Master the Art of Bowhunting Turkeys with Expert Tips and Strategies
It’s an exciting experience to call in a longbeard and dispatch it with a well-aimed arrow, but it also tests your patience and skill. Whether you’re an experienced archer or a beginner, this guide will give you the skills and tactics you need to hunt turkeys with a bow.
Gearing Up for Success
Before you head out to the turkey woods, ensure you have the right equipment to maximize your chances of success
Bow Setup:
- Draw Weight: While your regular deer hunting setup might work, consider lowering your draw weight slightly for more comfortable holding at full draw while waiting for the perfect shot.
- Broadheads: Choose mechanical broadheads for their larger cutting diameter and energy transfer, especially if you’re shooting through mesh windows. Fixed blades are safer for pop-up blinds without windows.
- Practice: Regularly practice shooting from various positions (kneeling, sitting, standing) and with your face mask on to ensure smooth execution in the field.
Concealment:
- Pop-up Blinds: These versatile blinds offer excellent concealment and can be set up quickly near strutting areas. Choose a spacious blind with good visibility and a weight under 20 pounds for easy carrying.
- Netting Blinds: For mobile hunting or rough terrain, opt for lightweight netting and stakes to create a temporary blind.
- Camouflage: Cover your bright arrow fletchings with netting or a DIY mask to avoid spooking the turkeys.
- Face Mask: Choose a comfortable mask with a large opening and wire-frame nose piece for clear vision and easy on/off access.
Hunting Strategies:
- Season Phases:
- Early Season: Identify common gathering areas and set up a ground blind in advance. Use realistic jake and hen decoys to trigger jealousy in the gobblers.
- Mid-Season: As flocks disperse, remain mobile and call to the hens to attract toms.
- Late Season: Focus on solo toms or henned-up groups. Use e-bikes to cover more ground and call strategically.
- Decoys: Use realistic decoys to entice turkeys within bow range. Place them strategically based on the time of day and your setup location.
- Calling: Keep your calls simple and focus on realism. Use yelps, cutts, and purrs to sound like real turkeys. Consider scratching leaves to simulate feeding hens.
- Shot Placement: Aim for a clean shot on the head or body. For headshots, use specialized broadheads and ensure a clear target. For body shots, aim for the chest cavity with mechanical broadheads for maximum impact.
- Patience and Precision: Take your time, slow down, and focus on a specific feather when aiming. Don’t rush the shot and ensure a clean kill.
Additional Tips:
- Scouting: Observe turkey activity patterns and identify potential roosting and feeding areas before the season starts.
- Weather: Consider wind direction and thermals when setting up your blind or calling location.
- Safety: Always wear a safety harness when hunting from an elevated position.
- Respect the Resource: Follow ethical hunting practices and only harvest turkeys within legal limits.
You’ll get great at bowhunting turkeys if you practice frequently and pay attention to these pointers. Recall that the secret to success is preparation, patience, and a thorough grasp of turkey behavior. Go hunting, relish the excitement of the chase, and return home with a delectable, well-earned prize.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the best time of day to hunt turkeys with a bow?
- The best time is typically early morning or late afternoon, when turkeys are most active.
- What is the best type of bow for turkey hunting?
- Any bow that you are comfortable shooting accurately is suitable.
- What is the best type of broadhead for turkey hunting?
- Mechanical broadheads with a larger cutting diameter are preferred for bowhunting turkeys.
- How close do I need to be to a turkey to shoot it with a bow?
- Ideally, you should be within 20 yards of the turkey for an ethical shot.
- How do I recover a turkey that I have shot with a bow?
- Follow the blood trail carefully and be patient. If you are unsure, seek help from a more experienced hunter.
Additional Resources:
- National Wild Turkey Federation: https://www.nwtf.org/
- Realtree: https://www.realtree.com/
- Bowhunting.com: https://www.bowhunting.com/
Always remember to put safety and moral hunting conduct first when using a bow to hunt turkeys. Enjoy the challenge and the rewards of this exciting sport!.
Decoying and Calling Strategies
Many shotgunners hunt without decoys, and thats OK when a 40-yard shot is a slam dunk. Bowhunting is another matter. The best tool for getting a gobbler to stop for a shot when it’s within 15 yards is a decoy. In fact, I dont suggest bowhunting without them. Buy the most realistic ones you can afford.
On morning hunts, I place my decoys west, north, or south of my blind or ambush. I don’t want the eastern sunrise to draw attention to me or illuminate my ground blinds inside if I’m sitting against a tree. I also dont want sun in my eyes as I try to aim and shoot. Likewise, I set my decoys east, north, or south of my setup on an afternoon/evening hunt. Overlooking this step will either get you busted or add needless difficulty to your shot.
For calling, I keep it simple. When hunting from a blind, I carry a pot-and-striker call and two mouth calls. When hunting without a blind, I usually only carry my mouth calls so that I can call stealthily, keep my hands on my bow, and release. When calling, I primarily use yelps, cutts, and purrs because they are realistic. As mentioned earlier, if Im hunting in the timber, Ill also toss leaves. Theres no special science to it. Just try to sound like real turkeys.
When Bowhunting is Most Effective
I recommend bowhunting turkeys from a ground blind for beginners because it will hide the motion needed to draw back your bow. That motion is what truly separates bowhunting from shotgun hunting. The other difference is that you must pull the bird in closer. Generally, the majority of the gobblers I’ve arrowed have been at 10 yards or less. I don’t often shoot turkeys farther than 20 yards. That should be your goal, both for the in-your-face experience and slam-dunk shot.
Bowhunting conditions are often best in agricultural fields where birds are feeding and strutting in the mornings and afternoons. If you dont have such a location, jump in your vehicle and go prospecting. I own zero hunting properties, yet I easily obtain permission to hunt turkeys on agricultural fields every spring.
When I set up in a field, I usually position my blind at the midpoint’s highest point. I do this so my decoys are visible from various locations. Turkeys don’t pay attention to ground blinds unless they are really under pressure, especially if you have a few lifelike decoys out. Placing a blind in the middle of a field gives you more setup options and better visibility than a field-edge setup.