Bow Success Rate For Turkey

[DirtTime]

I know a few on here hunt Spring turkey with a bow. I planned to do it a couple years ago, then my bow went south. Thinking about trying it this season. Just wondering a few things though.

Success rate with a bow?

Broadheads- the same for deer or special ones?

Aim at the base of the neck or for the tiny lung area?

[ATbuckhunter]

Usually the success rate for bowhunting turkey is low as they have very good eye sight. Broadheads are the same as the ones you use for deer and you want to aim for the body of the turkey. Some people Will actually use an older and more dull broadhead because penetration is not an issue. In fact a bigger mechanical broadhead would be very beneficial to use on turkey.

[turkeyfeathers]

Check these broadheads out.

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[mlammerhirt]

Holy cow.....Looks like a switch blade!

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[moog5050]

My success rate has been the same.  Interpret that how you will.  Lol.  Would love to kill one with my recurve.  

[turkeyfeathers]

Just talked to my buddy who went extensive turkey hunting with his bow after completing a Grand Slam (shotgun) and Shotgun Slam (all gauges) . 12 birds with the bow, not sure how many attempts. Regular broadheads.  Sadly he was involved in a terrible car accident a couple years ago and now can longer shoot a bow. Now has a few xbow birds though. I just called him and he was at his lease in Ohio watching 2 long beards.

[rachunter]

i tried it for 8 years in a row. i wanted to do it with no blind came close a few times before giving up.three years ago sitting in a treestand deer hunting had this guy pop out 20 yrds. hit him where the neck meets the body drop and flop.

 

[Buckmaster7600]

It depends if you use a blind it's not a big disadvantage at all. Doing it without a blind is a whole different game!

I can't remember how many spring toms I have killed with a bow maybe 7 or 8 but I can tell you my success rate is pitiful! I am very fortunate to have great ground to hunt them and a lot of it so I can mess up a few ambushes a day and still have a chance.

My best advice is turn your bow way down. Two reasons #1 shish kabobed turkeys don't fly well. #2 you may have to hold your draw a long time.

If your not using a blind set up in a blowdown or behind a big tree to cover your draw then pop around it ready to shoot.

I highly recommend it! It's a blast and a real challenge. I had given up turkey hunting for a couple years out of boredom until using a bow sparked my interest again. This year I will be attempting it with the longbow.

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[Pygmy]

I have a friend who lives in Florida and kills his limit of Osceolas with his recurve every year, and usually gets his limit in Georgia as well..

He has killed birds without a blind, but most of the time he uses a custom made blind  that he sets up in the dark, often within flydown distance of a roosted gobbler.. He used a real taxidermied hen as a decoy and most of his shots are at 10 yards or less..

[DirtTime]

Thank you for the info and insight.

I have a couple pop-up hub blinds. Was really looking for advice on the broahheads and where to aim. 

Edited March 7, 2017 by ....rob

[ATbuckhunter]

23 minutes ago, ....rob said:

Thank you for the info and insight.

I have a couple pop-up hub blinds. Was really looking for advice on the broahheads and where to aim. 

Pretty much any broadhead (expendables are better in this case) and aim for the body. There are good YouTube videos of where to aim. 

[DirtTime]

I have some old WASP 4 blade 125's. I also have some carbon arrows ( that will shoot the 125's ) I need cut to my draw length. Not sure if I want to dull them up, but I will have to sight in the bow from shooting 100GR heads to 125GR heads.

 

[ATbuckhunter]

10 minutes ago, ....rob said:

I have some old WASP 4 blade 125's. I also have some carbon arrows ( that will shoot the 125's ) I need cut to my draw length. Not sure if I want to dull them up, but I will have to sight in the bow from shooting 100GR heads to 125GR heads.

 

Should work well on them. You don't have to dull them up though. 

[Buckmaster7600]

I have some old WASP 4 blade 125's. I also have some carbon arrows ( that will shoot the 125's ) I need cut to my draw length. Not sure if I want to dull them up, but I will have to sight in the bow from shooting 100GR heads to 125GR heads.

 

Shoot whatever it's sighted in with now. I have used a bunch of different heads and haven't saw where one is way better than the other. Currently I use slick tricks.

When shooting a bird with a bow for what ever reason I have had the least tracking if I can shoot them in the back, broad side is effective as well just make sure you aim in the upper front. My first bow turkey was a slammer tom with an absolute rope of a beard that I hit right at the base of and cut 95% of off. That's the last time I will shoot one facing directly at me.

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[Larry]

I have killed 4 turkeys with a bow but only in the fall. If turkeys are in season while out deer hunting and turkeys are around I’ll try doing some calling. Never tried to hunt them in the spring it’s hard enough getting them with a gun.

[DirtTime]

On 3/6/2017 at 4:25 PM, Buckmaster7600 said:

It depends if you use a blind it's not a big disadvantage at all. Doing it without a blind is a whole different game!

I can't remember how many spring toms I have killed with a bow maybe 7 or 8 but I can tell you my success rate is pitiful! I am very fortunate to have great ground to hunt them and a lot of it so I can mess up a few ambushes a day and still have a chance.

My best advice is turn your bow way down. Two reasons #1 shish kabobed turkeys don't fly well. #2 you may have to hold your draw a long time.

If your not using a blind set up in a blowdown or behind a big tree to cover your draw then pop around it ready to shoot.

I highly recommend it! It's a blast and a real challenge. I had given up turkey hunting for a couple years out of boredom until using a bow sparked my interest again. This year I will be attempting it with the longbow.

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14 hours ago, Buckmaster7600 said:

Shoot whatever it's sighted in with now. I have used a bunch of different heads and haven't saw where one is way better than the other. Currently I use slick tricks.

When shooting a bird with a bow for what ever reason I have had the least tracking if I can shoot them in the back, broad side is effective as well just make sure you aim in the upper front. My first bow turkey was a slammer tom with an absolute rope of a beard that I hit right at the base of and cut 95% of off. That's the last time I will shoot one facing directly at me.

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A little contradictory there:

Quote

My best advice is turn your bow way down. Two reasons #1 shish kabobed turkeys don't fly well. #2 you may have to hold your draw a long time.

Quote

Shoot whatever it's sighted in with now. I have used a bunch of different heads and haven't saw where one is way better than the other. Currently I use slick tricks.

If I turn down the draw weight I will still have to re-sight the bow. I have the full arrow weight of my deer hunting arrows written down, but not sure where I put it right now. Lowering the bows draw weight will effect the arrows flight and accuracy as to where it hits in it's current set up. Seriously, not trying to be a dick, but even going from pulling 55#'s to 45#'s will make the arrow move. A drop of 10#'s would make the arrow fly a good deal lower.

Appreciating the feedback on this. Thank you to those who have given advice. 

 

I appreciate all the advice and feedback, 

 

[Buckmaster7600]

If I turn down the draw weight I will still have to re-sight the bow. I have the full arrow weight of my deer hunting arrows written down, but not sure where I put it right now. Lowering the bows draw weight will effect the arrows flight and accuracy as to where it hits in it's current set up. Seriously, not trying to be a dick, but even going from pulling 55#'s to 45#'s will make the arrow move. A drop of 10#'s would make the arrow fly a good deal lower.
Appreciating the feedback on this. Thank you to those who have given advice. 
 
I appreciate all the advice and feedback, 
 

Probably not necessary for you to turn it down, I did because I draw 80lbs.

I should have said "tuned for" not sighted in for. Turning a bow down usually won't affect "tune."


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