Anyone else see this? From the end of Sept. to the end of Oct., you can purchase an OTC turkey tag for a bird of either sex. No more lottery.
I’m sure this will be wildly popular with archery deer hunters, like myself, that will be able to get a crack at some of those turkeys we’ve been seeing from the deer-stand for all those years.
If you’ve never shot at a bird with stick-and-string, here’s a few things to keep in mind.
- Turkeys can look up – contrary to popular belief you can be busted in a tree just as easy as on the ground, if not easier. So far this season, I’ve had birds spot me from the tree twice, both times at over 50 yards.
- Turkeys rarely stop moving completely – Even when their body might be still, esp. in the fall their head is rarely motionless. Draw only when their view is obstructed!
- Deer accuracy won’t cut it – The vitals on a whitetail, even when considering proper shooting angles, is far more forgiving on a whitetail. Clench your two fists and put them together. Hang your fists from the center of a 3′ section of 1/2″ rope, and that’s your kill zone.
- High they die, low they go – Especially when shooting at the steep angles offered by a tree-stand, better to give one a haircut than to miss a touch low. If they’re moving, give them the same respect you’d give a deer and pass on the shot.
- Food sources key – Right now, birds are moving back and forth from roost to food, pretty predictably. As the corn is coming out, I’m seeing birds in fields more and more often, especially in the late afternoon just before heading uphill to roost. Likely they’ve been there all along, but we’re better able to see flocks of them now.
- Massive expandables – Any properly placed broadhead will do the trick, but expandables have earned a place in my heart over the years.
Good luck out there!
Joel
