your effectiveness as a hunter.
Other Considerations
What is my physical ability/conditioning?
What weapon am I going to use to harvest my bird?
How much hunting pressure have the birds I am hunting had to endure?
How much scouting have I done on the property?
Are other people hunting the property?
Add your own questions to the list.
Final Thoughts
BFO Team Member Pat Kolbe and I just wrapped up WI season B by tucking a couple of gobblers into their final dirt nap. I filled my tag sitting in a blind overlooking a spread of decoys. Pat filled his tag running and gunning behind a “Scoot and Shoot” tom decoy. At the end of the day, both tactics are effective depending on the circumstances.
Hopefully, my indecisive answer will help you be a more decisive and successful turkey hunter. Study, compare, and contrast the Pros and Cons of “Blind Hunting vs. Run and Gun”. You can even adapt them as you see fit. Keep them in the front of your mind as you assess the variables of your hunt, then apply them to choose the best strategy for you. My advice is to keep an open mind and avoid getting boxed into one method over the other.
The best hunters are those who are willing to be flexible, adapt and continue learning along the way. More importantly, they have fun doing it! Good luck in the woods this spring!
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