Kill a Turkey this Spring

Killing a turkey with a bow can be extremely difficult. In fact, in most states the data shows that the success rate among turkey hunters who are bowhunting that tag a bird is in the single digits. Filling a turkey tag with a bow is tricky for several reasons. The first reason is that a turkey has a small vital area that is easy to miss, so many turkeys get wounded and are not recovered. Another reason why many turkey hunters go home empty handed is because a turkey’s eyesight is excellent, so many hunters get busted by a longbeard or his hens when they attempt to draw their bow.

One guy who knows a thing or two about killing a turkey with a bow is Jeff Budz of Florida. Budz has killed more turkey grand slams with a gun than any other turkey hunter alive. (117 grand slams). He has also killed four grand slams with a bow. “I have killed 30 turkeys with my bow and it is safe to say it can be tough to kill a longbeard with a bow but there are a few things I do every year to stack the odds in my favor,” Budz said.

HUNT FROM A BLIND

One thing Budz never leaves home without when bowhunting gobblers is a popup blind. “I know there are a lot of hunters out there that like to bowhunt turkeys without a blind, but if I were trying to bowhunt turkeys for the first time, I would always use a popup blind because it almost eliminates the possibility of the bird seeing the bowhunter draw their bow,” Budz explained. “Plus it allows the hunter to use a stool, switch between different types of calls without being seen and sit for long periods while waiting on a bird. A popup blind is a must-have. When I have the opportunity, I also hunt from hard-sided blinds. Hunting from a blind makes getting away with movement a lot easier.

USE A MECHANICAL BROADHEAD

Another must have for Budz is a mechanical broadhead with a 2-inch cutting diameter. “The vitals on a turkey are extremely small. The larger the cutting diameter of the broadhead I am using, the more wiggle room I have if my shot is off a little bit,” Budz said. On top of using a large mechanical head, Budz says hunters need to know the turkey’s anatomy. “The vital area of a turkey is not the same as a whitetail or any other critter. I like to aim right above the drumsticks because it allows me to remove their legs so they can’t run or fly away. Hitting a turkey high in the drumsticks will also remove the back of the chest cavity, quickly killing the bird.”

PRACTICE SHOOTING OFTEN

Lastly, Budz suggests hunters practice a lot. “Bowhunters should shoot at a target from a seated position, they should practice from a popup blind and they should be a good enough shot to regularly hit a spot the size of a softball at 30 yards,” Budz noted. “A turkey’s vital organs are about the size of a softball.” Bowhunting turkeys is both fun and challenging. Bowhunters who want to kill a turkey with a bow this spring should start shooting their bow multiple times a day, weeks or even months before the season opens. That means the best time to get started is right now!

Jeff Budz is the current grand slam record holder and a full-time turkey hunting guide in Florida. This year Budz is starting a turkey hunting challenge called the M.O.R.E Turkey Hunting Challenge. Anyone can participate in the contest by entering at www.moreturkeys.com. Budz will give the competition winners up to $250,000 in prize money. M.O.R.E. stands for Merriems, Osceola, Rio Grande, Eastern, the four subspecies of wild turkeys that make up the grand slam.   Participants who enter the contest can kill any or all of the subspecies to be entered to win prize money.