Bowhunting turkey

Michiganboy · Oct 22, 2006

Ok Iam planning on bowhunting turkey this upcoming season in utah. I was wondering what calls do you guys recommend and what arrows. If any of you bow hunt turkey could help me out here dont know what I should get call wise or arrows. Thanks

FAB · Oct 22, 2006

Any broadhead you use for deer will work for turkeys. The key is shot placement, big time with turkeys. I saw a video with one of the guys from DoubleBull using the Gobbler guiolltine (sp?) and it took the bird's head clean off. His shot was probly at about ten yards but they claim they fly great. As far as calls I prefer a slate but a diaphragm (sp) would be ideal keeping your hands free. The hardest part is getting drawn on them. If your using a commercial blind it's easy to get drawn on them. It's alot of fun no matter how you do it though. I wouldnt worry too much about what type of call you use as far as how it sounds. Gobblers will come to most any call when their lonely. Not sure what the legal shooting hours are in Utah but I've taken most of my birds after 1000 here in Ks. So if you can hunt all day. Hope this helps.

Michiganboy · Oct 22, 2006

Thanks alot I will be looking into it more. I was wondering so I can start practing and all the fun stuff.

camo_deerslayer · Oct 24, 2006

I'd use a mouth (diaphram) call so you can have both hands on your bow. You'll need to stop the bird so you can get as still of a shot as possible.

I've tried the Gobbler Guillotines, I hated them. They don't fly worth a hoot, they're noisy, blah.. blah... I went back to my broadheads. Shoot em at the top of the beard.

Good luck, it's HARD. Very rewarding when you pull it off though.

springbear · Oct 24, 2006

Dude, Good luck.

I have stalked and killed 5 bull elk with my bow; 4 nice white talied bucks (2 go over P&Y) and I have killed a truck load of bears with the stick and string. The only thing I killed off a "stand" were a few of the bears.

I AM 0 FOR 11 ON TURKEYS WITH MY BOW!!!! I have killed plenty with my shotgun, but in my opinion there is not a harder animal to get drawn on and then hit and kill with archery equipment than a mature TOM, stalked or called on the ground without a blind. I think it might be better to go for them with traditional archery equipment if you can. The reason is that traditional archery is more instinctive; and the draw, aim, shoot cycle is much more fluid and quick... I know a few guys who could likely take a bird out of the air with traditional equipment...
I am not real good out past 15 yards with my recurve so I am going to try again with my compound this year....
Out of a ground blind, a compond should be a no brainer. Also out of ground blind, I don't see much difference between my compound and my 1187 turkey slayer... Infact I am better with my bow at 60 yards than the shotgun...
No matter how you do it, take all kinds of calls but you better learn a mouth call for sure. I bet you will need it when it is time to shoot.
Since I have yet to kill one with my bow, I am not much help on the broad heads. However, I have carried all kinds of gimics for them. I now have settled on some cheaper broad heads instead of the stopper, judo, head choppers and on and on... 100 grain broadheads seem to be a good option.

Michiganboy · Oct 24, 2006

Thanks alot everyone This will help alot. I seen a vid about some kind of arrow(forgot) That would get them but they dont work at 20 + yards I think.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Oct 28, 2006

Do you have a turkey tag or are you just being optomistic. Utah is draw only on all turkey tags and I have 5 points and haven't drawn yet. Good luck. The easiest way to draw on a mature tom is with his back to you. I have shot several in KS with my bow using the old "Texas heart shot".

It's always an adventure!!!

Elkcrzy1 · Nov 10, 2006

Turkeys are a kick with a bow. Like mentioned earlier shot placement is the key. I use a box, diaphram, and slate combining them at different times and its proven effective for me. I use a double blind, typically one hen decoy and a jake decoy, seems to do the trick. Ive actually had turkeys peek their head into the blind and look in. Good luck. Gary