Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Anyone else find this DRASTICALLY more difficult (for THEM), besides me?

If I hunted for deer as hard as I had to for turkeys......well......I'd kill a lot more deer.;)

Maybe my expectations are too high, but I see a "legitimate" target while turkey hunting....I'm guessing.....every 7 or so hunts. My chances at a "legitimate" target while deer hunting are FAR greater.

Now.....if I had to wait on a male deer (comparing it to turkey hunting).....the % of "legitimate" chances at a target would roughly be the same.

If God called down and told me I had to kill a deer or a turkey, though (with my bow).....I'm grabbing a treestand.;)

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Jeff, I'll tell ya....the problem I have is that these damn eastern's are the most call shy, impossible to call in birds I've ever seen. Every once in a while I'll catch one in the right mood, and he'll all but run me over, but far and away, I give up.....LOL......

I've killed one w/ my bow, and amazingly, I was merely kneeling against a tree....Called 2 in actually, and had to wait for them to be distracted before drawing. Shot that rascal at a scant 5 yards....

Shoot, I can barely get drawn on them in a treestand w/out being spotted. I think they can see straight up without "looking up." Stinkin birds.....

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Well I killed the grandslam no sweat with the bow in less then a year. Now I am after it with the muzzleloader and they are making fools of me. Each season that goes by I appreciate my bow slam more and more. I guess you can say its hunting you never know whats gonna happen.;)

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I don't really know to be honest. I'll assume your talking about spring hunting here. I took my bow out 2x in the 06' season, and had a tough time. I ended up getting frustrated and then got it done w/ the shotgun the first time out after carrying the bow. The next time I took the bow out I shot that 22lber last spring. So I'm batting 1/3 right now.......[8D].

I couldn't tell you how many times I've passed shots on turkeys in the fall. They always seem to show up in the fall for me during that precious week of primetime, the last week of the PA season. I just can't bring myself to shoot a bird during this week, in case a slammer buck is headed my way just to see a stinkin bird flopping around with an arrow stuck in it. Last fall I took that video that some of you had seen with over 20 turkeys at less than 20 yards and actually came to full draw and settled on one, but just couldn't bring myself to let it loose.......I didn't want to ruin the mornings hunt during primetime.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Respect!

Matt.....Thanksgiving of the '05 season....my son and I count 65 turkeys in the field in front of us. That's 65 turkeys in bow range. We don't even have a season for them in the Fall in NC. At no time does a turkey and deer season overlap. I'd like to know how many I could have killed from my treestand.....but I also know that they're different, everywhere.

So yes....my discussion is about Spring birds. If you guys are calling them in.....ambushing them.....or whatever....and you're successful in killing them spring birds.

Again....Respect! They got me, last year (all but one of 'em).

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Turkeys with a bow is the only type of hunting I have given up in. I tried for three years and learned a lot, but I like the taste of wild turkey so much I switched back to the shotgun rather than go without. Of course, I probably could have shot one with a ground blind if I had used one, but I would rather try and fool them with just full camo and the bow. When you try that people, it is HARD.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

tried sticking one with tribute last spring. i called in a jake within the first hour and a half. thinking "this turkey hunting with a bow is easy." i proceeded to shot right over the top of his back and stick my $10 spitfire into an oak log. i was able to salvage the arrow so that was a bonus.i made up for it 2 days later with the 870. i took my stepson with me. that little turd sat in the woods with me from dawn until 6:00 pm when i finallyfilled my tag. i popped that long beard at 25 yards, the feathers hadn't even settled to the ground and he was jumping up and down shouting "that was awsome"

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I guess im lucky. We must have stupid birds. I get one just about every time I go out.:D The key is to get on the ground and make a good blind. I always set out my decoys, build up a blind out of materials that are at hand, then call and wait. The trick is to make your blind with a good dense back cover and few open places to shoot through. Wear dark cloths or dark camo and a face screen or black mask. If you are in a tree, watch his head real close. They have great peripheral vision.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I have not tried Turkey with a bow yet. This coming spring I am going to give it a try and see what happens. I agree this could be difficult because
usually their are safety in numbers and I won't get a jake or tom by himself. I assume most of you guys use a blind for this?
Now I havent done this so here is another question so be easy on me, Ok to use my 2 blade rage? I will do a search and see if their are specialty heads
for turkeys.


Peace

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Took this guy last spring while out hog hunting. Wasnt even trying for turkey. Just heard some gobblers calling in the distance, so I set up on the edge of the field I heard them in, made a quick blind and called with my mouth. Didnt have a call. He got within 35 yards. Just understand that turkey have a small area to hit. The feathers will throw you off.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

it is very difficult for sure...some are more fortunate then others...to be honest i have had better luck hunting them with bow on public land then on private!!!

first time out first shot at a bird with a bow 33yrds hit him right through the wing standing broadside and he dropped.....

had about 6 opportunities last year on private land for birds and could not get it done...i will say cover is a must for archery hunting and a blind is almost a must have in all conditions to be successful..i took the bird on public land on the ground but the terrain made that possible...on flat land you don't stand a chance...blind is a must, IMO....

i would first recommend working on calling...A LOT!!!! to call in a bird for shotgun is easy...to call in a bird for bow..to time it right to get him to come all the way in but not be looking at you when you have to draw back and get the pin on him is a whole nother story.....

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

This will be my first year turkey hunting with a bow. Can't wait!:D Think I'm going to try the Grim Reaper B/H's out for turkey depending on how they shoot.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Lately, I've had better luck bowhunting turkeys than I have deer. Im 5 out of my last 6, and have tagged out on 2 toms in back to back seasons. We just have an unreal amount of birds in this area, and we've had 3 straight good hatches. Even I can call them in when we have the ratios of birds we've had lately.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

A week ago I missed...TWICE with a bow! It makes it tougher for sure. But, I really dont care what I use, they are just SO much fun to hunt. But, dont make me pick between the 2nd week of November and the mid May, I am not sure I would ever be able to make that decision!

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I think Deer a lot harder here in my neck of the woods.. Turkeys here are very easy to pattern and much more tolerant and visible than the bucks that roam these mountains.... well I should say the old bucks.. If I hunted half as hard for turkeys with a bow here as I do bucks.. I'dget a shot every year at a turkey bowkill, without a doubt..I just dont get that motivated over bow-turkeys.... I do like killing them.. but I'd rather be out shed hunting so I usually get it done so I can shed hunt.. take the boys..etc.. I have killed one nice gobbler with my bow though..it was fun..

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I took the bow out one year. Had 2 REAL nice birds come in that I never got shots at. Would have been dead with a gun.
Took the gun, & never got one back in range.

Then I went back to the gun. I'm not sure what I'll do this year. Turkeys are hit & miss for me. Sometimes its so easy. Other times I struggle.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I shot thisturkey without usingablind...:)

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Yes, the way their eyes are designed, they actuallycan. It has been my experience that turkeys will pick up movement as quick and probably quicker coming from a treestand than on the ground.

I have killed numerous turkeys with a bow, but all from a ground blind. With a ground blind, turkeys are really not any harder to kill with a bow other than the added hindrance of carrying and setting up the blind, as compared to killing onewith a shotgun in a natural set up.

Now calling in a turkey and killing one with a bow in a natural set up, that is a tough, tough challenge that I have never been able to accomplish.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

8pt.....if you shot that bird off the ground.....without a blind....in the spring.......

You've accomplished something I hope to one day. Respect!

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Thanks! It was shot in the fall. I was deer hunting beside a tree when this turkey walked right outin front of me.:D

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I've only turkey hunted two seasons. I managed to arrow a jake my first season. I had an Ameristep blind on the edge of a rye field. I knew from scouting that the turkeys come to that field just about every afternoon. I just sat and ambushed - no calling required.

Last year I tried calling them during the spring with NO blind. I sat up under a bushy tree with lots of low branches that I timmed for shooting lanes. I managed to call in two beautiful Toms with my mouth call, but they hung up at about 40 yards and wouldn't present me a shot. I had a lone hen decoy and they were wanting her to come to them.

It's a blast, but it's tough. I think the easiest thing is to set up a blind in a known travel corridor and ambush them.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

In the area of KS. that we turkey hunt, success is all about patterns. Get them patterned, and killing them is much easier than killing a mature buck. We do use DB groundblinds. I've gone the last three years with at least one bow killed spring turkey. Two seasons ago, I shot my best bird to date,. which had three beards and limb hangin' spurs!

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Ive never even killed a turkey with a shotgun:eek:. Not many turkeys around my place.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

tough task with a gun! let a lone a bow

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I finally got one this past May. About the most difficult (and rewarding) type of hunting I have ever done. I went out 14 times. Had a bird just about everyouting thatwould have beena high percentage shotgun kill. Only fired 6 arrows. Two outright misses. One bird narrowly dodged the arrow - lost a bunch of feathers. Hit three birds dead center - have it on video. Two got away. Went to the adder washer on my last outing, and finally got this old bachelor gobbler at 25 yards. It was as rewarding as killing a 300 inch bull elk.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I dont know yet!! I feel i got very lucky last season hunting them for the first time with archery gear, i got lucky and scored a dandy the first sit out of a natural ground blind Hunsucker style :DThe best thing on my side is trying to get a routine pattern on them before the season starts.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Last year was my first year hunting turkeys with the bow. Actually put arrows into/through the two biggest birds I have had opportunities to shoot but,

1. The first bird I shot ran about 50 yards away through some trees and across astream. When I walked up to him there were two coyotes eating him and one ran offwith the turkey and my arrow.

2. The second turkey I nailed through the wing joint and he ran upout of the draw before I got a second shot. Followed himin plain sight (he was about 200 yards in front of me) until he dropped out of the pasture and into another big wooded draw. I searched for that bird for 4 hours on footwith my father in law and never found him.

My question for all of you is what broadhead use are using. I was using 100 grain NAP Spitfire's because that is what someone had recommened to me. I've been eyeing the new Mangus Bullhead and the Fuse Strut Buster. If you have had success please let me know what you have used.

It's hard, but addictive and I will definitely be out there again this spring and fall.

Ty

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

never did it but it looks challenging

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Spitfire gobbler getters work great. The bird that got away was it a broadside shot? Because every turkeythat I took the joint off didnt go more then 10 yards and was dead.:eek:

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I would have been tagged out in the first week if I'dbeen employinga shotgun.

That's what makes it so rewarding, to ME. I'll be back at 'em on 4/12.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Hey gents I need a answer from page 1, thanks

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I do.

Sure.....but I wouldn't use it ona bird I was planning on having mounted. TOO much trauma;)

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

If I happen towant one mounted what type of head? thx

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

IHIGHLY recommend the NAP Gobbler Getter for turkeys. With turkeys, a complete pass through is LESS desired as there will be little to no blood trail anyway.

The tip of Gobbler Getter is rounded and almost as blunt as the end of your finger to prevent a complete pass through and to provide more of a "knockdown" phenomen when the arrow strikes.

While far from and expert, I have killed 11 turkeys with these broadheads and have yet to lose a turkey, including a very poor shot on one that hit too far back, but because the arrow did not pass through, I was able to chase the turkey down.

It is also a good idea and recommended by most to reduce your bow poundage as well, as to minimize the possibility of a pass through. i.e. 50# something is better than high 60's or 70# for turkey.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I have taken 4 with a bow - once again all in Fla - I hadn't tried any turkey hunting in NC - but may try a lil this year - Fla was some tuff hunting as most were taken on public land and I spent most of the season on weekends trying to tag one - proud memories - I've taken osceola and eastern

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I call BS on this assessment. Anyone who's taken 11 turkeys with their bow......is THE expert as far as I know.;)

Respect!

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I agree with this statement. Both turkeys I took with my bow this past KS trip, the first arrow disappeared into never, never land, that's $25 gone...LOL ACC/Snyper

The second tho was very cool, it pinned the bird to the ground, he pole vaulted off and did a death run on camera.

Both turkeys were shot with my whitetails setup, 70 lb Ally, ACC's, Snypers 305fps, 79 fts of KE...WAY OVER SETUP!

From now on, I'm backing a bow way down even though both birds fell in sight on camera, it was shot placement, not power and speed! Coming soon to River Valley Game Calls, Vol IV of their Headhunters series DVD. (Shameless plug)....LOL [8D]

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

I appreciate the accolades, but in all seriousness, it kinda comes down to a lot of things discussed on here, and that is the differences in one's own area.

In our country, we have a distinct advantage in having fewer trees that are big enough for turkeys to roost, yet we have an abundance of turkeys. Therefore, we have very predictable roost locations.

While I try not tohunt within 200 yards of a roost, I still set up in a double bull blind on major travel routes to and from the roost and then it is just a matter of time. It is legal to hunt in P.M. here as well as morning, giving us twice the opportunity as compared to some areas in this type of set up.

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

here ya go, watch this...turkey tip video

http://doublebull.wildwebz.com/video/media/instruction/2/02.html

starts off showing some deer, but then tells all turkey tips

RE: Turkey hunting with the bow?
 

Turkey's are the ultimate challenge with a bow. Getting drawed on them without a blind is a taskall in its self.I don't use a blind in the spring because there is plenty of folage to hide with. Toms respond good to calls here in the spring. Mid afternoons seem to be a good time to go because the Toms will be up and moving about looking for some new Trim.