By: Heath Wood

The Beginners Guide

The late Fred Bear once said, "There is more fun in hunting with the handicap of the bow than there is hunting with the sureness of the gun."

Most bowhunters choose to hunt with the more complex bow and arrow because of the challenges it brings and the feeling of accomplishment when a harvest has been made. A spring turkey hunt is a thrill; add the challenge of using a bow and arrow to complete the harvest, and it may very well be the most exciting hunt to date.

Even with predicting a fun and exciting hunt, when hunters trade their favorite turkey gun in for their bow, fear can sometimes set in, causing a loss of confidence. They often find themselves questioning if it is possible to get a turkey in close enough, draw their bow without being seen, and make the shot count if it is presented. The answer is yes; by preparing now with the tips listed below, every hunter can enjoy the adrenaline and exhilaration of successfully bowhunting mature gobblers this spring.

The Proper Equipment

The first step for a turkey hunter to harvest a gobbler with their bow is making sure they have the right equipment.

A wild turkey has one of the best eyesights among all wildlife. To avoid getting pegged, having the proper bow and right shooting mechanics is critical to ensure a smooth, quiet draw when a turkey gets into close range without getting spotted. If the slightest movement is made, a turkey turns to full alert, and the game can be over before the hunter realizes what happened.

When choosing a bow for hunting turkeys, I first look for a shorter axle-to-axle measurement to certify that I can draw while sitting, kneeling, or in a ground blind. Having a smaller bow also equals smaller movement and bigger concealment. For the past two years, my bow setup has consisted of using the Bear Archery Whitetail Legend that has a measurement of only thirty-one inches from axle-to-axle. My draw weight is set on sixty-two to sixty-three pounds to ensure I can draw the bow smoothly, without making any unnecessary movements that a gobbler might see. Also, to guarantee a smooth, quiet draw, I use the TruGlo Hyper Strike Drop Away Rest. The Hyper Strike features a V-shaped rest that keeps my arrow in place while drawing. The last thing I want is for my arrow to sling to the left or right when going to full draw. A smooth draw is essential, yet staying balanced when at full draw is even more critical when keeping movement to a minimum. A stabilizer is the last bow accessory that I feel is necessary for a turkey hunting setup. I use the TruGlo Cadence 8" Stabilizer to ensure better bow stability and balance when I get to full draw.

After a proper bow setup has been achieved, I recommended shooting two or three times a week until the season has arrived. Once the season starts, I periodically practice if I haven't made a harvest. By shooting often, I know how all my equipment performs, and my confidence as an archer is at a high level before hunting.

Get A Ground Blind

As with the bow setup, another focus for the beginning archery turkey hunter is to stay concealed so that they do not get picked off by an approaching turkey when hunting. A ground blind is one of the best inventions for the spring turkey bowhunter. A ground blind such as the Ameristep Gunner blind features Mossy Oak camouflage on the exterior of the blind to keep the hunter concealed. Inside the blind is 58" X 56" X 57", providing enough room for a bowhunter to stay camouflaged, even while drawing their bow.

A ground blind can also be great for turkey hunters by keeping gear such as turkey calls or binoculars concealed when in use. A bonus is the comfortability a blind chair offers while allowing the hunter to be better positioned to draw the bow when a gobbler comes into range.

Use Decoys

A must when bowhunting turkeys are using decoys to help attract turkeys to a specific spot and keep the attention away from the hunter when trying to make the shot.

Using a hen and jake decoy such as the Avian X HDR Hen and HDR Jake can be beneficial in many ways when bowhunting turkeys. When bowhunting turkeys, hunters set up their ground blind and decoys well before the hunt begins. After the decoys are in place, they get in the blind and call. When turkeys respond to the calls, they come in to see the decoys giving the hunter adequate time to draw their bow and make the shot while the gobblers' attention is on the decoys.

Decoys can also be used as yardage markers for judging distance when a gobbler is fast approaching. I have often taken my range finder and placed a hen and jake decoy at ten yards and a feeding hen decoy at twenty yards. By placing the decoys at different distances, I mimic a realistic scenario for approaching gobblers to see when coming to the call. More importantly, I know precisely what sight pin to use on my bow when a gobbler is standing at the pre-determined yardage of that decoy, giving me a boost of confidence that I can make a successful shot. Keeping the closest decoy at no longer of a distance than ten yards is vital. Keeping decoys close to the blind allows a gobbler that might hang up away from the decoys to still be within shooting range and allow the hunter to make the harvest.

Bowhunting turkeys is a great way to get up close and personal to a mature gobbler in the spring. When hunters are prepared and take extra precautions to stay concealed, they can experience the excitement that every bowhunter dreams of.