As a beginner bowhunter, hunting turkey can seem intimidating. Their sharp eyesight and hearing make them challenging prey. However with the right gear tactics, and patience, bringing home a big tom is an achievable goal. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to successfully hunt turkey with a bow.
Choose the Right Bowhunting Equipment
Having proper equipment is the foundation for an effective bowhunt. Consider the following gear recommendations:
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Bow A reliable compound bow that fits you well and has an adjustable draw weight around 50 lbs is ideal The lighter draw weight allows you to hold at full draw longer
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Arrows Use short arrows, around 22-24 inches, with lightweight vanes for optimal flight Easton Bloodline or Gold Tip Hunter Pro are great affordable options
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Broadheads: Mechanical broadheads with at least a 1.5 inch cutting diameter are recommended, such as Rage Trypan or G5 Montec. Their wider cut increases your margin of error.
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Sight: A quality multi-pin bow sight ensures accurate shots at varying distances. I prefer a 5-pin sight for turkeys.
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Rest: A drop-away rest like a Ripcord or QAD Ultra Rest delivers consistent arrow flight and clearance.
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Release: A handheld release allows a surprise shot without movement. I use a wrist strap release for turkeys.
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Decoys: Carry at least one hen and jake decoy. I use AvianX or Dave Smith decoys with excellent realism and durability.
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Blind: A quality pop-up ground blind conceals movement for drawing your bow. The Barronett Blinds Big Cat 350 is a great choice.
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Camo: Use effective spring camo like Realtree EDGE to avoid detection. Cover exposed skin and wear gloves.
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Calls: Have mouth, box, and slate calls to make various realistic turkey sounds. I like Primos products.
Scout Pre-Season and Choose Your Setup
Scouting your hunting area prior to season is crucial to locate where turkeys roost, feed, and travel. Their patterns change as spring progresses, so continue scouting as you hunt.
Based on your scouting, pick setups near strutting grounds, food sources, and expected travel corridors. Position blinds or natural ground cover near these areas. Ensure you have adequate concealment but good visibility.
On public land, arriving very early to claim your spot is key. I try to be set up at least an hour before daylight.
Call birds in and use decoys effectively
When you hear or see turkeys nearby, start calling softly to get their attention. Mimic hen or gobbler sounds as needed to draw them closer.
Once you strike a bird, deploy your decoys in plain view 10-20 yards from your position. The decoys should be visible when the turkey approaches so they draw attention away from you.
Calling sparingly as the bird advances keeps them interested. Avoid calling too much or too aggressively once they commit. Be patient and let them cover the final distance naturally.
Master Proper Shot Placement
Turkey vitals sit in a small area, so shot placement is critical. Here are the best aiming points:
- Broadside – Right behind wing butt into vitals
- Head-on – Base of neck right below beard
- Quartering away – Upper back over vitals into neck
- Angling away – Bottom edge of the fan and tailbase
Wait for the turkey to present its most vulnerable angle. Slow everything down and concentrate on pinpoint accuracy before releasing your arrow.
Remain Still at Full Draw
The key to bowhunting turkeys is drawing your bow undetected. When the bird is occupied with your decoys, slowly come to full draw and hold.
Remain motionless as the turkey approaches your position. If needed, follow its movements with your upper body rather than adjusting your drawn bow.
Do not rush your shot. Wait for the right distance and angle before squeezing your release. After the shot, hold steady and listen for impact before movement.
Tracking and Recovery
Give struck birds 30-60 minutes before tracking. Mark the exact shot location and watch their route of travel. Listen for cues like flocks alarming.
Use bright fletchings and quality broadheads to get pass-through shots and significant blood trails. Take it slow and methodical while tracking.
If needed, a leashed dog can effectively trail and recover wounded birds using their scenting ability. Hunting partners also improve tracking success.
With proper preparation and execution in the spring woods, you can experience the addicting thrill of arrowing a gobbler. Just be ready to get hooked on bowhunting turkeys! It is an extremely rewarding way to outwit these challenging birds.
Are you ready to put your shotgun down and try to tag a spring gobbler with your bow?
Several toms were sounding off from the roost as I positioned my blind and decoys. I thought I was in for a sure thing but as the morning unfolded, they held up in the timber 150 yards away. After two hours, I grew impatient and decided to hike across the property to see if I could find a more receptive gobbler. It was the final week of the season, and I knew that a lone tom had to be somewhere.
After hiking to the highest point at the opposite end of the field, I called loudly. A tom roared back, gobbling three times in a row. Quickly, I set my hen and jake decoys, then hustled to the field edge, knelt in some grass and nocked an arrow. There wasnt much cover, but I had an Ultimate Predator bow-mounted decoy, and hoped it would be enough.
The tom answered my next few calls from virtually the same location, so I went silent; curiosity kills the cat so many times in the turkey woods. Soon, he was marching right toward my decoys at 25 yards and closing. I easily drew undetected, and when he postured next to my jake decoy, I nailed him. Thump!
Success never comes easy when youre bowhunting turkeys, but getting a gobbler with a bow is an unforgettable thrill. Plus, a few states offer special archery-only seasons that precede regular turkey seasons. That means bowhunters can get the first crack at birds before theyre pressured.
Regardless of the reasons why you want to bowhunt turkeys, these tips will improve your odds of success.
Hunt the Season Phases Accordingly
- Early Season: Ive had my most productive hunts by watching flocks from a distance to identify common gathering areas shortly after fly-down. If possible, Ill position a ground blind there in advance, especially if its close to the roost so I can sneak in to hunt without much commotion. Calling usually isnt needed for this setup. The main thing is to identify where birds want to be, and then be there waiting for them with a realistic jake and hen decoy to trigger jealousy at a point in the spring when birds are really cranked up.
- Mid-Season: As season progresses and flocks disperse, toms can be less predictable. Food options also increase as spring temperatures warm the soil. During this phase, I tend to leave the blind and start hunting on foot. Many gobblers are henned up, and while a tom and his hens might skirt your first setup, you often can make subsequent setups — terrain and cover permitting — and stay in the game. I do a lot of calling during this season phase, especially to the hens since pulling them in can pull in the gobbler, too.
- Late Season: Ive seen just about everything during the final days of turkey season. Ive hunted a lot of solo toms like the one I referenced above, but Ive also hunted toms that were still henned-up. That means I stay flexible. Ideally, I like to pattern a lone tom thats advertising from the same location each morning, but if I cannot locate such a tom, I stay on the move, often using an e-bike to pop in and out of spots and cover hundreds of acres within the first two hours of daylight. In my experience, toms are most vocal during the last week of the season, so if Im not hearing gobbles, I dont wait around. The good thing is that foliage is thick at this point in the season, which provides concealment for closing the distance and getting hidden when you set up. Late in the season, I do a lot of calling to locate a tom. But after I locate one and set up, I dial it back or shut up altogether if he isnt coming closer. I either let curiosity get the best of him, or I scratch leaves (when possible) to simulate a hen feeding in the timber. Ive killed a bunch of turkeys this way.
Bowhunting Turkeys Guide – 5 Best Tips To Get You Started
FAQ
How long to wait after shooting a turkey with a bow?
- Wait quietly for the turkey to lie down and die
- Look for your arrow
- If the turkey is gut-shot, wait several hours before tracking it
- Look for blood and other signs, such as overturned leaves, broken branches, and footprints
- Mark your trail with bright-colored material
- Walk beside the game sign, avoiding walking directly on blood
Is a shotgun or bow better for turkey hunting?
Shotgun hunters should take turkeys with a head and neck shot for a quick, clean kill. Shot shooters have a better chance at a lethal head shot than do bowhunters because shotgun pellets spread into a relatively wide pattern, and it takes just a handful of pellets hitting the right places to kill a bird.
Is it harder to hunt with a bow?
The rifle hunter can kill in five times (or more) the area a bowhunter could kill in. It’s no secret that extended range equals more opportunity, and in this case, rifle hunting is a hell of a lot easier than bowhunting.
How do I choose a bow for turkey hunting?
Selecting a bow for hunting in the turkey woods can be a challenging process because there are so many different brands as well as styles on the market today. If you’re bowhunting turkeys, the first aspect to look at is fit. The fit of a bow means riser height, draw weight, and draw length, which plays a huge role in accuracy for turkey hunters.
Can you hunt Turkey with a bow?
Hunting turkey with a bow is an accomplishment in its self and is very challenging. Having the best equipment for the job can improve the odds when the time comes to release the arrow. In regard to archery equipment, knowing which bow fits your exact needs is crucial.
What is the perfect distance for bowhunting a Turkey?
However, exactly what the perfect distance is depends on the turkey, the terrain, and the hunter. Yet another key factor to successfully bowhunting turkeys is to understand their anatomy as well as proper shot placement.