Bow hunters need special archery gear to be consistently successful with
turkeys. Many of these items are different from your normal deer hunting gear.
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Bow Selection
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Although the selection of a bow is a very personal decision, a few points
about the various bows are in order. A longbow or
recurve is an advantage for the hunter who is not going to utilize a ground blind.
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A hunter who is going to stalk a turkey, still hunt or take a
position behind or against a tree without the aid of a blind needs a bow that can be shot
quickly. Most recurves and longbows do not have sights or other aiming aids such as
peep sights, all of which require additional time to operate. A hunter using a blind
will have ample time to operate any type of bow.
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Compound bows offer the most advantages for the turkey bowbender. The vital area on a turkey is a small target, requiring precise
aiming and flat shooting bows. In theory, a bow that shoots fast and flat will be
the most forgiving if the distance to the target is misjudged. Over-draw compounds,
which shoot arrows several inches shorter than normal, further improve the flat-shooting
capabilities of compound bows.
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The best advice on bow selection is to use the bow you are most
comfortable with and can shoot accurately. If you are
selecting your first bow for turkey hunting, and will be using a blind, get a
compound. If you will be hunting without the aid of a ground blind, try a bow you
can shoot VERY QUICKLY.
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Arrows
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All bow hunters, except those hunting from inside a portable cloth blind, should
be using camouflage-colored arrows.
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Aluminum and carbon arrows will fly better and faster than those
made from other materials. Don't use bright fletchings, although you can get away
with one feather or vane per arrow in a bright green color. If you use feathers,
treat them with water-proof silicone spray or the commercially available waterproof
fletching treatments. If you plan on using an Electronic Arrow Tracking System, which you should, you'll need to use hollow,
aluminum arrows.
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Broadheads
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 $26.99
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New
Archery Products Gobbler Getter Broadheads-125 Grain |
Broadhead selection is a hotly debated topic among turkey bow hunters.
Based on my 25 years of experience and dozens
of gobblers bagged with bow and arrow, I recommend using wide-cutting broadheads, either
normal heads or the mechanical, expanding types. All of
these will cause maximum damage and have the best chance of hitting a vital area. Be
careful not to shoot too large a head for your bow's weight.
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If you like normal replaceable-blade heads, a Thunderhead or Rocky Mountain Ultra are both excellent gobbler stoppers.
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If you prefer to sharpen your own blades, a three-blade Snuffer is awesome on turkeys. The new specialized
expandable heads for turkey hunting, like a Gobbler Getter, or any of the other expandable heads like
a Spitfire, Gator, or Assassin will put the hurt on a turkey. Plus, they
shoot in a closed position, fly like field points and then open on impact.
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Don't use dull blades or judo points as some people recommend. And,
don't try for the head either. While a direct hit in
the neck or head with a broadhead will instantly drop a turkey, it's too difficult to hit
consistently and a glancing hit in these areas will result in a wounded bird. Aim
for the Big Part!
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Turkey Recovery Systems |
 $13.49
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GameTracker
Model 2500 Professional Tracking Unit |
Despite the broadhead I am testing or using, I always use an Electronic Arrow Tracking System, backed up with a String Tracking Unit.
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Why? Because turkeys are tough, even young fall birds. They
can take a lickin and keep on tickin. They don't often leave much of a blood trail,
they'll fly or run away without a trace, especially with a non-vital hit, even with one of
these wide-cutting broadheads. You'll lose turkeys
without a complete recovery system in place....namely a good broadhead, backed up with a
string tracking device, backed up with an electronic arrow recovery system.
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Confused? Well, you never know if the string will break, the
arrow will go through the bird and make the electronic system useless or what. Use
all of these methods together and you normally can recover any bird you hit. Of
course, a bird hit in its vital area won't go far no matter what broadhead you use.
But, you're never sure where the hit will be, even if you're the best archer in America.
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Blinds
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 $419.99
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T5
Prostaff Ground Blind
by Double Bull Archery |
A bow hunter will need to utilize a ground blind to be most effective. The SECRET is to use the type most
compatible with your hunting style and desires.
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Some hunters prefer a Small
Blind that attaches to a
tree, while others prefer a Full Coverage Blind that permits them to shoot from a stool or from their knees.
Others, like me, prefer a Tall Full Coverage Blind that permits the hunter to shoot while standing
up.
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Regardless of the type you choose, you'll need a high quality pair of Pruning
Shears to make the job of
cutting brush and shooting lanes quick, easy, and quiet. A good quality Seat
Cushion or Seat is also required no matter what type of blind you
choose.
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Decoys
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Finally, decoys are mandatory for the bow
hunter. They tend to attract a turkey into close range
and hold his attention while you adjust yourself for the shot.
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Make certain you study up on Decoy Tricks before
hunting with them. Most serious bow hunters use Hen Decoys, a Jake
Decoy or Strutting
Jake Decoy, and a Movement Decoy. The movement decoy is often
the SECRET to bringing a wary gobbler into easy bow range.
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With the special gear described in this article, you should be ready to bag
gobblers or fall turkeys every season!
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