Any critter that can skake the ground under your feet with its call before you even lay eyes on it is capable of melting even the most accomplished bowhunter’s mettle. Vocal interaction is what makes turkey hunting so special, but when you make the decision to hunt them with a bow, you add a whole new level of challenge and excitement. Success seldom comes by simply convincing one to make an appearance. When hunting turkeys with archery equipment, you must call them in close, wait for just the right moment, draw undetected and make an accurate shot.
Over the years I’ve either made, or seen my buddies make, just about every mistake in the book. As a result, I’ve learned some things along the way that have drastically improved my success. Hence, here are a few tips that will help you fill more turkey tags with your bow.
Master a Mouth Call
While most veteran shotgun hunters seem to have mastered the art of using a mouth call, I’m surprised by how many bowhunters have not. It might be due to the fact that bowhunters often hunt turkeys from ground blinds and have always been able to get away with the movement involved in running a hand call. While it is true that a ground blind can conceal those movements, at some point you must drop your call and fill both hands with your bow. The ability to continue calling hands-free at that point is vital.
Experiment with a variety of mouth calls and you’ll discover some fit you better than others. When you find the right one, you’ll know it. Learn as many turkey vocalizations as possible, but really focus on soft contentment calls like clucks and purrs. These are the calls that come in handy when convincing a tom to take a few more steps into bow range.
