Turkeys

Kip · 03-01-2004, 05:26 PM

Anyone here ever shoot their turkey with a longbow? If so, how hard was it to get drawn on them? I was lucky enough to draw a MI turkey tag, and I really want to shoot one with my longbow, but I think its gonna be tough. Last year the dirty buggers spotted me every time I even thought about drawing. (thats when they even let me get within 100 yards of them.) What are your tricks to get a draw? Do you use a blind, or natural vegitation. Looks like I might get to use my new blind earlier that the fall archery season.

PineLander · 03-01-2004, 06:36 PM

Yeah, Kip use the blind... years ago I used to setup on the east side fields back in the cover a bit with plenty of canopy. It was shaded and rather dark most of the morning, which helped to conceal movement dramatically. Didn't really matter on location that much, would always look for some good sized bushes to stand behind. As long as the dekes were out, they'd come.

Kip · 03-01-2004, 06:44 PM

You thing the turkeys would be leary of a new blind sitting there? I will be hunting 3 hours south of my house, which will prevent "ahead of time" preparations.

PineLander · 03-01-2004, 07:58 PM

In the hard woods, No. Backed up against the edge of a field, No. Sittin' out in the open, Probably. Funny thing about turks, they are very aware of things that don't belong... but yet if camoflauged properly, no big deal. Decoys are the key, keeps their attention deverted.

Here's a story for ya....
I can remember my buddy and I kneeling behind some short 3-4 ft. high bushes (not much) at the edge of a field. Was REAL windy that day. Had one hen deke out in front about 10 yds. and here comes this tom across the field strutting all the way. We wait until the tom circles the deke and when he's fanned and faced away from us my buddy draws, raises up to the top of the bushes and takes a shot. Missed! right at the tom's feet. Knocks another arrow, raises up, takes another shot and misses again same place! It was so windy, the bird had no idea what was going on. I'm LMAO, quietly of course. Can ya guess why he kept missing?.... he was shootin' a compound and didn't know how to aim at something that close!