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Turkey Hunting with a Crossbow Versus a Shotgun

jimwalton33@yahoo.com (Jim Walton) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:32:05 GMT

Are you preparing to go wild turkey hunting this season but cannot decide between a crossbow or a shotgun?

Crossbow advocates are on one side of the debate. They say crossbows are the best weapon because of precision, range, and stealth. However, many hunters stick with their trusted shotgun—it’s more familiar and has a better chance of hitting a tom.

So, which is best for turkey hunting? Crossbow or shotgun?

In this article, I’ll explore the value of turkey hunting with a crossbow or shotgun. After reading the article, you’ll better understand the pros and cons of each weapon for a successful hunt this season.

Overview of the Crossbow

A crossbow is a hunting weapon that shoots bolts or arrows using a bow mounted horizontally on a stock. It uses a trigger device and an elastic launching mechanism to fire the bolt. Hunters use crossbows for accuracy, power, stealth, and ease of use. It’s effective for targeting large game birds at a distance.

Crossbows are commonly used when hunting turkeys. The best crossbows for turkey hunting can fire bolts at speeds of 265 to 400 feet per second (fps). Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert caller to coax a tom within the range of a crossbow.

Advantages of Using a Crossbow

The beauty of turkey hunting with a crossbow is its mobility. The horizontal pitch makes hunting toms from the ground easier than with a vertical bow. When a crossbow is bolted in place and cocked, minimal movement is required—just like hunting with a shotgun.

Let’s look at four pros of using a crossbow when turkey hunting.

Stealth

Crossbows are one of the best hunting weapons for quiet and stealth hunting. The bone-crushing kinetic energy of a crossbow hardly makes a noise. Therefore, there is minimal disturbance to surrounding wildlife, which is crucial for sneaking up on wary spring gobblers.

Precision

Turkey hunting with a crossbow offers precise aiming, enhancing the chances of hitting a turkey’s vital organs. Proper shot placement is crucial for a clean and ethical kill.

Factors enhancing accuracy include impressive crossbow bolt speeds of up to 400 fps, scopes, and weight-matched crossbow bolts and crossbow broadheads. These factors ensure consistent and effective shot placement.

Over the past several years, improvements in crossbow scopes, crossbow bolts, and crossbow broadheads mean that shooting 1-inch groups at 50 yards is now a reality for modern hunting crossbows.

Power

Crossbows deliver sufficient kinetic energy to penetrate a turkey’s thick feathers and tough hide, ensuring effective takedown even at moderate distances. This power is handy for turkey hunting in open areas where shotguns can be less effective.

Longer hunting season

In many states, hunting turkeys with a crossbow has the advantage of a more extended hunting season than a shotgun. For example, you can go wild turkey hunting for the entire season in Minnesota.

Disadvantages of Using a Crossbow

Despite its many advantages, a crossbow may not be for all turkey hunters. It can feel bulkier and take a longer time to cock and load. Therefore, there is more of a learning curve. Let’s briefly examine three reasons why a modern hunting crossbow may not suit you.

Reload time

Reloading time is crucial when hunting turkeys. However, a crossbow takes longer to reload than a shotgun. This factor can be critical when hunting turkeys as the keen-eyed, fast-moving birds can quickly escape your range.

Weight

Despite becoming lighter and more compact, modern crossbows can be relatively heavy. For example, a fully loaded crossbow can weigh between 7.5 and 15 pounds. In contrast, a standard shotgun is around 6 pounds.

Learning curve

Some turkey hunters avoid crossbows because of the learning curve. Of course, modern hunting crossbows have become easier to load and fire. However, cocking and loading a crossbow requires more effort and time compared to simply reloading a shotgun or using a turkey gun with pump action.

Overview of the Shotgun

A shotgun uses gunpowder to discharge multiple small pellets or a single large projectile. It is commonly used to hunt turkeys because it spreads a cloud of pellets, increasing the chances of hitting a tom. The most common types of shotguns for hunting wild birds are semi-automatic and pump-action types.

Let’s examine a few reasons to use a turkey gun on a hunt.

Advantages of Using a Shotgun

Greater success: Shotguns are effective at close range, making it easier to target a turkey’s head and neck area accurately. The shotgun blast creates a broader spread of pellets, increasing the chances of hitting the tom’s vital organs.
Faster reload times: Modern turkey guns with a pump action or semi-automatic loading make it easier to fire several shots in quick succession.
Easy to use: Shotguns are more straightforward to use for beginner hunters. Using a crossbow takes time and practice to shoot with precision. Despite crossbows providing excellent stealth and precision , shotguns are quick and easy to shoot.

Disadvantages of Using a Shotgun

Noise: The most obvious disadvantage of a turkey gun is noise. A loud shotgun blast is louder than firing a crossbow, potentially scaring off turkeys.
Meat damage: The spread of pellets from the shotgun blast can cause more tissue disruption and damage to the meat of the bird. This can result in pellets or bone fragments being lodged in the meat. Doctors say that this can also mean that people may consume small lead particles when eating game meat.
Recoil: Shotguns have more recoil than crossbows, which may be uncomfortable for some hunters, especially newbie hunters.

Comparison: Situational Effectiveness

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a crossbow vs. shotgun in different scenarios?

A shotgun is typically better when turkey hunting in dense woods. They are more effective in limited visibility when you may have to shoot a tom at close range. Its spread can also compensate for any slight inaccuracies in aiming.

A crossbow may be more effective in open fields or hunting in a ground blind. Experienced hunters say that sitting silently in a blind lets you aim precisely and wait for the ideal time to make the kill.

Personal Preference

For many turkey hunters, choosing between a crossbow and a shotgun is a personal preference.

Many turkey hunters prefer the accuracy, ease of shooting, and reduced noise of crossbows. However, the length of the hunting season and local regulations can also affect your choice.

On the other hand, some hunters may prefer the challenge and skill required to use a crossbow, while others may opt for the simplicity and familiarity of a shotgun.

Ultimately, the choice between a crossbow and a shotgun for turkey hunting depends on individual preferences, experience, and the specific circumstances of the hunt.

What’s your experience using a crossbow versus a shotgun for turkey hunting? I’d love to hear your comments, so be sure to share them below.

Five Tips for Hunting Hung Up, Stubborn Turkeys

jimwalton33@yahoo.com (Jim Walton) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:32:04 GMT

Nothing is more frustrating for hunters than a stubborn turkey that hangs up and refuses to come within range. Hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys can be challenging. However, you can get stubborn gobblers into bow range with the right tactics and strategies.

Turkey hunting can be problematic due to their keen senses and cautious behavior. The stubborn spring gobbler could already have a hen, sense danger, or blow hot and cold. But you can feel defeated when, despite your best tactics, the stubborn birds hang up out of range on the turkey hunt.

Are you tired of dealing with hung-up, stubborn turkeys? I will share my top tips for hunting wild turkeys to increase your chances of successful crossbow hunting . So please read on to get my spring turkey hunting tips.

Understanding Stubborn Turkeys

A hung-up or stubborn turkey is a bird that has stopped responding to your calls. The wild turkey “hangs up”—in other words, refuses to come within shooting range. This behavior gets frustrating for turkey hunters because it’s not always clear why some turkeys act stubbornly.

Understanding turkey behavior is critical for perfecting your hunting tactics. Here are some reasons hunting public land gobblers is challenging:

Stops responding to calls: For some reason, some stubborn turkeys may initially respond to your calls but then suddenly stop coming closer.
Henned up: One reason a turkey hangs up is if it is already with a hen. Gobblers will often stay with hens rather than leave them to come to your calls. This behavior is expected when hunting in the early spring season.
Cautious nature: Wild turkeys have excellent eyesight and hearing, making them very cautious birds. They may sense danger or become wary if something doesn’t seem right, causing them to hang up. Sometimes, your call may not be convincing enough.
Changing moods: Toms can be unpredictable, sometimes responding eagerly to calls and other times being more hesitant or ignoring them altogether.
Pressured birds: Hunting pressure can make the gobblers super wary and catch on to hunting tactics. So, if something seems out of place, they may stop their march.

Key Strategies for Success

Some effective tips for turkey hunting success include changing calls , mimicking a challenging tom, calling the hens, causing a different decoy, or going quiet. Typically, there is no single reason why a turkey seems to respond to your calls but decides to hang up. So, try using different tactics on your hunting trip.

Here are five tips that can help encourage stubborn turkeys to come closer, regardless of whether you are hunting on private or public land.

Tip #1: Call Less and Call Quieter

One strategy for hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys is to call less and call quieter. Gobblers may become wary if they hear too much calling or raspy yelps. By reducing the frequency and volume of your calls, you can create a sense of curiosity in the tom, enticing it to come closer to investigate.

How does changing your calling strategy work?

Calling less and quieter creates the illusion you are farther away from the tom than you are. Remember—curiosity didn’t just kill the cat. Curiosity can lure the turkey closer and well within bow range for ideal shot placement.

Tip #2: Master the Art of the Soft Call

The art of enticing a wild turkey to come closer involves mastering the soft call. When calling turkeys, it’s best to approach them like a hen trying to attract a gobbler. Soft yelps, clucks, and purrs are more effective than just yelping loudly. You can also try a push-pin, box, or slate calls to entice a turkey from its hung-up attitude.

Soft purring is a gentle sound made by happy turkeys while foraging or socializing. Learning this soft call is essential as it creates a calm and safe environment. Mastering the purr can help you lure birds closer by conveying a sense of normalcy and security.

Here are some tips on making a purring sound using slate:

Hold the slate call in one hand with the striker in the other hand
Use a relatively loose grip to hold the striker
Apply light pressure on the striker against the surface of the slate call
Make slow, circular motions striker, make slow, circular motions on the slate surface

Tip #3: Use Deep, Long Calls to Mimic a Challenging Tom

When a tom turkey is with a hen, it typically indicates that the male turkey has successfully attracted a female. The gobbler’s primary focus is on maintaining the hen’s attention. The turkey can also become aggressive as he defends her from other potential suitors.

The first step is to observe their behavior to determine if the tom is displaying or is unconcerned. To lure the hen away and attract the tom , use deep, long calls. These affect both birds.

First, the stubborn turkey can view the calls as a threat and approach the perceived intruder. Second, you may attract the hen if she’s with a non-dominant male.

Tip #4: Decoy Placement and Strategy

Decoys are a valuable tool when hunting stubborn turkeys. However, incorrect placement can put toms off and mean that they never come within the bow range. Here are some tips on placing decoys to maximize hunting success.

Place decoys strategically: Set up your decoys in a way that mimics natural turkey behavior. Consider placing them in open areas where turkeys are likely to gather.
The best hunting position: Place yourself between the bird and the decoy. Stop calling once the bird is interested in the decoy, and be prepared to shoot.
Set the decoy close: Set decoys about 15 yards away to increase your chances of shooting a stubborn gobbler. Sometimes, the tom hangs up, waiting for hens to approach him. If he does this, he’s still in range.

Tip #5: Patience and Timing

Patience is crucial when hunting stubborn turkeys. It takes time for the tom to overcome its hesitations and approach. Rushing or becoming frustrated can scare the bird away. You increase your chances of a successful hunt by remaining patient and waiting for the right moment.

Timing and patience are vital when hunting hung-up, stubborn turkeys. Patience keeps you alert, and excellent timing lets you choose the right moment. Rushing or becoming frustrated can scare the bird, making you wait even longer before a gobbler comes in range.

Last Minute Tips and Tricks

Here are some more strategy tips to entice stubborn turkey to get within firing range of your crossbow:

Experiment using different calls to see what’s most effective
Use natural cover to conceal yourself and minimize movement
Consider using a blind to hide your movements
Learn the terrain and roosting sites so you know where gobblers are likely to go
Check out a range of crossbow accessories that can make turkey hunting more successful

Hunting stubborn turkeys can be challenging but rewarding. Mastering various calls, strategically placing decoys, and being patient can increase your chances of success.

What has worked and hasn’t worked for you when hunting stubborn turkeys? Our community would love to hear your experiences, so please share them below.