Three Turkey Questions

[Jonathan_S]

I bought two cheap decoys and a box call and an hour later was calling turkey for the first time with my bow in hand.

I called one tom from a canyon bottom but he busted me and jumped into the brush. 

1)  I feel comfortable shooting that sized animal at 40 yards - is that irresponsible?  Should I stick to 25 or less? 

2)  Do you have to wait until the bird is facing AWAY to draw your bow? 

3)  How far will a gobbling tom come to find a hen he hears...and how far can they hear within reason? 

[lokidog]

Good for you getting ot there and giving it a go.

1.  Only you know how far you can ethically make the shot, every time.

2.  If you can see their head, they can probably see you draw, even from "behind."  If you can draw when they stretch out to gobble, you might be able to get away with the movement since their head is moving rapidly.  If they are fanned out, wait until their head is hidden by their fan.

3.  Sometimes as far as he can hear her, sometimes he won't come from 100 yards, depends on him, conditions, and the terrain, don't try calling them downhill usually.  Sound travels diffently in the open or treed areas, over flat or hilly ground, in the calm or wind.

   Hope some of this helps.

[Jonathan_S]

Thanks a bunch Loki.

I guess I wanted to make sure that turkeys don't have an ultra quick "jump" reflex like whitetails.

Do you mean you don't call them when you're above them or vice versa?

[lokidog]

A couple of turkey generalities are, they will come uphill to a call more quickly than downhill, maybe because they can escape by flying away more easily, and they will often hang up at a change in terrain like on the other side of a powerline cut, stream, or fence from the caller..

[Jonathan_S]

Awesome, thank you again.  I will keep that in mind.   

[turkeyfeather]

I agree that only you can determine how far is ethical. I will say I like to keep it to 25 and under with a bow. I would also say yes wait till its facing away. Although not as fast as a whitetail if they sense something is up they will bug out and disappear right before your eyes. And the distance just depends on how horny they are. I have called one in from a little over a quarter mile and I have had eyes on one at 100 yards that wouldn't budge. Loki is right though try to stay uphill of them.