OPEN for help

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Sat, 2012-05-05 14:16

arrowflipper

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OPEN for help

I'm open for all the help I can get. I am headed turkey hunting with my bow. The first time I ever went turkey hunting, I did it with the bow but was skunked. I took up the shotgun and have done quite well. Now it's time to head back into the woods with my bow.

Here's my question..... What tip do I use? Do I use a regular broadhead like I use on deer and elk, or do I use a spider type head? At the distance I'll hopefully shoot, the spider will actually penetrate and do some serious damage. The broad head would just sail right on through. Maybe even a blunt??? I'm open for suggestions. I'll be leaving on Tuesday morning.

Thanks in advance for any advice or help you can give me.

arrowflipper

Sat, 2012-05-05 16:37

Critter

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I just use the same broad

I just use the same broad head for turkeys that I use for deer and elk. But I don't do a body shot but a head shot. The two of them that I took with my bow were both within 10 yards so a head shot isn't that hard to do.

I have also seen turkeys running around with a arrow sticking out of them when somebody tried a body shot and missed the vitals not to mention the one that a hunting partner of mine shot through the body that we never found.

Sun, 2012-05-06 09:06

arrowflipper

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inclined

Thanks for the answer. I am inclined to agree with the head shot. I know it raises the odds of a miss, but it also raises the odds of finding the bird if I do hit it. I am seriously thinking about using the spider tip and going for the head. I think the shock will anchor him on the spot. I'm excited about trying this whole thing. By the way Critter, where do you hunt turkey and what variety are they? I will be hunting both Merriams and Rio Grands here in Washington. Again, thanks for the info. You can bet I'll let ya know if I pull this off.

Sun, 2012-05-06 11:41

Critter

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I mostly hunt Utah and

I mostly hunt Utah and Colorado for turkeys but have ventured as far away as Montana. Most of the ones that I have shot were Rio's. I have found that if you can get within 20 yards of one then the head shot is fairly easy and even a grazing hit with a broad head will drop the bird. I did use a blind on one of the birds that I took with my bow but the other one I was just out in the open with a large piece of brush behind me to break up my outline. It is also a bigger rush taking one with a bow, that is unless you have never taken one with a shotgun.

I still remember my first turkey. We were just driving down the road in the middle of the day when we spotted a flock feeing along a stream below us. Two of us bailed out of the truck and headed to get ahead of them. I found a spot but I had to drop off a 20' ledge to get down to where I could set up. I just slid down that hill and when I stopped here came the birds. One shot later with my shotgun and I had a bird in hand and was jumping around like a little kid on Christmas.

Sun, 2012-05-06 19:54

arrowflipper

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never forget

I know what ya mean.... I will never forget my first turkey. He was a jake and I nailed him at just over 50 yards. I knew that was too far but I didn't have any other choice. I've taken several since then but not with a bow. This should be a ton of fun. I drug my bow out this afternoon and shot several rounds. I think that if I can get within 20 yards, I'll go for the head. Most of my shots at twenty yards today were within an inch either way of the bull. That should be good enough for at least a grazing hit.

Where in utah are the turkeys? I lived there from 1980 through 1990 and I don't remember any turkeys. I shot a plethora of deer with bow, black powder and rifle though. And even some elk. Great state for hunting. I think lots of things have changed since I lived there though. Back then, I could hunt all three seasons until I got my deer. Sure ain't that way now, is it?

The birds I'll be hunting have NOT been hunted before. They're actually in the city limits even though they're out in the country. The people stil think they're wonderful so they feed them. I big old tom ain't gonna think I'm too wonderful when I get done with him.

Sun, 2012-05-06 20:24

Critter

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Anymore in Utah it would be

Anymore in Utah it would be easier to ask where they aren't. They have been a great introduction to the state. I first started seeing them in the mid 90's and now they are everywhere except for the Southwest Desert area. I hunted them on a LE draw in both the Book Cliffs and Elk Ridge out of Blanding and have had over the counter tags in the central and Manti areas of the state. Right now the state has both a LE hunt that you need to draw a tag to hunt the early season and a over the counter tag that alows you to hunt the whole state which is going on right now.

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