I'm venturing out this spring for my first turkey hunting attempt, and it's going to be with a 58" Wing-Red Wind Hunter , 46# (Head Ski mfg). Looks like Easton Gamegetters (500) or 2016 Easton Tributes will be the shaft (not done optimizing-too much snow in Maine), with a Zwickey 2 bladed Eskimo.

What would YOU consider the "best" traditional bow for turkey? (length, draw weight, model, recurve, longbow?).

Decoys? One jake and one hen sufficient?

I understand there is no "best" and it is what people like, but for those who have been through multiple trad bow turkey hunts, there is wisdom and experience from which to learn. Would love to read what, and why, based on your experiences ( or even what to avoid).

Thanks in advance.

54" Windstorm Santa Ana recurve or 50" Two Tracks Ambush recurve, both 50#@28". 3 blade Snuffer or Grizzly Kodiak 2 blade. One hen decoy only. Box call with cedar sides, and M.A.D. Aluminator with a purpleheart striker.

For me it's the "best" hunting bow period, has nothing to do with what you're hunting. It's the one you shoot best. Turkeys are a small target (vital area) so I would pick a bow you shoot accurately. Never tried decoys or blinds.

For turkeys, I like the most accurate, short bow that I have...and that means one 48"-52". If sitting on my butt, I just find that a short bow helps a lot for the way I shoot, and don't want to take a chance of snagging that lower limb. Sure, some can shoot a 70" longbow from the ground, but not me.

My pick from the rack will be my Bear Super Mag or Kodiak Mag., or Red Wing Hunter, or Browning Cobra. All of these shorties are from 48"-52" with weights of 45-50#.

For decoys, 2 hens and a jake.

Broadhead: ??? right now.

Avoid over calling. Call a few times as the gobblers get down and respond.....then shut up and wait. :o) Regards

an accurate one

Fletch,,,For whatever it is worth...I shoot my Black Widows for everything....Squirrels, ground hogs, turkey,deer, pronghorn, bear etc. because I am the most comfortable with them and they are my favorite bows ever.I use a Pearson Deadhead broadhead. A little tip, again, for whatever it is worth. Use 2 hens and a jake. Place the 2 hens @ 10 yards out a little off to 1 side but close to the jake. and place the jake @ 15 yards directly in front of you and FACING you...Often a long beard will come around and face the jake and fan his tale to challenge the jake. Then the long beard will not be able to see you draw.Shoot him right at the base of the tail. Just my 2 cents. Be safe...Whitie

I am no turkey expert having yet to take one with a bow, however next month my bow of choice will be my 52in RWH.. My choice of head wouldn't be an Eskimo I have some 4 blade insert ones that I probably will use, provided they fly true. Sandy

What George said.

I'd say what ever bow you're the most comfortable with. I like 60" or under because you will likely be sitting on the ground so make sure you practice shooting that way too. Personally I like head shots on turkeys. One thing people don't seem to think about is the head and neck area really is about the same size as the turkeys vitals are anyway and I think it's an easier shot because it's not obstructed by all kinds of feathers. I just use the same broadhead and arrow set-up as I do for deer.

Going to hunt out of an Ameristep hub blind this year that weighs half of what the double bull(that I love) weighs. So I needed a shorter bow for the shorter tent. Bought a 52" inch, 40# Wing Thunderbird(Head Ski) and put a Thunder Horn quiver on it. My GT 600's didn't fly that great out of it so had to do a bunch of experimenting. Settled on full length ICS Bowhunters, 100 grn insert with 175 grn field tip or 175 grn broadhead. I shoot this bow better than any bow I own. Every thing will be light weight and carried on my old,old back. Decoys will be light weight Jake Purrfect and Miss Purrfect. Attached photo is the "Ninja" bow.

Supermag 48 or Kodiak Mag. I shoot out of portable blinds, one jake and one hen decoy usually.

For me it will be a K. mag with zwickey heads on a 1916 aluminum shaft. Walk and call then try to stalk. Seems they always hang up just out of range, might fool them this year and take along a long barreled Ruger single six in 22 magnum. Hang up on me will you, surprise surprise.

Another vote for the Supermag 48, if you can shoot it well and don't have an extremely long draw length.

Lol at Darryl. :)

GDS X2! The bow you shoot the best!

As for decoys try both setups. I have had toms come in to both but have had them put more space between us if I only used a single hen.

I guess they must of thought it was to good to be true!....and they were right:(

Definitely what George said plus depending on if your shooting from the ground or a chair,blind might affect your choice for clearing obstacles. Last year I used my bear kodiak from a chair no blind and worked fine. This year lm trying a longbow from the chair.

The one you can shoot a 3" group with at 15 yards.

i am shooting a shorter bow too,, and practicing alot with it,, 54 inch nock to nock,, I am shooting a heavy arrow too,, not because it is heavy, but it shoots the best out of that bow of all the arrows I have tried, at 15 yards or less I am not worried about the tradjectory,,,, just getting a shot is enough worry,,

I like a shorter bow for shooting out of a blind. When not using a blind (seldom), bow length makes no difference. For hunting out of a blind, I use a 56-inch Bear take down of 45-50# and shoot Easton Axis or wood shafts tipped with Wensel Woodsman broad heads.

I'll be using my 60" BW PSA and GT blems and ww's and Grizzly's. Also using a 3d leafy suit and my stool. Has a built in pouch to carry calls and other stuff. Very mobile set up.

I don't use a blind and sit on a stool with a seat that turns. I use a longbow and when a bird shows up I just have to pull and shoot.

Widow

There is no best bow or arrow. Its a bird and you shoot him to kill him all needed to be said. Hidden hunter blind Big Jim Desert Big Horn.

Any bow you use is your choice as well as arrow there's the shot ,Shoot him.

Jeffer spoke about headand neck shots. I read about another fellow who uses that method only. You hit them or you don't no lost wounded birds. That apeals to me. I have seen these wide heads..3"or more meant for that purpose. I wonder if anyone has used them and can give any feed back on them?? Sandy

If hunting without a blind use a stool. Be patient and wait for your shot. Don't move or draw unless the head is blocked by his fan, or behind a tree or blocked by decoy.Practice a lot and use a bow you can shoot the most accurate.The shot will be quick when it happens,and they won't stay around very long. Know where to hit the bird, the wing shot will present the largest kill zone.Best of luck to you.

A really good paperback book by the title of Bowhunting Turkeys by Jack Brost. Written with Dr David Samuel 1991 of Bowhunter magazine is really informative.It can be found on Amazon.

I am gonna be using a Red Wing Hunter as well 42#s at my draw and a 52"er. I will shoot a heavy head and arrow combo out of it. .600 spine GT trad with 225 up front. Shawn

Small vitals so I try and break them down. right at top of thighbone if I am high I get vitals or right up the old pooper and break their back. Shawn

Since I use natural cover only, I prefer a shorter bow. I use my 50" Browning Cobra, 58" Jack Kempf Longbow. Wood arrows with large 160 gr Snuffers. Took 3 nice toms with this setup....and I also missed a few with this setup.

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