I'm considering buying a crossbow for turkey hunting next year. Would be a total beginner, any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Many states offer an early archery season just before the gun opener. Great way to get a jump on opening day and also get some great scouting in while hunting. I've taken a couple birds with a crossbow, but one must aim carefully as it's a mighty small kill zone on a turkey. I hunt with a Barnett FX2 crossbow which is under $300. I use the same broadheads that I hunt deer with and limit my shots to 25 yards and in. Good luck Toby!
I use a Scorpyd Ventilator Extreme 175, South shore archery spynal tapp arrows, tipped with a any rage crossbow head or mechanical head I have for deer. Fast and very accurate. More speed less margin for error. Works like a charm.
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I bought a ravin and hunted with it this spring in Nebraska. Used the rage turkey broadheads. I killed two and a buddy used it and killed one. Lots of practice and know your equipment very well. My Ravin shoots over 400fps I shot one bird at 30yds and after looking at the footage he still jumped the string, his wings were halfway up to fly when the arrow hit him. After seeing that 20-25yds is my limit. Got all the kills on film for Barronett blinds.
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My 12-year-old daughter took her first turkey this year with a crossbow. It was a nice 2 bearded gobbler. She was using my Excalibur xbow. I like the Excalibur because it doesn't have any cams to come out of tune. Also, the string can be changed out in the field without the need for a bow press.
Thank you all for the information, very helpful.
I'm a Excalibur guy also for reasons stated and they are flat out accurate.
I worked in a large retail bow shop and sold a lot of crossbows, comes down to two types, "wheeled" or recurve. Wheeled or "compounds", if not properly maintained or human error, can shut your hunt down. A recurve is more reliable, not as much maintenance and things going wrong. Accidently break a string and that can be remedied in the field in a minute with extra string, back in the game, but you loose some speed with them. Wheeled bows are much faster. A lot of good ones out there. The least that came back to the shop for repair would be the Tenpoints. good customer service base. Tenpoint came out with a new line up duplicating the "Ravins" but different cable set up and more economically priced. My recommendation would be is to find a good archery shop and shoot a lot of them before you jump. Aim small on a turkey and study anatomy and arrow placement from different angels. I'm not a Tenpoint rep either. Just my experience in a shop....
Economical priced??? Its the same price as the Ravin if you have not looked I would not call that to economical.
I have a Tenpoint that I have only used for deer but I would love to take a turkey with it, it is very accurate but glad to hear about turkey jumping the string on a longer shot.
I have one. Never killed anything with it yet. I want to try it some day on turkeys.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on July 01, 2018, 09:01:12 PM
I have one. Never killed anything with it yet. I want to try it some day on turkeys.
Me too! I bought a CenterPoint. Thing shoots crazy good. Waiting on deer season to break it in.
https://www.crossbownation.com/
Good forum to ask your question. Very similar to this place. Shannon, forgive me it I broke a rule posting this link!
I second the 10pts I have used mine last 4 years shooting 5-7 Tom's a year with it. Accuracy is key to put the bolt where it needs to be on a turkey.
I did look. That's why I said economically. Tenpoints Shadow NXT $1099.99, accu draw $1,299.99, Stealth, $1.599.99 compared to Ravin's R9 lower end starting at $1,599.99 and higher end at $2,099.99. Plus recalls, issue with knocking. Tenpoint has much better customer base also, so far. As I said, I'm not in anyway connected to Tenpoint, just know a good product and what economically "means" is I would like to see people on this forum save some "change."
Never used it on turkeys but killed several deer with it, the lowly Barnett Recruit. $269.00 with red dot sight, bolts and string cocker. Mine is the 130lb draw model, 300fps. It may be cheap priced, but I wouldn't shoot at the same spot twice with broadheads and a good rest out to 30yards, unless you want to buy a lot of bolts.
Thanks Jon, that's really good to know.
I won't discuss brands, but a major feature to consider should be axle to axle length w shorter being better. If not blind hunting, and sitting at base of tree, the shorter ATA bows are less likely to hit and tangle w brush and cover while shouldering bow and moving it left or right to stay on target.
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I've taken Two Gobblers with my stryker. one at 30 and one at 20 first one lost his head over the ordeal, second one took it to heart.
I shoot a Stryker as well.... Love the trigger on this xbow.
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