Bowhunting Longbeards!

[Bow Brothers]

Hey everyone!

 

This year will mark only my 2nd spring chasing turkey's.  Last year I bagged my first bird ever on day 2 of the Third Season.  The 24 lb 9 oz Tom came into our lone hen decoy and strutted all the way across a field.  He put on quite a show for the camera.  Luckily, my friend Dusty was in the blind with me to film the action and call for me.  Dusty was a great mentor and did a great job helping me bag my first bird!  He was the calming voice in the background that told me when to move and not move, and when to pull the gun up etc.  Since the bird came in walking directly towards us, we were on the spot for about 8 minutes while he strutted from about 150 yards away.

 

Anyway, enough with the backstory...  my plan was to use my bow last year, as I feel it is more of a challenge to shoot a bird with the bow, however, I forgot my arrows at home and had to use the shotgun.  So since I accomplished the feat of bagging my first bird, I thought I would up the ante this year and try to kill one with the bow.  I am looking for advice from anyone who has done this.  I've read plenty of articles on have heard that the most effective shot it one straight up from their legs because it prevents them from being able to fly off.  I realize they have very small vitals (compated to a deer) and I do not want to take a head shot.  Is there a specific way the bird should be standing when you try to take a shot??  Example: Broadside, quartering away, straight on or straight away?

 

Also, what are good broadheads to use?  They say expandables are best because of the large cutting diameter.  Has anyone ever shot one with fixed blades?

 

Lastly, since I am obsessed with filming my hunts, I will definitely have a camera man with me at all times.  Is anyone else interested in filming/being filmed?  I am trying to put together some hunts to make a DVD.  Let me know your thoughts and also if you are interested in filming and want to bring footage to the table for my DVD.

 

Thanks!

 

-Nick Johnson

 

 

[Bow Brothers]

Anyone else?

[bill bowman]

If you want them, I have 4 years of VHS tapes from double bull archery. The tapes are mainly hunts using their blinds but they throw in lots of advise and tips. I would think these two guys have shot more turkeys with their bows than anyone.

I have tried off and on using my bow for the last 10 years. I've clipped a lot of wing feathers and tail feathers. It is addicting and I enjoy it a ton. I hope this is the year I finally put one down with the bow.

Good Luck to you!

Bow Brothers said:

Anyone else?

[bill bowman]

Nick- I found a DVD "Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Ground Blind Hunting" from Double Bull Archery if you want it. Let me know if you want it, I can mail it to you or meet you in Prescott as I drive through for work everyday.

-Bill

bill bowman said:

If you want them, I have 4 years of VHS tapes from double bull archery. The tapes are mainly hunts using their blinds but they throw in lots of advise and tips. I would think these two guys have shot more turkeys with their bows than anyone.

I have tried off and on using my bow for the last 10 years. I've clipped a lot of wing feathers and tail feathers. It is addicting and I enjoy it a ton. I hope this is the year I finally put one down with the bow.

Good Luck to you!

Bow Brothers said:

Anyone else?

[Nick Johnson]

Awesome, what time each day do you drive thru Prescott?

-NJ

bill bowman said:

Nick- I found a DVD "Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Ground Blind Hunting" from Double Bull Archery if you want it. Let me know if you want it, I can mail it to you or meet you in Prescott as I drive through for work everyday.

-Bill

bill bowman said:

If you want them, I have 4 years of VHS tapes from double bull archery. The tapes are mainly hunts using their blinds but they throw in lots of advise and tips. I would think these two guys have shot more turkeys with their bows than anyone.

I have tried off and on using my bow for the last 10 years. I've clipped a lot of wing feathers and tail feathers. It is addicting and I enjoy it a ton. I hope this is the year I finally put one down with the bow.

Good Luck to you!

Bow Brothers said:

Anyone else?

[A1 Archery TEAM]

I started turkey hunting with a bow after shooting my first bird with a gun when I was 12. I have taken many turkeys with my bow in the spring and the fall. Last year between me, dad, and my bro we shot 7 Toms and out of the 7, 5 were with a bow. My style of hunting and scouting plays a huge part in my success. I put many days of scouting before ever hoping to put a bird on the ground with my bow. Any turkey hunter knows that its not an easy task. Getting close to the roost is a big deal, getting as close as possible without busting the birds off the roost in the morning is tuff. I get up an hour earlier just to increase my chances of getting closer. Every turkey is different, they gobble at different times in the morning. Some days they wont gobble at all and other days they will be gobbling their head off. Usually, not always, they will wake up and start gobblin at a certain time, some birds gobble earlier and some gobble later and some dont gobble at all.Thats how I know what time I should be out in the woods. I will write down the time of the first gobble and the last gobble, and how many mature gobblers I heard that morning. Before the season starts I like going out and sitting in my spots listening and watching. Scouting is everything but turkeys are hard to pattern. They have nothing to do and they have all day to get their. Most of the time you will get an idea where the birds are going or where they will be going. Scouting does pay off, trust me. When it come to hunting them with a bow I typically like to set up on them with a ground blind. I have shot turkeys in and out of the blind with my bow. But about 9 time out of 10 you will get busted drawing back on one without a blind. I have used fixed blade and expandables. I like using the Rage 2 blade and also the Montec G5's are awesome as well for broad heads. I know all of the many spots to aim at on a turkey with a bow, but the safest shot that has never failed me is when the turkey is broadside aim right below where the wing bone connects to the body. I have taken most of my birds with that shot and it seems to work awesome. If you have any questions or anything feel free to ask, thats just a little bit of my knowledge on bow hunting turkeys.

-Dittman-

[bill bowman]

Usually 7:15-7:30 in the morning and 6:15-6:45 pm on the way home. Let me know what works for you.

Nick Johnson said:

Awesome, what time each day do you drive thru Prescott?

-NJ

bill bowman said:

Nick- I found a DVD "Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Ground Blind Hunting" from Double Bull Archery if you want it. Let me know if you want it, I can mail it to you or meet you in Prescott as I drive through for work everyday.

-Bill

bill bowman said:

If you want them, I have 4 years of VHS tapes from double bull archery. The tapes are mainly hunts using their blinds but they throw in lots of advise and tips. I would think these two guys have shot more turkeys with their bows than anyone.

I have tried off and on using my bow for the last 10 years. I've clipped a lot of wing feathers and tail feathers. It is addicting and I enjoy it a ton. I hope this is the year I finally put one down with the bow.

Good Luck to you!

Bow Brothers said:

Anyone else?