Turkey Hunting Crossbow

[CMF]

Has anyone bought or set up a crossbow specifically for turkey hunting?

I mainly hunt big game with a compound bow. After doing some turkey hunting and missing with the compound, I'm considering a crossbow for turkeys. It would be mainly to take advantage of some archery-only seasons and areas, but I may also use it for MS instead of carrying a shotgun. I primarily hunt public and find public land turkeys challenging enough without adding a bow into the equation.

I'm thinking most any crossbow would work, but the more compact the better. Something without colorful strings.

I would think a lighter arrow would be better to reduce the margin of error when misjudging yardage? I don't think penetration would be much of a concern on a turkey with a light arrow.

A rangefinding scope seems ideal to reduce movement, but it looks like the cheapest ones start around $700. Any suggestions?

 

[brancher147]

Are you hunting without a blind and wanting a crossbow to take drawing back out of the equation? Other than that I don’t see much advantage to a crossbow.

 

[hillbillyfab]

I’ve struggled to kill a tom turkey with a compound. I’ve got a hickory creek mini that I’ve started using in our fall turkey season. For a few weeks fall turkey season and whitetail season overlap each other. They’re both archery only during this time.

 

[CMF]

Are you hunting without a blind and wanting a crossbow to take drawing back out of the equation? Other than that I don’t see much advantage to a crossbow.

yea, I don't use a blind unless taking the kids. The crossbow with a rangefinding scope would remove the drawing and ranging movements from the equation.

 

[Swamp Fox]

My suggestion would be to pre-range landmarks in your kill zone just the same way as I would think most people do with a shotgun, where you want to know what's too far.

My other suggestion would be not to give up on the compound. "Missing" is correctable with effort toward skills, plus a good understanding of turkey anatomy and effective shot angles.

Turkeys with a vertical bow but no blind is certainly a challenge, but it can be done.

I'm not a fan of crossbows in "archery" seasons, but if someone's going to use one running and gunning , I think they should pre-range or learn how to judge reasonable distance on the fly.

I don't think you need to worry about arrow weights for x-bow turkeys unless you're WAY off the reservation.

 

[minas stiris]

Crossbows should be lethal for a turkey if you hit the fist size vitals in the body. If you miss the turkey will walk off and you likely wont recovery. The gun is the easier option because you aim for the head. I have killed lots of turkeys with a vertical bow, however I hit the vitals. More time than not I miss the vitals and they walk off. I blood trail them and then they run or fly off.