I turkey hunted with a bow for the first time last year, and I have to admit, I liked it almost as much as bowhunting whitetails! I was surprised by that, because I REALLY like bowhunting whitetails...A LOT! I enjoyed the on-the-spot interaction involved with it. Decided that only being able to hunt the short seasons of one state wasnt enough time, so Im applying in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin this year! Where do you all do your turkey hunting, and how is the quality of hunting?
When I saw the title of this post, I almost flipped. I thought... "is spring really almost here?, right now I'm watching the snow fall". :-) I am going out with the bow again this year too. I scored last year on a nice 8" bearded bird and am ready for more. I hunt PA and the turkey populations seem to have exploded in this state in the last few years. There certainly is no shortage of birds to hunt. Though, these are eastern birds, not exactly a cake walk to hunt and not always the most vocal bunch. PA changed the laws this season and for the first time, are allowing us to hunt all day starting the third week of the season. Should be interesting. Until now, we've only been allowed to hunt until noon.
I'll have 4 tags this spring, 2 in KY and 2 in SD. I'll be bow and gun hunting both states, but my best property this year is bow only so I may have little choice most of the time in KY. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from bowhunting them last year. I'm switching to bullheads now because this way it's either decapitate or he walks unscathed. I'm tired of wounding birds on seemingly good shots, having arrows bounce off a turkey wing butt, etc...
The one I killed last year I shot at 22 yards with a Slick Trick. The shot was through the wing area. He didn't go anywhere after the shot, just kinda stunned him as he fell over and started the flop.
This will be my first year hunting turkey, should be a good time, I'm sure it'll take a little while to get the hang of it just like anything else!
I turkey hunted for the first time last year too and became addicted immediately. Except for the terrible mosquito problem down here at that time its as fun as anything I've done. This year will be my first with a bow and I live/hunt in a zone where we get Easterns and Osceolas .....I've spotted alot of birds while on stand and I have a pretty good game plan so I cant wait for the season to get here.
I'll take the recurve, some. I'll take a shotgun, some. I haven't hunted a turkey with a shotgun in 13-14yrs. I also haven't drawn down on a turkey with my bow, since I took my bow bird in 2007. I'll have fun. I've never called for myself and run n gun hunted. I'm looking forward to that.
I might not turkey hunt this year. 2 years ago I didn't get drawn and didn't last year either for the same area. I should've got drawn last year, the DNR Is not sure why I didn't as I called them and asked why I didn't. I checked the regulation's out for this year and again they didn't raise the permits. Pissed me off after reading that so I didn't apply, we have way to many of these things running around. If you don't get drawn for a license you can then go the last 2 weeks of the season. The last 2 weeks are May 13th through May 26th. They hardly make a peep, the hunting Is pretty bad. I could set up In a tree and just wait for them to walk by but I'd much rather call and bring them In that way. That Is much more fun to me!!! We'll see I guess, maybe I'll go again.
We have a good amount of birds in Georgia, but i lost my honey hole this past year. Houses now sit where countless longbeards gave up the ghost. I hunt alot of public land and do faily well. I hunt deer with a bow, but it is shotgun only for turkeys, I just enjoy that so much more.
I just purchased a Martin Saber back in November (my very first bow) and plan on going out this spring for some turkey. There are plenty here in Kansas. Especially around the army base.
I will probably be busy chosen hogs around this spring more than turkeys. But if the opportunity presents itself, longbeard down!
I would like to hear how they work for you. I shot my first turkey last fall and the same thing happened to me in 2009. That was when I was using G5 Strikers and not my current BH (Magunus Stinger) which I think will fare better. I did not turkey hunt at all last year but am exicited about this spring. I'm contemplated this change as well. Just want to give conventional BH's one more chance.
I'm super pumped for turkey season as we have a few flocks spotted along the canal. Nobody hunts them much here and you get your tag over the counter. Haven't been able to shoot anything with my bow yet as bowhunting during deer rifle season didn't pan out so well. My biggest problem right now is do I take the PSE Bowmadness XS or do I take the recurve. I hate tough decisions. Maybe compound for spring and recurve for fall? Shooting muzzy 3's.
I missed the first deadline for IL, but did manage to squeak my application in before the 2nd. I'm pretty confident I'll draw a tag, just don't know what season it will be for. Now that I finally have a ground blind I'm hoping to kill my first bird with a bow.
Is this board new? How did I miss this board? But yes, I'm so ready for that first gobble of the year. It's the most fantastical moment of all time each year.
