Turkey Tactics and Tips?

[Terry Green]

Any new tips guys???

[JC]

Maybe I can find the time to hunt birds this year....always seems I'm either busy or have the opportunity to hunt hogs when it's turkey season. Of course, hogs come first   :D  

Would love to hear more tips, just in case.

[MJB]

Sometimes it is better to do no calling while the birds are still roosted. Wait till there on the ground. Calling to them while there still roosted prolongs (not always) their fly down.

The old gobbler will stay roosted till he sees hen/hens under the roost tree. I usually have my turkey wing with me and just use that, without a (vocal) fly down cackle. Don't even need a turkey wing , just use your cap and flap it a couple times against your pants leg.

Drives um bonkers  

[BTH]

Hey, Curt, can't find your string tracker set up how-to this year. Any way to get that back?
Went scouting this morning and found birds on two properties I have access to. You should've seen the grin on my wife's face when a gobbler answered her wingbone call. This is her first year going after turks. We'll be set up on a likely travel route next Saturday morning!

[bbassi]

Originally posted by Guru:
I wholeheartedly agree with using a string tracker.Why not use something that will help find a less than perfectly hit bird.Turkey's are tough,with hard bones,and very small kill zones.Depending on the angle of the shot,it goes from small to smaller!!
 I will always attach the tracker to my arrow if time permits.This bird from last fall would have never been found without my string tracker.I mean never,it would have been impossible to even have a clue where it was after it ran,then flew off.It was still alive when I found it,but I got it,thanks to the string leading me right to it,and letting me know I had my hands full with a bird that was still alive by the string moving when I got close!!  My shot wasn't one of my better one's,and this bird would have gone unrecovered and died had it not been for the tracker......

   


go to the "how to" forum and look at "string tracker and trad bows"  for more info about how I attach it to my bow and wood arrows.........

Hey Curt, I can't find this either. I know I saw it a couple of year ago but a search doesn't how up anything. I'd really like to read that again.  

[Ray Lyon]

Lot's of great information gentleman. There's been a little bit of information on broadheads and string tracker, but what are you guys using for bow weight and arrow weight? Other recommended heads besides Landsharks and big Snuffers?  

The bird I'm holding was with a 60# Super Shrew, Arrow Dynamics Traditional heavy shaft and grizzly broadhead (although now I use 3 blade head).

[Guru]

Sorry guys....I took it off TG when I found out the article was coming out of courtesy to TBM (April/May '07)....I thought I saved it to post again at a later time,but now I can't find it      

I'll type up a condensed version with pix and get it posted....


My best new tip would be to get a strutting tom decoy!!!!!!!!

[IB]

Curt SIR...A REFRESHER on attaching the string to the arrow might be a GREAT TIP for some          

[Jeff Roberts]

JC, I've just spent the first two mornings of season looking for them on NF land and have called two birds up both mornings in creek bottoms where the new grass is coming up.Jake too far out first morning and got busted trying to draw this morning. I'll carry my DB from now on. For the next two weeks that new grass will be good to set up on. I'll do that before heading to a gobbling bird this early in the season because everyone else is heading to them and I would rather be where he is planning on going than busting him off roost. Worked the last two mornings if I can only do my part and close the deal I'll be eating smoked breast.

[Squirrel Bait]

If he don't shoot a tree!!!  

[Jeff Roberts]

Yep Mike, I am pretty good at sticking them trees as well but have been on a tree drought here lately. That was a classic stalk on that tree though you got to admit.

[Squirrel Bait]

Yeah it was  beautiful! I did that about 15 yrs. ago on a big gobbler , 15 yards away blowed up with his tail to me. I swear I didn't see that tree.

[Savate]

Great advice here (especially that bowsite article!)

This is my first time EVER so I need to learn as much as possible.

Do y'all think that my Samick longbow 45# will be fast enough?

I've scouted my friend's land and seen 50 birds strutting around and traveling the same path at night fall.  Drove the ATV right up to them and could almost reach out and smack'em on the head.

Should I set up a blind there (guess I'll need to get one of those).

[DRR324]

Great thread- revived....
I remember reading the post about connecting the string to the arrow using velcro.  Take a small strip of the "hard side" sticky velcro and wrap around the shaft just behind the broadhead.  Tie your string around this and just spin the arrow a couple times to get the string into the loops.
Whitebuffalo dropped me off a tracker after shooting a touch low on a nice gobbler last year and not getting him.  He made a bracket that mounts to my riser with strong rubber bands, or leather string.  Got my draw tag for the first hunt, and have been shooting a bit just warming up, can't wait!

[ethan]

I got a question, Ihear lots of different opinions on where exactly to shoot a bird and rather or not to chase a bird after he's hit.  Do most of  yall shoot for the top of the "drum sticks", or the wing but?  And if a turkey flies or runs off do you go after him or just give him time?  Thanks.

[ZaneD]

ttt, not to rush you curt but could you please show us the string tracker how-to?!?!?

                      Thanks, Zane

[NCRecurve]

Back to the top, and to answer the question about Walmart not selling turkey gear anymore.  Here in NC they only sell it in stores where they believe the market is strong enough.  The stores here in Raleigh no longer carry it but the rural Walmarts do.  It's been that way here for a couple of years now.

Doug

[ishiwannabe]

Is the Game Tracker the referred to "string tracker"? I have the perfect 'curve, with a stabilizer insert just waiting to kill a Tom. I just dont want to buy the wrong thing. $16 seems way too cheap....

[DRR324]

ishi- yep, gametracker with screw mount will work on your bow with the insert.

[finger lakes bowhunter]

Early season with the leaves off I will go out at dusk, fully camoed and glass for roosted birds.  I will go to the spot a full hour before sunrise and sit.  They fly right to the decoy from the roost and I shoot them.  Have not done it with a recurve yet but this year is my year.  Not many people are into turkey hunting near me so the pressure is almost nonexistent and I live in an ag area so the population is very healthy.  I shoot my two birds last year within the first few mins of the first two days of season.