Turkeys with Stick and String

[bishs]

I have drawn the third hunt in southern Michigan May 7-13. I plan on hunting them with my recurve and portable blind. Anybody else hunting turkeys with their bow?

I plan on using a recurve this year also. Only problem is I have to be one of the worst turkey hunters, I am always in the wrong spot. Oh well its better than being at work;)

[Ebowhunter]

After three years of no luck, I am looking forward to taking my first turkey with a shotgun because I am very giddy to take one with my recurve.

[bhntr]

I'm hunting the last season also. I've been to some 3-D shoots for practice as well as regular shooting in the back yard. I've also been doing some scouting and have already found some good spots.
I find it courious as I havent been drawn for the season I originaly chose in 5 years, but at least Im able to purchase the last season choice.
I cant wait to try out some homemade calls Ive built.

Does any one use stoppers on their arrows?
Bhntr.

[bishs]

bhntr, I believe, you very well may have the best hunt. That 3 week hunt should allow you quite a few days afield. I have hunted the last season several times and have always had good luck caling turkeys. Some of the largest turkeys I have called in for friends have been during the last season. Those dominant gobblers that had flocks of hens, are usually alone and looking.

I will be hunting my entire week. I will be calling for my wife one day, then she will call for herself. I will call for a friend of mine for two days and the rest I will be by myself. When we applied for permits; I was banking on us all having different periods. I was very surprised when we all got the same week!

For late season turkeys try this; After I find a gobbler, I call very soft using a variety of calls. I try to sound like a flock of turkeys. Sometimes I get a gobbler to respond sometimes not. After about 1/2 hour of this, I figure the gobbler has had a chance to get comfortable with my calling. Then I pour on excited calls, (cutting on my mouth call). Yea I know everyone tells you not to call like this during late season, but tell the turkeys that..

Hopefully he gobbles back. I will wait 5 or 10 minutes. Then I cut again, if he answers I can tell if he has moved. If he has not moved, I change calling locations, I may move on a turkey 4 or 5 times. I have had good luck with this and many other versions of it. I am very persistent and I don't leave a gobbling turkey even if he has hens. Several times now I have been able to call gobblers away from flocks. I just keep following the flock, curiosity is a gobblers worst enemy.

I will be bowhunting the turkeys out of my Lucky Tent Blind.

Taking one with a bow is something I have not done yet. Maybe this year? (:~)
Good Luck in the turkey woods!

[bhntr]

bishis tahnks for the tips. Ive never hunted turkeys yet so the info was great.
Do you use decoys when using this method that you described and if you do what do you put out and how many?
I plan on using snuffers for broadheads . what do you think about using arrow stoppers to keep it in the bird?
Thanks again bhntr.

[bishs]

I am going to be using 3 blade snuffers myself. You will not need arrrow stoppers, a turkey is very dense, they have dense layers of feathers, then you are either shooting through breast or back bone. you will not pass through unless you are using a very fast bow with a broadhead with a small cutting diameter. You definetly want your arrow to stay in them, so they don't fly, that snuffer will work great.

They have a small kill zone, but they have good aiming points. If they are facing you, aim where the beard enters the body, if broadside shoot through the butt of the wing. The facing away shot is best through the back. If he is strutting facing away, aim where his tail feathers go into his body.

On private land 3 decoys work well. Put out a jake decoy in front about 10 yards or so facing you, with the hen decoys beyond a few yards. The gobbler will come in and face the jake, giving you a perfect shot at his backside.

On the state land I hunt, I don't like using decoys, they seem to be wise to them and either hold up when they see them or get spooked when they are surprised by them. When using the decoys that can spin on the stake, put a stick on each side so a gust of wind does not spin them around and scare the gobbler.

Use a portable blind. This is a great advantage, turkeys will walk right up against them and don't have a clue. They are not skittish around camo blinds like deer. I would not recomend hunting them without a blind, especially if you are new to the sport.
Good Luck Scott