Bowhunting Broadheads For Turkeys

© By Othmar Vohringer

Very few game animals are as challenging to kill with a bow and arrow as the wily wild turkey. The turkeys phenomenal eyesight and constant weariness of their surrounding makes them extremely challenging for a bowhunter. Once shot with an arrow a turkey can take off flying never to be found again, unlike deer, they leave no blood-trail to follow.

Killing a turkey and keep it on the ground depends on two important ingredients. These are; using a broadhead designed to do the job and shot placement. Having said that, I might add that I take it for granted that you can shoot a bow and have sufficiently practiced hitting the bulls-eye ten out of ten times at your maximum distance.

With more bowhunters trying their hand on turkey hunting, broadhead manufacturers came up with a vast array of special broadheads designed to kill turkeys instantly. Over the years I have found that mechanical broadheads, due to the bigger cutting diameter, worked better for me than other designs. To that end here are a few of my favorite turkey broadheads.

Arrowdynamic Solutions Guillotine Fixed-Blade Broadhead: This is then only boradhead from my selection that I have never tried out. However the reviews I read and firsthand accounts I have heard seem to agree that this is the ultimate turkey hunting broadhead. This is a fixed blade broadhead with a cutting diameter of a staggering 2.1/2 inch for the 100 grain broadhead and 4 inch for the 125 grain head. As the name suggests this broadhead is designed to lope the toms head cleanly off. Hence it is aimed directly at the turkeys head, not the body. Caution though if you want to make full body mount of the your gobbler this is not the broadhead you want to use.

NAP Spitfire Gobbler Getter: New Archery Products broadheads have long been my personal choice for all kinds of bowhunting applications. The Spitfire Gobbler Getter comes in 100 and 125 grains and a 1-3/4 inch cutting diameter. The Gobbler Getter features a shock inducing blunt point that knocks the wind out of any gobbler. The large super sharp cutting blades will cause maximum hemorrhage to ensure instant death.

NAP Bloodrunner 3: Is a uniquely designed broadhead that delivers field point accuracy out of the box with a cutting diameter of 1.1/2 inch this broadhead is potent turkey killing medicine. The Bloodrunner is a hybrid mechanical broadhead design that provides a low 1 inch profile in flight and expands upon impact on the target to the full cutting diameter that stays open all the way through the vitals.



Using a quality broadhead is only one equation of making a killing shot on a gobbler. The other is shot placement. Turkeys have a small kill zone and in addition a strutting tom can be quite deceiving when it comes to picking a spot for a lethal shot. Thanks to the courtesy of Hoyt Archery and Gone Wild Outdoors we can show you an excellent video on the subject of shot placement. In the video you also will see some of the broadheads in action that I reviewed above.

Discuss in the comment section below what turkey hunting broadheads work well for you. If you have a story to tell about your turkey bowhunting adventure contact us.

The Best Turkey Hunting Setup For Bowhunters

© Othmar Vohringer

The biggest problem bowhunters face is drawing and shooting the bow without the approaching gobbler detecting the movement. One of the solutions to this dilemma is to use a ground blind. However, if you’re like me you too are not too keen on the time and effort it takes to set up a blind. The drawback with ground blinds is that the hunter is tied down to one spot. Mobility and unobstructed field of view is another reason why I prefer to use natural available cover such as brush and trees to hide behind. One of the best turkey bowhunting setups I found is, what I call, the triangle formation.

Here’s how it works.

In order to make this set up work you need to determine where the roosting tree is, use a locater call right at dawn and listen from what direction the gobbler answers. Find a wide tree trunk, bush or small extension of dense vegetation into an open field that provides you with good natural cover. You do all these things preferably the day before the hunt or by roosting the birds (observing where they go to roost) in the evening before the hunt.

On the day of the hunt, before dawn, stake out a hen decoy about 100 yards from the roosting tree and 20 yards to the side and ahead of you. On what side of you the decoy will be staked out is determined by the direction from which the tom approaches (See the graphic of the setup bellow). When the tom approaches his attention will directed to the decoy as he passes by you. This lets you draw and shoot the bow without being detected. As you can see from the graphic, the location of the decoy, the route the tom comes in and your shooting lane form a triangle, hence me naming this setup for lack of a better word “triangle formation”.

How to hunt the set up.

Right at dawn when the toms fly down start with soft yelps, clucks and purrs to get him interested. Don’t over call, call just enough to keep the gobblers attention. When the tom comes in and sees the decoy quit calling, pick the bow up and get ready to draw the string. If you keep calling the tom will pinpoint your position in heartbeat, and you do not want that to happen.

If the tom loses interest and walks away call him back with clucks and purrs, depending on the situation peak his attention with a short series of exited yelps to turn him around.

If the gobbler has committed and heads straight for the decoy he will walk right past your set up. As soon the head of the gobbler is obstructed by the tree trunk, bush or other cover you sit behind, draw your bow. Alternatively you can wait for the tom to spin around to face the decoy while the fan will obstruct his view behind him. This is another good reason why bowhunters should set out the decoy in such a way that it faces them directly. Toms that approach a decoy almost always will face it head on.

Afternoon Turkey Hunting Tactics

© By Othmar Vohringer

The prime time to hunt turkeys are from dawn to midday. However, hunting can be just as good in the afternoon. It needs to be said though that it is illegal in some areas to hunt turkeys in the afternoon because that is the time when the hens that are already laying eggs return to their nests. Having an afternoon hunting ban in place provides these birds with some measure of security from hunters roaming around in their territory. With that said. Before you plan on hunting turkeys in the afternoon make sure to read the hunting regulations pertaining to the area you hunt to see if it legal or not.

To be perfectly truthful, sometimes afternoon hunts can be more productive than morning hunts. For two reasons. Firstly, most hunters go home around lunchtime which means you have the woods to yourself. With fewer hunters there is less hunting pressure which in turn makes for less spooky toms. Secondly, as the season progresses more hens sit on the eggs in the afternoon and toms search frantically for the remaining hens and become susceptible to calling.

How you hunt turkeys in the afternoon? Morning tactics work well, with the only difference that you don’t have to be so aggressive to bring a tom in to your set. Instead of a full flock of decoys you do very well with only a jake and hen to arouse a tom’s full attention. Throw in a few soft calls and he will come running. In the afternoon toms react in general faster than in the morning because there are fewer hens around to distract him.

Start with hunting typical strutting areas, like you would in the morning, close to roosting areas. Be careful in your approach to your setup. At this time of day the birds are out and about, slowly working their way back to the roosting trees, unlike in the early morning when they are still all in the trees. It is good advice to stop frequently and call a bit to “detect” birds that you can’t see but are close by. This way a gobbler will often respond before you reached your planned set up. In this case set up quickly on the most appropriate spot available and keep calling, the tom might be on his way in.

If nothing is happening get up and continue. In the afternoon I like to walk a lot, or as I call it, the run-and-gun method. Stopping every 50 to 60 yards to call and hope to get a response. Sometimes toms respond right away and other times they sneak quietly in. Always be prepared for a tom to appear out nowhere. When you walk keep as much as possible just inside the edge of woodland to disguise your movement, remember turkeys have eagle like eyesight. When you stop to call look first for a setup such as a small clearing or fields with adequate trees nearby to sit against. If you have time you can set out a decoy or two fine, if not just sit tight and wait.

As mentioned earlier the calling should be light. Content clucks, purrs and soft yelps with the occasional cluck to two thrown in to mimic a feeding hen often provide the desired result in bringing a wandering tom within shooting range. A true run-and-gun tactic is to observe turkeys from a distance. Observe what direction they are heading and then try to get undetected ahead of them, set up and wait for the birds to parade by you. In this case it pays to know where the birds roost as they slowly work their way back to the roosting trees.

The Latest Craze In Turkey Hunting - Gobbler Fanning

© By Othmar Vohringer

For those of you that haven’t heard about this “new” turkey hunting tactic. Let me explain what gobbler fanning is. The tactic entails using a gobbler fan that you hold in front of you and crawl up to the birds. Since you’re hidden behind the fan the gobbler thinks you’re another bird looking for a fight. I’ve seen videos of this tactic and it is truly amazing how close the hunter can get to turkeys, almost to within touching distance. From what I have seen there are two types of gobbler fan decoys on the market. One style attaches to the gun barrel and the other is a handheld version that comes with a stand to use like a blind. (See Mojo turkey decoys for examples.)

This new decoy marketing hype is not as new as some would have you believe. Historical evidence shows that Native Americans have used that type of hunting tactic often as a deception to get close to game animals. However, back in the “good old days” there were a lot less hunters out and about, not unlike these days were we see often more hunters than turkeys. I think that this “new tactic” is contrary to everything we teach new hunters in hunter education courses.

My concerns with gobbler fanning are that it requires a hunter to belly crawl through the landscape while holding up a gobbler fan decoy. In other words, he could easily be mistaken by other hunters as a turkey and be shot at. In my long turkey fever years I’ve seen and heard about hunters that have been sneaked up to by others hunters, shot at simply because they called turkeys and were mistaken for the real thing by those that shoot at sound rather than sight. I still get chills running up my spine when I think a few years back when a hunter sneaked up on my decoy and shot at it without warning from about 50 yards away. I was lucky that day because my decoys were set up at a 45 degree angle from my position and not direct in front of me.

My thinking is that for as long that there are hunters that shoot at decoys and sound, and there always will be such hunters, it really is not safe to employ the gobbler fanning tactic, especially on public land. Even on private land that you share with other hunters, unless each hunter knows where the other is and what he is doing.

Rather than looking for more gimmicks and gadgets that promise success, no matter how questionable from a safety and fair chase point of view they are, I would encourage hunters to work harder to get their bird. For me part of what makes turkey hunting fun, or all game for that matter, is to learn and figure out the animals habits and behaviours. Learn how to call and what the different sounds turkeys make mean - speaking and understanding turkey language in combination with diligent scouting and choosing stand locations accordingly. That to me this is the true art of turkey hunting.

Now I am not one to point fingers, because I too think of ways how to make it easier on myself. I’ve no objections, other than the safety concerns I voiced above, with any hunter using the gobbler fanning tactic. Sometimes moving in on a hung-up gobbler seems like the only option left. But often times that is not possible, especially when the gobbler hangs up in an open field. There have been more times than I care to remember when a hung-up gobbler drove me crazy when after an hour calling he would not advance a single step toward me. But is gobbler fanning the answer to this dilemma?

What is your opinion on gobbler fanning? Do you think it something worth to try out, provided it can be done in a safe manner? Or do you think that good calling and decoy set ups are the true art of turkey hunting? I am looking forward to read your comments below in the comment section.

Hunting Turkeys In Wet Weather

© By Othmar Vohringer

The early spring turkey hunting weather can be fickle. Often times hunters get up before dawn only to be greeted my miserably rainy weather and promptly go back to bed. Turkey hunting in wind and rain does not have to be futile. True, hunting turkeys on a beautiful sunny day is nice for the hunter and can make for much livelier turkey action. But in wet weather the hunting can be just as good and you do not have to content with a lot of competition from other hunters.

The common opinion is that turkeys shut down on rainy days, but that is not always the case. Some rainy conditions make actually turkeys more active and gobble more. While a heavy downpour and cold can shut gobbler activity completely down, a light drizzle and overcast skies seem to have not much effect on gobbling activity. When it stops raining and the first rays of sun break through the clouds gobblers become very active, making up for lost time.

On the other hand when it rains steadily, especially on cold days, the turkeys shut down. The birds sit longer on the roost as normal and huddle together. What can you do? Go out after sunup and hunt fields and openings with low growth vegetation. Turkeys prefer short vegetation to keep their feathers dry, rather than slogging through high grass and underbrush that gets them wet. In the open turkeys also can hear much better than under the trees where the noise of the rain hitting branches and foliage makes hearing approach predators harder.

What I like to do in rainy weather in to look for turkeys in open fields, use binoculars from a distance to prevent been spotted by the birds. By watching the flock for a while I usually can determine what direction the turkeys travel and then try to get around and ahead of them. Set up and stake out a decoy or two and then start calling. Be patient as the turkeys may not respond as quickly as they would on sunny warm day, but they will come.

Keep the calls you’re not using in a sealed plastic bag to prevent them from getting wet, a wet friction call becomes useless. Keep the call you’re using close to your body and upside down in order to keep the call surface dry.

If the wind is howling on a rainy day were you can’t hear the birds, and they can’t hear you the birds become a little spooked. On these days turkeys seek refuge in wind shelters hollows and depressions out of the wind, where they can hear again. Find these wind sheltered places, set up and call very loud and strong. Make the calling sequences short then pick up your gun and be ready, chances are you won’t hear the toms gobble back at you –let alone hear them coming in- in all that noise from the wind.

The bottom line is that with work and all the other commitments we only have so many days in a given season to go turkey hunting. With that said, we might just as well go out whenever we get the chance, regardless of the weather, and make an effort. You can’t shoot a turkey sitting in camp.

Are You Ready For Turkey Hunting Season?

© By Othmar Vohringer

All winter long we have been sitting indoors waiting for the spring turkey hunting season. Now it is almost here and the question is; Are we ready? Here are a few tips to prepare for turkey hunting.

Getting in physical shape

There is no doubt that most of us gained a few pounds during the winter months and only moved when we had too. Turkey hunting is a very active undertaking that often involves long hikes, even short sprints to get ahead of a turkey flock. Getting back into shape by exercising regularly is important. For me this means going hiking around our home and it usually starts right around after Christmas. That is also the time when I start scouting for turkeys and do some shed antler hunting. Being in good physical shape will go a long way to make the hunting season more enjoyable and getting to places where other hunters don’t go, or can’t go. A few years ago a hunting buddy and I had to hike a fairly steep hillside to get away from the other hunters and to where they turkeys had moved to evade hunting pressure. Having had a good regime of physical training for weeks before the hunting season I had no problems climbing that steep hill side. For my hunting partner it was a different story. More than ones we had to stop in order for him to catch his breath again. When we finally reached the top of the hill the turkeys had moved off to the next ridge, this meant another long hike. We finally caught up to them but my partner was completely exhausted and ended up with blisters on his feet. In other words; it was not an enjoyable day for him and he stayed in camp the next day to nurse his sore leg muscles and blisters.

Practice your turkey calling

The way I look at it turkey calling is like playing a musical instrument. You only can maintain the required quality of calling by regularly practicing. As the spring turkey season approaches I make a point of making every day at least a half hour time to practice with all my calls. You will be surprised how fast you lose good calling form when the calls stay boxed up from one to the next season. This is also the time when I check all my calls for flaws, wear and tear. There is nothing worse than taking a call on a hunt and then realizing it needs to be tuned or fixed. Often times the difference of getting a big mature gobbler is the difference of sounding like a turkey, or just like almost a turkey. A mature tom that has survived a few hunting seasons can tell the difference, it’s what kept him alive for so long.

Getting you and your gun into shooting shape

Spending sufficient time on the shooting range to pattern your shotgun will pay off when the time of truth comes. Make sure your gun is patterned well and that you practice shooting in various situations you would encounter in the turkey woods. DetailingYour Turkey Shotgun is an article I wrote for the Western Sportsman Magazine. This article explains in detail how to turn any shotgun into a gobbler harvester and provides information of a useful practicing schedule to shoot like a turkey hunter.

Using A Push-Button Call To Entice A Gobbler To Take The Last Few Steps

© By Othmar Vohringer

A mouth diaphragm turkey call is a great way to get a gobbler to take the last few steps to come within shooting range. However, if you are like me, suffering from a rare allergy to Latex that prevents you from keeping a diaphragm call for a extended time in your mouth, or simply have not the time to learn to use such calls, here is a trick that use with great success.

Mount a push-button call onto your shotgun barrel. With a few minor modifications this is a great way to call to a tom with the gun shouldered and ready to shoot. Attach a string, about two to three feet long, to the push beg of the call. Next glue a strip of Velcro® around the body of the call with a few inches standing free on either side to wrap around the shotgun barrel. That is all that is needed.

When you arrive at your setup and get ready to hunt simply fasten the push-button call onto the shotgun barrel. Make sure you run the Velcro strip between barrel and rib, not over the rib (see image). When the turkey approaches your setup hold the string between two fingers of the hand that supports the fore end (forestock) of the gun and start calling using the string. This lets you call without any noticeable movement while having the gun at the ready. It takes a bit of practise using a push button call in reverse, instead of pushing the button you pulling it, but you very soon will get the hang of it.

Push-button calls are ideal for close in calling, they produce perfect soft yelps, clucks and purrs. Mounted onto your shotgun they a deadly. Try it out and let me know how it worked for you.

In Search Of Wild Turkey

(Originally published in the Merritt News – Othmar Vohringer The Outdoorsman)

 © By Othmar Vohringer

On Monday morning at1:00 a.m. the alarm went off and an hour later I was on my way towards Kelowna to meet up with my good friend Rick. The sparkling stars in the sky promised a beautiful sunny day. “The perfect weather for turkey hunting” I thought as I drove along highway 79 in anticipation of hunting my favourite game birds.

At 4:00 a.m. I pulled into Kelowna and shortly afterwards Rick arrived too. I loaded everything into his truck and off we went toward Beaverdell. During the drive Rick kept telling me about his past turkey hunting successes in that region, which, he said, “is loaded with turkeys”. I had no reason to doubt him. Rick is an accomplished turkey hunter. We arrived at our first hunting spot right at dawn. It’s the perfect time to locate a male turkey. This is accomplished by using a raven or crow call, a few loud “caw-caw-caw” calls makes the toms gobble. In fact any sudden loud sound makes a male turkey respond with a thunderous gobble that can be heard from a far distance away. Once a tom is heard the hunter tries to get as close as possible without alerting the bird and then by using female turkey calls to “love talk” with the hopes of luring the tom to within shooting range.