We had fun with the Question and Answer format on an earlier post. Here are a couple more dilemma’s that spring gobbler hunters face:
Quest for a Bow-Bird
Josh from New York asks: “I want to try bowhunting turkeys this spring and wonder if my standard whitetail gear will work. Any tips?
Wow! Josh, you are in for some great excitement. Bowhunting for a spring gobbler is great fun and you need only a few specialized items to succeed. First, use whatever bow and arrows you shoot best. Back down the draw weight on your bow so you can draw it slowly and quietly- 50 pounds is sufficient. Next, invest in turkey-specific broadheads. The Gobbler Guillotine is a large broadhead designed to sever the neck of a turkey at ranges out to 25 yards. Practice with one head to make sure you shoot accurately and you are ready. As second option is the largest expandable head you can find. The Rage Turkey Broadhead has a 2 1/8th-inch cut that is devastating to any vital hit. Thirdly, practice on a strutting tom 3-D target. Gobblers have very small vital areas and your mind will be racing as this tremendous hunting trophy struts practically in your lap. Condition you self to make an exact shot. Finally, consider a portable pop-up blind. Unlike deer, turkeys are clueless about new structures in their environment as long as it doesn’t move.
Rise, but no Shine
Kevin from Texas asks: “I try to work the second shift during turkey season, but after a few days of early rising and little sleep, I’m worn out. The economy being what it is, I don’t want to jeopardize my job. What’s your suggestion?”
Keep your job Kevin! That’s being smart. Turkey hunters are such creatures of habit that sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. You sound like a seasoned hunter so I’ll ask how many times you have set up on a turkey in predawn light, called it in, and killed it. I’d be surprised if that works 10% of the time, yet we all do it. Studies show that many hunters are successful in mid morning in the 9:00 to 10:00 time slot and some absolutely prefer late morning because gobblers have had a chance to fly down, mate, and are now “available.” Since hunting hours last all day in Texas, consider this early afternoon tactic, advocated by Rob Keck, the former Executive Director of the NWTF. Keck goes to a place he knows has turkeys, sets up, runs through his calls, and then waits quietly. Inevitably, a gobbler either shows up silently or begins to gobble. Usually, if an early afternoon tom will talk, he’ll approach a call.
