I like the blogs where we interact. Love for ya’ll to respond and tell us what is on your mind. The little contest last week worked well, I think, and we will do more of those in the future.
I want to discuss ways folks bowhunt for turkeys. Bowhunting for turkeys is becoming much more popular these days. And in my opinion taking a turkey with a bow is one of the hardest tasks in bowhunting in the states. It has been said that if the turkey could smell good we would never kill one. The use and popularity of the pop up blind in the last few years have put quite a few more turkeys in the freezer for a lot of folks.
Where to and with what to shoot a turkey? I have my opinions on this but before I give my 2 cents I would like to hear everyone’s views on what type of broadheads you use on turkeys and where do you aim to kill one (the head or the vitals?). Also, what, if any, other tactics work well for you. I look forward to the responses.
Gobble Gobble
Travis
I want to discuss ways folks bowhunt for turkeys. Bowhunting for turkeys is becoming much more popular these days. And in my opinion taking a turkey with a bow is one of the hardest tasks in bowhunting in the states. It has been said that if the turkey could smell good we would never kill one. The use and popularity of the pop up blind in the last few years have put quite a few more turkeys in the freezer for a lot of folks.
Where to and with what to shoot a turkey? I have my opinions on this but before I give my 2 cents I would like to hear everyone’s views on what type of broadheads you use on turkeys and where do you aim to kill one (the head or the vitals?). Also, what, if any, other tactics work well for you. I look forward to the responses.
Gobble Gobble
Travis
T-
Last year was my first year of bow hunting turkeys. I used my pop up blind, Mathews bow, axis 400 with G5 montecs, and Easton epics 340 with gobbler guillotines. I hunted a secluded corner of a field.I put 1 jake in the freezer with a 20 yrd shot with the axis/montec set up. I set up my decoys facing me at 10-15 yrds.
This year I'll be using a similar set-up but will be using NAP's gobbler getters. A G.G. thru the vitals should do the trick.
Jay,New York
I shot my firts turkey with a bow last weekend. Had the pop up blind. I basicaly walked around the ranch until I got a soft gobble and set up. 45 minutes later the thunder chicken was on the ground. I am a bog G5 fan and went with the Teken II on this one. 34yrds and three steps he was hammered.
pepper_llewis
I shot my firts turkey with a bow last weekend. Had the pop up blind. I basicaly walked around the ranch until I got a soft gobble and set up. 45 minutes later the thunder chicken was on the ground. I am a bog G5 fan and went with the Teken II on this one. 34yrds and three steps he was hammered.
pepper_llewis
The one set up I would love to try is one recommended to me at a seminar put on by the fella at Harvest Calls a few years ago.
They said one of the most exciting ways to bowhunt Turkey is to set up with your back to a calling Gobbler, and set the decoys in front of you. This way you are actually in between the Gobbler and the decoys. The trick is to get the gobbler to actually walk past you and to the decoys. With the Tom in strut and facing away from you, his fan is blocking his view of you. That is when you draw. They recommended shooting right at the business part of a Gobbler's rear end. They said that is one of the best shots to get straight to the vitals with an arrow. Plus that little part of a turkey's back side gives you a well defined spot to am at.
But they said one of the most intense parts of that set-up is when the Turkey walks past you. The spitt'n and drumm'n is so close and you don't see the turkey until he is right there. It sounds like enough to make me pee down my leg!
As far as broadheads I am going fixed blade. I also like to turn down the poungage a little bit. I might have to draw in an akward position, or might have to draw faster or slower than other times. I do not want to have to struggle with maximum lbs at those times. I don't think pass through is really necessary with turkey. If the arrow stays in the Turkey this will complicate the turkey trying to run off. Plus as sharp as I like my broadheads it will do even more slicing and dicing even after the shot. Good Luck to all.
If I get this to work I'll let ya know.
Todd - Indiana
The one set up I would love to try is one recommended to me at a seminar put on by the fella at Harvest Calls a few years ago.
They said one of the most exciting ways to bowhunt Turkey is to set up with your back to a calling Gobbler, and set the decoys in front of you. This way you are actually in between the Gobbler and the decoys. The trick is to get the gobbler to actually walk past you and to the decoys. With the Tom in strut and facing away from you, his fan is blocking his view of you. That is when you draw. They recommended shooting right at the business part of a Gobbler's rear end. They said that is one of the best shots to get straight to the vitals with an arrow. Plus that little part of a turkey's back side gives you a well defined spot to am at.
But they said one of the most intense parts of that set-up is when the Turkey walks past you. The spitt'n and drumm'n is so close and you don't see the turkey until he is right there. It sounds like enough to make me pee down my leg!
As far as broadheads I am going fixed blade. I also like to turn down the poungage a little bit. I might have to draw in an akward position, or might have to draw faster or slower than other times. I do not want to have to struggle with maximum lbs at those times. I don't think pass through is really necessary with turkey. If the arrow stays in the Turkey this will complicate the turkey trying to run off. Plus as sharp as I like my broadheads it will do even more slicing and dicing even after the shot. Good Luck to all.
If I get this to work I'll let ya know.
Todd - Indiana
Hey T-Bone
I think any time a bow hunter gets to full draw and touches off that release at a bird no matter how they got there they are ahead of the game. That in itself is a good accomplishment. Blinds help too. I also switched to a Carter solutions 3 from a tru fire hurricane and that has helped my shooting greatly. Its set for thumb release now but have tried back tension mode also. That will take some more getting used to.
Todd-NC
Hey T-Bone,
This year is my 3rd season turkey hunting and I love it. I have not killed a turkey yet but hopefully that will change this weekend. I think the reason why people bowhunt turkeys is because its a challenge. I want to try to bowhunt turkeys but first I want to kill a turkey with a shotgun first.
I am not sure on what broadheads to use but if I had to guess it would be a smaller broadhead then what we use on a deer (such as 85 grain G5 montec). I would aim to the vitals but I have some hunting shows that they have aimed for the head but you have got to be a really good shot. It could happpen. Talk to ya later.
God Bless & Good Huntin'
Kristle Oberlander
P.S. How's turkey season going?
I think pop ups are the way to go, but todds set up sounds exciting. I might give that a try. Im hunting with a gobbler getter head by N.A.P. but wouldnt mind tryin the guillotine. I definitaly love bow hunting deer with a bow more than a gun, and enjoy bow for turkeys to but there is just somethin about dropin a bird at full strut with the 12 guage, just - peacefull
Scott Withers-MI