Traditional Turkey Hunting Tips?

[Bucksnort101]

This is the year for my first Turkey hunt with a bow. Will be shooting a 54" Rivers Edge Arroyo.
Wondering if those that chase Toms with Trad  equipement can give me hunting/calling/equipement and setup tips to get those boys in nice and close escpecialy during the late season when thos Toms are getting call shy. Hens tend to get shy of calls and decoys in my neck of the woods as well
Going to start reading my copy of Jack Brobst Bowhunting for Turkeys book and see what info I can pick up from there.  Callapsable ground blind is on the list of things to purchase as well.

[Gordy]

Tip #1:  Bring a friend.  

Well prefereably one who knows turkey huntin, so that would exlude me right thar.   :D

[**DONOTDELETE**]

bow set-up...just like what you use for deer hunting.

don't call to load when a tom is coming in.


Have Fun

[TSP]

For turkey hunting with a bow a popup blind (the kind that looks like an igloo) is worth its weight in gold.  I've had birds come in silent and land so close to the blind that the walls moved from the wingbeats...talk about getting the heart pumping!

And for late season or spooky birds ditch the decoys, forget hunting IN fields (edges inside the woods are ok) and call very sparingly.  If you know the birds regular travel pattern all the better...set up along that route and wait for the birds (minimal calling).  Dekes and too much calling tend to turn birds off after they've been hunted awhile, and they often show up unexpectedly so don't get too engrossed in your nap or magazine.  

And finally, don't forget to pick a spot!  

[Bucksnort101]

Pop up blind in #1 on my list of things to buy. I've Turkey hunted with shotgun in the past and know a bit about calling and decoying and such. Friend had some luck with a Tom/Jake decoy last sping in the late season, Tom came barreling in when he saw that deke with a hen decoy. Met his maker shortly therafter. Could be just a fluke, but it is worth trying as well.
Am in the process of learning how to call to a hen Turkey more effectively, rather than call the Tom in call his girlfriends away from him sounds like an effective technique. Going to be spending many hours at the local city park calling unhunted birds for practice.

[Bucksnort101]

P.S. Timmay, you've got your invite to Turkey hunt with me. We just need to find some more places to hunt.

[La. bowhunter]

#1 double bull matrix blind
# 2 primos full strut decoy ( I cant remember the name)

These two items have greatly increased my turkey hunting sucess. The blind allows you greater freedom of movement needed to draw a bow and the decoy just really makes the big boys angry and they come in ready to kick some ass and dont pay attention to what you are doing.

[Mike Hames]

1- Good shooting bow in the 55-60" length
2- Good wide broadhead that shoots straight
3- Pop up blind, Brickhouse has very good visability and extra shoot through screens
4- comfortable chair/bucket/seat
5- find fly down areas and trails leading to
   water or food both spring and fall
6- Calls work pretty good in spring but I have
   had no luck in the fall with calls- use trails
7- set up blind, put a little brush around it
   and stay put. I have stayed in my blind all
   day in one area except a hour I got lunch.
   A good book helps
8- Did I say Comfortable seat!!!!!!!!!!
9- Patience
10- Some use a string tracker. We have used it hunting near tall grass fields where the bird
might get to the grass and hide. "Shoot some with the string tracker to see how arrow reacts before hunting with it.
11- STUDY the turkey anatomy- very little room for mistake or bad hit. They are hard to put down. I have a selfbow, 65# with cedar arrows that some of the birds I hit stops the arrow about the time it makes penetration on the off side. This same bow just blows thru whitetail other game.

Most of all, take a friend to visit with, call with and take photos and HAVE fun.
I know I love turkey huting and can't get enough of it.
Good luck and shoot straight.

Mike

[mnbwhtr]

Late season you have to get in front of them and ambush them. Learn where they are at a certain time and get there before them. They are a lot easier to patern than a whitetail but it still takes scouting time.