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First Archery Turkey

739 views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  zighhb 
#1 ·
Over the years I have killed numerous turkeys but all of them have been with a shotgun. I have been pretty much out of archery hunting for the last 20 odd years. I had decided to get back into it and to seriously try to prepare to bow hunt again. I have been practicing some nearly every day for some time and doing all I could to become confident enough to do my best to make an ethical harvest. This morning I went hunting on a new place, anticipating the possibility of getting a shot at a deer. The location is a thicket and so I was hunting on the ground. A group of hens came in and I was able to get my first turkey with a bow. The shot was probably 19 or 20 yards. I use expandable broadheads so I didn't want to try to shoot thru the screen of my blind. Getting drawn back with all those eyes was a challenge in itself. I have harvested a lot of animals over the years and have had some great hunts that were challenging and thrilling, but I got one of the biggest thrills killing a "hen" turkey with a bow. I haven't gotten that excited in a long time. I know a lot of you have taken turkeys with a bow but for me it has been something I wanted to accomplish for a long time but never dedicated myself enough to prepare and make the time to really try. For me...this was a trophy!!! I think I had forgotten how satisfying archery can be. Wonderful challenging sport!! I figured out how to post a pic, but I can't figure out how to rotate it...sorry. Equipment used is a Darton 2800 bow, Easton fmj arrows and Schwacker broadhead.
 

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#6 ·
It can be a lot of fun. I think we can kill 4 in the fall here, but only 1 in the fall with a visible beard. I usually will hunt a food source or calling, mostly a kee kee run sound in the fall. I have taken a pile of turkeys over the years, both spring and fall in multiple states but I got the biggest kick out of getting one with a bow. Hard to express the satisfaction I got of actually being successful with a bow on a turkey. In my mind it is a big challenge.
 
#7 ·
It definitely is, turkeys are tough to hunt. We can only take 3 a year, unless something changed recently and they must be gobblers. We have LOADS of hens and nearly everytime I actually get to see turkeys during season they're ALL hens. I've never actually seen a fan in person, myself. I've heard a gobble or two, but never seen one that was alive.
 
#11 ·
Congrats I had a similar history as you, trying with bow but giving up for 20 years last spring. Haha I failed pretty miserably. I'm afraid a pinched neck nerve 18 months ago cost me the accuracy needed for the small target. The strength partially returned so may give it a go again this year. Not sure. I have no problem getting on toms on Wisconsin public, but as a NR I can only draw late season tags when toms avoid decoys like the plague. So I've been unable to get them from gun range to bow.
 
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