How many only hunt turkeys with archery?

[Atchman2]

One of my friends got me into hunting turkeys with archery only. In fact he has convinced my wife's home town (which is VERY small) that it is the most sporting way to hunt them! You can look him up in the NWTF book, I think he has like 10 Slams now! His name is John Sloan. He taught me everything I know about turkey hunting.

Regardless, I really only have a desire to hunt them with a bow or crossbow now. I just love to call them in close enough to use the bow. Not a snob about it, just what I enjoy doing.

How many of you hunt with bows and crossbows for them? The crossbow isn't actually too bad for traditional "run and gun" hunting. I have sat on the ground in a leafy suit a bunch of times.

 

[Andy S.]

As much as I love archery deer hunting and turkey hunting in general, I have never had the desire to turkey hunt with a bow. Question of clarification: are you turkey hunting with a bow mainly on public lands like Land Between the Lakes, or inside populated urban areas? The mention of "wife's small hometown" is what triggered that thought and my question.

 

[knightrider]

I have killed several with a bow, but it just doesnt do it for me like killing a deer with a bow. Besides turkeys are meant to be shot in the face with a shotgun

 

[Atchman2]

As much as I love archery deer hunting and turkey hunting in general, I have never had the desire to turkey hunt with a bow. Question of clarification: are you turkey hunting with a bow mainly on public lands like Land Between the Lakes, or inside populated urban areas? The mention of "wife's small hometown" is what triggered that thought and my question.

No I mostly hunt in Kansas where my wife is from I have never hunted public land for turkeys I have a place in Anderson County TN that I hunt on private land.

 

[Andy S.]

^^^ Interesting. Have you noticed any difference in success rates with archery tackle when you compare effort and time afield in Kansas (Eastern/Rio/Hybrid) when compared to Tennessee (Eastern)?

 

[UCStandSitter]

Have. Not my favorite way and I'm a big archery guy. Won't hunt deer with a gun. However, the fun of turkey is run n gun. Almost impossible unless you're a ghost with a bow. That said, I'm not an over the top turkey guy anyway. I think everybody outta hunt em how they want to.

 

[ZachMarkus]

I've done it, I don't care for it at all. Deer is a different story though!

 

[Atchman2]

^^^ Interesting. Have you noticed any difference in success rates with archery tackle when you compare effort and time afield in Kansas (Eastern/Rio/Hybrid) when compared to Tennessee (Eastern)?

I have limited out (two birds) the last two times I've went. You just have to be way more selective with shots. Yes, I do use a blind so I can cover up the movement of my bow, and because I try and film my hunts. Sometimes I will put the POV camera out in likely areas.

The last time I went out there I just mounted the camera on my crossbow and wore a leafy suit. I still fear that they see my camera as it isn't that subdued.

I didn't get to actually hunt turkeys last year due to too many obligations. My fear this year is the drop in population. You used to see hundreds of turkeys at a time out there.

 

[tree_ghost]

I'm gonna try to tag one with my longbow, no blind…shot plenty with my compound. Favorite way is shotgun to the face though!

 

[Atchman2]

I'm gonna try to tag one with my longbow, no blind…shot plenty with my compound. Favorite way is shotgun to the face though!

I can'ts shoot my recurve well enough to hit a turkey. Really I can't hit a barn with it.

 

[Tn Joe]

Turkey hunting is a shotgun sport!

 

[Gravey]

Always thought it would be cool to shoot one with a bow but I don't get many days afield and need any advantage I can get so the shotgun gets the nod every time.

 

[Longbow2240]

No desire at all to hunt a gobbler with a bow. Every bird I've taken in 30+years has been with a 20 gauge.

 

[deerhunter10]

Not for me personally. Done it but nothing like bow hunting deer.

 

[Planking]

A bow is the most exciting way to deer hunt but i just didnt care for it for turkeys. The shotgun is the way.

 

[Wrangler95]

I've shot a few with a crossbow but it was in the archery deer season,never hunted with a bow in turkey season!!

 

[REN]

Ive just never had a desire to hunt them with a bow. hard enough with a shotgun as is lol. Plus I still LOVE shooting them with a shotgun.

 

[megalomaniac]

Tried it once, will never do it again. Hunting traditionally with a bow is almost impossible. Never cussed so much my entire life. Just about impossible to call in a bird when he is looking for you, come to full draw, and be able to release an arrow. Prob be easy as heck if you used a blind and decoys, but I'd rather pull out all my fingernails than sit in a blind waiting on a turkey to come in.

Fun factors to me....
#1 shooting one in the head
#2 fooling one to coming into shotgun range with my call
#3 using the terrain and cover to outsmart his senses