Matt- Turkey 2009 Part 1

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:00:00 +0100

My turkey season started last Saturday and should have ended in the same day.� I called in four jakes and shot three times only to have my rest fail with each shot.� On the third shot my arrow took parts of my rest with it and I was done.� With a new brand of rest, tuned bow, and a new decoy I was ready for this morning's hunt.

I only had a few hours this morning before work and the turkeys were not cooperating.� I had one hen come in to my calls after two hours.� No gobbles as I think it was too cold.�

Here is a picture of my new Elite�GT500.� I'm shooting a Fuse quiver, stabilizer, and Strut Buster broadheads, Spot-Hogg�Whammy rest, Easton Axis FMJ 400, and a Sword�sight.�� With a 29" draw and ~68 pounds, I'm shooting a 430 grain arrow 283 fps towards these thunder chickens.

Here is�my new Primos decoy.� It worked when I put it�away and my blind was taken down.� That's when I heard my first gobble of the morning and the action started.� I debated setting them up again but within seconds the four jakes from�last Saturday were 40 yards.� No shot but I got�them excited and that brought in a bigger bird.� He hung up at 60 yards as I hid behind a tree calling.�

My goal next time out is to set up closer to the roost and kill a bird!� I will keep you BowCasters posted.� Hope everyone is enjoying their spring hunts!

Matt

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Turkey Decoy Setups with the Archery Hunter in Mind

aroney@bowcast.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Hope everyone in BowCast land is doing well.

As I am running through my checklists and gearing up for our Kansas/Nebraska/Colorado turkey hunts, I thought I would spend some time outlining some things I think about when setting up Turkey decoys for success.� I know many of you are heading out and climbing in a blind for the first time with a bow.� I hope this blog entry gives you some to think about when you are setting up O'Dark Thirty.

Strutter, Jake, Hen, or Combo?

Single Hen

�The first question to cover is what sex and age phase of turkey decoy do you want to put out.� I subscribe that if you only have the option for one single decoy, my bet would be on a hen decoy.� A single hen setup is probably what I use 50% of the time and can be effective during all phases of the Spring Turkey breeding season.� Keep in mind that the goal of a decoy is to give a Tom visual confirmation that there is something he wants to come into closer.� Even if you are not smack dab in the breeding frenzy (i.e. leading up to or shortly after) a Tom wants to be with a hen (or multiple hens).� That leads me to my next point.

Multiple Hens�

Multiple hen decoy setups are valid as well.� Again, it gives the Tom visual confirmation that in this case, there are multiple reasons he wants to come in closer.� Often is very effective to place 2-3 hens in a pecking group in front of your blind/setup.

Hen(s) + Jake�

For years I have run the Jake + Hen(s) setup - in 2 different arrangements - 1)� Just out in front and close together and 2)� With the Jake actually mounted on top of the hen.

The first configuration builds on the visual confirmation that the Tom is seekeing, but throws in the jealousy factor.� In and around the breeding cycle, that Jake with a Hen may just bring a wary or hung up Tom to move that Jake off.� The second configuration takes it to another level of jealousy by visually showing the Tom he is missin out on some loving.� Typically I try this Jake + Hen approach when I know I am in an area with many dominant 3+ year old birds who just won't put up with this kind of business going on in their living room.� It also has been most effective for me later in the season when the first breeding phase is winding down, first round of hens are nested, and Tom's are actively trying to find hens.� I probably use this configuration about 10% of the time.� Another thing to consider is there are new "strutting" jake decoys out there (check out the Jake Mobile from Primos) that could work in this configuration.......which leads me to the next point.

Full Strut�

I have only been using full strut Tom decoys the last several years.� I have found that these decoys can be EXTREMELY effective at bringing jealous or curious Tom's in.� The biggest thing I will point out is that Full Strut decoys can move off Jakes and less dominant birds.� So, if you are looking for the biggest Tom on the roost - go ahead and give the full strutter a go.� If you are taking a kid hunting who would be happy shooting a Jake, leave the strutter at home.� These have been very effective for us in the areas we will be hunting next couple of weeks in Kansas, and in some cases we'll actually put 2 strutters out.� How often do you see a couple of Tom's early season strutting together in a field?� A very realistic setup.

Types of Decoys

So we covered the male/female versions of decoys.� What I mean by "type" of�decoy is the material/realism it�provides.� There is a ton on the market - everything from synthetic materials, blow up decoys, to fully taxidermied replicas of live hens.� Here is my take.

Realism is important.��Just like archery hunting, turkey hunting success comes from attention to detail.� If I can get real feathers on my decoy adding realism in a slight breeze, I do it.� When looking at synthetic�materials that are sometimes more portable and light, I study colors and configuration of the bird.� Does it actually look like a turkey?� Does it represent the colors and feather configurations well?� I�forgot my decoys at home one year (this is why I know have a checklist) and stopped at a local Walmart to pick some up�quick.� All they had were the "blow up" style decoys that more closely resembled foghorn leghorn than a real turkey.� I spent the next 3 days in the woods witnessing a very rare occurence in the wild - Tom's coming up to about 100 yards, giving old foghorn leghorn the middle toe, and running off.� Realism is important.��

Portablity is a consideration when choosing turkey decoys.� Full�Strutter decoys are effective, but very hard to run and gun with.� A great option to�counter this is the full strutter from Montana Decoy.� This decoy is ultra portable, folds down to a point that you can put into your pocket, and is a digital 2D photo of a live strutter, so has some great photographic realism.� Traditional�Flambeau style decoys that fold over and can be stuck in your pack are great for portability. �

Setting Decoys Up for Archery Success

There are 2 things I point out before anythign else for a guy who is new to turkey hunting with archery equipment - 1)� Get a ground blind and 2)� Set your decoys close to that ground blind.

�Ground blinds are the greatest addition to bowhunting for turkeys since the invention of the bow.� I am a big fan of the Prims Double bull because of its portability, quality construction, and ability to withstand the elements (no shine from the sun, no flaps blowing in the wind, no velcro making noise).� I did it the old school way with pruning shears and natural ground blinds under cedars etc. for years.� Get a blind and your success will go up 3 fold (at least).

�Secondly, for any of us who have hunted turkeys with a shot gun, we are very much in the habit of setting our decoys about 20-30 yards in front of us.� This simply is just too far for most of us with archery tackle.� We all know that we are trying to give a Tom visual confirmation, but we are also very aware of the concept of Toms "hanging up".� With a shotgun it's fine if a turkey comes into 40 yards and "hangs up".� For me, I am trying to get a little closer shot than 40 yards at a Turkey.

So, I keep my decoys 5-10 yards directly in front of my blind.� Hopefully this brings the Tom to a nice 25 yard slam dunk.� Another thing to point out is to (in general) face your hen and jake decoys towards you in the blind.� A tom will often try and get around and meet a hen or jake head on.� This gives you an option to bring a Tom in even closer for a shot.� Keep in mind, this could also surprise you with a silent Tom who comes in from behind.

So - what questions do you have around decoy setups?� What do you do the same or differently?� Share your tactics/questions via a comment here with the rest of the TurkeyCast freaks out there.

I'm out.

Aneal

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Matt- Big Bulls

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Hi BowCasters!�

Well I'm sure everyone has seen the news for some of our 2009 events.� A 3-D shoot on a ski mountain is hard to beat!� I have been to a 3-D�in Idaho at a ski area and it was�awesome.� Riding the lift with bow in hand was sweet!!��All I have to say is practice up!

Big Bulls-Every year I look forward to the new Primos Truth series Big Bulls.�� Last week I�received the Truth 12 Big Bulls and enjoyed an evening watching elk go down.�� This year was one of the best videos I have seen.� It has some great bulls and footage of the high country.� Almost all the hunts are with�archery gear and there is even one recurve kill.�

I gave this years video two broadheads up.�

One tactic I have learned from these videos and others is on positioning of the caller.� When hunting with a partner I always have one guy stay back and call.� It's hard to do sometimes because you want to be right in the thick of the action and see the bull go down.� But I have had tremendous success using�the caller behind the hunter�method.� If you are new to elk hunting watch the Primos boys utilize this method of calling.� Then put it to practice this fall!!

What about you?� What is your favorite elk hunting series?� I have a few others in my collection but am always looking for more.

Get out and shoot BowCasters!� Spring 3-Ds are starting up and turkey season is just a few months away.

Stay calm....pick a spot

Matt

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Blog Entries tagged 'Primos'

Matt- Turkey 2009 Part 1

Turkey Decoy Setups with the Archery Hunter in Mind

Matt- Big Bulls