Started traditional in 1969 and fell into the compound craze around 1977. I have been shooting year around for the past 25 years. My hunting partners shoot traditional and together we work hard at pursuing turkeys. These guys are great at getting close to birds, however their success rate is extremely poor. To better qualify what I mean by 'great' is that they average 12 shots a piece during a 3 week season. They are lucky if they harvest one. Two seasons ago the one partner shot 16 times with no score. We must have called him Sweet Sixteen until the next season.
For years now, I have wanted to go back to traditional equipment. One of the major hindrances was the witnessing of the low shot to kill rate. I have actually harvested 31 birds, however, they were taken with a compound. I attribute one significant reason for my success rate increase over the passed 12 yrs was due to switching to a 2 ¾" wide head. My misses have not gone away, however these broadheads have delivered birds 21 out of 21 hits.
In July, I made a commitment to switch back to Traditional without having shot one in nearly 31 years. I sold my compound, acquired a couple of nice bows and have been shooting 5 to 7 days a week, sometimes twice a day. The challenge has been great yet sometimes the torment of poor shootings obsesses me. I even sacrificed much deer hunting time in order to be proficient by this spring. While my skill level has risen significantly, and I remain on target to acquire adequate competency by spring, I am extremely concerned with regard to broadhead selection for turkeys.
I would appreciate seeing some postings regarding traditional broadheads that others have used to consistently harvest turkeys.
The reason I am sharing so much information is that I do post on Trad Gang and would like others within the forum to be more familiar with me as I have come to know others through their postings.
Were your buddies missing the turkeys that often or where they not able to anchor one and were unsuccessful in tracking/recovery?
Not a turkey hunter, (yet) and am pretty new to trad myself but have you used or thought of using a "tracker" string? Seems like the idea lends itself much better to trad archery.
I'll be interested to see what guys use. I've gathered the impression a lot of guys use the same thing they do for everything.
160 snuffers are my fav. I've shot them with little 90 grain first cuts to. I've never had a bird fly or lost (knock on wood) I've shot 10 birds with a bow. I think most people who loose birds shoot them to far forward in the breast meat area, just my 2 cents. Hit them in the top half or even the third or in the drummies and your good to go!
Most of the time I use a 2 bld BH such as Zwikey Eskimo or Eclipe, however many times I have used a 125 gr. Muzzy 3 bld. This is usually when I get to lazy to sharpen some heads. They really work good on turkeys though. I also have shot many turkeys and shot placement is paramount!!!
Big Snuffers have Turkey written all over them. :thumbsup: This is a 125, if I was specifically building arrows for Turkeys I'd use a 160.
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m276/BraveheartArchery/Snuffer125.jpg)
You just can't beat what those 160 Snuffers do to a big ol Tom!
First off, be patient with your accuracy, it will come. I made the switch 4 years ago and the best advice I have read is patience. Of course form matters too, yet you have to have good form no matter what weapon you shoot. It just takes time other than that - the same practice techniques that you used to be a good compound shooter - translates to trad bows.
Regarding your broadhead choice, in my opinion, shoot the head you shot before. Like most things label "traditional" it is debable what that means as is the case with broadheads. You said you had a head that worked great for turkeys before, use it.
- Dave
My partners probably have a 40% hit rate on birds. Of these hits, possibly only 20% are recovered. This is only an estimate.
It-m-grow,
Your advice is well-taken and appreciated.
Have seriously considered using my current head, however I wanted to explore the traditional possibilities first.
I'm wondering what you call "close to birds". I put a decoy at 3 yds and 2 at 8 yds. My shots are "close" 8 to 12 yds and rarely miss.
Don't use a two blade head - you can miss a spine with a 2 blade that you'd cut with a three. Don't hunt without a string tracker and a 160 gr snuffer.
I've got the Magnus Bullheads (guillotine) style. I lost one two years ago with a 160 snuffer. I figure I'll shoot for the head with the magnus and if I miss oh well. At least there won't be a wounded or lost turkey out there.
BMOELLER You`ve got it man. Magnus bullheads, Head and neck shots only.DEAD TOM OR NOTHING.
DOUBLE BULL BLIND AND NO DECOYS.Try it .I`ve killed My last few turkey this way. One at 3yds.
Blackthunder slate call,every striker I can find and I`m gone ALL DAY .Come on SPRING
good huntin
I agree with Brian and thats what I am doing(guillotine)practice everyday 60 days before season.Think Close!! Close!! Close!!!
I use simmons tree shark with a reverse v (very small) filed into the tip. I got the idea from Cory Mattson. The thought is that the sharp tip will deflect a small amount off the quill of the feather. The v insures the head keeps going straight. Not an expert but Ive shot a bunch of tukeys with trad bows. We are 3 for 3 with this type of head. These shots were out of a blind with no nets . Don
Bowmania,
Typical short range distances are anywhere from 5 to 15 yds. We don't use decoys.
If your buddies are averaging 12 shots per three weeks, you have a helluva lot of turkeys and they're shooting well beyond their effective range.
I've killed turkeys with two-blade heads, but will be using a three blade this year, probably a Woodsman or Snuffer.
IMO, 15 yards is a long shot on turkeys with trad gear. 10 yards is better. The kill zone isn't much larger than a baseball. The head/neck is almost the same size as the heart/lungs on a turkey. A hit that doesn't take out the vitals might still kill the turkey eventually, but it likely won't be recovered.
Orion,
Hopefully my set-ups will produce 10 to 15 yard shot opportunities. I have not practiced at 5 yds yet and will doing so soon.
My successes in the past were in-part due to recognizing and accepting my limitatons.
Accurately definining and living by your more restricted limitations in the field vs. the range is paramount.
I shot these two 2008 KY longbeards with big 2" wide Simmons Treesharks (shown in quiver) If the pix don't come up you may need to refresh your page (Hit F5 key).
(http://www.brothersofthebow.com/othergame9.jpg)
(http://www.brothersofthebow.com/othergame10.jpg)
Gary,
Very impressive and what wonderful pictures.
Gary,
Did these birds go down quick?
The one at the top dropped and twirled on the spot while the bird at the bottom ran about 25 yards across a wet field before giving it up. Both were shot through the wing butts. One was taken from a DB Blind and the other from a "stump blind" while wearing a Rancho Safari Shaggie suit. I used a mounted jake and feather covered hen decoy to lure the boys in:^)
Keep in mind I've shot a grand total of two turkeys with a bow. The first was with a blunt to the head, the second was a broadhead hit just above the vent and out through the breat bone.
If possible, I will pull my judo and go for a head shot. It's low percentage, but I either have a dead bird flopping in front of my stand or a miss and an unwounded animal. That head shot turkey dropeed like a rock. The broadhead hit bird managed to take off and set his wings. I didn't recover that bird until the following morning.
At the chance of being shunned....
Has anyone tried the gobbler guillotine or magnus bullhead type broadheads for head-shot. Can they be stabilized from finger-released bows?
I have used both guillotine and bullhead and both flew good. Haven't shot a bird with either yet but have taken a dozen or so with 160 snuffers. I always shoot a string tracker too in case they fly off. I try for the top of the hips for shot placement it breaks them down quickly.
no expert here.
I used R.M. Snyper expandables out of my recurve last spring, to get my tom.
If ya want a fixed blade, i think the WW is the ticket.
Jeff,
Would you think that a broadhead for a head shot would be just as lethal and provide a some margin for error?
If the perfect body shot is presented, then you could take that as an option.
My past experience with 2 3/4" mehanicals using a compound has a proven track record. I will be setting up a new recurve next month and will be targetting 11.0 grains per pound with possibly extreme FOC. I will then run some penetration test with the 2 3/4" mechanicals. It will be interesting to see what the results yield. My optimism would be quite high if i could locate a rear deploying mechanical that was 2 3/4 to 3.0"
I will post my findings.
havnt used them not an expandable broadhead shooter but rage 2 blades are rear deploying and have a 2.5" cut
bowmasster12,
Thank you for response.
Thought the Rage BH would come up. I have had two compound buddies that had opted for the 100g 2 1/2" version of the broadhead that I used. They lost their first 8 birds before switching to the 2 3/4. I believe they are 5 in a row now without a lost bird. You wouldn't think that a 1/4" could make that much difference, but apparently it does. On many birds, I can pick up the bird and easily look thru and see my partner. The wounds are phenominal. I have sent communications to RAGE twice and they have never responded.
wow whats the name of that 2 3/4 head havent heard of a mechanical that size. i think turkeys are the perfect game for mech heads but i dont trust em for anything else. keep us posted what you find
The Mechanical Head that I have had 100% success with turkeys is the Vortex 125g at 2 3/4. Have not found the broadhead to be durable, however for turkeys, it is perfect. I can assure you the turkeys don't like them.
Have just sent Vortex with a request to consider a rear deployment verison for the 2 3/4".
Note: this is a two blade.
Also, asked them to consider that this design would benefit both traditional and compound shooters.
Did note that considering a 150g version may do well if the theory that mass has a much greater influence on penetration than the current focus on KE starts to be accepted beyond the trad culture.
I would love to see this design come to fruition. Do believe we could only hope for the 125 g version since speed sells in the compound world.
I killed my last bird with a Muzzy Phantom. It worked perfect. I`ve used Simmons mostly and really like the treeshark.
I hunt hogs and Turkeys at the same time and usely carry what will work for both.Expandables are out of the question for me.RC
I've had great luck with StealForce Turkey heads. Wish I new how to post pics shot some nice ones, from the Bull!
I've killed four turkeys in the last three years.....and NEVER lost one. All but one...died within sight of the blind. I lost a number with a compound.
I believe traditional equipment to be superior to compounds for turkey hunting...due to the lack of complete pass throughs. The broadhead stays in the turkey and does its damage as the turkey jumps around and/or runs.
I've killed three with the Magnus 4 bladed 150....and one with the Muzzy Phantom....200.
Put the arrow in the pelvis...and it's a done deal!
I shoot them with a G5 Striker Magnum. 125 grains, 1.5 inch fixed three blade with a good angle of onset with the blades that delivers a little shock too.
Good Hunting!