I hunt some pretty pressured birds and I know I have sat at the same nice big tree to call as other people have.Now I find myself trying to avoid those nice big trees on the edge of a clearing because I think some birds associate them with danger.I may be close to those trees but I would rather be 20 to 30 yds away from them.Am I thinking too much into this or has anyone else noticed this. Thanks for your suggestions.
Set up where your outline is broken up
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Depends on where the tree is at for me. I'd rather have a smaller tree in what I think is a more likely killing spot than a big tree in a spot where I think he would be less comfortable coming too. What looks good to you sitting down looking towards where you expect him to approach from may not look near as good from his perspective coming in.
Never heard of or seen birds associating trees with danger before.
I'll use blowdowns when available in the woods. I agree some pressured birds get in trash or use terrain to check and double check for hunter vs hen in certain setups if they come in at all. Most hunters sit against big diameter trees......I found a nice striker last weekend in a cleared out spot. Horizontal with some larger limb trash is kind of what I've been looking for ideally, but settle for the best available in the moment of need. If you use a lower limb of a big stable blowdown it covers pretty well. Just my .02 good luck with em!
I have gone a turkey chair and I like a blow down or even tall brush or grass, don't need a tree with the chair.
I think birds will associate a certain tree or blow down with danger if flushed or they pick you off. However, I will abandon such a spot for a few days or set up 50 or 60 yards away. Seems to work but I also usually work sections of terrain intermitantly to try and keep the pressure to a minimum.
Quote from: 3bailey3 on May 04, 2017, 03:45:41 PM
I have gone a turkey chair and I like a blow down or even tall brush or grass, don't need a tree with the chair.
I too often use a Turkey chair. However, I like a big tree when posible to protect my back. I have an aversion to lead poisoning. There was a video posted on this forum about a hunter getting shot. Now the video may or may not have been fake but it does demonstate the danger of leaving your back exposed. I believe they were sitting in a blow down.
Thanks for all the input so far. I have never thought about a chair who makes the best one in your opinions? I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying. I know not all turkeys are going around completely avoiding big trees but I have had a couple over the years that must have been messed with by someone in the same places that I call from.Some of the places I hunt are wooded cattle pastures with a nice long ridge running through it that you can stay on top of and call blind from .So some of the bigger trees are in prime calling spots.
My chair is made by Browning, Midway USA has some on their website and the NWTF store have several kind on their website
That's one of the reasons I try hard to stay in shape. Smaller trees are a viable option.
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Similar to my archery preference, I like a tree with gnar and multiple trunks shooting up. Just seems to break up my outline better.
I generally try not to set up at the biggest tree. Maybe it's just me, but I try to think about which trees my eyes are naturally drawn to and avoid those.
Quote from: wkyhunter on May 05, 2017, 05:58:22 AM
I generally try not to set up at the biggest tree. Maybe it's just me, but I try to think about which trees my eyes are naturally drawn to and avoid those.
thats what I am starting to figure out thank you
My nephew and I both killed hard hunted, midseason birds on public land sitting near the same tree about 3 years apart. No telling if someone had sat there before or not. What I do know is that there were tracks, strut marks and nearby gobbling birds on both mornings, so we ended up using the same tree. What was odd about mine is that I was set up there because there was a bird about 100 yards from the tree. talked to him, but he lost interest. 2 hens came from across a nearby field to him, but they had a gobbler in tow that I had heard gobble maybe three times on the limb that morning. He took a truck ride.
For safety reasons I sit in front of any tree that is wider than my shoulders. It keeps me from getting shot from behind by some numb skull!
For hunters safety...I'd at least prefer a vertical tree that would cover the width of my body; unless circumstances would prevent me from doing so.
The bigger the tree, the bigger the chance that it might harbor a raccoon or a possum den. Turkeys might be aware of the locations of such dens and slightly avoid them; except maybe during the fall nut mast. Though... on my first day this spring, had me --- unknowingly --- sitting under such a den tree {42" white oak}, that had a cavernous opening in the tree about 15 feet up. When first light came...I noticed fresh possum or raccoon droppings to the right an left of me while sitting --- That's when I looked-up, an saw the opening --- But I stilled bagged my tom from it @ 7am with a 20 yard shot.
Owl and hawk nest locations...would also be a no-go roost location for turkeys.
I like a tree that is at least as wide as my shoulders. Not really for safety but to break up my out line. Blow downs are great especially a fresh one with a few leaves on it. I tried a chair for the first time(well really second I guess.I last year I hunted with a guy that had 2 and I used one of his) and I really liked it. I got one of the cheap ones that was on sale at Walmarx. A couple of days when I knew I was going to be sitting in one spot I took it with me and it really helped me to be more comfortable,but it was like carrying 2 guns
Thanks for the replies I have sat by more than one coon den also it always makes it interesting,but I would rather deal with them than a skunk or badger living in the brush pile I'm sitting in
Set up where I need to be, not worried about birds out thinking or reasoning me. Sometimes they just don't come and we make intricate excuses for them
I use a turkey chair and set up at least 10 to 15 yards inside the woods never on the field edge.
Quote from: dutch@fx4 on May 14, 2017, 07:27:09 PM
I use a turkey chair and set up at least 10 to 15 yards inside the woods never on the field edge.
Yeah I don't like to be on the very edge either. I think WKyhunter described what I was trying to say the best about not picking the tree that catches my eye. Thanks for all the replies.
I think I may have to try a turkey chair a little though after the recommendation from some of you.I know it would be nice for coyote hunting as well