So for the first time since switching to traditional gear, I will have an opportunity to do a little turkey hunting this spring. I recently acquired a 52" black hawk recurve that I pull about #46 at my 26.5" draw. I will probably hunt out of a popup blind as much as possible. Looking to make up some arrows for the bow to be used for the spring turkey season this year. Do you guys use a heavy or light arrow or does it really matter? Do you set up your blinds before hand and try to call them in, or do you get in early and set up before daylight? Have hunted in the past, but I'm a total newbie to turkey hunting with trad gear. Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
As far as arrows I stay in the 10gr to the pound rule. On my turkey hunting I watch several fields and find one that is being used regular and set up a popup. Watch and when I see them in that field watch where they roost then make my approach before light and get settled. Listen for the turks to talk and let them know a hen is there with a soft call, then shut up till fly down time. Call again soft and just enough to get an answer. I have my dekes a hen and a jake facing each other about 10 yards out ( or as close as 6 yds). If I don't have a pop up set , I go in with a stool and a section of camo net I can shoot over and make sure there is cover behind me. Killed birds with each of these set ups.
You don't need and imo it's a disadvantage to setting up beforehand. The night before we roost birds. The morning of I go in very early, NO LIGHT, and walk a step or two at a time like a deer. Did I say early? Anyway doing this you can get real close to a roost. Once there you open the blind one step at a time waiting between steps. You can see the birds. If they pop their heads just stay still they'll go back asleep. When finally up I just lift it over as I crawl in. Do not use the zippers.
I mentor lots of kids each spring successfully and this is how we go about it.
Now if you had a place undisturbed enough and saw the birds every single day headed into the same area a preset blind could work. If not you'll sit there n rot wishing you took the advice of hunting where the birds are not where you set the blind. One more thing on a blind. The birds walk right up to it even in the open and even if freshly placed.
For arrows, I would just use my deer set up. No need to do anything different
Great if you can leave you blind set up all the time, especially on private ground. Public ground usually restricts this and have to set it up and take it down every day. I am usually on private ground so set up the blind a couple days before hunt begins. As mentioned, watch the birds and travel patterns plus roosting sites. Get within a 100 yards of roosting sites if possible and set the blind. Crawl in blind early and set decoys and begin some soft calling. I use my same equipment for turkeys as big game (bow, arrows and broadheads). I am used to shooting them without making any changes. Good luck.
I got 2 birds last year -- one with my bow & the other with an air rifle. Taken only a handful in my life so by no means an expert.
I pretty much hunt them the same as when I had a shotgun or air rifle. The only difference is that I use a leafy suit & take decoys when I'm bowhunting. With a shotgun, I'm less concerned with the camo or decoys. But with a bow or air gun, it's a very close-range deal.
Bow-wise, whatever you use for big game is probably best since you know that setup. A turkey's vitals are about the size of a fist so whatever setup you know best will work the best for you. I took a good-sized bird last year and my arrow cut a hole on the opposite side. I could see the broadhead in the hole but it didn't come out all the way. The feathers practically grabbed the shaft on the way in & stopped it pretty fast. That arrow was over 600 grains with a 2-blade Zwickey off a 50# bow (though I didn't come to full draw). One of my favorite hunting authors, David Petersen, wrote that he shoots the same gear as his elk setup, just with a 3-blade instead of the 2-blade single bevel.
I mostly hunt public land and have gotten used to finding large trees, brush, etc. to post up on the fly. I usually make a plan but game animals rarely care about my plans & I adapt. I prefer to know where they roost and then, as usual, setup about 100-200 yards away to call them over. It has worked a couple of times. But sometimes the real hens take them a totally different direction & I talk to them off and on for hours before they finally come in to where I am. I'll move around a little to get a better location but, as a public land hunter, I'm often hunting large areas where I don't know every detail of the land contours & such that somebody might have if they hunted the same 100 acres all season. Sometimes, I'm trying to call them from State Park land over to BLM where I can legally take a shot. Or I'm on NF land & trying to get them to come off of private parcel that borders. Twice, I've called them from somebody else's property onto the property I actually had permission to hunt that day. All that to say, I stay as mobile & open to changing my plans as I can be. Only my first 2 turkeys that I got as a teenager were textbook. The rest started with a textbook plan & then morphed into something that eventually put me & the birds close enough for a shot. Only those first two were taken in the early morning. The rest were mid-morning or afternoon -- after the hens were ready for a break & I was the only game in town.
Hope that helps a little.
I have a leafy suit and a ghillie but how do you draw without being seen? Those eyes don't miss much
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: dixiearcher on January 15, 2019, 03:24:31 PM
I have a leafy suit and a ghillie but how do you draw without being seen? Those eyes don't miss much
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Only move when the head is behind the fan (strutting). Or wait for him to walk behind a tree, rock, etc. Sometimes, you'll have to stop mid-draw. Last year's turkey took me 3 passes of the fan to get the bow up and another 2 before I just committed to finishing the draw.
Multiple birds makes things a lot harder, for sure!
Yosemite sam what subspecies is out where you hunt? Congrats btw
Quote from: Bowguy67 on January 15, 2019, 04:12:12 PM
Yosemite sam what subspecies is out where you hunt? Congrats btw
Mostly all Rios out here, I think.
And thank you for the congrats. That was my first archery kill. After 2 straight years of not getting any turkeys or deer, I ended up getting 2 turkeys and a deer last year. My buddy sold the property I was hunting last spring so I can't go back there this season. There's some NF land not far from where I'll be keeping some bees this year and the turkeys are everywhere out there. So I'm hopeful.
I wish to try this myself this spring. Will be following this thread. Which points do ya'll who've had success use
After you decide on your setup I would recommend adding a string tracker. Alot of times the turkey will run (or fly) after the shot. They can cover ground & be out of sight real fast- the string tracker makes it easy/easier to find your bird.
Quote from: huntmaster70 on January 15, 2019, 06:32:50 PM
After you decide on your setup I would recommend adding a string tracker. Alot of times the turkey will run (or fly) after the shot. They can cover ground & be out of sight real fast- the string tracker makes it easy/easier to find your bird.
What's the terminal range of a string tracker? In other words, how far out can I shoot before the string tracker starts affecting arrow flight & changes my point of impact? Any difference on slower vs faster arrows? Heavier vs lighter arrows?
Quote from: YosemiteSam on January 15, 2019, 06:13:14 PM
Quote from: Bowguy67 on January 15, 2019, 04:12:12 PM
Yosemite sam what subspecies is out where you hunt? Congrats btw
Mostly all Rios out here, I think.
And thank you for the congrats. That was my first archery kill. After 2 straight years of not getting any turkeys or deer, I ended up getting 2 turkeys and a deer last year. My buddy sold the property I was hunting last spring so I can't go back there this season. There's some NF land not far from where I'll be keeping some bees this year and the turkeys are everywhere out there. So I'm hopeful.
Too bad on your buddy. Good luck w new land. I think there's some merriams out there too. Not sure if they let you hunt them or not. Both cool looking birds
Quote from: YosemiteSam on January 15, 2019, 07:33:31 PM
Quote from: huntmaster70 on January 15, 2019, 06:32:50 PM
After you decide on your setup I would recommend adding a string tracker. Alot of times the turkey will run (or fly) after the shot. They can cover ground & be out of sight real fast- the string tracker makes it easy/easier to find your bird.
What's the terminal range of a string tracker? In other words, how far out can I shoot before the string tracker starts affecting arrow flight & changes my point of impact? Any difference on slower vs faster arrows? Heavier vs lighter arrows?
Some say further but I wouldn't use mine any more than abt. 15 yds.
They are well worth the money on turkey but have had several deer jump the string much closer than that. They are noisy.
Sent from my LG-M150 using Tapatalk
I've shot out to about 20yds w/o any problems. If you use one remember to shoot or pull out the first 100ft or so of string before using it for hunting. Google "string tracker use" or something like that as there is info & videos about them.
I hunt turkeys just like I do white tail deer.
I set up a ground blind in areas where I've seen turkeys or have seen turkey sign. Edges of picked corn fields or cow pastures are the typical types of areas my wife and I hunt.
I've pre set the blind a day before hunting and also set the blind up the same morning and hunted right away with success.
We live about 2 hours away from where we hunt. I have set trail cameras a month before season only to not get any turkey pics, be disappointed, and then see/shoot birds when we start hunting.
I'm not an expert caller by any means, but I like my Primos Spring box hen call for when birds are close and then a box call for when they are farther away or it's windy. I also always have a shaker type gobble call. I usually use this if no birds are gobbling right away in the morning to see if any are around.
I typically set up a jake decoy at 10 yds and then a hen in the breeding position a couple feet in front of the jake and towards the blind. I sometimes set another hen off to the side. My wife did shoot a real nice tom 2 years ago out of the blind and we didn't use any decoys. It was on the edge of a picked corn field and I had seen the 2 toms there the day before walking the woodline edge. I didn't want them to hang up if they saw decoys, so we left the decoys in the truck, called sparingly, and it worked out.
The calling and decoying part of turkey hunting is a big chess match, don't be afraid to change things up, even in mid hunt if necessary. If we get a vocal hen nearby, I try to mimic her calls and get her fired up.
A comfy chair, one that swivels quietly is VERY important!!!
My wife has an auto immune disease that is attacking her muscles, mainly in her legs, so last spring we had to use an ATV to get her to and from the blind. I was worried about spooking turkeys that were in the area. I found out that turkeys did not pay any attention whatsoever to the ATV. I'd park w/in 30 yds of the blind and had turkeys walk right by the ATV. We also were close enough to hear them fly down one morning last year.
All this turkey talk has me getting excited for the first week of May.
Brian
What Brian says. Can't beat a pop up for Turks. Don't think they aren't super smart though.
Sent from my LG-M150 using Tapatalk
Quote from: DXH on January 15, 2019, 06:14:19 PM
I wish to try this myself this spring. Will be following this thread. Which points do ya'll who've had success use
I've used Pearson Switchblades, Zwickey Eskimo 4 blade and Zwickey Delta 4 blades. The Delta are my favorite on them.
I agree with what everyone has said about hunting out of a blind and setting decoys. However - last year I also put out a turkey tom tail fan that I attached to a short broom handle and large spike to stick in the ground. Wow, that really brought them in. Up until then, they would just look at the setup. The tail fan really worked. We have also crawled up on turkeys, keeping the fan in from of us. You need to wear complete camo though. We wave the fan side to side and also forward and back for movement. You can really get them in close. Works best if two people do it. One with the fan and another behind with the bow.
Quote from: acolobowhunter on January 22, 2019, 12:04:32 PM
I agree with what everyone has said about hunting out of a blind and setting decoys. However - last year I also put out a turkey tom tail fan that I attached to a short broom handle and large spike to stick in the ground. Wow, that really brought them in. Up until then, they would just look at the setup. The tail fan really worked. We have also crawled up on turkeys, keeping the fan in from of us. You need to wear complete camo though. We wave the fan side to side and also forward and back for movement. You can really get them in close. Works best if two people do it. One with the fan and another behind with the bow.
If I may, in many states this is illegal. In all states putting a turkey tail next to your head could get you hurt or worse. Something I'll never understand, everyone quotes the "don't wear red white blue" thing cause it's dangerous. Than they wear a turkey tail. Be careful
There are others with far more skills than myself in harvesting an ole gob. Am working on harvesting number 35.
No setup is ideal for every situation and the consitently successful turkey hunter will be adaptable. However, staying with a tree shark as a staple has been most beneficial.
String tracker and BIG sharp broadheads.
[attachment=1][attachment=2]
LONG POST WARNING:
My wife says that if turkeys put as much meat in the freezer as deer ... she would only be a turkey hunter. She enjoys it THAT much!
Ask a guy how to turkey hunt and you will get as many different answers as you have guys you asked. Easterns, Rios, Merriams or even Osceolas... hunting them up on hill tops, down in the hollers, out on the grasslands, in the bottoms, in the mountains... "run and gun", call-downs, henned-up or gobbled out...
I think there are a few constants but one thing turkeys never do is always follow the rules.
- They can see and hear WAY better than we can, but they don't always heed what they see or hear.
- Getting them to come up hill is usually easier than getting them to come down hill, but not always.
- They will come 600 yards through thick underbrush to a call, but won't cross a 3 strand barb-wire fence, most of the time.
- They never fly down across water, except when they do.
I shoot the same bows and arrows I deer hunt with. I used a pretty standard three blade broadhead for years and switched to a wide two blade a few years ago. Its all antidotal data but I feel like I have had shorter distances after shots with them... YMV.
[attachment=1,msg2845475]
For me, the most essential part of a successful turkey hunt is pre-season scouting. It has been mentioned in several earlier posts to some effect "don't waste time hunting turkeys where there ain't any turkeys!" Your scouting will help with this. Winter patterns are different for turkeys than their early Spring patterns. As things start to green up and the bugs start to get active, the birds move out of the deep woods and crop fields to the edges. Field edges, wood lot edges, clearing edges, barnyard edges. Hens are looking for high protein meals to grow chicks and high calcium meals to form egg shells. Creek edges or springs with insects and snails fit the bill. Toms are looking for... HENS! As forbs and grasses green the Toms eat these, the Vitamin C in their bodies increases and they get more excited about breeding. So, find the hens and you will find the Toms.
As season starts to get closer, well before sunrise, post up on hill tops, knife ridges or any elevated spot that gives you a vista of your hunting area. At this point your ears (not your binos) are your best friend. Listen for gobbles. Toms will gobble up a storm just before they hit the ground. They may gobble a little more on the ground... or not.
Make it a point of doing this as often as your schedule will allow. This is similar to patterning a big buck. Where do they roost (stay out of there!)? Where do they go when they fly down? How long does it take to get there? How long do they hang around at any one spot? What is their travel route from roost to primary feeding areas?
Once you have this information you can plan intercept routes or even set up blinds to ensure a higher probability of them sauntering by. As a rule, less calling is better than more calling EXCEPT when more, aggressive calling works. Sorry... no other way to look at it. Let the birds tell you what they want. Remember though, you are working AGAINST their natural inclination. Toms gobble, hens respond and generally make their way to the Tom. You are trying to get a Tom to come to you with a hen call.
[attachment=2,msg2845475][attachment=3,msg2845475][attachment=4,msg2845475][attachment=5,msg2845475][attachment=6,msg2845475]
These are very general recommendations that should serve for hunting turkeys just about anywhere (I have never hunted a Goulds or a South Mexican Wild Turkey so you are on your own with those).
Good Luck... Have fun!
OkKeith