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.