Spring Turkey advice....

[Slasher]

I have been trying... I have even gotten a shot of, but was so wrecked i didn't pich a spot and soared harmelessly over the back...

You successful spring gobbler hunters, whats the trick?

[cahaba]

Keep at it. Try to calm down (yeah right). Talk to some old turkey hunters that have hunted for alot of years. They taught me alot. Dont call to much. Got to hunt where the birds are. Lay down some foot leather. Hunt all day if regulations allow it.

[RightTrailWrongTime]

I know I get tore up pretty bad when the turks come in, just as much as anything else I've ever hunted- I usually close my eyes when I see a shooter buck so I don't get racksickness but when I open my eyes they're gone so my heart rate comes back down and I wait for the next one. There's lots of ways to calm yourself down, yeah right I've tried everything and I always figured if I DIDN"T get worked up then I would quit hunting but sometimes when I've made the decision to take my shot I am really really focused and sort of zoned in on what I'm about to do, it gets quiet in my head, tunnel vision, hit anchor and thump...it's off. I love it! I've taken a number of birds and there are a lot of topics to cover when it comes to turks- are you looking for specific advise? tactics? set-up? calling? gear?  You might also try the search function on here as well, much has been discussed on turkey hunting. I'm sure that you will get whatever info you need from the posts taht follow. I absoutely love to turkey hunt!!!

[Slasher]

Turkeys are not gimmies here in The south- well a few are, but To get them in the 20yd range they've usually been gobbling and strutting and are usually pretty wound up!!! They get wound up, I get wound up-Kewl Ain't it!!!! I have worn a ghillie suit and all, I'd wonder how I might get a shot on em...

I could 've killed a few more if shooting some no5's or if I went  with blind and sat a food source.... but I'd like to shun the blind and be a lil more mobile ...

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Mo. Huntin]

Ok man I am no expert but I would set up 10 yards inside the woods off a feeding field, with a couple of big trees in between me and them when they walk behind a big tree draw and let them have it when they come out the other side.  Also I like the old run and gun where I walk 100 yards and call then walk another 100 and call 75 if in the woods.  You just walk till you find one of the easy ones.  good luck.  I aint nobody but you are persistent and not getting much so I told what I like to do.

[Roy Steele]

It you want to kill turkeys with a bow.two things come into play.You have to use something to bring him in close and will keep him there that decoys.And you have to stay unseen the decoy will help you ther also.I mean good camo.I've used a home made Gillie suit for umpteen years.And had lots of gobblers at the 15 yard mark.Thats the yardage I try for with a selfbow.

[Roy Steele]

The mental thing you'll have to take care of that.We all had to most still fight with it from shot to shot.

[bluegrassbowhunter]

Get yourself a Doublebull blind & spend lots of time scouting & then somemore time scouting(the more gobblers you can keep tabs on before season the better your chance will be when season opens) & practice out of the blind so when the opportunity presents itself you can close the deal...

[Guru]

Originally posted by bluegrassbowhunter:
Get yourself a Doublebull blind & spend lots of time scouting & then somemore time scouting(the more gobblers you can keep tabs on before season the better your chance will be when season opens) & practice out of the blind so when the opportunity presents itself you can close the deal...

I couldn't have said it any better than that      

Hunting turkeys is one thing, but consistently killing them is another....and I luv mom's wild turkey cutlets  

[Pinelander]

Scouting (knowing their habits) and shooting accuracy (pretty small target)....

And of course, using a blind is helpful (wear all black clothing). The turkey's main survival mechanism is that of discerning movement. It's one thing to get a shot off at a turkey.... but quite another to hit it and kill it.

[Pinelander]

If you scout them enough and learn their habits, you don't need to be all that mobile. They have a big "living room"... know where they prefer to hang out and what areas they feel comfortable going to.

Being mobile can have it's advantages in re-positioning yourself on a hung up gobbler, but getting off a good bow shot without being concealed.... well, I guess you could say it is "challenging."

Generally speaking, the only good shots you're going to get while not concealed in a blind... are those when the bird is going away from you and in most cases when the bird is in full strut. If you like to hear a turkey's danger putt more than anything else, then by all means... shun the use of a blind and simply have some fun.

If you want to get good shots on turkeys nearly every time they come in (which increases your odds in killing one).... then I would recommend using a blind.

Good luck!

[Pinelander]

Years ago when when I hunted spring turkey without a blind, I discovered that a certain kind of setup worked pretty good... as follows -

1. Open field with decoy near the wooded edge.

2. Setup on the shady side of the field (east side in the morning).

3. Setup just inside the edge with foliage in front of you with several shooting windows.

Being in the shade is very much like being in a blind. It's dark in there and the birds can't discern movements as well. Wear a dark camo design that is dark like the shadows.

And another scenario -

1. Open field with a short wall of bushes at the edge, about waist high.

2. Decoy set out in front of them.

3. Hunker down and only raise up to shoot when the bird is strutting around the decoy and facing away from you.

[Slasher]

Thanks Fellas...

I am mostly hunting WMA's and the bird tend to require a Loooonnnnggg walk... Hence why I am nt using a blind...

I'll put this info to good use and hopefully have a hero pic once the season opens..

[acolobowhunter]

I have hunted them for many years.  I use a double bull blind, and 3 decoys ( 2 hens and 1 jake) when the breeding season is really going, I mount the jake on top of a hen.  That really gets the toms mad.  Set the jake and hen about 5-6 yds in front of you and another hen out to 10yds.  ALWAYS leave a path for the Tom to come into the decoys.  DON"T make him walk around a decoy to get to you.  About like hunting geese - you can set the decoys up wrong.  Quit calling when he is coming in and get ready.  
Time to shoot -- Look at the legs then shoot right above them where the drum stick is at.  They won't go far.  Always use the legs for your focus point.  Remember they are not as big as they look when strutting.

Good luck  

[MJB]