Hello Gang,
I'd like to get a thread going devoted to turkey hunting to get us ready for the Spring season!
Specifically:
1. Calling techniques (timing, kinds, methods...)
2. To blind or Not to blind (that is the question)
3. Shooting (best form for the ground, where and when to shoot)
4. Arrows (lighter?)
5. Tracking techniques (use stringers?
I'll be watching this one closely.
Haven't hunted turkeys since I was a kid in Texas. Didn't know what I was doing then and not much has changed. :)
Two things I've picked up on here...
1. A lot of folks seem to favor 3 and 4 blade broadheads for the increased cutting surfaces.
2. Taking the right shot is important. Seems like in most of the posts I read folks advocated shots where the bird was facing away.
I'm kicking around buying a turkey tag this year.
Kirk
I'm interested as well. Last spring was my son's and my first time. I was excited when my hen yelps were almost immediately answered by yelps from over there and there and way over there. The excitement waned a bit when as soon as I realized it was just a bunch of rookie turkey hunters yelping at each other in the early morning woods.
Edumacate me!
:D
Well I am another one that has not hunted turkey with a bow but want to. Planning a trip to SW Colo around May to hunt with my uncle. We really need some of the turkey experts to come on here and help out us turkey beginners. :help:
I'm interested in how and how many decoy's everybody use's. Tom's, jake's, hen's, etc... and there blind setup. Thank's Jason
I'm far from an expert but I have hunted turkeys for along time so I will throw out a couple tips/observations from hunting heavily pressured private land birds.
#1 Most people way over call, both to often and to loudly.
#2 spread those decoys out! I have had much better luck using multiple decoys spread out over 10-12 yards! I see guys using the standard Trio (jake and pair of hens) and it always seems there within just a a few feet of each other.
Turkeys have been educating me for the last 3 seasons. 2 shot opportunities with 2 extremely clean misses!
One day they come in quiet to calls and rush to the decoys and the next day they stand at 45 yards gobbling their heads off! Next day, they see the decoys and run like the'd seen a ghost!
Not much help, but man it's fun!
Mike
well I have been hunting these critters for a while, almost 5 years, and out of the 5 years 3 of those years have been with a stick. Have I killed a bird? Nope, but boy am I good at getting close, lol. I have spent the last two years self filming, I believe that if I can succeed I will be the first person to ever take a spring gobbler fromt he ground with a recurve, without a blind, while filming myself. And it has definatly been a learning curve. I have learned that the mountains are the easiest way to get close, but the hardest way to get a shot. Practice, practice practice, with your calls. And I also suggest getting all types of calls. Each and every one has there own place and time.
1. Box calls are basically all around, but I mainly use them for long distance calling/windy weather calling
2. Slates are great for mid distance
3. Mouth calls are a must if you are not in a blind
One of the biggest peices of advice that I have realized myself is that even though they are big birds, you are trying to hit a grapefruit sized target, so practice accordingly.
Again since I have never even killed a turkey I am far from a expert, but these are just the things I have learned over the past 3 years of traditional turkey bowhunting, good luck
I don't think going with a "lighter" arrow would be a good idea for turkey. Wing bones and feathers can do a good job of stopping a broadhead arrow. Use your deer set-up with ten plus grains per pound draw weight.
A string tracker has been used a lot. One of our Mods. (Guru) did a how-to on that some time ago.
Best Of Luck!
... mike ...
I have ben hunting them for a few years and was able to connect last season.One thing I changed last year was when it got hot later in the day I stayed in the woods while alot of the other hunters went to eat lunch.2nd i moved around a little while calling then dug in when I got a response.3rd get in shape I did alot of walking last year public land only.I see alot of guys calling 10yrds from truck. Get out pack a lunch and plenty of water take your best deer hunting buddy. And most of all have fun
good to see all the turkey hunters.dont see many trad hunters in my area.some good advice being posted,picking up a few tips.will be watching this thread.season cant get here soon enough.
Well, I gotta jump in here. I love turkey hunting more than anything else, but I guess that also depend on what time of year that you ask me. I've hunted turkeys successfully for 30+ years. I tend to disagree with the masses on certain aspects of it. I don't really believe that there's a such thing as over calling. I've spent many hours listing to live hens that wont shut up. with that said, I think that there's a time to call alot, and a time to go easy, you have to take the birds "temperature". Usually in the early morning the Toms will be henned up. I've had great success calling and arguing with hens. a hen like a good fight, and will seek out an intruder, bringing that ole Tom right in behind her. Mid morning for me is the golden hour, just after about 9 am. the toms are out looking after breeding their morning hens. a few yalps, clucks and a sort purr on a mouth diaphragm will usually do the trick. You can only hunt birds till noon, so I don't know much on hunting them after that. I also hunt a lot of public land. knowing not how to sound like a turkey hunter really helps here, as does woodsmanship.
I was never a big fan of decoys. out of about 85 turkeys, I've killed 2 over decoys. I'm not saying that they don't work, but I've had birds hang up as soon as they have seen them. I did kill one last year over a "statue". It held a longbeards attention long enough to stick an arrow in him. It was the first time that I've used one in over 10 years. I'm going to give them another chance this season. If you are going to use them, a hen facing you with a jake in tow. A gobbler will confront the jake in front, and usually off to the side. Be mindful of gun hunters.
I use the same arrows that I use for whitetails.
A blind is personal preference, theres a time and place for them. If you run and gun(bow), a portable blind can be cumbersome. I don't really like to hunt turkeys like deer. I like to go find them, again, there are exceptions. a set up in one spot after 9 am can produce good results when a Tom is looking for a new girlfriend.
If possible, the best time and place to shoot is when a bird is fanned out with its tail to you. It gives you a good bullseye....so to speak. after the shot, get on him, there wont be much blood.
With all that I've said, each situation is different. each turkey id different. One day a bird will be call shy, the next, you can get him with just a few yalps and a purr on a mouth or slate call.
I don't mean to sound like a know it all, but I've spent a long long time in the turkey woods, and I've had a lot of trial and error over the years....good luck to all.
I think turkey hunting can be much like elk hunting using many of the same calling tactics.
I started about six years ago using a very simple plunger type call ... this is turkey 101. I can use a slate call and box call pretty well but like elk you do not always have to sound good. Tempo and timing are just as important. I have not tried to use a mouth call.
Most of my hunting has been from blinds with decoys but I have done some run and gun but again using a decoy when I get close. Turkeys have exellent eye sight and drawing your trad bow without being seen is a real challenge.
Like elk bugling some days turkeys gobble like crazy and the next day they don't. Some days they run in strutting and drumming and some days you can see them out there and they just ignore you. Being a seductive hen is the best bet most of the time.
Killing one is not as easy as you might think. They are tough and have a relatively small kill zone. I use my regular deer set up and a three blade head. I aim for the wing butt. I have bow killed five and lost none ... knock on wood ... two of them required some really good tracking, thank you Randy and Jay. When hit they like to haul a$$ and hunker down in the thick stuff. But sometimes they just tip over.
I hunt private ground so I'm sure the turkeys I hunt are a bit earier than some but they are still a real challenge with trad gear. Scouting and finding their roosting spots makes it much easier for good set ups. They seem to be in the same areas year after year just in different numbers. We hunt the roosting areas in the early morning and still hunt mid day on foot. We use crow calls, gobbles, and a peacock call for locating them. But some days you could use pots and pans and they would gobble.
One of my turkeys is posted in the "what do you look like" along with my good buddy Jay. I shot it last year with a BW PLV longbow.
o I left out something VERY important, if you are using a decoy on public land, use common sense!
Also, if any one would like to trade an Easterns hunt for a Merrieums, Rio, or an Osceola, send me a PM. I'd love to get a slam.
Thats a great point Chris.
Great thread. I'm definitely looking for info. I will be hunting hogs and turkey this spring in S.C., but I have never hunted turkey before. I've got lots of questions, some of which are probably answered elsewhere. I have a package of 3 bladed magnus bull-head blades. Has anyone used them. They are for head/neck shots. I would think that this might be tough without a blind and I'm not certain if I will be using one. What experience does anyone have with these? Would I be better off with a big snuffer? I have some trouble shooting out of smaller blinds, and I'm not certain which bow I will use. I've got an old red wing slim line pro that is 48# and 58" which I might use. Then again, I might use my 62" vortex that is 60#. Opinions? Best advice for quickly learning the basics of calling? I know that I won't be an expert overnight. Thanks in advance.
Keep the decoys close to the blind, I'm talking feet! Also change up the decoys, totally different decoys if your hunting the same group of birds. This last year was the first year I've tried it and had several long beards under 10 yards.
Well, I sure won't claim to be an expert, but here's a couple things I've learned / observed.
Scout as much as you can before the opener. I don't do any sort of calling when scouting, I want to get a feel for what the birds like / tend to do without any outside influences.
Where you see birds in the fall isn't necessarily going to be where they are in the spring. Likewise, an area where you don't see any in the fall could be overrun with them in the spring.
A stand of pines in a hardwoods area is a good spot to check for roosts.
In my area, they tend to like the north side of ridges, and once on the ground, tend to move from east to west. They're more likely to be on the ridges than in the valleys.
Decoys seem to be a 50-50 thing, and they seem to work better earlier in the season.
If it's rainy or windy, look in open fields for birds.
If you're in a blind, be careful of overcalling. I suspect that Mr. Tom becomes leery of a hen that doesn't move all morning.
If you're gonna "run and gun", learn how to use a mouth call.
Hit em high, watch em die; hit em low, watch em go.
I only spring hunt and have gobbler hunted sence 1980.
Sorry about that.And only hunted selfbows for the last 12 years.I've killed 9 with selfbows 1 recurve 2 compound and 31 with a shot gun.I've never killed and with a rifle.I was taught this not calling in your gobbler.As well as in grew up not useing a decoy.But learned it's almost a must when bow hunting.My granddad didn't believe in anything but calling in his gobble.I learned from my granddad he lived to be 90 and saw over 80 seasons.And was a master with any calls.So he was my hunting parter for the first 10 years.
I was taught on a slate.The reason was you can call to loud and sound more natural.Theres a time to call loud.Most people learn there calls but never learn to use it solfly [natural]
But where to set up and when to set up there is much more important.Yuo must be where a gobbler either wants to go ors not scared to go.
This brings us to the most important thing SCOUTING.Yes you can go to a place locate a gobbler call him up and kill him.
I like to know where he roosts and most important which way he's headed when he going when he flys down.Then a you have to do is get in his way.He'll likely come to any turkey sound.Your calling just went from good to great.
I like after 9 or 10 the gobbler already finished with his morning hens.And is looking.Find nesting areas there great to call from now as well as water feeding areas.Dusting areas are all good places to call from.Call soft purr alot just sound like a hen needs to be there.There's a 1000 varables.
I'm not a fan of pop up blinds.I don't want to be in one spot all morning it the gobblers are some where else.I made a gillie in 79 to deer hunt with but soon found out it's killer on gobblers.
Sorry about the leanth I could talk forever.
PDK25...
1. I have a package of 3 bladed magnus bull-head blades.
The Bull Heads will work super if you hit the head or even miss close. Probably most effective from a blind where you have time to wait for the shot (head up standing still) and take a deliberate shot.
2. Would I be better off with a big snuffer?
The Snuffer is a great broadhead for turkeys. Maximum damage really helps on shots that can end up being marginal.
3.I'm not certain which bow I will use.
That will have to be your call. Which do you shoot best?
4.Best advice for quickly learning the basics of calling?
By a calling tape or CD. Play it on your way to and from work or anytime you are in the car alone... trust me!
QuoteOriginally posted by Chris Shelton:
o I left out something VERY important, if you are using a decoy on public land, use common sense!
TRUE THAT! I had 3 guys loading shotguns 20 yds from my blind when they saw my decoys... that's a heart thumper!
I will be watching this thread as well!! I have Hunted Turkey for 4 or 5 Years, and all I have to show for it is the Empty Tags and Licenses!! I Hear them, and I THINK I saw one, Once. :saywhat: Usually I figure they are all together somewhere Just Laughing Histerically and Rolling On The Ground!! "Hey Y'all, watch This Fool!" :archer:
I use a permanent blind most of the time, made out of natural elements, and use some pop ups too, both work really well with turkeys. If you have decoys out, and,or the turkeys are coming in shut up, #1 mistake is calling too much. I use my Whitetail set up, those wing feathers can slow a blade down quick! I use Ace standards, 150g. with inserta dn Wensel woodsmans, 150gr. total. I am usually sitting in a fold out camp chair or a Double Bull Magnum 3 legged stoo. I rest my bottom limb tip on my left boot toe, usually just pick a spot, raise the bow about 4 inches, draw anchor and whack. String tracker works, I have never used one but lots of guys on here do. Try to focus on the one turkey you just shot, and ingore the others. I took all 4 Birds last fall here in KY using these tactics, on the ground, 15 ft-15yds longest shot. Main thing is dont get rattled. I also wore a Ghillie suit in theser natural blinds and one day had a hen come into the blind looking for acorns that fell in with me, within 10 inches of me, found the acorns then went back out. 30 seconds later I shot a bird, talked about pumped up man.! HOpe this helps.
Thanks Charlie. As far as the bows go, I probably shoot the vortex a little better, but I was wondring if using the shorter bow might be advantageous. Particularly if I wind up in a blind.
I've chased these crazy birds around for quite a few years now, so I'll add a few observations, tips. I hunt hardwood mountains with grassy field bottoms, meadows, or food plots.
1st, turkeys have certain areas that they prefer in the spring year after year. I don't even bother with certain areas, hollows, sides of mountains, etc. because from experience I know they won't be there. You can start to figure this out with early spring scouting if you're just starting or hunting a new area.
From year to year, within those "preferred areas", some spots will be better mainly because of available food. Let's say a particular area has a bunch of leftover acrorns from last fall or a standing corn field still has some seed left. They might hit that area good in the beginning of the spring, then switch over to "greener" areas as the season progresses.
2nd, I have found that for the most part turkeys have "circular" travel patterns. Meaning, they might roost in a certain area, travel a particular direction for the day, and circle back to their preferred roost area. Or they might be on one side of the mountain one day, work their way around to the otherside. Spend the next day over there, and end up back on the same side the next.
3rd. Location! Location! Location! You need to be where the birds want to be. A lot of this is common sense. Along field edges, a nice flat bench they like to travel, an old logging road, etc. Most of this is learned through trial and error. After a while, you just get a "feel" for it. Pay attention in your scouting or while hunting. Gobblers will only come to certain "setups". For example, it's tough to call birds downhill for the most part. So don't setup downhill of a roosted bird or one you hear expecting him to come down to your calls. Get level with him or above. The same for thick cover or streams. Get them out of the equation. Move or setup so the birds can travel to you easier. Some gobblers will get on a distinct travel pattern where they will be in a certain "strut area" at the same time each day. Lots of different scenarios with setups.
Lastly for now, patience is the number one thing you need for spring gobblers. One day they might be gobbling to "beat the band", and the next the woods is dead silent. I know a lot of hunters that like to "move about" and call from setup to setup. That can certainly work. But the patience comes in when you can stick out a certain setup, giving it some time to "produce". If you know the birds are around, trust me they definitely will hear your calls. A lot of times, hunters will call, not hear anything and move on. Meanwhile a gobbler or two is working their way to that spot hoping to "hook-up" with that lonesome hen. Not calling at all till they get closer. For bowhunting, I definitely think you need some kind of manmade or natural blind to setup. Turkeys eyes are just too superior. I like the bottoms or field areas from mid-morning on. Especially the rainy days. Gobblers love to work their way into these areas looking for a lonesome hen or to feed. Especially the older guys. If your patient, and can sit awhile, a longbeard or jake might come strolling by:)
im far from a pro at turkey hunting been at it a few years and no luck yet but i have found a good article on bow hunting them in the march 2010 bowhunting america magazine it includes everything from blind and decoy set up
Well here it goes, Ive been chasing these birds since the 60's. The best advice I can give you is to watch the Truth series by Will Primos to learn how to call. He also shows you how to set up and what calls to make.
In the Spring the goblers come off the roost and gobble a few times. The hens fly down and he rounds them up and away they go. It is hard to break up that pattern. Sometimes you find a younger gobler that has no hens or the hens leave the old boy and go to their nest. When that happens goblers will come to you calls easily. You can still get Goblers with the hens but you have to call the hens in. They will come in and lead the Tom right to you if you know how to cut and challenge her.
Blinds are the greatiest thing for archery. Goblers do not associate a blind with danger. You can call them in close and shoot without them seeing you. If you are not using a blind shooting a bird is a lot harder. Not impossible but very hard. I like to set up with large trees around so you can move when the birds are behind them. I also like to call birds uphill, seems easier. I use a stool and practice shooting off it. I like the stools that turn so you can line up on the bird when he is coming in and pull to anchor with the least amount of movement. A bird will give you about two seconds to shoot so you are going to have to learn to shoot fast and accurately.
String trackers are a great tool and nice if your bow is set up for one. I have a Bear Kodiak that I can screw a string tracker in where the stabilizer screws in. I have shot right through birds and still not get them. They are really tough and hard to kill.
Jack Brobst is the best Turkey hunter who has ever killed turkeys with Trad. equipment IMO, he has written a few books on the subject. He is from Pa. and is still alive. He sold me a few mouth calls and taught me how to set up for birds twenty years ago. I also learned off a old turkey hunter named Charlie Oaks who took time and taught me how to call and how to hunt them. This was before videos and you had to find a mentor to teach you how to hunt. The best way to learn is from the turkey themselves. They will teach you every time you hunt them. Good luck and be patient, and when you have a bird coming in shut up. Turkeys take a long time to come in, sometimes over a hour and as long as two hours. Be Patient. Learn to call softly. Just because a bird isn't gobling doesn't mean he has left, Good luck.
Great thread so far... let's keep this one going!!
ttt
I have been lucky the past 2 seasons with trad, but I have hunted and observed turkeys all of my life...consequently, I have made every mistake a man can make and many have given you "golden" advice already. #1 - USE a BLIND!!!!! it can be done with out one....but why make it soooo hard. Also, blinds are necessary if you want to take your wife or children, trust me, it will make the hunt more enjoyable for everyone. #2- stay as long as you can, especially if you are in a "known" turkey hang-out...I have goofed on many a boss, by not paying attention from 10a to 12.