Turkey

Hey guys,
  If you haven't tried turkey with the bow DO IT. Its a hoot. I like to fill a tag with the shotgun and spend the rest of the Spring season with the bow. Its a lot different when a bird comes in to have to draw and shoot than simply pull a trigger. Have taken a good number over the years though- Persistence pays  but this isnt for the guy with real limited time afield.
  Try an go out a week or two before the season and find where the action is and set up a blind by your decoy setup where you can stand and shoot -works just like shotgunning but you need the place to draw..Also  Toms generally come down and go off in the same direction each Am so a big trunked tree is often a great place to ambush one on his way to a strutting area or to where he generally hooks up with a hen, they can be very predictable for a week or so at a time... Remember though Turkeys are a lot lower than  Deer, so practice with your target on the ground- not set up at chest high.
In the fall believe it or not flocks can be VERY stalkable- Go out later in the AM and follow flock scratching on the oak ridges and then move around and in front of them and wait them out. When they come in you often have to slip up on them for a shot. If they bust move off about 50 yards and start gathering calls, one will show. NOW see if you can draw.
Never had so many hunts with such great memories of so many blown chances - it aint about filling a tag all the time.

If you and I have the same issue shooting at turkeys its HIGH shots. Thats why I say shoot at a ground level target for a while. Shooting at a 20 yard bird is usually a down hill type of shot for us even on level ground cause we are standing. Same principal as from a tree stand  --you end up overshooting.
  The other thing is that we are often shooting much quicker than when holding a shot for a deer. With turkey its a lot of draw and shoot cause they often see us. Perhaps a bit of overdraw happens for those high shots to occur- if that the issue . Its a ball though. Sometimes wonder if they duck a shot like deer too.
Try that big tree thing when ambushing a moving bird. Draw behind the tree and lean out for the aim and shot. Shot right over a Jake one time and took the head almost off the one behind him. A sucessfull miss.

    Started 5 or 6 different responses to that but am left amazed at what some guys will do, although he clearly hit what he aimed at.
     What are you using for heads 10- I use old blades on my Thunderheads. It doesnt take much to go through the birds.
     Didnt think this would get much response cause archers for Turkey is probably one of the smallest groups of hunters out there.  Have never seen anyone else doing it and when guys see me they think, hmmmm- nuts.   Nice to know Im not the only Nut willing to spend time at it.

I have spent some time considering it. It's probably the only way I would turkey hunt. I'd rather spend my time fishing at that time of year. It's just more worth it. At least until the PGC cuts tag allocations to allow the flock to increase.

There are areas in the state where the turkey population has not increased as they originally felt it would and other areas in the Northern tier and SE corner where they are decreasing, in some cases fairly rapidly.
Statewide there has been a decrease in turkey numbers over the last decade.
Statewide there has been an increase in coyotes and fisher over the last decade. Hummmm

Our populations also rise and fall based on spring weather but it has been in a gradual downward trend for about 10 years. I used to have 50-70 on feed each winter, now I get 20-40 on average. Still enough for decent hunting but for sure not like it used to be. I blame it on the increased predators. Maybe the studies will tell us for sure.

I know this is about turkey hunting but when the increase of predators was mentioned as a possible decline in the turkey, it makes me wonder if my thoughts on the complete disappearance of grouse in the Erie county area was due to fur prices plummeting to almost nothing, and all the predators getting to the nests because the trappers just quit taking them in traps?

Shawn - you're on here alot. Go get a job or something. Getting closer to graduation.

I don't turkey hunt but spend enough time seeing them. I'd guess the population where I hunt had already peaked. Seeing more bobcats every year. Buddy had 8 poults at camp last year and a resident bobcat (about 15 pounds). It took about 3 weeks .. one by one, my buddy found 8 piles of little feathers in his clover. He even got both poults and bobcat on camera.

Guys there say "Ain't no deer up here anymore but the turkey population is good."

Don't blame Mr Coyote about less turkeys but I'm sure he gets his share.Mr Coon wins hands down,they never let them get out of the nest egg eaters,no trapping coons less turkeys.

Yea,Opossums,coons,and skunks are egg eaters.They love turkey,ducks and goose eggs.